[ BAMM!!] People were stunned by the sudden outburst of the door, only to find a guy breathing heavily like he was about to collapse any second. After a while, they went back to their conversation as if nothing had happened.

A guy wearing a shirt with his uniform unbuttoned stood at the back of a girl, facing the door of the rooftop when Harold burst through the door.

" Woah, where did you get this book from?" the guy question

" UMM.. it was in the library. I borrowed it there."

" Do you think there still some books available related to this topic?" his curiosity increases

" I'm not very sure. You have to check with the librarian."

The guy moved closer and closer every time they were talking and she was trying to avoid making a scene, so she ignores the advancement of the guy. Harold slowly caught his breath and he felt like he was getting his strength back.

He then saw a familiar face and a guy talking and thinking how close the two of them were. He started to believe that it might have been someone special.

" Oh, thank you for your help. I will check with the librarian. Hopefully, there will still be books left for me to borrow. Thanks!!" he smiled at her before walking away

" You're welcome." She smiled awkwardly back

Harold walks towards her, meeting the guy halfway. Harold looked at him with intensity as he turns his gaze to where she was seated. At the same time, the guy tilted his head to the side as he noticed Harold glaring at him. He felt this ominous aura from him and felt uneasy. He quickly walked towards the door, not looking back even for a second.

" There you are! Elizabeth. I have been looking all over the place for you." Harold exclaimed

" Oh, how did you find me?" Elizabeth asked

" I bumped into your best friend Harper and she told me that you went to the library straight after class in such a hurry." Responded Harold

" Then, when I couldn't find you in the library, I heard noises coming from here, so I bet my luck that you were here. I was right. Why are you here, anyway?"

" I'm here to do our project if you remember what miss Alison said. Since you said you didn't want to put in more effort, I figure I have to put in more myself because I don't want my grade to drop. I'm not fine with that." Replied Elizabeth

" Ohh right, the project. Why here? Of all places, why didn't you just do it in the library?"

" I prefer going here than the library. I like the scenery here and the quiet breeze it's very tranquil and I can do my work in peace. This is actually my favorite spot in all the places in the school."

" Why are you here, anyway? Didn't you say your satisfied not doing any extra work?" Mocked Elizabeth

" Can you drop it? I know what I said and I've been thinking about it and I wanted to give you my answer, but you stormed out of the classroom. I couldn't even say anything. I dont even know where you went. You vanished right after school." Stated Harold

" So, you decided to run around the school looking for me like a mad man."

" Well yeah, how else can I find you if I just stay in one place. How did you know I was searching for you like crazy?"

" I heard chatter from the other students here and I thought it would be dangerous to be around that premises and when you came bursting through the doors, I figure out that who the mad man they were talking about. It was you."

" Ah, right. That figures."

"Moron." She muttered under her breath

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

" Forget it."

" Don't you ever think that maybe she went to the library? It could literally save all your time chasing and running all over the place." She continued to mock him as she tapped her pen on the paper, forming a random pattern on her notebook

" I didn't think of that. I guess I was so caught up in chasing you that I didn't stop to think. Thank god I ran into your friend. She helped me out big time."

" I-"

"That's a whole lot of books. Did you borrow all those books from our library?" he interrupted

" Yeah. I mean, we need all the information we can get as much as possible." Replied Elizabeth

" Ok, what do you need help with? I am here at your disposal."

" Right now, nothing yet. I am just writing out our views through point form, so maybe just sit there and don't anything to disturb me."

"Ok, are you sure? Maybe I can pick out the transition of our slides and the pictures to make it stand out."

" Yeah. Ok, you can do that just don't make it complicated and too extravagant keep it simple and elegant. That's all."

" Yes, ma'am, I will do my best."

[HALF AN HOUR LATER]

" Hey!" Harold broke the silence

" Yeah! What is it?" she asked

" I ah just wanted to say that I.. am... um, sorry."

" Sorry? For what?"

" Well, you know, not taking this project more seriously. I should have. I should have taken more precautions and noticed how important this is. I mean, it is part of our grade. I apologize for that."

She smiled, showing a little emotion before speaking her mind.

