•8•
Today is the day.
Okay, I'm being a little dramatic for a stupid Math test, but I really want to show dad I'm improving.
If I am.
I try to breathe in and out, but it actually makes me even more nervous.
I just need to get more than a 4, possibly a 6.
Okay, let's face it, I'll never get a 6.
I reach the kitchen to have breakfast shaking, and it makes dad chuckle.
"It's not funny." I frown, and he sits down next to me.
"It'll be okay. Remember, anything more than a 4 is okay for me."
I nod, and silently eat my breakfast.
I almost spill all of my tea on my shirt, but avoid the mess at the last second, making my dad laugh again.
As I head to school, I grow even more nervous.
Unfortunately Maths is my last lesson, so I'll have to attend 4 lessons nervous as hell. And today History calls us for 6 pages about the Scientific Revolution or whatever it was. And I haven't been called in a while, so she's probably going to call me.
What a nice day I have ahead.
I meet Andrea when I step out of my house.
"Hey babe." He grins, placing a hand around my waist. "You look nervous."
I roll my eyes. "I told you not to call me babe. And yes I am nervous." I say, moving his hand from my back.
"Awh, don't be. Wait for what even are you nervous?"
I try not to giggle from his grammar mistakes, and keep my serious face.
"A math test result."
"That's all?" He asks, and I shrug. "You'll do fine, don't worry."
He leans closer and kisses my cheek.
I frown as he takes my hand, but I let him, and we go together to school.
*
As planned, I was called for History. It wasn't that bad, I was just a little nervous, and it wasn't even for History.
Now it's last lesson, and time to get back our Math tests.
I sit next to Anastasia, to gain some courage, even though I know it'll just make my confidence go down, since she always gets high scores.
Anastasia gets her paper back before me, and I see a frown on her face. If she gets a bad grade then what do I take?!
"A seven. A seven!" She says, and I roll my eyes. Of course she couldn't take a bad grade. Yet, she's unhappy with a seven. I would start jumping and screaming if I got one.
When I take my paper, I flip it behind, so I first see my mistakes then I see my grade.
There are many red marks on my paper, too many.
I flip the front page and take a look at my grade.
A 5.
Not sufficient, but at least better than a 4.
Dad will be pleased, but mom? She'll get mad - if she's even home.
"So?" Anastasia asks me "that bad?"
"A five." I frown.
"At least it's better than the last time."
I just nod, and as the professor dismisses us, we leave the class together.
"Good luck." Anastasia smiles at me, and I can't help but smile back.
As I walk home, I take the longest road possible, trying to think of a way of telling them.
When I finally reach the door I sigh and open it.
"Hey sweetie." I find dad smiling at me, and I force a smile, but then shake my head.
He gives me a questioning look, and I raise 5 fingers of my hand.
He smiles. "I told you that anything better than 4 was okay. For now."
I smile, but as I open my mouth to reply mom comes in.
"Hello." She smiles at dad and glares at me, as I want to hide somewhere.
"So?" She asks, with a severe tone, and I look down, to grab some courage.
"5." I mumble, not loud enough, so I repeat it louder. "A 5."
"And you are okay with that?!" She looks at dad, who opens his mouth to reply, but is shushed before a letter can leave his mouth.
"Even if he is, I am obviously not." She spits, and I finally look up at her.
"Why do you even care? You're never here and you don't really treat me as your daughter, do you." She tries to speak but this time I shut her up. "No. Don't even try."
"Oh I am going to though. While me and your dad work hard for you to stay here with us, everything you do is getting bad grades?!" She shouts, then lowers her tone. "You've only got one task."
"Oh because you go to work everyday, and you don't come home for days. And you want me to believe that?!"
"Yes. You should. And you should also get higher grades, miss, or I sure will throw you out of this house-"
"You will not." Dad interrupts her, but mom keeps talking. When she gets angry like this no one stops her.
"- and never let you come back again! Do you even know how much that school costs?! Do you even know how much we have to work to be able to maintain you there? No. So if you don't get better grades, why would spending all this money be useful in any way? Better send you to an Italian public school, and spend no money. The outcome would be the same anyway."
Tears struggle to come down my face, but I try to stop them. I always get very emotive for everything, but this is exactly what she's waiting for.
"You want me to leave?" I ask, forcing my voice out. "Then I will."
And I left.
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•well if that ain't something. Thank you all for reading my book, and ilysm!! :)•
