It's morning now, right?

I roll over and glance out the window of my bedroom, scanning the outside world. Overturned red clay where the lawn should be. Sawhorses, and tools scattered around, maintained by a hundred muscular men in hard hats pointing in various directions. They were getting ready to start the day.

You know... I could rent this room out to any girl in town. Auction it off. Sold to the highest bidder. Wooden prison, with a view.

I jump out of bed and throw my sweatpants across the room. I stand there in my underwear for a minute, already having lost track of what I was doing.

You're in your boxers, dumbass. What do you think you're about to do?

Maybe... Invite Lucy over.

I scoop my school clothes out of the dresser (a stack of crates in a corner), and grin to myself the whole time I'm getting dressed. The look on her face would be priceless.

It'd be weird if it wasn't. If it wasn't priceless I could be like "That look on your face is worth $275!" Then nobody would understand me.

I barely understand you.

I swipe my bag up, and march out the bedroom door.

"Construction zone!"

Fuck. I forgot. I duck back in and grab a hardhat from my wall, and stick it on my head, then walk out if the house.

"Adam!"

Goddamn, can't they just leave me alone?

I spin around and see my foster father walking over to me. I inwardly groan. Look, being a foster kid is hard, and I can't imagine what it's like being a foster parent. It's gotta be just as difficult for them, getting used to me, as the other way around. The problem is... they try so hard. Maybe, just a little bit too hard.

I don't really like to open up. It's not my thing. Nobody likes it when you get all emotional on them. So I don't let those emotions out. But you can get to know me. I just need a little space at first. Space that I haven't exactly been granted.

I force a smile as Rick, my foster father, jogs over and pats my back. "How're you doing, son?"

"I'm good. A little late for school," Actually I'm early, but I really don't want to be here.

"Okay, well, I'll let you go. But maybe later, you can help me out with a few things?" He suggested. "We can do plumbing, electricity, framework. If you want to start simple I can teach you some of the shingle shit,"

"No thanks, I'm-" wait, hold up. I turn to look up at the roof of the house. Shingles. The flat, plate like pieces covering the roof. "Shingles..."

"Yeah," Rick seizes this topic of slight interest like a lifeline. "You see, so we overlap the shingles covering the whole roof. Tacking them on, starting from the bottom and working our way up. That way all the gaps are facing uphill. So the rain water doesn't seep into the cracks, and make the ceiling leak inside,"

The Project is missing shingles. That's why the roof kept leaking.

Is it bad, when someone offers you genuine kindness, and you immediately find a way to use it for your own personal advantage? Maybe. But I see an opportunity here.

"Actually," I glance at Rick, still decked out in his overalls and hardhat, with a megaphone in his hand. The leader's megaphone. "I think it'd be pretty cool. Learning about fixing houses. Figuring out how they stay up, and you know... How to make them better,"

"Really?" Rick grins. "You came to the right place son. I can make a house out of a few twigs and three milk cartons. I'll show you whatever you might find interesting,"

That's practically what the Project is.

"Sounds good," I wave and start on my way to school. Glancing back, I see Rick sprinting towards the house. No doubt heading to tell his wife about the breakthrough.

I just smile and head towards the school building.

***

I'm a cat. A tiger.

I'm invisible. Silent.

As I tiptoe forwards, careful not to squeak my sneakers too much, I keep an eye on my prey.

She doesn't even know I'm coming.

And now, it's too late.

I take the remaining leap, and grab Lucy from behind. I catch her wrist and spin her around in a circle, making her yelp in surprise.

"Adam!" She twists around to look me in the eye. "Uh hi!"

"Hey there," I drop her hand and lean against the locker, with a smile.

She blushes a little and glances around the hallway, before lowering her voice. "You don't have to do this Adam. I know you're scared of my Dad,"

I hear people stopping to watch. But I didn't pay them any mind. All my focus is on her, right now.

"You mean we should keep it quiet, that you think I'm sweet, and amazing, and smoking hot?" I grin "I'm pretty proud of that fact. I don't care who knows,"

"That's not what I said. People are looking, Adam," Lucy whispers, nervously.

