33 Days To Live (Under Revision)

22

The rest of lunch Lucy talked logos with Rodney, how boys always condradicted themselves with Gene and a bunch of smart stuff with Leopold. I was beyond happy to see her sitting was us had turned into a good thing and was almost disappointed when lunch ended.

Usually when the bell rang I'd walk with Andrew to his locker, then head off to gym but I decided to join Lucy on the walk to her locker instead.

"So, was sitting with my friends and I so terrible?" I asked her, earning one of her famous eye rolls.

"It was just awful, I think I'm scarred for life," She drawled dramatically and I laughed.

"Your a sarcastic sweetheart aren't you?" I grinned.

"Not a sweetheart, just sarcastic. Sometimes its the only thing you can use in your defense when you don't know how to punch." She shrugged.

"I agree, some people are easier to defeat in a battle of wits." I nodded as we both stopped at her locker and she put in the code to unlock it.

"True. People like you and I are better with verbal confrontations," She then glanced back at me. "Though that fight you had with Jamie was commendable." She admitted.

I wasn't sure why but the sort of compliment made me do a sick little happy dance inside.

"He was talking bad about Luke, it was the least I could do to him." I bit my lip. "What did you mean when you said you tripped Victoria for Luke. Are you friends with him?" I asked and Lucy's relaxed composure faltered.

"Not exactly..." She said cautiously as she pulled out a math book and closed her locker. "Lets just say we have a bit of history." She left it off, leaving me with more questions then I had a moment ago.

"I'm guessing that means you aren't going to tell me?" I sighed and she smiled sympathetically.

"I might one day but its a little embarrassing." She admitted bashfully, making me assume right now would be a good time to drop it.

"Very well." I then gestured to her math book. "Do you like Algebra two?" I asked, hoping to keep the conversation going long enough to walk her to math class.

"I hate it actually. I'm really bad at it." She laughed, looking up at me. "Freshman year they tested me for dislexia because I couldn't pass math and not only did they discover I didn't have it but my reading level was two grades higher then my classmates." She informed, making me roll my eyes.

"Don't you love our education system?" I asked, making her do the same.

"Its crap. They take the joy of learning and turn it into your worst nightmare. I can't remember the last time I woke up and thought 'wow I'm excited to go to school and learn today'." She sighed heavily.

She had a good point, I couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed sitting in a classroom. I get that education was important and I agreed that we all should learn basics at least but the acdemic pressure they put on children sucked out some of their heart and made it hard to enjoy their childhood.

Then the ones who decided to live instead of doing ten hours of homework were troubled and deserved to be punished.

Also what was the deal with suspending kids for missing school? Like congradulations, you just gave them a week off for missing school. The school board says punishment, we the kids say reward.

"Is math the only thing you struggle with?" I asked and Lucy paused for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, I struggle with all my classes except art. I try to pay attention, I try my hardest to study and do all my homework but its like my brain can't retain all the information. Its hard and instead of helping, teachers just box you into a circle with everyone else who's passing most of the time." She mumbled.

Now I wasn't one for homework, I didn't always pay attention in class, and I wasn't the smartest but I did swear I was going to improve whatever part of Lucy's life I could and I saw oppertunity here.

"I can tutor you. I rarely do anything after school and I rather use my free time to help you out then watch the same Netflix shows for the fourth time," I said without giving it a second thought and Lucy looked at me in surprise.

"Are you sure?" She asked, to which I responded with a fast nod.

"Yeah, I may not be the top of the class but I am decently smart and I know how to use google pretty well if we get stuck on something." I smiled.

Lucy then stopped walking and she looked at me for a long moment, almost like she was searching my eyes for sincerety or a trace of something suspicious. Trying not to break out in sweat beneath her stare, I stood there and looked back at her patiently. I know my newfound do gooder attitude was probably a little fishy, and I didn't want to look guilty of something. Which I technically speaking was, I read her journal and I knew things about her her parents probably didn't even know.

After what seem to be a centurary, she finally looked away and opened her notebook before scribbling something down with her pen. When she finished she ripped it out and handed it to me.

"This is my adress and cell number, five o' clock would be a good time to drop by."

Nodding, I took the paper and studied it for a moment before folding it up and putting it away safely in my pocket.

"I'll be there on the dot." I promised and Lucy looked shyly down.

"I don't know why your being so nice to me Ben but...I..." She swallowed. "I really appreciate it. I thought no one really noticed me until now...I just wish though.."

She then shook her head.

"Never mind. I'll see you after school alright?"

and with that she vanished into her math classroom, leaving me wondering as always.

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Hey guys! Yush, I'm finally over my writers block for this story and I can get that update ball rolling again:) I can't believe I graduated, I'm in shock still. It's scary but super exciting at the same time, because now I have my entire life stretched out before me. An overwhelming void of endless possibility. Sigh. Its also summerrrrrrrr...are you all out of school for the summer yet? :D

-Mari.