Extra Credit+ (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1

"Ok, class.  I'm about to hand back  your Chapter 7 algebra tests." Mr. Hessling announced, taking a shiny silver paper clip off of a stack of old test packets that were marked all-over in red pen.  "Of course, some of you did very well.  Others....well, others are going to have to have a talk with me after class." 

I immediately turned away when he said this.  I knew he was speaking solely of me.  It was no new news that I was in danger of failing his class.  All of the exponents and reciprocals and squares to complete just get so confusing sometimes.  Who are they expecting to memorize all of these equations and formulas anyhow? It couldn't possibly be me.

Even though I turned away, I could still feel his creepy stare burning through the side of my cheek.  It was probably paired with one of his infamous Chesire grins.

I was startled by the shock of one of the test packets being slammed onto my desk.  I turned it over slowly with my eyes squeezed shut.  Then, I opened them slowly as I assessed the test's damage from top to bottom.  GAB LOVELACKER was printed in my thick, chubby, handwriting at the top of it.  My eyes hurt the second I glanced down at the connect-the-dot puzzle he had made out of the front of my test in blood red Bic pen.  I still hadn't looked at my grade yet.  I wouldn't even bother turning to the other pages.  10/17.  Another horrific test result.  My hand slapped against my forehead with defeat.

"Don't worry, guys.  There will always be another test to take." Mr. Hessling tried to comfort.  Emphasis on the word TRIED.

"Hear that, Gabriella?  There is going to be yet another test for you to try and miserably fail on!" Suzanne whispered a bit too loudly.

"What was that, Gabriella?" Mr. Hessling asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, what?  NO!  I wasn't talking!  Suzanne was..was...."

"Was what?" Mr. Hessling asked.  he seemed almost impatient.

"She...she was bullying me!" I blurted.

The class burst out in simultaneous laughter.  How humiliating.  I simply sat there, my mouh frozen in embarrassment as I just let the sounds of their annoyingly high-pitched laughter echo in my throbbing ears.  Don't your ears ever get that way whenever you get nervous or you mess up in front of a whole crowd of people?  Seems like that's another trait of mine that makes me a freak.

"NOW, NOW!   Settle down, class.  Some people just learn in different ways than others.  They need special attention.  An up-close-and-personal eye view of all of the material.  Trust me, students, I have that all under control.  I assure you that everyone here right now and in my other algebra period classes will pass the final exam." Mr. Hessling explained, finishing with a wink that I'm 99.9% sure was pointed in my direction.  Again, there's a 0.1% of me that isn't quite very sure...

"Ok," he transitioned, waltzing back over to his new SmartBoard.  "Time to increase the level of difficulty..."

"We are praying for you, Gabriella." Suzanna whisper-yelled to me from across the aisle.

My fellow classmates silently snickered.  I scoffed in annoyance.

"No, in all seriousness, whenever I go to my parish, I recite a little prayer for you for algebra class.  I kiss my rosary whenever I am done, just to make it extra special!" I winked.

"... what do you think we will have to start off with..uh, Gab?"

"What-a-hoosum!?!?" I blurted, reactivatiing my paying-attention skills.

Mr. Hessling chuckled creepily before repeating," In this equation, 2x^2+7x+6=0, what are we gonna have to do first?"

"Umm..." I started in an attempt to stall time.

I could feel every single one of the 51 eyeballs burning their laser beams of vision into my flesh.  Yes, and there are only 51 eyeballs and not 52 because Deena had to have one surgically removed after a freak fire pitchfork-twirling incident.

"I think you...you would ha-have to....you'd have to, like, find some factorsorsomething." I mumbled quickly.

"She said you have to find some factors." Suzanne clarified for EVERYONE to hear.

"That's exactly...right.  Great job!  Who can tell me what to do ne-"

"BRRRRIIINNG!"

The classroom erupted with cheers as kids gathered their notebooks, binders, pencils, calculators, and loose papers in a flurry.

"Aww man!" Mr. Hessling groaned in playful frustration.  "Have a nice day, kids. Hey, and Gab, can you stay after class for ten or so minutes?" 

"I'm sorry, but I have Mrs. Sonna next and you know how she is about time.  Besides, there's a project due next period." I apologized.

"That's fine!  I could just write you a pass.  I'm sure that Rayne will understand." he assured, fumbling to pull-out a chair for me and himself.

I bit my lip to keep from groaning too loudly as I slowly descended down into the plastic chair that he had pulled out.  This guy was just way too creepy for comfort.  I could not WAIT to get out of there and run into the safety of Mrs. Sonna's blistering hot Language classroom.

"Soooo, Gabrrriella..." he began, letting the R's of my first name roll off of his tongue like a barrel down a hill.  I did not like where this was going.