After school on Monday, I found Marco hanging out around the back with his little "crew" I was assuming he didnt want to be seen with me, so I hid behind a bush and threw a stick at his back. It worked because he turned around confused.
I waved him over, and he said something to his friends and came over to me. He crouched down next to me. "Why are you hiding behind a bush?" He asked. I crossed my arms and looked down. "Because I'm pretty sure that you don't wanna be seen with me." He put his hand on my shoulder which made me look up. "You are absolutely right." I stifled a laugh. "Okay anywaaaaaays I was thinking we start our little study session today. We can do it at...." I furrowed my brows as I thought of a place. Marco looked over the bush. "I really appreciate you helping me and all, but I have to go somewhere with my gang. I already said I would show up."
I pursed my lips and raised one of my eyebrows. "Okaayyy...where is this place?" He put his arms in a surrendering pose. "Can't say." I sighed, then stood up. "Well if you're really serious about passing this test, I expect that you meet me at the park by 4:30." I walked away and left him there. I looked back, and he looked kinda confused. I laughed to myself and went home to complete my homework.
• • • • •
When I finally finished it was about 3:50, so I got all of my little tutoring supplies and started heading out. Although, I don't think my mom was aware. When I touched the handle of the door, she started the interrogation. She was sitting on the couch reading a magazine, and without looking up from it she started to question me.
"Where are you going?"
"Park."
"With whom?"
"A boy named Marco."
At that, she slammed her magazine down. "A boy?" I turned around and walked over to her. "Mom it's not that big of a deal. I'm just tutoring him. I don't even like the guy." She pursed her lips. "Anyways, I gotta meet him at the park by 4:00. So goodbye!" And with that I turned and walked out of my house.
I made sure she wasn't looking out of the window, then went around the back to get a bike that I had. She never knew I had one of these. See, she isn't very fond of much of anything really. She says that bikes are like the Devil although I don't understand why. I got on, and rode to the park. By the time I got there it was 4:05 and Marco wasn't there. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I was pretty sure he was coming. While I waited I swung on the swing.
I heard my name being called. "Star!" I squinted me eyes, and saw a Marco running to me. He sat next to me on the other swing, panting. "I knew you'd come. Why are you late?" Be wiped his forehead. "it took a pretty long time to make up an excuse to go." I snorted. He smirked. I grabbed his wrist and dragged him to a table. "Okay, the test is gonna have five of the lessons we were taught." Marco nodded his head. "And that's these." I slid him a clipboard which had the lesson names on it and a highlighter. "So...highlight the ones you don't know."
He took the highlighter slowly from me like it was an explosive. He looked at me. I nodded my head. He highlighted veeeeery slowly. It was annoying. "Hurry up Marcooooo." I tapped the table. He handed it back to me. I took it and looked at it. He highlighted all five. I put down the clipboard. "Oh Marco, do you not ever pay attention in class?! Like these exponents are litteraly the easiest thing." He scratched the back of his neck. I put the clipboard to the side and replaced it with a workbook. "Oh Diaz, Diaz..." I looked him in the eyes. "We have alot of work to do."
• • •
"Okay, can you do it on your own now?" It's now been two hours, and I just taught Marco everything he needed to know to solve these exponents problems. The thing is, poor Marco is hard of understanding. He learns different than I do. So I had to come up with a whole new method to teach him with. I just hope he grasped it. I chewed on my hair nervously as he filled out the problems one by one. He finished and I got the paper, I checked of the ones that were right. I ended up checking them all off. I hid the paper from him and put on a fake pity face.
I got up and walked over to him, and put my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to say Marco but, looks like you're a nerd just like me."
"What?"
"You got all of them right!"
He snatched the paper from me. He looked it up and down and pure happiness came on his face. "No way! Thanks so much Star!" He got up and hugged me. "You're the best." I beamed. I couldn't help getting butterflies from when he hugged me. I pushed the butterflies away. "Alright, I gotta run Marco." He looked at me funny. He looked at his invisible watch, then got his phone. "It's only 6:00." I shrugged. "Sorry, my mom is strict."
He looked at me. "Maybe I can do something about that." Then he took my hand and dragged me away.
