Chapter 6

"What if we springs on the bottom, so it would bounce?" Azrael droned. He idly tossed one of the balled up papers in the air and caught it.

"Now you're just getting desperate." I rested my chin on the table. "We thought of everything! Propellers, parachutes, even a balloon box! So many cracked eggs..." I turned my head to the corner where prototypes lay defeated. I went back to lightly banging my head on the table. "We've been outwitted by a school project. By a poultry's period!"

"Wait-by wait?"

I looked up at Azrael through my hair. "Didn't you know? The eggs we get at the grocery store aren't fertilized because there needs to be a rooster to do so, and since the hens lay the eggs everyday either way, then what we eat is technically a chicken's period."

Azrael stared at me. I turned red and watched a fly make it jolly old insect way across the table.

"You're weird..." He said tossing the paper ball in the air again. He chuckled. "But in a good way."

"Thanks."

"Any time."

I rubbed at my hair. I had pulled it back into a ponytail so it would be out of my face, but since my long hair was so thick and heavy, it was pulling at my scalp.

Ignoring my abusive locks, I turned back to the paper pad.

THARIAH was bent over the paper, tapping the pen to her cheek, nose scrunched up in thought. It was kinda cute how she got so worked up about it, even rambling on about being bested by the chicken's period.

"Stupid hair!" She was muttered, rubbing her head. "Nope, can't do it anymore."

I watched curiously as she tugged at her hair tie, unleashing a flood of dirty blonde locks. I almost didn't catch the ball that I had thrown in the air. Now she was massaging at her hair, fingers running through the tendrils. It looked soft and the smell of vanilla wafted over. The light bounced off of it, just right giving it a golden look. Like someone had trapped a little bit of sunshine inside.

I felt her eyes on me and realized I was staring.

"Is... something wrong?" She asked.

So very calmly, and not at all in panicked manner, I chuckled the paper ball at her.

AZRAEL's face twisted into a shit-eating grin. That little bugger. Crush or not, I picked that paper wad up and chuckled it right back at his face. It hit him in the jaw.

Before I knew it, paper wads were flying like snowballs. He threw one and I ducked, the ball whizzing right over my head.

Then I remembered that Azrael was the pitcher for the school baseball team. I was screwed. Thus, very sensibly and tactfully, I bid a hasty retreat.

"I give up!" I squealed, weaving through the maze of boxes and furniture. "I give up! I give up! I give-" then my foot slipped an I majestically face planted into a box of crafting supplies.

"Are you okay? I am so sorry!" Azrael knelt beside me. I'm so sorry I'm such a-"

"Foam!" I chirped, whirling to face him. "For the egg drop!" Digging around, I pulled out a piece of the squishy green material. "Why didn't I think of that? I should've grabbed it for our supplies! We can make a cage out of straws in case it tips over and put something like cardboard on the bottom so it's stable but not too heavy or hard so the impact is nicer. Do we have straws? I think we do but we mi-"

I stood up quickly, maybe too quickly because I knocked over Azrael who had been worriedly leaning over me. "Sorry, sorry." I grabbed his arm and dragged him up and to the table.

"We have straws! We were not outsmarted by a poultry's menstrual cycle after all!"

THIS GIRL was something else. A few minutes she had been banging her head on the table in defeat, and now she was zipping around grabbing tape and hacking off the side of a cardboard box. Her hair fluttered behind her like a banner.

Afraid of getting run over, I sidled up to the table. She was talking to herself, mapping out how it would all fit together. I cleared my throat. "Anything I can help with?"

Thariah jumped and looked up at me. She let out a breathy laugh. "I forgot you were in here."

"So I'm not at all memorable then? That hurts."

"That's not what I meant!" She waved her hands hastily. "I swear!"

"I'm just teasing you. But seriously, what can I help with Ms. Santillan made it pretty clear about partners doing equal work."

"Right, right. Here hold this while I tape it."

47 MINUTES and half a roll of tape later and we had finished. Now to test it.

Taking the steps two by two, I cradled our project like it was a baby made out of pure gold. That was a weird comparison, but I think the point was made. Up another flight of steps we went, until we were in my room, standing at the window. I knew cleaning up was a good idea.

Azrael loaded the egg as I pushed the window open. The egg had to have half of its shell visible and touchable at all times. A little belt made of seran wrap stretched across its girth.

"Ready?" I breathed, turning to face him. He looked back, blue eyes locked into mine. My heart did a little flutter as I was reminded of my major crush on this guy. He smiled a little.

"Ready."

With that, we dropped the contraption out the window, onto my driveway below.

"WE ACTUALLY DID IT!" Azrael exclaimed holding our creation in amazement.

"I don't think I've ever been this proud!" I squealed a little and pulled him into a hug. It was nice for about five seconds until I realized oh my sweet I'm hugging him! And then I realized he's hugging me back! I pulled away stiffly like the most awkward zombie in existence. I could feel the bonfire on my face and I twitched my fingers through my hair.

Azrael was looking at me, his face was a little... Was that a blush? It's probably just the lighting. He broke out into that smile, the one that I swear is pure peanut butter and chocolate sunshine delight and my knees went weak just a little bit. He raised his hand. I grinned, still slimmering red, and gave him a high five.

"Now we just have to write the report."

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