Nathan Kingston has been forgotten by the world. A dad that fucked off when he was young and a mother gone days at a time with work he feels alone. Especially since he goes to the most elite private school in the city on scholarship. He's falling do...
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Ivy Matthews
The nerves rattle through me as I walk into my biology class the day after my second tutoring session. Avoiding more questions from my parents about my supposed new boyfriend is harder than trying to hide the fact that I needed a tutor.
My mom being the hopeless romantic that she is hugs me at least 3 times a day talking about how happy she is that her daughters are happy and in love. No matter how many times I tell her the "It's new, we don't what we're doing yet" lie she won't drop the fact that she thinks Nathan is going to be my night in shining armor like my dad was for her.
But after spending a little more time with Nathan I didn't think he has a caring bone in his body. I like to try and see the best in people but the only time I've seen him smile over the last two sessions was when we had to play up the "new teenage relationship" lie because my mom walked into my room with some cinnamon buns.
And even that smile of his was fake.
As suggested by my tutor, I take a seat in my biology class towards the front so I can pay attention better my nerves skyrocket. All the computers in the class are turned off, including the teacher's computer and the projector screen. Our biology teacher is sitting on the edge of his desk with a stack of papers in his hand and the only writing on the board says, "pop quiz units 16-19."
I haven't had time to study all three of those units, we barely went over these units in class and I only made it halfway through unit 17 during the last two sessions.
I'm gonna fail.
I'm gonna fail and I'm gonna disappoint everyone and I'm not gonna graduate and my whole life is going to be a failure.
My hands start shaking and my breath starts picking up. The beginning of a panic attack starting to ignite in my veins and I need to talk myself off the ledge before it gets too bad and I need to leave the class.
What would Dylan do? What would she tell me to do?
I close my eyes and picture that she's right here next to me and not in her calculus class until I can hear her voice in my head, soothing me, "it's ok. I need you to breathe in and breathe out. Everything is going to be ok. You're not a failure. I'm right here."
The imagery of comfort slowly helps me walk away from the edge and my breathing starts slowing down with the addition of deep breaths.
I don't open my eyes until the bell for the start of class rings. when I bring myself back into the classroom environment, my nerves have set into a low buzzing through my veins.
The teacher's voice booms at the front of the classroom while he hands packets to all the kids sitting in the front row to pass back, "Once your finished with your test hand it to me and I'll grade it and give it back to you. You have 20 minutes to complete the quiz. Retakes will be next Monday during lunch and you must show me the revisions on your quiz to be able to take the retake. Any questions?"
