I'm Okay ➵ madison ziegler

Chapter 5

"Hm?" my math teacher asked.

I completed the math problem again, and answered, "Seventy-two?"

"Nope. Please see me after class, Maddie," he responded. I heard someone snicker behind me.

Great, more things I've done wrong.

"The correct answer was sixty-four," my teacher announced to the class.

A few minutes later, the bell rang, reminding us that it was time for our next class.

"Make sure to finish your homework!" the math teacher called out.

As I walked out of the classroom, Mr. Benson caught me and instructed, "Maddie, please come here."

I walked back into the classroom and approached his desk.

"Maddie, you've seemed to have some problems with math for quite a while now. I think it's time for a tutor."

"No, trust me. I'm fine," I told him, and that's the truth, I am just fine, but I'm just barely dragging along with my grades.

"No. You are not fine. I will have a tutor figured out for you after school, so please meet me here when you are finished with all of your classes," he explained.

"Okay," I managed to mutter.

Slowly, I slumped out of the classroom when I heard Mr. Benson call my name again.

Great, now what is it?

I turned my head and Mr. Benson told me, "And no need to discuss this with your mom, I'll do that for you."

Great. Just great.

"Okay. Thank you," I politely replied, even though now my mom is going to just think I'm even more of a freak.

∞

After my last class of the day, I headed over to Mr. Benson's classroom. Noticing that nobody was there but my teacher, I assumed that he didn't find a tutor.

"Hello, Maddie. Your new tutor is just a bit late," he informed me.

I nodded my head in reply.

"I talked to your mother and she thought it would be a great idea for you to have a tutor, especially the student I chose."

Just as Mr. Benson explained this, Mackenzie walked into the room.

"There she is!" Mr. Benson exclaimed. Mackenzie beamed at the delightful remark. I groaned at the delightful remark.

"Maddie, your new math tutor is your sister Mackenzie," he described. "I thought she would be perfect because not only can you work with her at home, but she is also one of my best students!"

Geez, excited much?

I glared at Mackenzie as she grinned even more widely.

"You will start working with Mackenzie at home tonight and then every following night. Sound fair?" Mr. Benson explained to the two of us.

"Yep!" Mackenzie gleefully answered. Honestly, I don't know why she's so excited seeing as she hates even the idea of looking at me.

"Maddie?" Mr. Benson asked.

"Oh, yeah. I guess," I quickly replied.

"Great! Now I think you two better be heading home now."

"Bye, Mr. Benson!" Mackenzie called out as we walked out of the classroom.

Walking down the hallway, I noticed that Mackenzie was wearing my black and white striped crop top. "Mackenzie!" I screeched.