Micheal
Walking home from the bus stop was always a pain for you, kids crowding around your space because they were high or drunk. People at your high school just seemed to annoy you period, people drank and smoked and popped pills left and right. What was worse is no one really seemed to do anything about it. Your school was ranked the number one worst and most violent high school to attend. You only told your parents to let you stay because you didn't want to risk going to a higher education school and your grades dropping. It would ruin any chance you had at getting into Harvard, your 4.0 GPA would drop and you knew it. Risking Harvard for you would be like risking the rest of your life. Harvard for you was like your only true escape, a fresh start. Without it you would turn out like everyone else. Average and boring with nothing different or important about themselves. Becoming like everyone you were surrounded by daily the thought made you sick to your stomach. Once You were finally inside you walked upstairs to your room and pulled out your laptop. Your parents were always working so you knew you would have to make your own dinner at some point in time. After a few hours you finished all of your homework for the next few days and started making your self some food. Sitting down you finished watching all of your TV shows that were on the DVR. Surprisingly your mother was home hours earlier then usual.
"Hey sweetie" she said shuffling in the door
"Hey mom, why ya home so early" you asked
"Oh they didn't really need me to be on shift anymore so I decided to come home and res. Plus I haven't really seen you in basically two to three days because I've been working so many hours." she stated flopping down onto the couch.
You were a little disappointed that she was home early but it was true you had hardly seen your mom since she started her new job. Your mom worked at a nursing home taking care of people and your dad worked as a local police officer and knowing the bad background of the city as a whole it seemed as if he lived at the precinct. It was pretty much like living out on your own only you didn't really have to pay the bills or for the food. You hung out with your mom for a few hours but soon you headed up to your room. The rest of the week blended into basically the same thing everyday; going to school with kids you hated, sitting alone at lunch, going home and doing homework or lounging around the house. It was Friday thank God you thought. It was now the last class of the day and as usual you were the only one keeping up with your stats class.
"Hey Micheal. Would you mind helping me out today" Mr. Jones asked
"Um with what?" I asked nervously
"I have after school detention with more than half of this class and no one seems to be getting it better than you" he stated, he was right no one barely even showed up let alone paid attention to anything Mr. Jones said. "I would give you extra credit" he added, he seemed desperate and why not I thought I mean it's not like I really had plans.
I mustered up a "Yeah sure" including a nod.
It's not like you had never stayed after school before but today it just seemed so odd, creepy even. I walked into the class which was surprisingly full of kids. They all got quiet when I walked in, how awkward I thought to myself. I set my things down on the desk in the front of the room.
"Teachers pet" I heard a girl mutter in the back, her friends around her laughed and gave her high fives for her comment. Her name was Ariel I thought, I wasn't quite sure though. Paying attention to people here at school was as boring and useless as watching paint dry. You just seemed to roll your eyes and ignore her comment. A few minutes later Mr. Jones walked in.
"Alright delinquents, let us begin" he stated setting his things onto his desk. You could hear the stifled groans throughout the room.
No one in particular seemed to protest because everyone knew that out of all the teachers in school, Mr. Jones meant business. He continued to drone on you blocked him out and tried to think of what it would be like to actually have friends. You had a friend once, his name was Johnny Donaldson. You two were buds for about two years until he got into a car accident. The drunk driver who hit him killed him upon impact. That happened my sophomore year. I haven't really made any friends since then, being social wasn't really my top priority. Mr. Jones snapped you out of your thoughts."
"Micheal why don't you demonstrate how to do this" he said motioning you to the chalk board.
"Um o-oh-okay" you stuttered back, slowly making your way up to the board. You did all the caluations to solve the problem, once you finished you sat back in your seat without speaking a word.
"And that class, is how you factor coveriate predictor variable. Good job son" he said giving an approving nod in your direction.
"Psh, what a nerd" you heard Ariel grumble, you were going to just ignore her comment but Mr. Jones was not.
"Ariel, would you mind telling the class your grade in here?" he asked, his tone was snapping and irriatated. All she did was squirm uncomfortably in her seat. " I thought not, and if you think he is so smart then he is your new tutor" he stated, both of our mouths dropped open.
"But that's not fair!" we said in unison.
"Well it looks like you finally agree on something. Micheal you are now responsible for Ariels grade in this class if she fails. Things will not be good for you. Ariel if you purposly fail my class to get Micheal into trouble I will have you suspended, dropped from my class which by the way would cause you to graduate with the next class, and I will have you banned from any after school activities including photography" he stated.
Everyone knew that Ariel was lead photographer in the yearbook class. It was the only thing she seemed to take pride and joy in. So he and I both knew she wouldn't try to personally screw me over. I didn't like his mention of 'things would not be good for me' he was my best teacher. His reccomendation letter is what would get me into Harvard for sure, I couldn't screw that up. So I knew I would actually have to work for this.
"Well It is now four o'clock so get out of here" he said collecting his thisngs and leaving the room.
Ariel hurried up and grabbed her bag rushing over to me. "You better not screw this up for me or I will make you pay. Meet me after school in the student parking lot tomorrow to start the tutoring. Do not be late" she said harshly and with that she pushed past me and walked out the door.
A/N This is something new I'm starting hope you guys enjoy it!
