School Affair

Chapter 10

The following Sunday, Nathan takes Jessica to a horse race. Not being sure if she should even go out with him, turns out he wanted to show her how fun math could be, thanks to horse races. Jessica gets it now; it was weird to invite her out.

"Your problem is that you need to start thinking that math should be fun. So, we are going to watch the horse races with a mathematical point of view. The brain is a mysterious thing, you know. It likes to be rewarded. You need to feel the pleasure on doing math... the pleasure of wining because of math."

"So, you think that will make me like math?" skeptically she looks at him

"I am sure of it." Jessica never once in her life thought that math was fun, and she doesn't know if she can do this.

"You have to choose the horses by using a simple method. Have you ever heard of the problem some kings had to face when choosing a wife? They were allowed to choose one woman from the harem to take as their wife. The rule was they could only see one woman at a time and had to decide whether or not to marry her immediately and when each woman left, they were not allowed to ask them to come back. The kings want to choose the best woman to be his wife, just like you, who wants to choose the best horse. And in order to do that, you have to see a few of them before you can sort them out. We got some time, so I will explain it while we go look at the horses in the paddock." 

Nathan seems really excited, it's the first time Jessica sees this side of him, walking around he explains some more things until the race begins. The first race begins, and the feverish cries of the spectators  quiets drown, according to Nathan, Flying Spirit was the correct horse based on the probability theory he taught her. The horse sprinted like the wind and takes over the first place, winning easily.

"Easy, just as I expected." Being a little too excited Jessica takes his arm and shakes it which surprises him.

"Oh my god, I didn't think we would win actually! Oh... I am sorry, I didn't mean to do that..." looking down she feels embarrassed about what she just did.

"...It's okay. So, how much did you win?" taking a step back, Nathan looks around, not daring to look at her, because of how much she surprised him with her action.

"Um...let's see I bet 10€ and the probability of winning was...it has to be 40€, right?" looking up at him, he was impressed how fast she got the correct answer.

"That's correct...and what if we would be bet on this horse?" pointing at another one she remembers how the horse was in first place at the beginning but ended in second, but then when she calculates everything, she gasps:

"150€?! How?!"

"You get more money when horses with lower odds win. So, you need to decide for yourself whether the probability is worth it."

"It's kind of like a game."

"Exactly. It's frustrating when you lose, but really fun when you win, right?"

"Yes! But it's fun because I won, not because I did math..." chuckling Nathan looks at her and his expression softens.

"That's fine, at first. You have to search for the best way to solve he problems you are given. Then you get the answer. That's what makes math so fun." Jessica thinks that his love for math, is the same thing as her love for English, so she needs to get interested in it to understand it.

"Rules in math are beautiful. You will understand that one day."

"Thanks. That makes me feel better" she answers with a shy smile on her face and his eyes widens slightly and then he clears his throat.

"I have high hopes for you scoring well on that test."

"I will do my best...but still I am surprised you wasted your weekend for making me understand that."

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for the students, so that you score good on the test and we can do the study camp."

Leaving the racetrack, Jessica thinks they were done, but she was wrong when Nathans says that it is time for the second half.

"We are going to do some patrols around town. As a reward that I helped you with your math problems, so you have to do it with me now."

Disbelieve, it's all she could thing of. That was his original goal in the first place.

"You also heard what Miss Rogers said. I am still not familiar with all the male students. So, if I did it myself, there is a good chance I might miss spotting someone. Let's go" not being able to refuse, she follows him.

Just as they walked a few steps, they heard a voice with was really familiar for both of them.

"Thanks. Call me if you want to go out again."

Looking over to the direction, they see Maximilian with a woman who seems older than him, while Jessica stands there puzzled, Nathan walks straight to Maximillian.

"Who was that woman, Maximillian?" crossing his arms, Nathan looks at him strict, clearly being surprised by the call from his teacher, he looks at Jessica and Nathan hesitating to answer. He looks away and sighs as if he has given up.

"I guess there is no point in lying now. She is my customer. But after tonight, I quit. I promise. I want start focusing on school more."

"But why would you do that at the first place?" Maximillian doesn't seem like the type of person who would do something like this out of curiosity, Jessica knows that there has to be something else.

"I am sorry, but I have to leave now to meet my next customer..." he tries to leave, but Nathan stops him by holding his arm.

"Wait. We are not done talking." Brushing his hand away, he turns his back to them and says briefly:

"You can lecture me tomorrow. I am in a hurry." Leaving, he left two surprised teachers behind.

"We need decide how he will be punished. He is obviously involved in this kind of business."

"He said he was going to quit, can't we-" hearing him sighing she stops speaking.

"Do you always cover up for your students, when they make a mistake?"

"He is a really good kid. He never caused any problems before. And we don't know why he is doing this job, there has to be something going on his life."

" It doesn't change the fact that he is doing that job and that is shameless."

That's it, she can't take his ego and heartlessness anymore.

"You are too stubborn for your own good! Guess what if you are going to punish him, without even hearing him out, then I am not going to do the test for your stupid study camp! Is that what you want?"

"...Are you trying to argue with me? This is ridiculous. It is not going to work with me. If you are such a useless, terrible teacher, then don't do the test and get fired and-"a slap echoes around and the people around them stopped moving looking at them shocked, just like Nathan.

"I don't even care anymore!" with that she starts to walk away.

Walking back to her apartment, all different kind of things where going through her head, not realizing that she almost arrived at the building.

Suddenly someone calls her name as she passes Dominic's restaurant. It was the gym teacher form Greenwally, Mike Adams.

"Jess! Hey, I can't believe I ran into you here. I just ha a quick meal. I stepped out to make a phone call- Hey!! What is wrong! You look so down!"

"It's nothing, I am just tired. So I am going to go and sleep, say hi to Dominic for me..." smiling to him she walks to her apartment and throws herself on her bed, her head hurts and she just wants to sleep. Changing her clothes, she eats a quick meal, when she hears her phone ringing. On the display was a number, she never saw before, thinking about if she should accept the call or not, she does it anyway.

"Hello?" waiting for an answer she takes her plate to the sink and almost drops her plate when she hears the voice at the other side of the phone.