The Project

            Carly Mallone, a girl of beauty and a passion for success, was always eager to be number one in everything she did. She'd come up with the best ideas for projects and have the best essays in class. She inherited her characteristics from her father, whom was the CEO of a major business. She wanted to attend a high-end university since she has always set her goals so high. She's always aimed for the greatest and has always achieved the greatest so she knew it would be easy for her to do. However, one thing stood in her way; she still did not have an idea for her final project in her psychology class. Ideas would go in and out of her head like a gofer in its hole. She had to think of something profound and unique so she can get an A to get accepted to the school of her dreams.

            While in class one day, she noticed one of her classmates whom she never realized was in her class. She saw him talking to some girls that were working on their class work. It seemed like they were irritated with him talking to them. She heard the guy say that he had webbed toes. After hearing that they told him to go away and that he was annoying. His name was Seth Cox. He was part of the group of outcasts in the school. He would attempt to hit on girls with the assumption of hooking up but it never worked. Girls saw him as a desperate loser who couldn't accomplish anything. His sophomore year, he was forced to assist with hosting the annual school talent show for getting in a fight with his enemy, Bradley Montgomery. Halfway through the talent show he deserted the show because he didn't care for his punishment and thought it was stupid. After staring at Seth for a good amount time, Carly realized he had also been staring at her smiling. She abruptly turned away and acted as if she was busy with her class work.

            Throughout the next week, Carly would notice how Seth was around other people and how he'd put himself in awkward situations. Carly was still struggling with figuring out what to do for her final project in psychology class. No good ideas would pop in her head until one day in class in which she noticed Seth being rejected by a girl to go on a date with him. She had an epiphany. She wanted Seth to be her boyfriend; a fake boyfriend. After class, Carly hesitantly yet eagerly approached Seth to talk to him. He was surprised and didn't know what to do or say. The first thing to come out of his mouth was, "Do you want to go out sometime? I know a great deal at KFC" with Carly answering with, "Actually, yes." Seth was in amazement by what had just happened. Thoughts were streaming through his head rapidly. Was his flirty comments finally working? Was his "sexy" curly hair finally turning on the ladies? Did his outcast-rebel-John Bender from The Breakfast Club look finally entice the ladies to want to approach him? His thoughts were interrupted by Carly subjecting that there was a catch to the whole thing. She told him that they wouldn't really be going out, but pretending to be going out. She told him about her idea for the final project and how they could study people's reactions to the somewhat outlandish idea. They would take notes and write whatever it is that people in their school say or do following the coming out of their "relationship".

            Seth was confused with the whole thing. Carly with the urge for an answer told him about how if she were to get an A on this project then she would be able to attend the school of her dreams. She also said how his peers and the school wouldn't see him as a loser who can't accomplish anything anymore if he were to get an A on the project. He agreed but only under his own terms. He told Carly, "For us to make this as realistic as possible, we have to actually act like a couple; not just hold hands and all that stupid crap. You know...like make out and stuff." Carly, with disgust, said no and began to walk away. With the chance of finally being seen with a beautiful girl, Seth rushed to Carly and said that they "don't have to make out and stuff." Carly agreed and they shook hands. The project had begun.

            The next day at school Carly and Seth arrived hand in hand walking through the hallways. Jaws were dropping on the floor everywhere they'd go. Girls looked at Carly in confusion, while the guys were cheering Seth on. Seth had never felt this happy in his life. He walked Carly to class. While standing at the door, he leaned forward for a kiss, but Carly moved quick and let him kiss her on the cheek. Without anyone looking she kneed Seth in the groin and said, "Bye, honey!" A little squeal could be heard from Seth as he said bye.

            The project had been going on for two weeks now with everyone believing it was real. The whole social scene of the school was changing. The losers were getting the hot girls. All of the guys were treating Seth with respect even being part of his entourage. Carly was slowly losing her best friends. Every day after school, Carly and Seth would meet and take down notes of what they heard people say or do during each day. The notes were piling up. Their relationship was becoming a big part of the talk around school. As the days would go on, Carly became miserable with what people were saying about her. She didn't expect for her to get the bad comments by doing this project. Seth was getting positive feedback from everybody saying how cool of a guy he really is and how him going out with Carly was a good thing because they finally got to know him. Carly was starting to realize how good of a guy he is too, but it was hard for her to see him with this newfound popularity.

            It had been a month since they began the project and it was now concluding. Carly met at Seth's place to go over the results of the final week of the project. After reviewing everything, it finally hit Carly that she had no one to call her friend anymore due to the rude comments being said by all of the people she had once considered to be her friends. While sitting on Seth's bed she began to cry. Seth didn't know what to do. He leaned forward and instead of urging for a kiss, he gave her a hug and said that everything was going to be okay. Astonished, Carly looked at him and kissed him. Now, Seth was surprised. When she pulled her lips away from his, her mind realized that throughout the month that the project had been going on, she grew feelings for him. Seth's reaction was one simple word: "Whoa". Carly told him that she was sorry, but Seth answered back with another kiss.

            At the beginning of another week of school, Carly and Seth were ready to tell everybody of their fake relationship. During psychology class, they presented their project and told everybody that they were studying their peers and their reactions to the relationship. Everyone was in awe and somewhat angry. Carly and Seth would deal with the harsh comments from their classmates and some teachers, but they knew everything would settle down after a while. Later that day, Carly brought up to Seth how her and him had kissed the other day. She asked if it would lead anywhere like to an actual relationship. They began to kiss with him looking in her eyes with passion as she gazed into his with an adoring façade and they both said, "Nah!". They both began to laugh. This project brought them to realize that they're better off as good friends.

            Within the time of doing the project they didn't end up a real couple, but became great friends. They changed the school. Now, losers are going out with hot girls, cool guys are going out with smart girls, and jocks are hanging out with nerds. It doesn't matter who you present yourself to be, it's about who you really are.

            As Carly dropped off Seth at his home, she told him in sarcasm, "I'll see you tomorrow, boyfriend". "Really? You want to go out?", he asked. "No", she said, "We already said how we were better off as friends. What about friends with benefits?" She gave Seth a smirk and drove away. "Damn. That girl was my 'girlfriend'", he said and smiled.