One Shots

Bad Grade (Austin Carlile)

Laney's POV

It took me almost six hours to finish that assignment. I stayed up until three in the morning to work on it just to make sure that I would get a perfect grade. But I got it back and I'm more than disappointed. I want to cry but I can't, not in front of everyone in the class. The assignment that I worked so hard on was one mark away from failing. I have never gotten such a bad grade on an assignment before and I don't understand why I did with this one. I put so much effort on this assignment, I believe I spent too much time on it. Carefully watching the clock tick, I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from crying. In a few minutes I would be able to walk home and cry as much as I wanted to. Everyone was looking at me, it was probably because I didn't tell them what I got on my assignment. The teacher told them to pay attention to what he was talking about. I cast my eyes down at the book in front of me. I didn't want to do anymore work; I just want to go home and forget all about this assignment. My breathing picked up but it wasn't loud enough for anyone but me to hear. A few seconds later the sound of people zipping their bags up filled the class room followed by the sound of the school bell ringing. I quickly packed up my things and left the class room as quickly as I could. Walking home was no issue but just as I was a few houses away from mine tears started to run down my face and things suddenly became hard to see. As I walked into the house I ignored the greetings from my parents, they didn't seem to bothered by it. Shutting my door behind me and sliding my back down against it, everything just caved in all at once: the bad grade on my assignment, the sleep deprivation from trying to get the assignment done; everything. I don't know how loud I'm crying but if my parents were concerned then they would come and check on me. Moving from the ground to my bed, I hugged my knees to my chest and rocked back slightly. Why did nothing ever go right for me? It isn't fair, I just want to live a normal life like every other girl my age. As my crying continued and my body shook every so often, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my frame. I want to push them off of me but I have no energy to do so. Looking up, I saw someone I haven't spoken to in a little while; Austin. "A-Austin? What are y-you do-doing here?" I asked as I tried to control my tears, they only seemed to get worse. "Shh, Laney, breathe," Austin hummed softly against my ear. I focused on his words and tried to stop crying. After what seemed like forever, Austin was still running his fingertips through my hair and whispering sweet nothings into my ear. I rested my head against his chest and inhaled his scent. I wasn't sure what it was but it was something that only Austin had, it was nice. "Laney, what happened?" Austin asked. "I got a really bad grade on my assignment and I spent so much time on it," I explained, "And now I just feel like shit." "Don't feel like shit Laney, there's so much more opportunity out there. How about we order pizza and watch whatever you want?" Austin suggested. "Alright," I agreed, "Thank you, y'know, for all of this." "Anytime," Austin pressed a kiss to my temple and let me rest my head against his shoulder