The Unwanted Tutor

Chapter 8

"Ms. Lincoln," I said desperately as she stalked away from my desk.

I knew that wasn't a good idea, I should have been more careful, god I was stupid!

I shoved the crinkled answer key back into my pocket and put my head down on the desk to avoid everyone's accusing stares.

"Garrett, come here." I heard Ms. Lincoln say.

I got up and slowly made my way towards her desk, my face on fire. I've never been so embarrassed.

Ms. Lincoln was waiting for me with a pink detention slip in her hand as I approached her.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't study. I didn't mean to." Is all I could think of to say.

She didn't look that impressed with my apology, "I'll let the principal know about this. We're also going to call home and let your mother know."

My heart sank into my stomach, great, now my mom will know I'm a cheater. What if she tells Anthony?

When I didn't say anything in response, she handed me my detention slip and sent me back to my desk.

I went back to my seat and watched as she left the room to tell the principal.

So, I had to go to detention after school and I got a zero on the test, bringing my grade down even more.

When I got into detention, I quietly took a seat near the front next to another boy who was scribbling on the desk.

"Why are you here?" He asked when I sat down.

"I cheated on Ms. Lincoln's test." I mumbled and put my head down.

"Oh, really? I saw that guy give that paper to you, I didn't know it was the answer key." The boy said.

"Yeah, it was embarrassing. If I wasn't so angry at myself, I'd probably laugh at how ridiculous this is." I replied.

"Eh, don't feel bad. It's just one test, I bet Ms. Lincoln cheated before too." The boy erased his doodles from the desk.

I gave him a quick smile and put my head back down. I didn't want to go home, I knew my mother already got the call, I didn't want to know how upset she was.

When detention was over, I walked out the door and headed home slowly. For some reason, I thought about Anthony, he really did put a lot of effort into tutoring me. Was he going to be disappointed in me?

I opened the door to my house and walked inside carefully.

It was awfully quiet in the living room, it almost felt awkward as I sat down next to my mother who was watching tv like normal.

She barely glanced at me as I took my bookbag off and placed it on the ground. For a second I thought that she didn't know but my mother was a big talker, when she wasn't talking you knew something was up.

"Hey, Mom." I finally said when it was obvious she wanted me to start the conversation.

"Garrett, how was school?" My mom asked and picked up the remote to turn the tv off.

I shifted uncomfortably on the couch, I could still feel the stupid paper in my back pocket.

"It was fine, I got detention though. That's why I'm late today." I replied.

"What did you get a detention for?" My mother's voice now sounded harsh.

I nervously bit my lip, she knew what I had done. "I cheated on my math test. I'm sorry."

Instead of getting angry my mother just looked disappointed, something I thought was worse. "Your father and I want you to be successful, you know that right?"