CHAPTER 2.

It was three in the afternoon, and I was waiting for Jeremy at the coffee shop. I needed to talk to him about the not-so-pleasant news. The truth was that when I developed the project idea, I had thought of him to help me with the robotics part of it. That’s why I asked him to submit his application, and he happily said he would.

I saw him as he arrived with his usual, wide-open smile. Jeremy had dark brown hair and rather kind blue eyes, full of thick, thick lashes. I remember that we became friends in sophomore year, when we shared a class together. Since then, we had become great friends. Jeremy was every girl's dream. Intelligent, great sense of humor, very polite and handsome. We confided to each other all our adventures and tragedies in love. Just like Susie, he was also my confidant. They were both my best friends, and I suspected that they secretly liked each other, but they didn't want to admit it openly.

- Hello, handsome.

- Hi, Jules!

- I hope you don’t mind… here. – I said as I slid a regular coffee with sugar in his direction. That was his favorite.

- Thank you. Always a sunshine. – He said as he panted.

- I know. Sanders? - I figured he was just coming from Sanders' class. That professor had a reputation for being a pain in the ass. Jeremy's exact words.

- Yeah. – He grimaced as he threw his head back as a sign of tiredness.

- Does he keep throwing balls randomly to make people answer difficult questions?

- As if we were at a fucking ping-pong tournament.

We let out a loud laugh at the same time. He then told me about his weekend and how had it been to spend his brother’s birthday at a sufferable beach party full of teenage drunks. He had invited me but I ended turning down to do some work on the project already.

-Jer…

- U-hum…

- Liam was assigned to my project.

He looked up and sighed. He opened his mouth for a second, and then seemed to reconsider what he was about to say. He opened it again and then spoke.

- When did you find out?

- Today... but...

- Fuck… - he muttered.

I frowned trying to understand until it hit me. - You already knew… - it was an affirmation rather than a question.

He looked at me seriously, as if he was carefully choosing his words before they left his mouth. Then he sighed and shook his head. - When I went to submit my application, I saw his name… on the list. – He paused and continued. – I assumed that he had simply filled out the form because it was a robotics project and that’s it. But when I asked Peters, he told me that Liam was initially considered for another project, but that he showed particular interest in participating in this one in specific and that, given his profile, he was one of the strongest candidates.

I looked at him dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe it.

- I am so sorry, Jules. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to upset you in advance if there wasn't any decision taken yet. There was a list, and they could have chosen anyone. I didn’t think that he actually… Fuck…

- Yeah…

He sighed. - I am really sorry. I should have told you earlier. Perhaps you could have worked you way out of it.

I tried to get out of my lapse and shook my head in order to clear my ideas. I sighed.

- No Jer, it's not your fault. Actually, I feel really bad that they didn't pick you. I was counting on you for the project, I wish that they had chosen differently. I wish that they had chosen you instead. I just hate it.

- Me too. - He gave me a reassuring look.

- But your project…

- Oh. Don’t you worry about it. I guess Sanders will take it upon himself to assign me to one of his crazy projects. It’s ok. I can handle him. - He forced a gentle, caring smile.

- I am really sorry. - I said in a whisper.

- Don’t be, ok? I’ll be perfectly fine. I am more concerned about you. How did the news hit you?

- Well, you know. I really hate the idea of working with him. With all my heart. But there is no turning back. I have no choice but to make a sort of truce.

- Truce? – He looked at me confused. - With Liam? Liam Anderson?

- Yeah…

- What kind of truce? - He said intrigued as he took a sip of his coffee.

- Some basic rules of coexistence.

- Basic rules of coexis... And do you think that’s going to work? With him?

- I don’t know. I have to try, Jer. Not very pleased with it, but...

- Have you already talked to him?

- Yes. - And I explained to him what happened o. Our first encounter that morning.

- So it’s tonight. You are going to meet him tonight and explain all about this truce idea?

- Yeah.

- You know that if he does anything to you, I'll kick his ass, right? - he said and reached a hand to me.

