Project Cleopatra

Chapter 25:

It had been a week since I missed my assignment deadline. Fortunately for me, since this was a government issue Professor Gaius and his superior spoke to the university and I was still allowed to submit it for assignment purposes, even though it wouldn't be considered for the competition anymore.

Initially, I had chosen to do my assignment on Cleopatra but at the end of the day, I focused more on Julius Caesar. To be fair though it was from my home girl, Cleopatra's, point of view because that's the least she deserved after the hell I put her through. Though, from my research, I knew she had a lot more hell before and after the incident with me.

Marcus burst into the room, holding a bottle of wine. After our Roman adventures, it seemed we both had acquired a taste for it and decided to follow in Cleopatra and Antony's footsteps by forming our very own wine club.

"Ready to celebrate!" he cheered and laughed as he jumped onto my bed.

I playfully kicked his leg. "Hey, you have your own bed."

"Yeah but this one is comfier," he teased as he fell back onto the bed, cuddling to my side. I shook my head. "Plus, if I use this one, I get to do this."

I turned to face him, "Do what–"

He leaned up and kissed me causing me to blush. Since our return from Rome, there was something more confident about him. I guess, I was the same. Cleopatra and Antony brought out the best in us, making us live life more honestly.

I placed my laptop aside and deepened the kiss but broke away just as fast earning a small pout from Marcus. "I said after I get my results."

"It's not out yet?!"

"Nope."

For the assignment, we'd all get our marks back but that didn't determine your placement in the competition.

"So, what did you end up writing about?" Marcus asked as he folded his arms behind his head.

"Well, our journey in Rome. I felt like it was too good not to write."

Marcus chuckled shaking his head as if I was telling a joke but when I didn't correct myself he paused. "You wrote everything as it happened!"

"Yeah, you can also read about it online. I posted it for everyone to read on this writing platform I came across since it was technically a historically literature task. Basically, a novella."

"Is that why you asked for my point of view from when I left to fix the dagger and when I realised Octavian was actually Julius?" I nodded and he scoffed, feigning betrayal. "And here I thought it was because you were interested in my experience. Little did I know it would be used in your book."

I giggled and a ping on my laptop got our attention.

We both sat up and I opened my email.

Well done. A-. Fascinating but unrealistic!

"Unrealistic?!" I ridiculed and Marcus sighed in relief.

"I'm glad that was the reaction. How in hell did you not get in trouble for posting the story online with the time travelling information?"

"I got Gaius's consent. As long as I blurred out any other details or calculations you gave me and changed our names, they figured anyone who read it will just take it for what it is: a Cleopatra VII retelling. Eat that, Shakespeare!"

Marcus shook his head in disbelief as he got off the bed and went over to pour us the wine. "Well, at least you got an A."

I smirked, putting a finger gun to my chin. "Naturally."

I got up as he handed me my glass of wine.

"By the way, I got some exciting news too," he said as he poured himself a glass.

"Oh?" I asked and took a sip. "That explains the Recioto della Valpolicella."

"One of your favourites, of course." He paused briefly for what I'm pretty sure was dramatic effect. Then he cleared his throat. "So, we renamed The Project in honour of our leading lady."

I choked on my wine and Marcus ended up spilling the bit he was pouring. He placed the bottle down and rubbed my back.

"The Project is still running after what Octavian did?"

"Um, why wouldn't it?" he asked looking slightly confused and something tells me this wasn't the first time someone tried to steal the key.

"If we stopped every time someone did something, we wouldn't have ever completed it and thanks to Octavian's betrayal we were able to finally get down to ironing out the unknown variables with the data gathered through you, Gaius and me."

"I was just a lab rat!"

Marcus gave me a sheepish smile as I glared at him. "Well to me you are more than just a lab rat."

"I know you think that makes it sound better but it really doesn't," I said but I couldn't hold back my smile. "So, what did you name it?"

"Project Cleopatra and the pair of keys are now called the Eyes of Cleo. One's called Antony and the other is called Caesar."

"Aha," I said. "But that's so unnecessarily long–"

"Gaius insisted." Marcus's shoulders fell. "We had no say. He loves being dramatic and thought it would add some 'spice' to The Project's backstory. We are currently planning a coup against him."

"Makes sense," I nodded solemnly. "Good luck with the coup. Though, I kinda dig the new name. I wonder if it's too late to change my title." I clinked my glass against Marcus's and we took a sip.

"Oh, one more thing," he announced, placing the cup aside, and pulled out a small square wooden box from his bag. "I have this for–"

"Marcus, is that Antony or Caesar?" I deadpanned.

He gave me a knowing smile. "Antony."

"And you're going to return it straight back to Gaius after we're done?"

"Yes, ma'am," he saluted tucking the box back into his bag.

I shook my head.

What was I going to do with him? It seems he and Gaius have yet to learn from their mistakes despite being two of the smartest people I know. 'These men are hopeless', is what I imagine Cleopatra would say about now.

I missed her.

Marcus seemed to share the same thought as he raised his glass. "Here's to your assignment finally being over and done with," he toasted and I smiled.

"And here's to Project Cleopatra," I whispered as I stood on my tippy toes and pulled Marcus in for a kiss.

[Wattpad word count: 1050]

[Total Wattpad word count: 25 860]