" Hmmm. Apologizing well that is unexpected of you."

" How so?"

" I mean, you rarely or even don't apologize for your action, so it caught me by surprise."

" Well, your one to talk. You don't even apologize to me after saying so many insensitive that insult my very soul."

" HAHAHAHAHA. Oh, poor you did I hurt your dignity." Teasing him as she laughs

" Anyway, I didn't know you notice that. Well, I do apologize when Im in the wrong. That's just basic manners."

" Hmm, really. Who would have thought you do have manners after all?"

" Well yeah, I'm not a caveman. I know that's the basic thing to do."

" You do? I guess you can still teach a dog to fetch even though it's old."

" Dog? Stop treating me like Im a test subject who is being experimented on."

" HAHAHAHA!!! Anyway, apology accepted. Let's go back to our work."

An hour later, students started to disappear as the sky got darker and the chances of them finishing the work were impossible. There were a few more things that were needed to be completed.

" It's getting dark. I don't think it will help if you're reading that information in this state, I can't read anything in this lighting. Maybe we should pack up and leave too." Suggested Harold

" Yeah, you're right. The sky is getting darker. I guess it's time for us to leave as well, but we're still not finished yet."

" What's left for us to do?" Question Harold

" Ah, there's quite a bit of information that I need to write down. It's fine. I can just do it when I get home. Remind me to stop by the library to put these books back."

" Sure, let me carry them."

" Are you sure? They're pretty heavy."

" What?! How weak do you think I am. Youre able to carry it. I don't think it will be that heavy, so leave it to me."

He grabbed the books from the table which had been piled by Elizabeth and walked out of the rooftop. They walked through the library and went to the history section to place the books back.

" Can you hand me that book?" Asked Elizabeth

" Which one?"

" The book about the history of the world."

" Oh, here it is. There you go, its a bit too high, don't you think? Are you able to reach it?"

" Well yeah, of course. How else did I manage to grab the book in the first place." Responded Elizabeth

She placed the book, trying her best to reach the top shelf, tiptoeing as her whole body shakes as she stretches her hand up.

" Do you need help?"

" No. I'm fine. I can reach it." Her voice started to get rough

He went behind her and grabbed the book from her hands. She notices what was happening. She slowly let go and turned around. She looked up and got flustered.

" Yo.. you don't have to do that. You know I can handle it by myself." Feeling proud, yet her voice said otherwise

" I know you do. I believe you, but seeing you struggle to put it back-, I have to admit it's kinda cute that you're trying your best but watching from the side-line makes me look like a creep."

" AUGH!! YOU PERVERT!! Were you looking up my skirt? You better not or you won't see another day."

" NO, WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!!" Just then, the librarian walks past, glaring at both of them as they were making a lot of noise. They notice the hard gaze that was looking over their shoulder. Both of them made eye contact with her as she stares dagger at them.

" Sorry." They spoke softly as though they were whispering

" I still want my life, thank you very much. Now that's done, let's go home. The librarian looks pissed enough I don't want to make it worse." Spoke Harold

"Wait, I still have to borrow this book to finish our presentation slide." Remarked Elizabeth

" Oh, ok. Lead the way." He stretches out his arm, gesturing her to go first

" Well, it's all your fault we got into trouble with her." She said

" How did this become my fault? You were the one who started shouting in the first place."

" I wouldn't have to shout if you weren't being such a creep and trying to look up my skirt."

" I wasn't!! I was just standing there looking at you, trying your best to put the book back. There's nothing wrong with that."

" That still counts. You're like a stalker. You pervert." Teasing him

" Yeah, yeah, whatever, it's my fault. Let's just go home."

When they reached the intersection, students were chatting along the pavement, planning their afterschool schedule. Peak hours were starting to pick up as people walk by in such a rush in the early evening trying to get to their destination.

"Are you sure you'll be able to finish the things that are left in our presentation?" Asked Harold as he pushed his bike while he walks with Elizabeth

" Yeah, don't worry. There isn't much left anyway. It's going to be quick."

" Oh, ok. Thank you for helping out with this. I know I didn't help much and I kinda feel bad for it."

