Chapter 9: Ivy

I just heard that some lucky girl got partnered up with our very own legend on the football field in a business ethics class. Damn... I knew I should have stuck it out with that major... KingOfCampus.com

"For the next six weeks, you're going to work with a partner on a project that will be worth sixty percent of your final grade." She pauses as shocked gasps ripple throughout the room. Apparently expecting just such a reaction, Professor Paulson nods her head as if to reconfirm what we're all hoping we somehow misheard. "Yes, that's right. Sixty percent. It will be worth more than anything else you do in here, so keep that in mind when working on it. Not only does the topic need to be well researched, it will have to be completely fleshed out, so it supports the main idea of your project."

Another round of groaning along with disbelieving chatter grips the class. Her eyes slowly encompass all of us. "The end result of your time and energy spent researching will be a thought-provoking paper twenty pages in length." Holding up her hand, she cuts off the sudden conversations that have sprung up.

"Okay, quiet down. Quiet down, please." She clears her throat before glancing at the clipboard she's holding in her hand. "I'm going to run through the class list and pair everyone up today. We're going to spend about ten minutes going over my expectations in more depth and then you'll have about fifteen minutes of class time to work with your partner."

Feeling just as stupefied as the rest of the class, I sit silently in my seat as Professor Paulson runs through the list of students enrolled in her course. After she reads off the second set of names, it becomes apparent that she's pairing people up alphabetically. Something in my heart clenches as she reads off my name. Unless there's someone else that falls between Kaster and King, I'm-

"Ivy Kaster and Roan King."

-screwed.

My gaze reluctantly cuts across the room to Roan. I'm startled to realize that he's already angled his body toward me. There's a hint of a smirk sliding its way across his handsome face.

I gulp.

No.

No. No. No.

I can't work with him.

This is a massive project and there's no way in hell I'm going to get stuck doing all the work by myself. With the eighteen-credit course load I have and working ten hours a week, I don't have the time it would take to complete a project of this scope and magnitude on my own.

Before I can work myself into a tizzy, Professor Paulson hands out a packet to each of us regarding what we're going to be working on for the next six weeks. My heart sinks further when I read through the expectations.

Shit.

Sixty percent of my grade is riding on Roan King. I almost laugh at such an absurd thought. The freaking king of campus, with his-what did Finn call them? Oh, that's right...his pussy posse, is holding my grade for Business Ethics in his huge hulking hands.

Nope. I can't allow that to happen. I need to work with someone who actually gives a damn about their grade and is going to do their fair share of the workload. I need someone who is serious about this class...and school, for that matter.

And I just don't think that's the resident demigod football player.

I mean, he barely takes notes in class while all I do is tap away on my laptop from the very start to the end of class. My guess is that he's probably here on a football scholarship. From what I've heard, he's not even going to finish up his degree before he turns pro. He probably doesn't give a crap if he passes or fails.

But I do.

I'm here on an academic scholarship and I can't afford to lose it.

Once Dr. Paulson goes through the packet, and we're allowed to get together with our partners, I scurry toward her desk. Not wanting to catch Roan's eyes, I keep my gaze trained straight ahead.

That unfortunately, doesn't work.

"Hey, where you going?" he calls out as I hustle toward the front of the room.

Guilt floods through me as I shoot him a quick look, not allowing my eyes to linger. "I have a few questions for Professor Paulson. I'll be right there."

Once beside her, I give her an apologetic look because this is only the second week of school and I don't want her to think I'm difficult. On the other hand, there's no way I'm getting stuck with deadweight either.

I really hate group work.

Sitting at a desk off to the side, she glances over the black frames of her glasses. "Question, Ms. Kaster?"

Awkwardness descends at the thought of discussing this with Roan sitting twenty feet away from me. "Um, well, I was wondering if it's at all possible to be reassigned to a different partner."

If the slow blinking of her light blue eyes is any indication, then I've completely thrown her for a loop. She'd probably assumed I had scurried up here to thank her for partnering me with him. She couldn't be farther from the truth.

"Do you have a problem working with Mr. King?"

At the mention of his name, I can't help but hastily glance over my shoulder to where Roan is sitting. My face floods with heat as my eyes catch his quizzical ones. Turning back toward her, I lower my voice before admitting my concerns. "I, ah...this is a really huge project and I want to be paired with someone who is going to do their share of the work." When she doesn't immediately respond, fresh nerves spiral through me as I shuffle from one foot to the other.

