The kids drag themselves out of their seats and start searching for partners, a few already pushing their desks together. I swallow hard as I keep my gaze on my desk, hoping that someone will finally come over and ask me to be their partner. But like so many times in the past when I had to pair up with someone, no one comes. It’s always me having to beg someone else to be my partner.
I wait a little bit longer, hoping someone will appear at my desk. I have no idea if there is an even number of students in the class. Will I have no choice but to force myself on another team? Maybe Mr. Lewis will cut me some slack and let me do the project on my own?
After waiting just a bit longer, I finally raise my eyes and survey the classroom. Every single kid is paired off, many of them already discussing their chosen historical figure while others seem to be either chatting or sneaking in some texts. Does this mean there’s an odd number of students and I can actually do the project on my own?
My head slowly twists around to the back of the room, to where Kylen sits. I wonder who he’s chosen as his partner.
But when my eyes land on him, I find him sitting at his desk with his eyes searching around the room, looking for someone who isn’t partnered up. My stomach feels like it’s somersaulting when it dawns on me that there is no one available for him to pair up with. Other than me.
I think he knows this fact, too, because he reluctantly focuses his eyes on me. My head whips to the front of the room as I squeeze my eyes shut. Why is this happening, universe or God or whoever is in charge? Why, why,why?
“Has everyone chosen a partner?” Mr. Lewis asks. “Hurry up if you haven’t. Time’s ticking and I expect a short summary of your chosen historical figure on my desk in twenty minutes.”
My heart begins to race. Oh, gosh. What am I going to do? Should I just defy my teacher’s instruction and do this on my own?
I feel a presence on my left, and then someone slowly and hesitantly lowers himself in the desk across from me. I don’t have to turn my head to know who it is.
He just sits in the seat, most probably staring at the space in front of him. Just like I am, although I’m wringing my handsbetween my knees. I can only see him from the corner of my eye, but I sense he’s pretty nervous and conflicted.
I don’t know how long we sit like this until he finally says in a very low voice, “I can ask another kid to switch.”
Still with my eyes on the space before me, I say, “It won’t work. No one ever chooses to team up with me.”
His head snaps to mine, as though he didn’t expect me to be so blunt like that. Has he forgotten I tend to be blunt sometimes? Or did he look at me like that because he’s surprised that my social standing hasn’t changed in the last year and a half?
“Sorry I’m not popular,” he says. “Sorry you’re stuck with me.”
I finally look at him and notice that he’s still staring at the spot before him, clenching and unclenching his fists over his knees. He does that when he’s feeling a lot of emotions.
“We’re stuck with each other,” I say.
He nods, but doesn’t say anything.
“It’s thirty percent of our grade. I’m taking this very seriously.”
He nods again. “I’ll ask the teacher if you can do it on your own. I don’t want you to get a bad grade on my account.” He gets up.
“Kylen,” I say.
He slowly turns around.
“Don’t bother. Mr. Lewis won’t let us get away with it when there’s an even number of students. We have no choice.”
He winces, as though I told him someone is holding a knife to my neck.
I clear my throat. “I mean…let’s just do it, okay?”
With another nod, he lowers himself back in the seat and turns to face me, although he’s not really making eye contactwith me. It’s hard for me to make eye contact with him, too. I know I’ll get sucked into those mesmerizing green eyes.
“Do you have any ideas?” he asks.
“I’m weighing a few options.”
We’re quiet as we think. Kylen drums his fingers on his desk, which is really distracting, but I don’t say anything.
“There’s always an important figure from the Revolutionary War,” he offers.
“That’s so cliché. I bet all the other teams will choose that.”
