The Tommo Way

Chapter Fourteen: Studying With The Sass Master and New Beauties

Okay guys, I have literally no idea what's happening atm. Yesterday, I saw Niall outside a radio station in town and he waved at me and today I just bought two tickets to see Harry Styles with my sister... Somebody up there is trying to make my inner fangirl lose it!! I'm incredibly happy right now but I still don't know how this is happening!!!! Good luck to everyone who tries to get Harry tickets in the presale today or on Friday!!!! <3333333

Anyway, here is the next chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it!
Thanks for reading, it means so much (:
Lots of love, Melody

"Congratulations! You get five points!" I glared at Louis. "Five out of what? A million?" I snapped. "Louis, I messed up every single answer!" Louis shifted on his back and rolled onto his side looking up from the notes I had given him. We were sitting on a picnic blanket in his garden and enjoyed the warm weather while Louis was quizzing me on my upcoming exams. "Well, I never said that you did great, I only said that you get five points." Louis said and grinned. "There are points for trying and you're on top of the class there!"

I groaned and dropped face-first onto my pillow. "Oh come on, Abby, it's not that bad!" Louis tried to cheer me up. "You're only nervous." I mumbled something incoherent into the pillow and Louis started poking my side in an attempt to get me to look at him. Without looking, I smacked his hand but he only chuckled. "Abby, look at me while I'm talking. You don't want to be rude, do you?" he laughed and continued to poke me. Frustrated, I re-emerged from my pillow and shot Louis a glare which was hidden by my hair draped over my face.

"Abby, let's try this again, shall we?" While Louis talked, he freed my face from my hair and grinned at the mess on my head. With a defeated sigh, I rose into a sitting position and crossed my legs, looking at Louis expectantly. "Okay, let's do this. Let's humiliate me one more time, there is no harm in that." I said sarcastically but my stomach churned out of nerviness.

Louis' eyes softened and he put down the notes. "Love, you can do this. You know all this stuff, you just mix up the answers. Why don't you try to relax, this is not your actual exam!" Louis said firmly and looked at me intently. "I know, I know, but it's not getting any better!" I said with a touch of hysteria in my voice. "We've been doing this for hours Louis and I have been studying for weeks! There should be some sort of improvement by now!"

A hand gripped my wrist and pulled my fingers out of my mouth. I hadn't noticed that I had started chewing my nails again, it was a really bad habit of mine when I was nervous. "Sorry!" I said quickly and hid my hands inside the long sleeves of my sweatshirt. "Why are you so tense, love?" Louis asked and moved closer to me, eyeing me with a careful expression. I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just nervous that I won't do well... my parents would have my head if I messed up." I grimaced at how stupid that sounded coming from a twenty-two year old.

A frown appeared on Louis' face. "Abby, you don't have to be the best in everything." He said quietly. There was no judgement in his voice, only genuine worry. I winced. Without knowing, Louis had touched on a sore point. "Yes I do!" I said fiercely and Louis narrowed his eyes. "Why?" he asked me patiently. The notes lay next to us on the picnic blanket, forgotten.
I shrugged. Louis looked at me expectantly. "My parents are very... eager to see me do well at university." I said after a small pause, searching for the right wording. "Very, very eager." I added slowly, strongly emphasizing the first two words.

Louis didn't answer and I knew he was waiting for me to explain. "I was never as good as my brother and I don't think I ever lived up to their expectations." Louis made a noise which sounded like an angry cat. "Abby, you are doing this for yourself and not for them!" he said forcefully and picked up the notes from the ground. "This" he held up the papers "is what you chose to study. This" he waved the notes again "is your future and not theirs. You will do the best that you can but don't pressure yourself into anything. If your answer doesn't match the notes a hundred percent, it's not the end of the world. As long as you pass your exams you'll be fine!" I looked at the bundle of papers and avoided his eyes, knowing that he was right.