Demon: Book 1

Chapter 28: Failing

I grabbed the note and quickly shut the window. Sinking to the floor, I unfolded it.

Sorry, I can't.

Letting out a deep breath, I crumpled up the paper. I wasn't even getting consistent replies anymore. It had been two weeks since I had seen him last, and days between receiving a new note. Grabbing a notepad from my desk, I scribbled a message and put it outside. I knew he was trying, but waiting so long to meet was depressing.

"Aden!" called my mother from downstairs.

"I'm up!" I replied. "I'll be down in a minute." I grabbed my backpack and shoved my homework inside.

"Aden, you're going to be late."

"I'm coming!" I quickly zipped it up and hurried downstairs.

My mother met me at the door with toast in her hand. "Aden"—she shook her head and attempted to get some of my waves to lie flat—"did you even try to do your hair?"

"No point," I breathed.

Muttering to herself, she walked into the garage. I followed her to the car and slipped into the passenger seat.

"Do you have everything you need?"

"I guess." I put on my seatbelt. If not, oh well.

***

"Shit," I said under my breath. "Damn it." I banged my head on my textbook. My math homework was sitting on my desk. It was only half done, but that was better than a zero.

"Pass your homework to someone else," said the teacher.

My regular trading partner slipped her paper onto my desk and held out her hand.

"I left it at home."

She shrugged and turned forward. The teacher read off the answers. I marked two wrong and handed the sheet back to her. She seemed content with the score and started figuring out the percentage on her calculator. I lay there, dreading the score call.

Mr. Phillips started down the list of names. I bit my lip as he moved closer to the Ps.

"Aden."

I took a deep breath.

Mr. Phillips looked up.

"I left it at home." I forced a pained smile.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Aden, I need to talk to you after class."

I sank into my seat. "'kay."

The teacher continued down the rest of the list. The students around me shot me glances. So, I was the stupid senior in a class filled with juniors and sophomores. I did try, but I'd never be good with numbers.

Once the grades were recorded, Mr. Phillips went to the board and started today's lesson. I rested my chin on my book and stared. This was worse than yesterday. I didn't even have Chris to talk me through it anymore.

I was so confused from the beginning to the end. My classmates started working on the problems assigned while I took my time writing down the assignment. Forty problems, I was doomed. Opening my math book, I skimmed through them. I chewed on the end of my pencil and read one of the story problems over and over. This had to be a foreign language disguised in English. It didn't make sense. None of them made sense!

"Aden."

I glanced up to see Mr. Phillips looking at me.

"Would you step outside with me?"

Nodding, I stood and followed him into the hall with my head bowed. This was embarrassing. I knew I was stupid, but he didn't need to remind everyone that I was failing.