After that day,things started heating up between them. They never made eye contact and tried to avoid each other. Damien would never sit in the class during breaks and Lucas would run out the moment the bell rang.
During lectures they clearly concentrated on the teaching, more than any student in the class. However in between all the running away and stealing a glance at one another during lectures, they really felt down. Damien stopped going to the back alley for fear of bumping into Lucas and Lucas had stopped buying the cat food.
Damien's heart longed to go back to the alley and speak with Lucas ,but doing so will only bother Lucas.
But then they did meet once . After two weeks of cat and mouse,they finally bumped into each other when the teacher called in the boys.
Their homeroom teacher, Mrs.Margaret, could not locate the book project submitted by two of her students. She had accounted the books for all students and she definitely had seen the books of both of them.Maybe she misplaced them. It was her fault and she should help the kids out, she thought.
The solution was simple. Let the kids write half of the project and submit it as a group project and she could grade them.
Lucas and Damien looked at each other.
"Why should I submit it again if you are the one to lose it? Shouldn't you give us grades directly?" Damien questioned. He was visibly uncomfortable to be near Lucas and the words spewed like arrogance from his mouth.
Lucas stayed silent.
"I could have done that but I need evidence to mark you. Do you want to make the assignment all over again or do you want to do half an half?"
As Damien was to debate the proposed solution, Lucas spoke . "We will do it."
"Great, since you are working together I will give you three days to complete it. "
Damien frowned. Lucas never looked in his Direction but he could sense Damien was upset with the arrangement.
Outside of the staff room, Lucas turned around to face Damien. This was the first time in two weeks they were face to face.
"I know you don't want to work with me we can choose the topics we have to cover and do it seperately. we will submit it together. "
Sensing an opportunity, Damien smiled. "It is group project so we need to be together. Otherwise We should have submitted seperately."
"So you want to submit seperately?"
"No. I want us to work on it together. You and me."
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Stop whatever you are doing right now. You haven't looked at me the past few days and now you want us to work together. What game are you playing?"
"I am not playing anything. I just want to complete my project."
"Okay then. I will meet you at the library after-school. Get your card we have to issue some books."
Without waiting to hear the reply, Lucas walked away. He knew he shouldn't fall into Damien's game. If he ignores Damien, he cannot bully him. Thinking this, Lucas returned to class.
Damien stood there for a second, stunned and not ble to understand Lucas reaction. Why is that guy so cold now?, Damien thought.
Meanwhile on the other side of the school, a hand threw two project book into the trash can. Michael sighed. He found wondering, why is he such a good friend? . Michael walked back to class hoping that Damien would make use of the opportunity he had presented to him.