Tasha
"You picked a really bad day to skip school."
Melanie
"I have a bug. My head's been in the toilet all morning."
Tasha
"Well, prepare your stomach. I don't have good news."
Melanie
"What happened?? Is someone pooping in all the lockers again?"
Tasha
"Worse. Mr. Donaldson assigned our final project today."
Melanie
"WHAT!? That's not supposed to start until May!"
Tasha
"He bumped it up. Wanted to take us by surprise. He said: "In the real world, you don't always have time to prepare."
Melanie
"But we're right in the middle of midterms! What is he thinking!?"
Tasha
"It gets worse. We were assigned partners..."
Melanie
"AND? Who am I with??"
Tasha
"Are you still by the toilet?"
Melanie
"Oh god. Who is it?"
Tasha
"Ben Watson."
Melanie
"NO!!"
Tasha
"Yes. I'm sorry, Mel."
Melanie
"BUT I HATE BEN WATSON!! Everyone knows that!"
Tasha
"Everyone except Donaldson, apparently."
Melanie
"I'll talk to him. He's got to change his mind."
Tasha
"I don't think that's going to work. We all have partners already. And our babies."
Melanie
"The babies were already handed out?!"
Tasha
"Yup. They're pretty lifelike. Kinda cute."
Melanie
"OMG! This is a nightmare!"
Tasha
"It's only a couple weeks. You can get through it. Although... Ben was tossing the baby like a football in the hallway after class."
Melanie
"Of course he was 🙄 I wish I could say that surprises me. BUT TYPICAL BEN!!"
Tasha
"I'd reach out to him if I were you. This project is 30% of our grade... You should make sure he's taking it seriously."
Melanie
"Ben Watson doesn't take anything seriously. All he does is goof around 🤦♀️"
5 minutes later, I text Ben.
Melanie
Hey Ben. We need to talk about this project.
Ben
Well, well, well... If it isn't the mother of my child.
Melanie
Don't call me that.
Ben
How about baby mama?
Melanie
NO. Cut the crap. We need to figure out how we're going to get through these 2 weeks.
Ben
First, I'd like an apology. And so would Lemon Head.
Melanie
Excuse me?? Who is Lemon Head?
Ben
Pshh, some mom you are. Picture incoming...
Ben sends me a picture of their baby.
Melanie
OH MY GOD! WTF is it wearing?!
Ben
It's not an "IT". It's a SHE. And she's wearing my dog's Halloween costume from a few years ago. Can't exactly have her walking around naked, can we?
Melanie
So you dressed her like a TACO?!
Ben
Hey, I'm doing the best I can. It isn't easy being a single parent. Which brings me back to my original point... You owe me and Lemon Head an apology.
Melanie
FOR WHAT?!
Ben
I had to take care of her all by myself today. Never took you for the absentee type, Mel.
Melanie
I had no idea this project was starting today! And for your information, I have a stomach bug. And talking to you certainly isn't helping!
Ben
Ouch. So mean. You should try being nicer. You're not making a good impression on Lemon Head.
Melanie
WOULD YOU STOP CALLING IT LEMON HEAD?!
Ben
Why? You've seen the pic. Her head looks remarkably like a lemon.
Melanie
Stop. Donaldson needs to know we're taking this seriously! I can't afford a bad grade.
Ben
What's a bad grade to you again? A 99?
Melanie
Ignoring that. Meet me tomorrow at Cafe Luna at 7am. Bring the project outline. We need to get a schedule figured out.
Ben
Is that all we are to you? A schedule?
Melanie
CAN IT, WATSON.
A/N- Thanks for reading this chapter!