She's scared for me. Afraid that I don't really want to be seen around the principal's daughter. How cute...

"Good," I can't help but smile. "You're finally getting the attention you deserve,"

"I don't deserve attention," her face turns bright red before my eyes. "I'm not pretty Adam. Those are the people who get attention,"

"Hey," I shake her a little, frowning "Take that back,"

"Why? I'm not,"

"You're beautiful. And you're special,"

"I'm not special,"

"Yes you are,"

"Only to you, Adam,"

"And is that not enough?" I ask.

Lucy cocks her head a little and smiles up at me, a little sadly. "Why are you so..."

"Perfect?"

She freezes and blinks a couple of times. Then, finally, regains her composure, enough to roll her eyes. "Oh my God, get over yourself," Lucy looks up and stares into my eyes, before smiling.

"You're beautiful to me," I assure her, wholeheartedly.

She blushes and looked away.

I bite my lip "Is everyone still looking?"

She glances around, and looks at me, worried. "Yeah,"

"How many?"

"A lot," she shrugs "Why?"

"Because," I grin "I don't anybody to miss this," I reach down and push her hair out of the way, then drop a kiss on her burning hot forehead. "See you after class," I let go of her head and watch her lean back against the locker, flustered beyond words. And breathing a little quickly.

I turn around, and see most of the school (luckily not including Principal Johnson) watching me with gaping mouths and wide eyes. Some of the girls, and a few guys face holding a little jealousy, as well, but mostly they were stunned.

I gesture at Lucy "That right there, is hopefully going to end up my girlfriend. You fuck with her, you fuck with me now. And I'm not a fan of threesomes. So be civilized,"

And then I get a standing ovation (which is way less impressive than a seated ovation would have been, in this specific situation, but I'll take it). I blow a kiss at Lucy and head off to class.

***

Lunch. The best time of the da- OOF!

Did I just think the word "oof"?

Barely do I even take a step out of math class, before I'm taken out by a sucker punch to the side.

I slide down the wall and squeeze my mid-section, in a vain attempt to numb the pain.

Lucy kneels down to face me. "That's for embarrassing me earlier,"

I laugh and shake my head. "Did you train for this kind of thing?"

She laughs and sits down next to me.

What a beautiful laugh. Sounds like jingle bells.

Lucy points beside me on the ground. "You dropped a notebook,"

It takes me a second to register what she'd said, because I was lost in her. Everything about her, but mostly that laugh.

"Adam," she pokes my ribs and points.

"Ouch. What?"

'The notebook,"

I look down and see the journal a few feet away. Calmly and casually, I scoop it up and dump it into my bag. So as not to invite suspicion.

Mission failed.

"What is that?"

"Oh, uh. Just a journal," I say, casually.

The key to a good lie, is to always keep it as truthful as possible. Even if you change the whole story, keep as many elements the same, as possible. Because if you believe what you're saying, it's that much harder for anyone to prove you wrong.

"You have a journal?"

"Yeah, I have a journal," I nod.

See? I am, in fact, in possession of a journal. I never said it was mine. Is that still a lie? I think it counts, yeah. But it's a good lie.

"I used to have a diary," she shakes her head. "Several, actually. But I always get embarrassed by what I write and end up burning them,"

"Embarrassment?" I echo. "What's that?"

Lucy bursts out laughing. "Yeah, you wouldn't know, would you?"

I grin back. Then a pair of shoes stops in front of us. I don't want to look. I'm completely lost in her, but Lucy chances a look up.

Then she swallows hard. "Uh, hi Dad..."

Shit. Now I really don't want to look.

But I do, anyway.

Mr. Johnson looks like he is going to tear me apart, and honestly... I'm dead out of excuses that would cover my ass here...

The principal reaches down and starts to seize a fistful of my collar, before a voice calls out from the crowd of students:

"Alright, well... If Mr. Johnson isn't going to move, you two slide to the right a little. And, Adam, tuck your knee a little closer to your chest,"

All three of us look and see a girl. Dark hair, dark eyes, simply dressed, with her phone out, pointing it at us.

