"I say we just skip this project and move on with the year."

"Natsu, we have to do this project. I'm not failing because you didn't wanna do it."

"I mean what's the point of having a creative project if we still have requirements?"

"It's to make sure we actually read the books and that we understand it."

Natsu let out a breath and fell backwards on Aina's bed. He tried to fight the sweat that was forming on his forehead, but it got too much and he went to take off his shirt to cool down. Aina noticed and scolded him.

"You have to stay fully clothed when you're in my house. I'm not dealing with my mom's lectures because you got hot."

He groaned and adjusted the fan so it was blowing right at him. Aina continued to work on the water portion of the diorama and let out an "ew" when the goo touched her hand.

"Hey Natsu?"

"Hm?"

"You don't do any work for school, right?"

"That's right, sweetheart."

"Then how have you not been held back?"

Natsu raised his head from the bed and smirked.

"Nobody wants to deal with me ever again, so no matter how bad I'm failing, I always end the year with a D- in all my classes for the final grade."

"Do the teachers really hate you that much?" Aina asked in disbelief.

"You bet!"

----------------------------------------------

"Aina, Natsu! Dinner's almost ready!"

Aina opened her bedroom door and shouted back down to her mom telling her that they'd be down in a few minutes. Natsu hopped off Aina's bed and stretched. They walked down to the kitchen and sat down at the table, thanking Kelia.

"How's the project going?"

"I've given up," Natsu responded.

"And I'm picking up what he's not doing," Aina sassed.

"Natsu, you only have a couple weeks left before you can forget about the project. Don't you want to finish as soon as possible?"

Natsu looked up to her and listened to her carefully. She laughed and passed him the potatoes and continued.

"I'm saying if you finish this project early then you won't have to do this for the rest of the term. You can finish before the end of the term and then you can have the rest of the term without working on it. Doesn't that sound better than dragging it out?"

---------------------------------------------

"My mom totally changed his whole attitude towards this project."

"Wait really?" Lucy asked bewildered. "How'd she do that?"

"She basically told him that he can get rid of the responsibility of the project sooner if we finish before the end of the term."

"Your mom always amazes me," Levy commented.

"No kidding. Does she always use psychology like that?"

"Believe me, there are times I wish she wouldn't."

The trio laughed and separated to get to their first period classes.

"So how long do you think it'll take to finish?" Lucy continued as they walked.

"If both of us work on it, it'll probably take two more meetings. We have to put the finishing touches on the diorama and then work on the presentation."

"Well hopefully your mom's plan works. I would love to have you be rid of that stress as soon as possible."

"No kidding," Aina moaned. "I swear I'm turning gray."

They entered Mister Justine's classroom and took their usual seats. The teacher greeted them in his usual friendly manner. He collected their homework once class started and began his lecture.

"Now A Tale of Two Cities is broken up into different books and..."

About thirty minutes had passed when the door opened and the salmon haired student entered.

"Mister Dragneel, you're late. Again."

"Are you sure everyone just isn't early?" Natsu sarcastically asked.

"Please take your se--"

The intercom interrupted him.

"Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox report to the principal's office. Now."

Natsu snickered and spun around, waving goodbye to Mister Justine and making a joke about how popular he was. Aina groaned and placed her head on the desk. Everyone turned to look at her because of the uncharacteristic response, but she just raised her head and whined.

"I'm never finishing this project."

---------------------------------------------

"Alright, so I figured we could work on the presen--"

"Why the hell were you called out earlier?"

"Oh," Natsu started as he snickered again, "it turns out the principal isn't a fan of letters."

"What the fuck did you do?"

He shrugged and dismissed it, casually stating, "We just put letters all over his office. He's such a buzzkill. Can you believe we almost got suspended? What a scam."

"Why didn't you? It sounds like something that would automatically get a suspension."

"I have some pull with being your partner, sweetheart."

"What does that even mean?"

"Well apparently everyone is banking on you 'turning me around' or whatever, so they came up with a compromise."

"I'm afraid to ask."

"You should be, sweetheart. Turns out they want me to shadow you for a week."

"H-Huh?"

"Which means," Natsu whispered as he leaned closer to her, "we're sharing all your classes for the next week."

The proctor's head snapped over to Aina's table when she heard a bang. Natsu cackled as he heard Aina's muffled frustrated screams.

--------------------------------------------

"Natsu Dragneel, I see your shadowing started right away. Please take a seat."

Natsu smirked and went to sit next to Sting, but Mister Neekis pointed him to a desk in the front by Levy. He huffed and followed.

"So Natsu is sharing your classes for the week, Aina?"

"Unfortunately. I swear if he gets me in trouble there will be--"

Sting softly laughed and responded, "I'm sure it'll be fine. He's already done the thing that him and Gajeel had been talking about, so I doubt he has anything else planned."

"How do you deal with them?"

"I guess it's because they're fun. Besides," Sting joked, "I'm an idiot. It's kinda my only option for friends."

--------------------------------------------

"So this is your journalism class? Kinda quiet."

"That's because everyone is working on their articles or layout."

"Boring. Let's skip."

"No! And you better not because I'm responsible for you."

"Aw come on, sweetheart. Don't you wanna sneak off and have some--"

"No. Now let me think."

"What could you possibly have to think about?"

"My article!"

Natsu kicked his feet up on the desk and closed his eyes.

"You're boring. I hope you're not like this all day."

-----------------------------------------

"Salutatorian, you'll never guess what I just scored!"

Aina looked over at Lucy and laughed loudly when she was holding a whole tray of muffins. She joined the blonde and Levy at the table.

"How's the shadowing going?"

"I swear he's gonna get me in trouble and then I'll be having a word with the principal myself."

"At least you have lunch alo--"

"This is stupid," Natsu remarked as he sat down at their table and overdramatically held his hands up to the vice principal.

"What are you doing over here?" Levy asked.

Natsu turned to Aina and explained, "The stupid VP told me I have to have lunch with you on top of having my classes with you."

Aina had to hold back her screams as she glared at the VP and grabbed a muffin.

"Oh cool. Muffins."

Lucy slapped Natsu's hand away from her tray and protectively held it closer to her.

"Hey what gives?"

"These are our muffins."

"Hate to break it to you, blondie, but I'm part of that our for the next week."

"Oh you did not just call me blondie."

"What's a cheerleader even doing hanging out with the two top students anyway? You should be over there."

They followed his finger over to the cheer and football section.

"Because," Lucy defended, "I like it over here better."

"That's just stupid."

Lucy smacked his hand away again when he tried to reach over the table for the muffins again.