Breaking Boundaries (unordinary love story)

Chapter 5: Counselor

The public announcement speakers blared: "RICHARD HASTINGS? RICHARD HASTINGS, PLEASE REPORT TO THE OFFICE! RICHARD HASTINGS, TO THE OFFICE NOW!"

(OK, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it sounded like that to me. You get the point.)

Phew. Saved by the PA.

People were looking at me like I'd murdered someone. Like it was some big freakin' deal. Chill, people. This ain't a massacre.

I stopped in my tracks and tossed the pickles over my shoulder so that they landed in the trash can. I glanced at Rand, who looked annoyed that I didn't do what she wanted me to do, as if it were my problem. Whatever.

I didn't know what the hell I had done this time to get called to the office, but I still made my way through the halls and finally reached the office door.

Oh, rats.

Inside, I peered into the principal's office. The principal, Mr. Coleman, was already waiting there for me.

"What did I do?" I asked.

"The counselor needs to talk to you in the counselor office."

"About what?"

"About your grades. You're failing."

"I don't care about my grades."

"That's the problem."

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. Then I went into the counselor's office.

Inside was really small. Just a desk with a bowl of candy sitting on it and the counselor sitting behind it. The counselor, Olivia Bangalore, greeted me.

"Hi, you must be Richard."

"It's Rick," I said gruffly.

The bowl of candy was right in front of me. Like it was taunting me. I wanted to shove it off her desk. Maybe pound those jolly ranchers to dust.

"Sorry. Hi Rick. You can call me Olivia. Please take a seat. And you can close the door behind you. Don't worry, the walls are soundproof." She was smiling. But then her expression darkened as the atmosphere settled.

I really wanted to bust out of there at the moment. I did not care about what that lady had to say. Spare me, Olivia.

"So I just wanted to talk to you about your grades. You're currently failing physics. You have 59.7%. That's an F in physics...not to mention a C in Algebra 2. You won't be able to play football unless you pass," she continued.

I suddenly felt myself turning angry. "Like I can play football with a dislocated shoulder. I'm out for the season either way."

"Well that's only one of the consequences. You won't graduate with grades on the edge. You'll have to repeat junior year." She sighed.

Crap. OK now that sounded kind of bad. Like I wanted to be stuck with more dweebs and homework for an extra year.

"Is there anything going on? You can tell me anything."

"Nothing is," I assured her.

"You sure?"

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't."

"OK, so I just wanted to ask you a few questions," said Olivia.

"Fire away," I deadpanned, leaning back into my chair. I stared at the bowl of candy. Inside was licorice, jelly beans, gumdrops, and a lot more.

"So I just wanted to ask, do you have anyone to eat lunch with?"

What kind of question was that? "Yeah."

"OK...and are they the same group of people?"

"Yes."

"How do you guys meet up for lunch?"

"The cafeteria." Those jelly beans were reaching out to me. Begging to be eaten.

"OK," she said. "Well...do you like physics?"

"No."

"Tell me why you think you're failing."

"I don't do my homework."

"Do you find it too hard to do or...?"

"I just don't like doing homework. Can I leave now?"

"When we're done. In a minute. So are you fine with failing?"

"No," I said, only because she asked that question very seriously.

"OK, so how about if you have trouble you can ask your tutor and she can guide you through your homework and help you study for your tests. You don't have a choice, you know that?"

"But I don't have a tutor."

"Yet," she said. "Not yet. But I know someone who can."

"Great," I spat out with more enthusiasm than I meant. I swiped a jellybean from the bowl. "Who?"

"You will meet her tomorrow."

***DUN DUN DUN***

can y'all guess who his tutor will be 😁

put your guesses below

and buckle up