Slowly, your classmates' names were listed off in pairs, determining the fate of who would be your project partner for the next month. Astronomy, in the Senior year, turned out to be a tougher class than you imagined. This project was a hefty 50% of your grade, and you prayed you'd get a decent partner...

Until, the name fell from Mrs. Atkinson's lips... Edward Nashton. The class weirdo. Most memorable from Freshmen year biology, when he dissected a frog with practiced ease, winning the class contest... then used it's shell like a puppet after.

Great.

In the corner by the window, the boy stirred in his seat, casting you a sidelong glance, before returning his attention to their teacher skittishly. Luckily, he had a reputation for being freakishly smart, so at least he'd be useful.

Half an hour later, as students filtered out of the dreary Astronomy classroom, Edward approached you with hesitant steps. Cradling a few hardback books, the brunette met your gaze sheepishly, a hand pushing up his glasses.

"Hey -- hi. So I guess we're partners," he followed in pace beside you, passing-period rendering the hallways packed, "which planet do you wanna do?"

An obvious nervous aura emanated from his lanky form, by the way his green eyes darted about, and hands fidgeted with the rim of his glasses.