Group Project

A few days later, during a lesson, while the teacher was doing his lesson, Ken and Will are quietly talking to each other in a low voice.

Will shows Ken the display of his phone, which is the poster of a live-action film adaptation of a superhero comic they're both fans of.

"Just to remind you, it's coming out next week." Will whispers to him.

"I remember. I marked it on the calendar." Will chuckles and gives him a thumbs-up sign.

"So, guys, for next week, you'll have to do a group project on this topic. The minimum number of people I accept is two, while the maximum is five per group. Make sure to divide the work equally because the group project will count towards the overall score. Now, I will call each one of you, and you'll tell me who you want to be in a group with." the teacher instructs the class, and immediately the students start whispering to each other.

"We'll do it together as always, right?"

"Y-... No." Ken looks at Rebecca, noticing a worried expression on her face.

She probably doesn't have anyone to do it with.

"Rebecca!" Ken calls her, raising his voice just enough to be heard. As she turns towards him, Will raises his hand to get the teacher's attention.

"Douglas and I would like to be in the same group."

"Is it okay with you, Douglas?" Ken looks at Will with a confused and irritated expression. Will grins, raising his eyebrow.

"Yes. But Howard would also like to join!" Ken grins at Will as well.

"Howard, is it okay to you to be in group with Thomas and Douglas?"

"Of course..." Rebecca responds, slightly confused by the situation.

"I also want to be in a group with them!"

"I was wondering when you would speak up, Owen." The teacher also notes his last name in Ken's group.

The bell for the last period rings.

"Make sure to have fun working on it, guys! Don't disappoint me with this group project either!" The teacher speaks as the bell rings, and almost no one listens, as they’re way too busy packing up their belongings to go home.

Will finishes getting ready before Ken and waits for him, sitting at his seat.

"Why did you do it?" Ken asks him.

"I was surprised by how quickly you thought of her as soon as I asked you to do the project with me. Usually, we always do these kinds of things together. And sometimes Briar joins in too..."

"Well, you could have done it with Briar anyway."

"In the end, it didn't turn out too bad for you, did it? You have two of the best students in the class in your group." Will stands up and gives him a sly smile.

"And one of them is also modest."

"You know you love me." Ken finishes getting ready, and both of them head towards Briar's desk, who is meanwhile fixing their makeup.

"How much more time do you need?" Ken asks them.

"I'm almost done, I just need to fix my lipstick. I boughth it recently because it has a nice color, but it came off with just water when I drank. I won't buy anything from that brand again."

"What brand is it? So I can tell mom not to buy their eyeliners." Will responds to them.

"Rather, let me see those nails!" They take Will's hands in theirs, looking at his nails with black nail polish that's chipped in some places.

"The polish is all ruined! What have you done with these hands?!"

"Well... " They scrutinize his face, then return to looking at and lamenting his nails.

"Think about your own nails instead. You complain about my ruined polish when you don't even have any."

"I can't have a manicure. You're too young to understand. I'll explain it to you when you're older." They release his hands, cross their arms, and close their eyes proudly as they speak.

"We're only a year apart..."

"Hey, guys..." Rebecca approaches them, calling for their full attention. "If you can, I'd like to talk about the project..."

"Of course, sweetie!" Briar materializes in front of her.

"Let's discuss it while joining the others, though. They'll be waiting for us." Ken says, pushing Briar towards the classroom door. Once in the hallway, the four of them start discussing the project.

"We only have a week to finish it, so can we do it in three meetings...?" Briar thinks out loud.

"Let's make it four." Will says, and Rebecca nods.

Actually, I don't think four will be enough either. But we have limited time and two heavyweights, so..."

"Will, if we bother you so much, you could have suggested being in a group only with Rebecca." Briar says, furrowing their brow.

"It can be postponed until next time if you're okay with it." Will grins at Rebecca.

"I wouldn't mind, actually..." She says shyly.

"What? When...?" Ken asks, astonished by the fact that Rebecca accepted Will so easily when it seemed like she almost hated him.

"I admit that intelligent people have their charm... I wish I could be one too!" Briar exclaims, looking at the situation that has unfolded.

"Ah...! I'm not saying this because I find Will fascinating or anything... well, he obviously is, but... it would be nice to study with someone with whom I can exchange information... someone to study with..." Rebecca tries to defend herself.

"Relax, sweetie, we're just teasing you~ But if this bothers you, let us know, and we'll stop." Briar wraps her arm around Rebecca's shoulder.

"Ah, it's fine then."

"After all, Will already has a girlfriend, and they're very loyal to each other." Ken adds.

"Getting back to the project…" Will continues. "It's better if we meet as soon as possible. Is tomorrow a problem for you?"

"Right after school?" Ken asks.

"If it's okay with you, sure." Will responds, and all three agree.

"So, as soon as school ends tomorrow, we all go for lunch and then to a café to work on the project! Or does anyone offer their home?" Briar suggests.

"The café is the better choice. We would avoid disturbing our families." Will reasons.

"True, my house is chaotic in the afternoon when all my siblings come home from school." Says Ken.

"M-my house is unavailable tomorrow too..." says Rebecca too.

"My house will be free, but my parents can be a bit... too much, and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable." Briar sighs.

"I still remember that time when their mom practically begged me to marry Briar... it was traumatic." Ken shivers just thinking about it.

"When you told her that you sometimes cook, she went crazy. In her defense, I can say that I don't know how to cook, and I hate getting my hands dirty, so you must have seemed like the perfect son to her."

"Finally, there you are." Brayton says to them, catching their attention as they hadn't noticed the rest of their friends waiting a little further ahead.

"Sorry, we were discussing the project we have to do for next week." Briar tells them.

"What project?" Nora asks, and Briar tells them everything.

"On which day do we have to give the presentation?" Ken suddenly asks.

"Tuesday." Rebecca responds to him.

"Perfect. The movie comes out on Wednesday." He says to Will.

"What movie are you talking about?" Nora asks them.

"The one I told you about, the superhero one." Will answers her.

"Ah! It's coming out next week?"

"Yes, and Ken and I are going to see it on the day it's released."

"Can I come too?"

"That's a bit..." Ken joins the conversation.

"What if she comes too?" Nora looks at Rebecca.

"Why would you want to-" Will is about to ask, but Nora interrupts him.

"Hey you, do you want to come to the movies with us next week?"

"O-okay..." Rebecca responds, blushing slightly.

"Is that okay then?"

"...Yes..." Ken responds, avoiding eye contact with Rebecca. Will silently regrets having such an outspoken girlfriend.