When You're An Addams

Some Things Don't Come Easily

"This is a waste of time. I'm hopeless. I've always been hopeless." April muttered, dainty hands clutching her head amidst waves of auburn as she rested on her elbows against her desk.

"You aren't hopeless." Fin corrected firmly from his seat next to her. "You are incredibly intelligent and capable. You're just struggling a bit, thats all."

"Im in remedial math and struggling. How is this not pathetic?" She grumbled, embarrassed. It had taken a lot of tears and frustration to begin with to even consider asking for help...but she was desperate. She knew she could trust Fin not to crack jokes, so she had asked him to try and help. Not that she thought the others would be cruel, but she knew it was a sensitive subject for her.

"You aren't pathetic, really. Lots of people have trouble with math." Fin insisted. "There's no shame in struggling, April."

"I-I think I need a br-"

"There you guys are! Bren and I are running out to get snacks and wanted to know if-" Chad stopped, noticing April slumped over her desk as hair hid her face, though he though he heard a sniffle. "Hey, is everything cool in here?" As soon as he expressed concern, Bren's interest sharpened as they pushed past to get a look.

"Everything is fine." Fin informed. "April and I are just working on some math homework. We're just about to take a break." Ignoring the obvious attempt to console them from Fin, Bren moved into the room, trying to get a look at the math in question.

"You know, I'm taking a couple courses for my business degree. I'm sure I can help." They offered, only to see April look even tenser.

"I-Im fine. You three go on. We can do this another time, Fin. Thanks for helping." Bren frowned as they all heard the thickness to her tone. She obviously was upset over something, but what?

"Look, April, I'm sure its advanced shit but maybe I can still be a bit helpful-"

"It isn't." It was practically whimpered, and this time they all heard the sniffles. "I-It isn't and I'm stupid and its hopeless."

Looking to the others for a moment, they gently started rubbing a hand across her shoulders in soothing circles.

"April, we all know that's bullshit. You're one of the smartest people we know. It's okay to need a little help, ya know."

"Yeah." Chad chimed in, trying to be supportive, but not quite sure how to help since he also wasn't the greatest with math.

"You don't get it. I...this should be basic and I can't do it! I-I know how but it all comes out wrong and I can't remember anything, even with my notes!"

Spying a notebook nearby, Bren reached for it. "Can I take a look? Please?" Receiving a miserable nod, they carefully took it and started flipping through the pages of meticulous notes. Honestly? They were perfect. Step by step, textbook worthy notes, in fact. Except...every time she showed an example equation, things on the page kinda...slid? Not a ton, but enough it was noticeable. As well as the copious amounts of spots where you could tell something had been erased.

"Its...its the quadratic formula." Bren realized, carefully reviewing the notations in her meticulous handwriting, which noticably didn't slant and slide like her equation did. "Its perfect in your notes, though? A bit wobbly-looking, but correct. Same with the listed steps and all."

Chad's brow furrowed, noticing something as he looked at it over Bren's shoulder. Specifically where the papers kept having eraser smudges in each formula.

"Hey, April...weird ask, but do you mind trying again while I watch?" He ignored everyone's questioning gaze on him like he wasn't making sense. He was used to being the subject of confusion. "Just to test a theory."