My Good Boy

Chapter Seventeen

For the third time this week I woke up to the sound of my ever so annoying alarm clock, slamming my hand down so hard I nearly broke it.

Whoops...

"Trouble, what have I told you about maiming your alarm clock?!" My mom shouted from downstairs, making me cringe.

"Not to do it?" I hesitantly call back.

"Exactly! Now get up, it's Wednesday and I need to give you some stuff to drop off after school, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever," I mumble, too tired to comprehend anything.

No, this can't be happening right now. This test is worth half my grade, I think to myself, trying to calm my anxiety down in any way possible.

"U-Um, Mrs. Liel, can I please go to the bathroom?" I quietly call out, knowing I couldn't calm down where I was.

"You know I have a strict policy about no student going to the bathroom during a test, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am, but this is an emergency. I showed you the note for it already. Remember?"

She thought for a moment before it suddenly dawned on her. Anxiety was the one thing she was nice to me about.

"Of course, Ms. Delonge." I was out of my seat before she could finish talking.

"Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up!"

"Trouble, sweetie, what's wrong? Aren't you in the middle of your big test?" My mom softly spoke through the phone.

"Y-Yeah, about that. Umm, I have a s-small problem..." I trailed off, feeling a tear run down my cheek.

"Oh, baby. Anxiety again?"

"Y-Yeah, and I don't know what triggered it." I sniffled into the phone.

"Do you need me to pick you up? I can see if I can get off work."

"N-No, I just needed to hear your voice is all. I-I'm going to try a-and go back to cl-class now."

"Okay, text me if you need me to pick you up."

"I will. Love you, bye."

"Bye, sweetie. Love you, too."

"Ms. Delonge, you're okay now, I presume."Mrs. Liel states as I walk in the room, moments after the bell rings.

"Yeah, um... I need to stay after for the test, don't I?"

"Yes, but you can take it another day if you're not mentally ready." She speaks, causing me to look up in surprise.

"Mrs. Liel, why are you being so nice to me? I thought you hated me."

"You thought wrong, Ms. Delonge. Trust me, if I'm rude to you I'm probably trying to make you prove me wrong in your mind. In my mind you're making me proud."

"O-Okay, but why are you telling me this now?"

"My mother died recently and she always said her biggest regret was not telling people why she did her actions. I don't want to be like her. Plus, this is my last year here. I figured i might as well let you in on my little secret."

"Wow.. Um, thank you, I think."

"It's quite alright, dear. But you will have to take that test tomorrow."

"I understand. Thanks, Mrs. Liel." I quickly retreat into the hall, backpack in tow.