One brow slowly hikes up her forehead as she contemplates me for a long silent moment that leaves me filled with unease. Her words are sharp and low when she finally asks, "And you already know that Mr. King won't be able to contribute his fair share to the project?"

If I weren't already blushing, I would be now. My gaze slides away from hers before I force it back. "Um, well, I just thought-"

Abruptly her slim hand slices between us and my words fall off. "There will be absolutely no reassignment of partners for any reason other than someone dropping the class. And I do not believe Mr. King will be dropping this class." If it's possible, her eyes harden even more until they resemble cold little chips of ice.

"A hard truth you apparently need to learn, Ms. Kaster, is that we don't always work with the people we want to. Bosses, co-workers...we often find ourselves at odds with them but still, we must find a way to compromise and work together for the greater good." She levels me with one last frosty glare that leaves me wilting beneath it.

"I suggest you find a way to work with Mr. King for the greater good of this project otherwise both of your grades will suffer for it." She glances rather pointedly at the thin gold watch adorning her wrist, signaling that this subject has been firmly closed. "Now, I suggest you use the next ten minutes wisely to discuss possible topics with your partner."

Feeling very much like a recalcitrant child, I nod before skulking down the aisle to where Roan is sitting with his long legs spread out in front of him. There's a slight frown marring his face as his focus burns into me. Even though my gaze is lowered, I still feel him staring.

"Get everything squared away?" There's a distinct edge to his normally lazy sounding voice.

With my face flushed, I force my eyes to his. "Yep."

Glancing at the five-page packet stapled together, I clear my throat uncomfortably. It's pretty damn obvious I'm going to be the brains of this operation. And, unfortunately, the labor as well. Roan will add his name to the byline after the project has been completed and that, apparently, will be his big contribution.

Even though I've been all but chastised by Professor Paulson for trying to switch partners, I'm starting to work myself up all over again because my scholarship rides on being able to maintain a 3.5 grade point average. I can't afford to lose it. And I'm certainly not going to let getting stuck with this Neanderthal as a partner stand in the way of getting an A in this course. So, if that means I'm going to have to do the workload of two people to eek out that A, then that's exactly what I'm going to do.

"I was thinking we could go the case study route instead of the informal content analysis." Because the main component to analyzing a case study would be research. And research is something I can handle on my own. Even though it'll take a lot of time I don't have. But there isn't another choice. I can't drop this course, it's a requirement. I need it to graduate.

Roan continues staring at me through semi-narrowed eyes before nodding his head in agreement. "That sounds fine to me."

Since Roan probably won't be contributing anything more than that, I'm not really sure what else we have to discuss. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I notice we have about five minutes. I don't see a point in sticking around any longer. I'm meeting Lexie for lunch and then I have French and dance. And I-

"You're leaving already?"

His words snap me right out of my thoughts. "Um, well, yeah."

I'm shoving the packet into my bag when he asks, "Don't you want to discuss what kind of case study we're going to focus on or when we can get together and work on it?"

For a moment, I stand there gaping at him in surprise. "Ummm, is that what you want to do?"

The hard line of his jaw tightens as his normally smirking mouth settles into an annoyed slash across his handsome face. "Yeah, Ivy...it is. This is a massive project worth more than half the points in this class. I have a tight schedule with my course load, practice, games, and working out, so I'd like to get something firm nailed down as soon as possible. I can't afford to wait until the last minute."

I blink, feeling totally blindsided by what he's said because it kind of sounds like he actually plans on contributing to this project.

When I don't immediately respond, he leans forward, his heated blue-green eyes sparking with anger. "You don't have to look so damned shocked. Contrary to what you believe, I have every intention of doing my share of the workload."

My mouth tumbles open before I snap it shut. He gathers up his books, shoves them into his backpack and stalks out of the room before I can stutter out an embarrassed apology. As soon as he does, three girls huddle around me, blasting me with rapid fire questions all the while gushing about how lucky I am to be working with Roan King.

I can only smile halfheartedly before collecting my stuff and leaving. I think I just made a huge tactical error regarding this guy. Is it possible that Roan isn't the dumb jock I pegged him to be? I almost wince because I usually don't make snap judgements about people. For some reason, I assumed Roan was coasting through college on his football prowess and good looks.

Maybe that's not the case.

Maybe there's more to him than I'd initially suspected.