I'm the unofficial king of sarcasm, but, according to everyone I've ever met, I'm the official king of ad-libbing. So I slide over a foot or so, and look back at the girl, as if I'd known her my whole life.

I bring Lucy along with me, and tuck my knee in a little more. "Like that?"

She gave me a thumbs up and gestures at us "Okay, and look at each other again,"

I look down at Lucy with a similar look to the one I'd had before Mr. Johnson showed up. And she smiles back up at me.

The girl checks her screen again. "Good..." She looks up at the Mr. Johnson. "If you stand right there, you're going to be in the shot,"

Mr. Johnson clenches his jaw, and glances back and forth from us, to our mysterious ally. Then he grunts angrily, and stomps away.
As soon as he's gone, I stand up and bring Lucy up with me.

"Thanks," I say, looking at our new friend. "That was smart,"

She shrugs and smiles. "No problem. You guys are a cute couple,"

"Thanks," I smirk.

Lucy smack my arm. "We're not a couple,"

I glare at her, in mock offense. Then turn back to the conversation at hand. "Obviously you know my name is Adam,"

"Yeah, bro," she shakes my hand "Your intro is kinda famous right now. I'm Lexi,"

"Nice to meet you," I glance at the phone, and get an idea. "Can I see the picture you took?"

"Sure," she taps into her gallery, and shows me the screen.

"Looks good. I'll pay you ten bucks for a printed copy,"

"Cool. Thanks,"

"I should be thanking you," I shake my head. "You saved my goddamn life, and provided me with one of the best pictures of me, that I've ever seen. If you were aiming for a pretty good first impression, you nailed it,"

"You're a pretty cool dude yourself," she pulls up a video and shows it to me. Apparently my class introduction was trending at the moment. Though the video cut out right before Mr. Johnson entered. Someone had impeccable timing. "Salad took it,"

"Do what?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Salad took it," Lexi repeats herself. "My girlfriend,"

"That's an interesting pet name," Lucy says with a smile.

"Do you get healthier every time you eat her?" I laugh.

Lucy clubs me up the head so hard, that my world spins for several seconds.

"He's sorry,"

"I am?"

"You are,"

"I apologise,"

That second, a pretty, dark skinned, girl runs up and catches Lexi's arm. She smiles at us and points at her girlfriend's head "Hi, I'm gonna steal her. You can have her back later,"

"That's fine," Lucy laughs. "We should be getting to class anyway,"

Lucy tugs on my arm, and Salad pulled Lexi. But I catch Lexi's attention. "Hey, do you mind if I get your number? You seem cool, and I'm kinda low on friends here,"

"Hmm," she thinks about it and squints at me "I don't know. You could be like, an axe murderer or something,"

"I am an axe murderer," I inform her, gravely. "There. Now you don't have to wonder about it, because you know the answer. Can I have those digits?"

Sylas laughs and nods. "Sure bro, later. When we're both unoccupied,"

A classmate walks past and throws us a weird look, and Sylas and I share a grin. We must look pretty weird, talking nonchalantly in the hallway while two females are trying to drag us away with all of their might.

"Take a breath Hercules, I'm coming," I tell Lucy, then I start to follow her, tossing another thank you to Lexi over my shoulder. "That girl is awesome, in every way,"

Lucy elbows me sharply in the ribs.

"Hey! Pick a different target, you're going to collapse my lungs," I cough.

"Aham," she grunts.

The bell rings.

"Let's get to lunch, pretty boy," she says, with a layer of sarcasm that I'm pretending not to hear.

"I've actually got a half day today," I tell her. I'm going home to help my folks work on the house,"

"Alright," she waves and disappears into the classroom without another word.

And that was a lie as well. But also slightly true.

I edit a slip I'd gotten my folks to sign, to get me out of school a few hours earlier. Now I have time to check on the Project before I go.