*can be read as a standalone, but to have the best understatement I recommend reading Progress and Winter In Spruceworth*
*cover by darkgalaxies*
Holden Eaton has never had the best relationship with his parents after a brain injury a few yea...
English had always been my favourite subject because quizzes and tests weren't as common as it was during math and science classes so I rarely had to stress over going there.
Until now.
Every other week, we had to have a stupid reading quiz for the short stories we were reading in class and I was doing worse and worse every time. I had a feeling I was only going to fail the class in the end and have to take a course in the summer.
And if that were to happy, I would just drop out.
Jordan announced that we were going to have another quiz tomorrow and my mood immediately went down. Then again, it was already down from being in school when I don't want to be in school.
The bell to dismiss the class rang and while I was packing up things, Jordan said, "Holden, I'd like to speak to you."
I sighed. Great. My mood was only going to go down even more.
If that was possible.
"I'll see you at lunch," Jane said before leaving the classroom.
I waited for everyone else to leave before walking to the front of the room where Jordan's desk was. "You probably know why I want to talk to you, right?" he asked.
"Well, it either has to do with Shaw or my grades, and I'm going to take a wild guess and says it's my failing grades," I said. "So, what am I at? Fifteen-percent?"
"Forty-five," Jordan said. "And I actually want to tell you that you're not going to be doing the quiz tomorrow."
"I'm... not?" I asked. "Why?"
"You're a smart student, Holden," Jordan said. "Your last essay was the highest grade I've marked in all the time I've been a teacher. It's the quizzes and tests pulling you down, so I decided that you're not going to be doing anymore quizzes."
"So... You know about my memory loss," I said.
"I do," Jordan said. "And because of it, you'll be writing a response to the short story instead of doing the reading quiz. I'm going to prepare a question for you and you're going to write a paragraph response instead, and you can have the story in front of you."
"Really?" I asked. "That's... actually really going to help. Thanks."
"Don't thank me," Jordan said. "I'm your teacher and I know what you're capable of. I just have one question. You actually do the reading, right? You don't just give up thinking you're going to fail anyway?"
"I actually do read it," I said. "After school, before I go to bed, before I leave for school. No matter how many times I read it, I just can't remember the details that are normally asked on the quiz."
"Which is why you're having the question instead," Jordan said. "You're trying and I want to give you a fair chance at getting a high grade. Alright, you can head to your next class now."
Jordan did tell me I didn't have to thank him, but I did again anyway because he was the only teacher I had that was willing to think of something else that would help me get high grades.
Ironically.
I was dating his ex and he wasn't happy about our relationship, but he was still giving me the fair shot.
I was feeling a bit better because I probably wouldn't be going to summer school now for English.
And then my mood went back down when I was in my next class because, my my English class, we were having a quiz the next day.
My bad mood was evident when Jane and I met up for lunch. "What's up with you?" she asked while we were putting our books away in our locker so we could go out somewhere for lunch.
"School," I said. "It's horrible."
"What did Mr. Aniston want to talk to you about?" Jane asked.
"Oh, that is actually a good thing," I said. "I'm not really doing the quiz tomorrow. He's going to write a question for me and I have to write a paragraph response instead."
"That's great," Jane said.
"Yeah, at least one teacher is willing to do something for my memory," I said. "So, where do you want to go for lunch? The Gold Mine? BF's 50's Diner? The pub?"
"Yeah, we're not going to the pub," Jane said. "I'm kind of in the mood for onion rings."
"The 50's diner it is," I said.
Living in the diner was perfect for us to go somewhere for lunch. We had more than enough time to walk somewhere and get our meal before we had to be back at school.
After ordering a basket of onion rings, Jane and I sat down at one of the tables to eat. As soon as I sat down, I saw someone walk into the diner that I really didn't want to see.
Roman.
Jane noticed me staring and she looked over. "Oh, it's him," she said. "Did he find Shaw?"
"He did," I said, looking away from Roman. "When he was threatening me and Shaw saw it happening and stopped him. Apparently, that man, Roman, found out I'm Shaw's boyfriend and tried using it to his advantage."
"Seriously?" Jane asked. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," I said. "I am a bit worried though. He really isn't happy that Shaw killed Cassidy, even though it was in self defense and he seems like he's not going to stop until he gets revenge."
"If he threatened you and Shaw, shouldn't you go to the police?" Jane asked.
I didn't answer. Instead, I changed the subject. "So, if you could have any superpower, what would it be?"
"Holden, what did he say to you and Shaw?" Jane asked.
I sighed. "He said if we were to go to the police, he'd hurt me, and he definitely doesn't seem like the person to have empty threats."
"Isn't there something you could do?" Jane asked.
I shrugged. "Not really, no. But... Shaw also didn't take the threats lightly. He does have... not the best past and it might come back if Roman takes things to far. And I'm not sure if I want to see it."
____________
i want to see it.
i mean what?
lol
time for another gif of my favourite pair of best friends:
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^^when holden wants to listen to drama but jane doesn't (literally what happened in the show) "Well, whatever it is, I don't want to know." "Oh, come on."