- Yes, I do. – I told him, holding his hand in gratitude, and really hoping that it would not be necessary.

~~~

It was 5:57 pm when I walked through the library doors. "Don't be late, Pinky." What a piece of a cocky ass. Anyway, I should put Susie's plan into action today. To be honest, I wasn't convinced, but I had already reluctantly accepted the fact that there was no other option but to keep Liam in my project. Putting up with him for six months would not be an easy one, but according to Susie, the rules were faultless and would at least make the situation more bearable to me.

That's right. Susie's plan was to establish certain basic rules of coexistence with Liam that would help me guarantee the minimum levels of mental health needed to successfully develop the project. I was nervous because I had to talk to Liam about these rules today, and if Liam didn't agree to them, I'd be in the awkward position of having to talk to Professor Peters ( my very last resource ), and try to convince him that Liam needed to leave the project. The whole situation stressed the hell out of me, but I had to do it. I had to try to convince Liam that the rules were good for both of us and, therefore, for the project's success.

I got to the study rooms section. I saw Liam sitting in the last room, nimbly typing something on his laptop. I took a deep breath and started walking in his direction. At that time, the library was already a little bit void, so my footsteps revealed my presence immediately. Without taking his eyes off the screen, as usual, he continued relentlessly drumming the keyboard of his computer.

- Shut the door. - Those were his first words as soon as I stepped into the room. This was going to be more difficult than I thought. I did what he asked without complaints. My mission today was to soften his spirits before the bomb that I was about to throw in a few moments hit him.

- Ah… - was the only sound I could articulate before he raised his index finger in my direction, never taking his eyes from the screen, as a request to keep myself quiet. I rolled my eyes. He was an arrogant brat.

I walked silently to the closest chair, right next to the door. If I needed to escape, I had to be as close as possible to the exit. I pulled out the chair and sat down, letting out an inconspicuous sigh.

After a minute or so, Liam stopped torturing his laptop.

- I'm sorry. I had something important to finish.

I smiled without saying a word.

- You arrived on time. – His eyes met mine, arched eyebrows. - I’m impressed.

- I always come on time.

- I bet you do. - He said with a smirky face, eyes hooked back up in his laptop’s screen. Typical Liam.

Typical Liam.

- You know what? I'm not convinced that this will work.

- This?

- Yes. This. - I said pointing the finger alternately between us.

- Be more specific, Pinky. What is "this"?

I took a deep breath. Then counted till ten. No. Till a thousand. How about up to a million?

- This… why do you even insist on calling me Pinky?

Liam faced me, brows lifted in amusement. I began to question myself if all those rules’ plan that Susie devised was really going to work. His eyes were still on me so I took it as for me to continue speaking. Well, at least now I had his full, undivided attention. It was about time to talk about the truce.

- If you want this to work, we must follow basic principles of coexistence. Civility, if you want to see it that way.

He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. Then he leaned back in his chair.

- What are you talking about?

- A list. A list with a set of simple rules that we must follow to the letter.

I could see how he was holding back his laughter. Damn you, god of the perfect abs.

- Rules?

I swallowed dry and nodded. His gaze transformed into a penetrating, darker one. Then he leaned over to the table and rested his arms on top of it, hands laced together.

- What rules?

I narrowed my eyes and took the sheet that I had been keeping safe in my folder. Liam seemed to be enjoying himself. Have fun while you can, big guy. I thought.

- Here.

He took the sheet suspiciously and immediately raised his eyebrows.

- You printed them.

I shrugged and he shook his head, turning his eyes to the neatly folded piece of paper.

He began to read its contents and as he did that, my ears started buzzing and a heat took over my face. Stress. Dammit.

Liam's eyes wide-opened. His mouth narrowed. All sorts of gestures came out of his face. He wasn't taking the list seriously. He turned his eyes to me after finishing reading all the contents of it.

- Have you lost it, Pinky? Where did you get all this? Seriously, you should stop watching Suits.

- U-hum. Rule number 3. Please.

Oh yeah, sorry. Rule # 3. The parties will address each other in a respectful manner. No nicknames. No Pinky.

- This is ridiculous.

- Look, Anderson. If you don't want to do it, I understand. This is a basic behavioral protocol for our project. If you cannot follow these simple rules, then I will be forced to take some other measures.

- Really... - He leaned back and crossed his arms, evaluating my answer, my reaction.

- Humor me... - That's it. The beast had been unleashed. I was going to go to the end of it. If he was not to sign this agreement, I would rather suffer academical shame by talking to Peters, if that would mean having 6 months of my sanity guarded. He considered for a moment. - You know what, I don't have all night. If your answer is "no" then... - I said pulling the sheet back from the table. He stopped me.

- Alright. I will do it. I will follow your... rules. But with one condition. – Ohhh, there you go. I sighed. Of course he did have a say on this. He couldn’t just let me win this one, didn't he. He took out a pen and began scribbling on the piece of paper and then handed it back, eyes stuck on me. I took the sheet suspiciously and looked down at what he had just written at the end of the document.

"Suggestions to add, remove or modify the rules can be done at any time. All changes will be subject to the approval of both members."

What the hell? Anyway. “…subject to the approval of both members”… At least that would give me the right of veto. Count on that, Liam. Ok, it wouldn't hurt to agree on that new rule. If this was what it took to get Liam sign the peace agreement, I had no problem adding one more rule. I took the pen and signed. Then, I slid the paper back to Liam and he did the same.

- You got yourself a deal, Baker. - Was all he said. And for a moment I resented of all this crazy idea.