Kara was thrilled when she discovered she had been paired with Lucas, the class president and top student. He was known for his intelligence and diligence, and working with him felt like a guarantee of success. She was confident that he would handle the project with precision, which made her task much easier. Kara couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing she wouldn't have to worry about her partner slacking off. Lucas was prompt, organized, and always aimed for excellence—qualities she deeply admired.
Meanwhile, Tara sat in her seat, her uneasiness growing. Unlike her sister, she wasn't lucky enough to get an ideal partner. Instead, she was stuck with Roman, the aloof and detached new boy who seemed to care about nothing. While other students were eagerly discussing their project plans with their partners, Tara debated whether she should approach him or just wait. But as the thought of failing crossed her mind, she knew she had no choice. Failure wasn't an option.
Roman sat next to her, his head resting lazily on the desk. His disinterest in everything around him was palpable, and it annoyed Tara more than she wanted to admit. Summoning her courage, she turned to him and lightly knocked on his table. "Hello," she said, her voice calm but firm.
Roman didn't even lift his head. "What?" he muttered, sounding completely uninterested.
Tara frowned at his response. "I just wanted to discuss the project. We need to plan when we'll meet and how we're going to work on it," she said. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Just give me your number, and that's all for now."
He glanced at her briefly, his dark brown eyes devoid of any emotion. Then, without a word, he lowered his head back onto the desk as if the conversation was over. Tara's frustration boiled over. She knocked on his table again, this time louder, her tone sharper. "I won't let you make me fail!" she snapped, her green eyes narrowing. "Do you think I want to work with you? I don't! But you need to pull your weight. Just contribute something—it's not that hard!"
Her outburst seemed to finally get his attention. Roman raised his head, his expression unreadable, and stared at her. The silence between them stretched, and Tara almost regretted speaking so bluntly. Then, without saying a word, he took her phone, typed in his number, and handed it back to her. He didn't apologize, didn't explain—just returned to his indifferent posture, resting his head back on the desk.
Tara rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation. "Seriously?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she slipped her phone into her pocket. She turned back to her books, trying to push the encounter out of her mind.
A few moments later, Kara returned to their seats, looking content. "Lucas is already making a plan," she said cheerfully, clearly impressed with her partner. Tara could only shake her head at her sister's good fortune. The twins sat quietly for the rest of the period, waiting for the school bell to ring. Tara couldn't help but wonder how she would survive this project with Roman.
Tara and Kara returned home, feeling a mix of relief and unease after the day's events. Kara quickly busied herself by calling Lucas, who picked up on the first ring. They discussed their plans for the project, with Lucas calmly outlining their strategy. Kara couldn't help but feel fortunate to have such a dependable partner. She shared the details with Tara, hoping to inspire her sister, but Tara was preoccupied with her frustration.
"Why don't you call Roman and sort things out?" Kara suggested while munching on the snacks they'd bought earlier.
Reluctantly, Tara dialed Roman's number. The phone rang endlessly, and there was no answer. She tried again and again but he still didn't pick up. After five tries, Tara threw her phone onto the couch, muttering angrily. "This is getting ridiculous! How am I supposed to work with someone who won't even answer his phone?"
Kara glanced at her sister but chose not to push further. She knew Tara needed to cool off. Eventually, both sisters retired to bed, hoping the next day would bring better results.
The following morning, they followed their usual routine, rushing to catch the school bus after a quick breakfast. The first period flew by, and soon it was time for chemistry. Mr. Gregory entered the class with his usual calm demeanor, carrying a stack of papers. "Good day, everyone," he began.
"Good day, sir," the students responded in unison.
"As you know, your project is focused on titration. Today, I will explain the details of how to approach this practical. Pay close attention because this will determine your final grade,every performance will be added" Mr. Gregory said, scanning the room.
Tara listened carefully, taking down notes as Mr. Gregory outlined the steps. The project seemed straightforward enough, but she couldn't shake off her worry about Roman's lack of involvement.
Mr. Gregory concluded, "This project is due next Monday. Work with your partners and ensure you submit on time." With that, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class.
During the break, Tara turned to Kara. "I'll eat later. I need to handle something first."
