CHEMISTRY [MICHAEL JACKSON]

08.

"You have 35 minutes to take the test. You all better be ready because I need you all to pass this time. There are 20 of you in this class. Only seven of you passed on the last test. I'm tired of curving most of your grades. You all need to get it together. You guys are seniors." Ms. Irving started before she began to continue giving her speech to us.

"Yo, shut the hell up, so I can take my test." Eric called from the back of the room to Ms. Irving. Her frustration was growing by the minute, thanks to classmates like him. "Damn."

"15 point deduction, Eric."

"Shit, we didn't even learn this." Sahara groaned aloud, causing the entire class to look at her.

"Your time is ticking, whether you realize it or not." Ms. Irving pointed out.

"Shut the hell up, will y'all?" Aaron asked loudly, causing all eyes to be on him. "I'm just tryna pass so I can get the fuck out of this shithole of a class."

"That is 20 points off of your paper, Mr. Whitaker." She told Aaron, causing him to suck his teeth. She then looked at the class. "Anyone else who talks, gets an automatic zero. I'm honestly done with this class. Talk again if you want that zero. None of you can afford it, so stay quiet and focus on taking your test." She scolded as the class went back to taking their test.

I looked down at my own test. I didn't know anything about chemistry.

I should've paid attention to Michael, when he was trying to help me study.

I would've done better, but how could I possibly focus on chemistry when my tutor is attractive beyond measures?

It was too late to even focus on the "should've" and "would've" scenarios anymore.

I glanced over at Michael, who was two rows over from me. He answered every question with ease. He looked so confident while taking the test.

Michael was a whiz.

"Eyes on your own papers," Ms. Irving warned, probably looking at me. I didn't look up to make eye contact with her. I just looked down at my test paper again and I couldn't even identify the simplest of the simplest elements.

Chemistry was just not a strong suit for me.

The bell rang and nobody really finished their tests. However, Michael finished his and he got to leave class early.

Most of the class had to stay long after the bell had rung to finish the test.

Only about 45 minutes after the dismissal ball had rung, I had given up on my test. I had answered up to the third question, but I just took educated guesses on them.

As stated before, I knew nothing about chemistry.

"Here," I mumbled to Ms. Irving as I handed her the test. She looked at me from above the rim of her glasses and took the test from my hand. "Just give me a zero, I don't care anymore."

"Leah, you've been failing my class for the entire semester." Ms. Irving pointed out the obvious. "How do you expect to get into college?"

"I don't." I sighed.

"Study more." She told me. "You have to in order to pass this class."