The Avery Shaw Experiment - By Kelly Oram Page 0,20
Mr. Walden my outline. “I’m going to prove that the cure for a broken heart lies in the seven stages of grief.”
As Mr. Walden read over my outline, Grayson looked at me skeptically.
“Actually, Avery,” Mr. Walden sounded impressed, “this is a very intriguing project. Very sound. The judges will really love the personal element too.”
“I know the project isn’t technically physics—I’ll help him study that too, of course, to bring up his grade in class—but if he did the science fair with me, could it earn him enough extra credit to get him playing again? The team needs him, and it’s his senior year. It would be awful for him to miss out.”
Mr. Walden thought it over and then sighed. “I suppose as long as you were turning in weekly progress reports, I could talk to Coach Safford.”
Grayson gasped. “For real, Mr. Walden? I can play? I don’t have to miss any games?”
The look on Grayson’s face told me he didn’t usually have teachers willing to help him out. Sometimes it paid to be a nerd. I’d have to point that out to him later.
“If you do the work.”
Grayson scooped me up into his arms and spun me in circles. He’s so tall that my feet were at least a foot off the floor. “Holy shit, Aves! You’re the best! I totally owe you forever!”
“Language, Mr. Kennedy,” Mr. Walden scolded, but I noticed him bite back a grin when Grayson wasn’t looking. He watched us for a moment longer and then said, “Actually, I believe you might be on to something with Grayson, Avery. The, uh, social aspect of this experiment is undeniably in his field of expertise. I believe he could do well with this project.”
I laughed. Yes, Grayson would be the perfect partner.
Grayson put me down and eyed Mr. Walden and me warily. “Okay, what? I’m scared now. What in the world are you talking about? There is no way I am an expert in any form of science.”
“Not physics, chemistry, or biology maybe.”
“Actually, now that you mention it, I do all right with biology, if you know what I mean.”
“Mr. Kennedy,” Mr. Walden warned in a tired voice. “Avery, are you sure you want him for a partner?”
I laughed again. “I’m sure. Grayson was born for social science.”
“Social science?” Grayson asked. “What is that?”
“I’ll explain everything if you agree to be my science fair partner.”
Grayson looked positively torn. I think he wanted to help me, and he knew he needed the extra credit, but he also looked like doing a science project might actually be the death of him.
“What would I have to do?” he asked. The question seemed to cause him physical pain.
“Nothing too awful. No equations, anyway. Since I’m going to be the test subject, all you have to do is help me through the seven stages of grief. I need an impartial perspective, and you’ve already helped me get past the shock and denial stages. I managed the bargaining on my own. Sadly, it was rather pathetic, but then if you hadn’t encouraged me to lay it all out to Aiden, I probably wouldn’t have done that, either. So, really, you’ve helped me through them all so far. Now all you have to do is help me through the rest. Help me past my guilt and then the anger. Cheer me up when I get depressed, and finally, walk me through acceptance.”
Grayson stared at me, dumbfounded. “You’re saying that you want me to take you out and help you get over Aiden in any way I deem necessary—”
“I don’t think I ever said that.”
“Nope. I’m the unbiased opinion, remember? If we do this, you have to do what I say.”
“Within reason,” I argued.
“Within reason,” Grayson agreed. “I make you forget my brother ever existed by taking you out on lots of really fun dates, and I get extra credit for that?”
“You’d have to keep a journal of it all. We’d have to catalog our experiments, compile our findings into an organized study, but yes. Basically.”
Grayson still looked skeptical. “And that’s considered science?”
I nodded. “Social Science. It’s the study of people and relationships.”
Grayson’s jaw fell open. He blinked a few times and then let out an incredulous laugh. “You’ve got to be shitting me!”
“Mr. Kennedy, you’re already in detention!” Mr. Walden released an exasperated sigh.
“Sorry. It’s just, that actually sounds fun.” Grayson looked at me, still in a bit of shock. “You’ve got yourself deal, Aves. Consider me your science partner.”
Mr. Walden clapped with satisfaction.