desertion

47

"Let's just be honest!! We will never need Algebra in our lives!" Miles says as all of us sit in a zoom call together. "You will probably use math every day in your life." Isabelle says. "Algebra isn't math, technically." Nathaniel says.

"Are you serious? Yes it is!" Isabelle asks. "That's all it is, Nate. It's all just math." Julian says. "I just don't get why we're still taking Algebra in our senior year, shouldn't we be doing calculus or something?" Julian asks.

"Probably, but it's what the school wants and that's where we're getting our credits from technically." Isabelle says. "The state gives us our credits." Miles says blankly. "Then the school credits us, so if we're taking Algebra still, it must be needed." Isabelle says.

I open my program and start doing my Algebra while they continue debating. I get so off guard that when they call my name for an opinion, I have no idea what they're talking about.

"Sorry. What are we talking about again?" I ask, switching to the zoom tab. "Algebra." Miles says. "What about Algebra?" I ask. "If we should still be taking it.. what's got you so quiet and distant?" Nate asks.

"We're still on that? Shouldn't you guys be doing your work instead of debating if you should even still be taking it?" I ask, ignoring his last question. "It's a genuine concern." Miles says, but you can tell he's joking. "Just do your work." I say.

"What date are you guys on?" Miles asks. "The date we should be on.. October 23rd." Isabelle says. "I'm on November 29th.." I say. "What?! You're so ahead." Miles says. "That's the point. I don't want to be behind." I say.

"I'm also ahead in English and Science." I add. "Why not History? Or Health?" Isabelle asks. "I don't feel like doing those two." I say. "Are you behind in them?" Nate asks. "A little." I say. "By how much, Lydia?!" Miles asks. "Like a week." I say, shrugging my shoulders.

"Lydia Rose Diaz!!" Isabelle says. "Oh my gosh. I could get it done in a night. I'm fine." I say, rolling my eyes. "Fair point." Julian says. "No! She should be ahead like all of her other classes." Isabelle says.

"You sound like my grandparents." I say. "Ew. No. I never want to sound like those grouches." Isabelle says. "At the end of the day, she's still ahead of us. Making her the winner." Nate says. Winner? What did I miss?

"It's not the end of the semester yet." Julian says with a frown. "Hell, she's almost at the end of the semester." Miles says. "Not in her other classes." Isabelle says, but this time you can literally tell she's joking as she tries to hold back a laugh.

"Shush." I say, rolling my eyes. My door opens, making me turn around. "Hey Chris." I say with a small smile. He smiles as he walks over.

"You should come to the living room! We're pulling a prank on Dad!" Chris says. "Who's we?" I ask. "Me and Buck!!" Chris says, laughing slightly. "Okay. I'm coming." I say. He looks at the computer. "Hi guys!" He says.

They all say hi then they say bye as I shut the computer down. Chris grabs my hand before leading me to the dining table. We take a seat and I hear Buck on the home phone as it lays on the table. I pick up the phone and put it to my ear.

"What are you two up to, Buckley?" I ask. "Just a little prank on your Dad.." He says. The door opens before I can say anything else and I immediately hide the phone, Chris takes it out of my hand and puts the speaker out in the open so Buck can here. (At least that's what I'm guessing)

"What are you two doing?" Dad asks as he sets a package on the stand beside the couch. "Just chatting." I say. "Okay.." Dad says before opening the package. He pauses as he picks up a paper. He then takes apart the package and he freezes, not moving.

Chris picks up the phone and puts it to his ear. "We got him!" He says excitedly. Buck starts laughing then he says something but it's muffled. Dad looks over at us before walking over. He takes the phone from Chris before putting it up to his ear.

"Thanks, Buck." Dad says before hanging up the phone.