How to Breathe

2. out

"Come on, hurry up!" exclaimed Seth.

"And why do I have to hurry?" I ask.

"Because we are going to miss Ms. Grench's pot pie!! And for running for half of your school career, you are a slow walker." 

"Thank you Seth, love you too." I said monotonely. 

"Whatever, you can suffer the life without Ms. Grench's pot pie, while I live in heaven." He yelled. 

"Yeah, go ahead. I have to stop by the office anyways." I said, turning the corner to get there.

"Why, you're gonna miss the only reason half these kids come to school!"

"I have to get the information about the kid I'm tutoring. Mother is still making me do it. It's a replacement of cross country." I explained.

"Okay, I'll save you a seat." He yelled over his shoulder as he went into the lunch room.

I walked against the wave of students rushing to get a chance of getting that pot pie that's a drug to some of these kids. Getting elbowed, and hearing profanities wasn't exactly what I want to feel or hear on a Monday afternoon, but we can't all win.

Pushing the door open to the office, I happen to run into a boy that I haven't seen in a while. Also I just happen to drop the two textbooks on this person's foot. Yeah, not my best move.

"Oh my God, I'm so so sorry. I should've been watching where I was going!" I exclaim, as we both bend down to get the five pound text books off his foot.

"Yeah, you have blondie. Now get out of my way before I make you." He growls.

"You don't need to be rude." I grunt out, adjust the books in my arms.

"Yeah, whatever." He says.

As he pushes his way past me, with no doubt a fresh bruise coming about on his foot, I wonder what might be wrong. 

"Charlotte... Charlotte! Hello, earth to Charlotte!" someone said as they waved a hand in front of my face.

"Yes." I turn my head to see the culprit that awoke me from my fading day dream. "Whatcha need?"

"You just missed the boy you'll be tutoring. It's Tyler Hernandez. He needs help in almost all subjects. Good luck." the office lady hands me a manila folder of the paper's with a grimace. I don't blame her.

Tyler. Tyler Hernandez. The leader of the group of boys that cause a lot of trouble within school walls. He fights and skips class almost like it's an extreme sport. It's no surprise he will be needed a tutor. 

Long story short, he is the cliche bad boy at Mount Hood High.

And I hate cliches.

"Okay, thank you miss." I said as I walked through the door, reading exactly what I'm dealing with. I don't even know why my mom wants me to do tutoring so bad. Probably something else I can put on my college resume. 

I head straight for the cafeteria, knowing full well I won't be able to get one of those pot pies. 

***

"Hey Char, what were you doing. I couldn't get any answers out of this dimwit." My best friend Sarah said pointing at Seth the best gay friend any body could have. 

"I'm tutoring, let me check... Tyler in Math and History, but I might have to see if he needs anything else." 

"What! Excuse me!" my best friends exclaim.

"Like Tyler Hernandez, the one guy that got in tons of fights last year. You can't do that Char. He will get you in trouble." Sarah babbles.

"It's not like I have much of a choice, Sarah. Mother is making me do this to replace cross country. And we all know I hated it." I reasoned.

"He plays with girls like a fiddle and you hated him in seventh grade, didn't you." Seth replied.

"Yeah, but that was like four years ago. And it was over a stupid reason. He kept stealing my pens." 

"He's a bad boy, Char." Sarah said. 

"Guys, it's just tutoring. What bad could come out of tutoring?" Seth concluded. "Plus if anything to crazy happens, we can kick butts." I laugh imaging Seth and Sarah trying to kick Tyler's butt. 

After that, lunch continued and ended the same. I had creative arts and history with a free period as my last. 

While during free period, I would usually be out in the field stretching and talking to Coach Jem. However, once the bell rung, I went straight towards the gym to talk to Coach about taking a break from cross country.

"Coach, I need to talk to you." I said, knocking on her office door.

"Come in. What's up?" She asked concerned.

"Coach I have been sitting on this for a while and I don't think I want to be on the team anymore." I breathed out. See Coach Jem has been there for me since middle school when she coached the track team. She saw me grow as a person, and I felt bad for leaving her high and dry.

"I see, Char. Is this what you want?" She asks.

"Yes, it's not my passion any more." I responded. 

"Okay, Char. I want you to be happy. So you're off the team, but if you ever change your mind, come talk to me. I will miss our star player but we can't hold you back."

"Thank you Coach, I knew you would understand." I said, giving her a hug. "The team will be just fine. Jessica has some real talent and Brad has good pace."

I left the room, feeling free. Now all I have to do is get through this tutoring session, then I'm free alas.