Class Project

Date: August 16 

     Hazel could hear Nico and Will arguing about their class project in the next room. It wasn't easy though. Jacob was a loud kisser. She was glad that Hades and Persephone were both working late at the funeral home tonight.

    Hazel stiffened as Jacob pawed at her shirt. She swatted his hand out of the way.

    "I don't want that Jacob," Hazel said.

    "Why not?" Jacob grumbled.

    "Frank is coming over to work on a school project," Hazel said evasively.

      Jacob sighed. 

     "I told you about this yesterday," Hazel said.

     "But I need you," Jacob whined.

      "I can call you later," Hazel promised. 

    She heard the doorbell ring. She got up.

    "I think Frank is here," Hazel announced.

    "Why did you pair up with him?" Jacob grumbled. "The senior girls say he's a pathetic Chinese-Canadian baby man."

    "Jacob, that's rude," Hazel said. "Besides, I don't really know him."

      Jacob exhaled.

     "I just want to protect you from him," Jacob said. "He might say weird things. He's socially awkward."

    "I'm sure I can handle it," Hazel said as she walked down the stairs.

    She opened the door and Frank gave her a little smile. Jacob glared at Frank and then turned to Hazel and gave her a messy kiss.    

    "Bye, babe," he said.

     Hazel exhaled as he left.

    "Is he always like that?" Frank asked.

    "He has a lot of energy," Hazel said.

    Frank grunted.

    "Do you want to work in the dining room?" Hazel asked. "I have goldfish."

     "Sometimes I wish I could be a goldfish," Frank sighed and Hazel giggled.

    He looked at her, his eyebrows raised.

    "You're funny," Hazel said.

     Frank shrugged and sat down on the dining room table. He got out his laptop while Hazel poured goldfish into two bowls. She then poured some pomegranate iced tea that Persephone had made into two glasses.

    "I'd better get my laptop," Hazel said. "I left it in my room."

    "Alright, I'll make a Powerpoint and share it with you," Frank said.

    Hazel climbed up the stairs. As she fetched her laptop, she heard Nico and Will working on their project. Though they were squabbling, Nico sounded happy for once. Hazel smiled.

     "Why did you title the slide 'Achilles: Snatched or Savage' ?" Nico asked. 

      "It's just the title slide," Will said.  

     Hazel walked downstairs, smiling at her brother's antics. As she walked into the dining room, she waved at Frank. He was sipping iced tea while typing on his laptop. Hazel opened her laptop, turned it on, and pulled up the Powerpoint.

    "So, what should we say?" Hazel said.

    "Well, Andromache and Hector are married," Frank  said.

   "And it's obvious they're in love," Hazel added. "Andromache begs him not to fight Achilles and he tells her that he fights to keep her out of slavery."

    "Alright, we can put that down," Frank said.

    The two of them worked on the project for two hours. Frank was shy, but amiable and smart. Hazel enjoyed working with him. When they finished, Hazel told him that he could sit with her friends tomorrow.

   "Thanks," Frank said. 

    Hazel had never seen anyone look so happy. She led him outside to where his grandmother was waiting in her car. She waved as he left.