Kara nodded, understanding Tara's determination. Tara made her way to Roman's seat, her irritation bubbling to the surface. Roman sat there, casually flipping through a book, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Tara sat down beside him, her tone sharp.
"Why didn't you pick up my calls yesterday?" she asked, folding her arms.
Roman glanced at her lazily. "I didn't feel like it," he said nonchalantly.
Tara's jaw clenched. "What do you mean you didn't feel like it? You have to. This is about our project—my future. I can't let your attitude ruin this for me."
Roman shrugged, clearly uninterested.
Fed up, Tara slapped a notebook on the desk. "Here. Take this and prepare an essay on the theoretical part. I'll handle the practical work. At least make yourself useful!"
Roman stared at the notebook for a moment before picking it up. Without a word, he stood and walked away, leaving Tara fuming in her seat.
She let out an exasperated sigh, muttering under her breath. "I can't keep doing this. He's so frustrating! I just need to survive this project and be done with him."
Tara sank into her chair, already dreading the next interaction with Roman.
Kara went to meet Lucas in the library as they had planned for the weekend. "Hey, Lucas," she greeted.
"Hi, uh, Kara. How are you?" he responded, sitting up straight and rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I'm good," she replied. "For the project, let's begin so we can wrap things up and be ready before Monday."
"Alright," he nodded.
As they dove into their discussion, Kara noticed something unusual about Lucas. His normally sharp and focused demeanor seemed softer today—his shy, darting eyes gave him away. It was odd, as Kara always saw him as composed and goal-oriented. She brushed it off, focusing on the task at hand.
They began discussing titration. Lucas explained how they would need to prepare their standard solutions, use indicators like phenolphthalein to determine endpoints, and calculate the molarity of unknown solutions based on their experiments. He detailed the importance of precision, measuring out exact quantities, and properly recording their findings to avoid errors. Kara contributed by noting how they could divide the workload. "I'll handle the setup and initial calculations," she said, "while you handle the measurements and observations during the practical."
"That sounds like a plan," Lucas said, his tone steady.
After an hour of intense focus, they decided to take a break and headed to a nearby shop to grab some snacks. Sitting on a bench outside the shop, Kara sipped her juice while Lucas munched on a pack of crackers.
"Kara?" Lucas said, breaking the comfortable silence.
Kara turned to him, her green eyes meeting his shy gaze. She smiled warmly, "Yes?" she said casually.
Lucas froze for a moment, as if her gaze had caught him off guard. He quickly looked away, fumbling with his drink. As he took a sip, he choked unexpectedly.
"Lucas?!" Kara exclaimed, moving closer and patting his back with concern. "What is it? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine—K-Kara, I'm fine," he managed between coughs. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Can we... can we go back now?" he asked abruptly.
Though confused, Kara didn't press him further. "Alright," she said, following his lead. They returned to the library and resumed their work, putting the strange moment behind them.
Meanwhile, back at home, Tara was tackling her project alone. She focused on the practical aspect of titration, preparing her materials and working through the steps. She practiced identifying endpoints and memorized the procedures meticulously. However, she couldn't trust Roman to do his part, so she ended up attempting a rough draft of the essay herself. It wasn't her best work—she didn't know how to articulate it well—but she felt she had no choice.
She tried texting Roman again, hoping he'd at least confirm he was working on the essay, but there was no reply. It irritated her even more. "What's his deal?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head in frustration.
When Kara returned home that evening, she was visibly exhausted from her library session. Tara, too, looked drained but determined. Despite their fatigue, the sisters shared a brief exchange about their progress.
"How's it going with Roman?" Kara asked, sitting on the couch.
"As expected, he's useless. I've done most of it myself," Tara replied bluntly.
"And Lucas?"
Kara hesitated briefly, recalling his odd behavior but dismissed it with a shrug. "He's helpful. We've made good progress."
By then, it was late, and the weight of their workload bore down on both sisters. Tara had only mastered the practical side, leaving the essay largely unfinished. She went to bed feeling uneasy about Monday's presentation.
As Sunday came to an end, both sisters turned in for the night, their minds clouded with thoughts of the upcoming project. Each hoped for a better outcome despite the challenges they faced.