Yesterday, we didn't have time to plan out when to work on our project, so here we are. We're sitting in my living room, looking down at our project.
"What do we do now?" His accent getting ever so slightly thicker. We have all the requirements needed, now we just have to make it "pretty."
"I don't know. I could do some sort of border but I'm really bad at drawing. Can you draw or anything?" I ask, popping a baby carrot into my mouth.
"I can try. I've never done a border before but I can figure something out. What should I do?" He takes out his pencil and turns the poster towards him.
"Well, since it pertains to plants, maybe flowers? But not like kindergartener flowers, actual, good-looking flowers. Could you do that?"
"Probably. Could I add some detail with it?"
"I don't see why not. Just don't do it to where we can't erase it should we need to. I'm going to the kitchen to grab a water, do you want anything?" I stand up and push my chair in some.
"Could I get a water?" He asks, looking up from the poster.
"Sure. I'll be right back."
I walk into the kitchen as promised to be met by dad coming in the door that leads to the garage. He takes off his tie and walks over to the fridge.
"Well how was your day?" He jumps when I ask. He turns to me and closes the fridge door.
"Um, it was pretty good. I'm sorry but why are you here? You're never home after school. Wait is everyone here? You could have warned us." He starts looking in the living room.
"No dad, me and my chemistry partner are working on a project in the dining room. Everyone else might come over later. I told mom. I thought she would tell you." I walk over and grab two waters out of the fridge.
"No, she didn't tell me. I was in surgery most of the day. Who's your partner? You haven't complained yet so it can't be Malissa."
I level a look at him, "Just because I haven't complained yet doesn't mean it couldn't be Malissa. But it's actually not her. It's a guy named Alex. He's new this year. He's actually helping me with stuff, that's why I haven't complained yet."
"Well go back. I'd hate to see you keep the boy waiting." He gives me a semi-evil grin. I roll my eyes and walk back down the hall towards the dining room. I hear dad chuckle behind me.
I step into the doorway and lean against the wall. He is staring at the poster really hard. He hasn't made it far but I can see enough of it to tell that it is going to loo amazing. He has shaded roses going down the perfectly drawn lace detailing. He has small pieces of baby's breath and a few carnations in there as well. It looks amazing.
I decide two things right here. One, I'm never going to have to draw again on a project, which thank goodness because I suck at it. And two, he actually cares about his work. He's methodical and precise. I've noticed so far that he is really smart. He hasn't left me to do all the work, and it's been amazing.
"You know that you're kind of creepy when you stand there and stare at it right?" He asks without looking up.
"Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt in case you were in the groove."
He looks up at me then. With a questioning smirk, "the groove?"
"Yes, the groove. You know, when you get really into it and if someone interrupts you it messes everything up? The groove." I say, walking over to the table. I set down the waters.
"You American's are weird." I shakes his head and looks back down at the poster.
"Actually, we're in America. Therefore, you're the weird one I do believe." I sit down at the table and look at the poster, smoothing down one o the edges of a paper we glued down.
"Wow. Way to make an outsider feel welcome." I can feel the sarcasm rolling off his tongue.
"Haha. You're too much like us to be an outsider. Everything but the accent and not knowing what 'The Groove' is. Sorry buddy, but you're half American now." I sigh and look to the side. "It's a shame really. You would have been a great full bread one."
"You are insane. How does that even work?" He asks looking back up from the poster yet again.
"We ask that all the time. And yet she still doesn't give us an answer." I turn around to see dad standing in the doorway. He walks into the room and stands next to my chair. He sticks his hand out towards Alex, "You must be Alex."
"Yes sir." He says with complete confidence, "and you must be?"
"Daren. As you've probably guessed, I'm Lily's dad. So if you want to know any embarrassing stories about my precious little angel, I'd be more than happy to share." He grins slightly while I gape at his audacity.
"Oh, I will most definitely take you up on that offer." He grins. I don't know why, but his grin scares me.
"I'm sure you will." He turns and starts to walk out of the room, "oh, and by the way. You're staying for dinner. I'm afraid my wife is already setting a place for you." With that he leaves us alone.
"So what kind of stories might I get to hear?"