Stupid Love Songs

4. - is this really happening?

The thing I didn't expect to happen, it did. And I don't understand how, even though it actually did.

I'm failing. I, Amalia Love, am failing a class at school. It's a subject that most people don't fail, but I am.

Well, let's just say I'm special at least in some ways. I'm failing physical education.

Yes, fucking PE and I'm getting close to an F. It's not that I don't try, but our teacher is crazy and grades on a spreadsheet. I'm sorry, but I can't jump that many meters for you. I just can't, I can try as much as I can, but nothing. I can't run, I can't jump, I can't throw, I can't throw.

That nasty woman doesn't even rate the effort and just throws it in for a F or a D. Mostly Fs. How the fuck can I fail gym class? Gym class! In such a primitive subject! It's the teacher's fault, but if I don't do something on my own, I'm not gonna pass, and if I don't pass, I'm gonna take make-up exams, which I won't pass, and if I don't pass, I won't graduate, and if I don't graduate, I won't go to university, and if I don't go to university, and it's gonna drag on like this until I don't make it.

So I have to take matters into my own hands and do something I would never do in my life, but my hopeless situation calls for hopeless solutions. That's why I'm going to do something that I will 100% regret the second it happens, but I have no other choice.

I need help. I don't often ask for help, it's just that I'm really in a situation I can't handle on my own. I don't know what came over me, but at least I could have chosen another person to tutor me in PE, if such a subject can be tutored. The problem is, I probably shouldn't go to anyone else. I talk to everyone in the class, but not enough to help me with such a thing.

I take a deep breath, inwardly praying to the holy Mary that it works out, or at least isn't something that will make me think about it for another ten years. Directly across the hall from me on the other side of the hallway is the person I need help from. I haven't figured out one more thing, maybe he'll say no, then I'll be out of luck and I guess I'll have to learn to run on my own.

And so I step out. I have nothing to lose, we live on a big rock that turns. It's no big deal. Either he says yes or no, that's all. The world doesn't stop when he says anything. The latter will have less long-term consequences.

I see him talking to some guys. I don't know any of them, but they're probably all good friends, look like they're having a good time. Also, why not, there's still ten minutes left in class. Perfect time to talk.

If I can survive this, I can survive anything.

The closer I get, the more nervous I am.

He doesn't notice me, he's too interested in the conversation he's having with some guys. Well, it's too late to turn around now.

"Can we talk?" I'm not even gonna start with a hello or a hi, I'm getting right to the point.

"Hi, ladybug." I'm ready to walk away, but I can't. I shoot him a look. "About what?"

"I'll tell you later." His cronies are looking at me like I don't know what, and I don't like it much. "I'd like to talk alone." He rolls his eyes, says goodbye to the guys who walk away, and he shifts all his attention to me.

"What would you like to talk about?"

"Not here." I grab the sleeve of his sweatshirt and pull him after me. We walk across the floor, then down the stairs to the locker rooms, where we go all the way to the end. Maxim leans against the windowsill and I stand across from him.

"Well, Amalia."

"This may sound crazy, but I have a favor to ask you." He bursts out laughing. That didn't help much, Mr. Krejci, but otherwise, thank you so much for your indulgence and support. My smile doesn't appear, I stand and look at him with a serious expression. "Wait, you really mean it."