Effortless

Thirty-one

I was in biology class and today was the day that we would get our test scores from the latest test back. We were forced to take the test on paper because too many people were cheating when it was on the computer. I wasn't one of the ones who cheated but I didn't blame the ones who did. It wasn't our fault that they made it so easy to cheat on the tests. They were practically begging us to.

We had just been informed that the class average was terrible. It was definitely a result of us having no way of cheating. The class averaged a failing grade. Since the switching from computer to paper wouldn't affect me because I never cheated in the first place, I wasn't all that worried about my score.

Javier sat in the empty seat next to me even though that was not where he was supposed to be sitting. We had assigned seats and weren't supposed to switch unless approved. However, when the teacher worships the ground you walk on, you can get away with anything.

"A 52% class average is really bad." Javi said. The rest of our class was having their own conversations so nobody was listening to us.

"I feel like a lot of people in this class don't study and then wonder why they got a low grade." That was the only explanation I could come with as to why they were doing so bad. "But maybe I'm wrong."

Javier shrugged. "I didn't study."

"Then maybe you're the reason why the class average is so low." I said, wiggling my eyebrows.

"I guess we'll see when we get our test scores back." He winked.

I had been smart enough to skip a grade but that didn't mean I didn't have to work for it. Majority of the moments that I had unoccupied time I would study. It was very draining at times but it usually paid off. If it wasn't for the constant studying there was no way I would be where I was currently at. I wasn't one of those people who could look at the material once and have it mastered. I envied those people, but the truth is even if I was like them, I'd still probably study. Occupying my mind with material was better than letting it wander all of the time.

"Also," I started, "sorry about those texts last night. I really don't know why I did that."

"It's fine I was awake anyway." He said as he leaned back in the flimsy chair.

"And sorry for bailing at the last minute. My aunt made us sit through dinner with her new boyfriend." I explained. "Out of all the nights she could've chosen, she chose last night. It was such a shit show, Javi. It could have been okay but Emerson messed it up for us all because she did everything in her power to cause trouble."

Our teacher was finally ready to hand out the tests. She was putting them upside down on the desk in front of each student. I watched as the students who got their tests before us flipped it over. Many of them frowned at the grade that they saw but there were a couple who seemed pleased.

"We met my aunt's new boyfriend and he was the most pleasant part of the night, surprisingly. Normally they're either hella dull or are just as unfriendly as her, but he was pretty cool."

"You hope he sticks around?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

I scoffed. "For his sake, hell no. That woman is batshit crazy."

I took a deep breath as I was about to continue rambling but then I noticed how much talking I was doing. Javi was actively listening, I could tell by how he was watching me. I appreciated that though I didn't mean to talk that much in the first place.

"Sorry, I'm rambling." I laughed awkwardly.

He shrugged. "I don't mind listening."

The light sound of a sheet being slid across the table caught my attention. It was my test being handed to me face-down. I knew that everyone's papers were being handed to them like that because the class average was low. It was just a thing that was done for privacy, but it still made me nervous to see my own grade.