" Don't worry, it's fine. Its a partner work any way you helped more than you know. Thank you for staying back. I didn't expect it. I guess I was wrong about you." She expressed herself

" We could have finished it if I found you sooner, but it's fine. I appreciate you doing all the extra work for our project." Replied Harold

" You know you don't always have to have to act so tough. There are always people who are willing to help you. Just ask." He added

" Hmm yeah, I know, but it's just easier to do it myself and I can't rely on them all the time. so it's better if I do it."

" that's kind of a hard to drift away from. I guess you've been independent for a long time."

" You know-"

" If there isn't anyone you can rely on, you know I'm always here for you." He spoke softly under his breath

" Did you say anything?"

" Oh, it's nothing, just lost in thoughts, I guess."

" If you need help with the project, just give me a call. I will be glad to help." Replied Harold

" Oh, alright. I mean, there is not a lot of things left to do, but if I do, I'll make sure to call you."

" This is it then. See you tomorrow." Waving to her

" Oh yeah. See you and thank you. I'll keep what you said in my mind." As she walks further, unable to hear anything

" What did she say?" Trying to figure out what she said from the movement of her mouth

[ thanks. Keep.. in mind. Ah, forget it, I can just ask her about it next time.] thinking to himself

They both parted ways and headed home. Later that night, she was working on the project and realized that he didn't give her his phone number before parting way.

" How am I supposed to contact him when I don't have his phone number?" she muttered to herself

" I guess it's fine. I can do this myself I don't need him."

As she browses through the slides that she noticed some confusion about how they will be presenting it to the class, which will cause a lot of trouble and would not go perfectly if it wasn't fixed.

" Oh great, what am I suppose to do with this-"

Just then, her phone started to ring. She waited for a while as she tries to understand what and how she can fix the problem.

" HELLO!! WHO IS THIS?"

" Woah, it's me, Harold. What's with the yelling?"

" Harold? How did you get my number? I didn't give it to you."

" Yeah, your dear friend gave it to me. She said if I still couldn't find you, I should try calling you on your cell."

" That's just fantastic, she sighs as if she didn't have enough problem"

" What do you want?"

" Nothing. I was just calling you to check up and see if you need help on doing the project."

" Since you called, I do have a problem. What is with the slides? Why are they all over the place? How are we supposed to present it this way? It's so haphazard."

" Ok, calm down alright let me just take a look at it. Give me a minute."

" Alright, I understand. So the way it is going to be presented will be the 3rd slides first, then after that, we will go ahead and proceed to the 5th slides where all the statistics and graphs are done and after that, we will go back to the 4th slide. Does that make sense?"

" Yeah, but how come you decided to make it in such a manner?"

" That's what you said to me back at the rooftop. Did you forget?"

" I did? When was that?"

" Back when I was typing down all the information you were giving me to input into the slides, you said that it would be a more efficient and clear-cut way to understand what we are presenting."

" Oh yeah, I remember. I must have spaced out, but why can't we put the graphs and other information in the 4th slides again?"

" Well, on the 4th slides, we have all the effects of the war that contributed to the result of the postwar success and you said that it would be more visually appealing to the audience to have a clearer picture of the statistic before going into the resulted effect."

" Oh, right, I remember now. Thanks, I understand."

" Is that why you were stressing about?" Asked Harold

" Kinda yeah. I mean, if we don't do a good job on it, it will be a waste of our effort and time doing it."

Yeah, you're right, I understand. Are you ok? You seem to be spacing out?

" Yeah, I guess I'm just pretty busy thinking about this project and other things lately. Don't worry about it. I'm going to be fine.'

" If you say so, just don't overdo it. Remember it's a pair work, so just ask if you need help."

" Yeah, I will."

" Well, I guess I'll go and turn in. Big day tomorrow." Elizabeth responded

" Bye." [BEEP]

" Yeah, big day." Harold spoke but she had already hung up

It was going to be a long day for the both of them as they try to put their differences aside. Will they be able to pull it off and give an outstanding presentation or will their own destructive behavior be their downfall?