Perceiver

Chapter 1: I hate Double Maths

It all started with a single (socially awkward) Pringle

3:30pm, Friday 26th June: Double Math. I hate double math. What am I talking about I hate math. I HATE SCHOOL.

As the final bell rings and the scramble for the door begins, I await the dread of the next few minutes. Papers fly across the room and stray chairs that never find their desk finish screeching. I continue to wait: 3:33pm, and finally the class had cleared the room. Ms Kennedy stands at the front busily stacking books and shutting down her computer. She was my favourite teacher, she took no crap from any students, particularly the self-admiring douches.

"Clara, speak of the devil." Ms Kennedy marvelled. I smiled in response, "Hi Ms K." I walked to the front of the class were she now sat at her desk filing some paper work. "So how was your trip, you got back last week? Was it." "Yep, still not over the jetlag." She chuckled slightly before taking a seat at her desk. "How was Australia?" I chuckled nervously knowing from the start this encounter would come with 20 questions. "Yeh it was great but um it's good to be back, I was wondering Ms Kennedy if I could do a little extra credit this term." Ms Kennedy suddenly stopped and gave me a look of confusion. "I'd like to catch up on some things and get ahead before I go back to Australia." She smiled, "Absolutely, I can organise some extra credit but be warned doing extra credit in the middle of year 12 can be very complex. I'll sort something out and let you know."

Tutoring, what could possibly be worse than tutoring? Tutoring Harry Styles.

And this is were the story begins of how I; Clara Mills the nerdy exchange student who just got back from Australia, got stuck with Harry Styles the popular ladies man with everything going for him.

Please sit back, relax and laugh at the fail of destiny I call my final year of school.

your probably wondering what this all has to do with Pringles, well don't shit your self, its coming. You see it all started at our first lesson. But this this to all make sense allow me to take you on a trip down memory lane.

You see Harry isn't a stranger to me intact quite the opposite. Ever since year 2 we had been best friends till we reached year 7. We were the kind of friends that finishes each others lunch and tackled each other in the playground. We spent holidays down by the river; living next door and were always having family BBQ's around midterm. That was until we were 13, we drifted like space junk; hardly noticeable up close but from a far. He had become Mr popularity and I was dubbed nerd and a loser. He started off following the pack of the jocks and soon became the alpha male by year 8. We never talked and barely saw each other outside of school because his parents had left England for an exotic trip or something. And eventually I left to Australia on a foreign exchange/ scholarship program. He didn't even notice I was

leaving.

It sort of broke my heart that we'd shared so much and now I was about as important as a twig. I could understand that we were polar opposites but I thought that five years of friendship deserved at least a goodbye.

Ms Kennedy had informed me through email. She said she had sent him over for this afternoon and that I should revise math. We should arrange our own times and I should get 'his' input as to what 'he' struggles with.

I've always known Harry wasn't the brightest spark in the bunch but the one I knew managed to keep a 'B' average on his report.

Okay, Clara let's make this simple, study for an hour says he is doing great, then announce he is a lost cause to Ms K and beg for a different student.

Before I could think up a more intelligent scheme my phone rang; Josie was calling, of course she was. Knowing how fast gossip spread through our school, Harry had probably already told every soul in our grade that he was stuck with me.

Josie was one of my best friends, she was also about the biggest slut in England, dropping her pants for any guy over 16. We had met through Harry when they dated in the sixth grade and after she dumped him we really started getting along.

We chat for a few hours before she had to go. It was just generally catching up but it was still good. When I was living in Australia we barely got to speak because of the phone bills.

After our chat ended I turned around my room mindlessly wondering what to do. I turned on my keyboard, chucked on some headphones and began to play.

Hours later I was awoken from my trance by mysterious voices down stairs. As I made my way down to the kitchen I overheard fragments of conversation it was the devil and my mum. Catching up like old times. Harry had always had a way with parents, he managed to sweet talk them into anything. "Going down to the river sounds like a splendid idea. Clara would love it, she hasn't been down there in years." My mother said from downstairs. As I creeped into the kitchen I saw him, his back was facing me as he spoke to my mum across the bench. "ah Clara, there your are." She chuffed. In that instant Harry turned around and I saw his face for the first time in years it was... different. His elfish features had diminished into a chiselled jaw and astonishing green eyes. "Clara, speak of the devil." When he spoke my name it made me cringe; returning all the memories of betrayal. "Harry," I approached him and shook his outstretched hands. "Well I'll leave you two kids to study. Let me know if you need anything." As my mum wondered off I gave her an approving nod. Then turned my attention back to Harry.

He stared at me happily before looking down at the glass of soda in his hands. I could tell me threatening glare made him uncomfortable although that was the desired effect.

The next hour went by in silence. I only spoke when it was to do with the questions. He tried to start conversation only to realize I didn't want to talk to him. We did Physics, Maths Apps and finished with a little Chem. Just as he was about to leave my mum mentioned to him about a gathering next weekend but I was a bit out of it. Just as he stepped outside the door he turned around, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly "Hey Clara, listen..."

I don't' know what he said next, to be honest I really couldn't care. I slammed my great big, wooden front door in his face and that was that.

Harry didn't deserve my time. Simple.