6. The project

6.

The project

After school Mason, Carmen, Alec, James, and I went to Romeo's house to start working on this big project that our English teacher had us working on. We're not all in the same class period, but do have the same class. We sat in the living room where there was a big coffee table, two black, leather couches, a love-seat, and a plasma TV with a stereo set. I've written Romeo as a rich, handsome, kind teenage boy, and I'm starting to love the idea of rich, handsome, kind teenage boy.

     Carmen sat next to Mason and James on the couch near the dining room. I sat between Alec and Romeo on the other couch that was against the wall. We all leaned forward towards the coffee table where a bunch of construction paper, markers, pens, pencils, rulers, laptops, glue, and other working materials spread across the surface. The project was to make a poster, a nice, big poster filled with information and opinions on different writers. It was an easy A, but we had to write it about more than two authors.

     "We should start on the information. It's easy, smart, and helpful for later when we need to form the poster." Romeo stated once we all got comfortable. 

     "I think one should plan out the poster, while the other collects the information." Alec said looking at the different colored papers. "Saves up time," he added simply.

      Romeo laughed, "But then its like excluding the other partner's ideas and inputs." 

      "Yes, but it gets the job done." Alec argued.

    "Alec, I think I know what should be done, and I say we should start collecting the information first. Isn't that right, Juliet?" He looked at me with an assuring smile as I sat there staring dumbly into Romeo's eyes.

     "Well," I start out slowly, "Maybe we can do it Alec's way. It is quite easier, and we could ask the other's partner's advice before we start pacing things together." I glanced at Romeo who tightly held onto his pencil as he stared into the distance. "Romeo, you okay?"

He looked at my and smiled. "Yes, of course I am. Let's do it your way." And with that, everyone started working.

We managed to finish a fourth of our project in silence. Only a few whispers on opinions, and what to do fluttered here and there. I felt a bit awkward working with Romeo, he was stubborn in many ways I cannot describe. Funny, I thought I knew Romeo like the back of my hand, but I guess even characters have their own secrets. It took me awhile as I worked on the poster to realized I've never wrote Romeo as he would work on a project, or work on anything. This made me uneasy. 

If that one little detail I forgot to add, then I cannot imagine the other little details I've forgotten to add would change Romeo's image. I looked around the group to see stiff silence spreading around us. I looked for Romeo, but he wasn't around. I turned to see Alec away from Louise, and he sat between James and Carmen. Louise sat in the corner, biting onto her sleeve. Louise came over after her shift was over at the diner. My brows furrowed unable to make the scene. Are Alec and Louise fighting? It doesn't seem right. I rose from the floor, and went to the kitchen to find Romeo. 

"Hey," I heard a low voice behind me. I turned to see Alec standing there, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. "Looking for anything in particular?" he asked, raising a brow.

"Erm, not really. I'm looking for someone, but he seemed to disappear." I made a face and turned to face the counter. It had dark black marble that shined in the dim sunlight. I heard dull laughter coming from the living room, and turned back to face Alec. "Do you know where Romeo is?" I asked.

He shrugged and looked around the kitchen. "All I know for sure that he's not in here. Have you checked upstairs? He might be hiding up in his room." 

I nodded with a soft smile, and went upstairs. I checked his room first, and there he was, on his bed laying on his back, arms crossed behind his head, and legs spread out. 

"Romeo?" I whispered. He looked up at me and smiled. "May I come in?"

"Yeah, of course." His voice was low, and his eyes seemed sad.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I sat on the edge of his bed.

He sighed, "Nothing, I'm just tired, really." 

I nodded and looked at the door. The hall's light brightened the room just a little as his curtains blocked any natural light. "Why are you in the dark?" I asked, turning back to him face him.

"I just feel like it." he said annoyed. 

I bit my lip unsure if I should stay or leave, but Alec came to my rescue. 

"Juliet! We're leaving."

"Lets go back down and say good-bye." I urge him.

"You go." he insisted as he rolled onto his back.

I sighed and left his room closing his door. I went back downstairs to see everyone gathering their things. "You're leaving already?" I asked in a sad tone.

Carmen smiled as she pulled on her denim jean jacket. "No worries, we'll be back. This is a group project."

Mason laughed. "Yeah that's one excuse to hang out tomorrow. Oh, but we should work with just our group next time." he added quickly.

"Yeah, it seems such a hassle with two groups working in one room." James added. I knew they just didn't want to be near the tension between Romeo and Alec, who are in the same group.

"Hm okay. Where's Louise?" I asked seeing she wasn't around.

Alec shrugged as he stuffed papers into his book bag. "She just left when you went upstairs." he said as if it was normal. 

I nodded. "Well I'll join you guys. Romeo is not in the best mood right now." 

And with that we left his house without a good-bye. I still wondered what made Romeo so upset. Whatever it was, I know he'll tell me tomorrow.

Reviews

[diannesam]

Aww somethings wrong with Romeo!! I liked this one :) Can't wait to read more