Back To Our Roots, Book One

LXVIII. Report Cards

They were all gathered anxiously in the commons when a teacher walked in. The room fell silent, as if everyone had stopped breathing.

"Anderson?"

Blaine nervously stepped forwards to take his card.

"Carlson?"

"Clarington?"

Hunter walked up and took his card with a shaking hand, looking sick.

"Dmitri?"

"Duval?"

A pale Nick accepted his card.

"Harris?"

Thad took his card, nervously biting his lip.

"Hummel?"

Kurt accepted his card with ease.

"Jackson?"

"Leith?"

"Mo– Wes?"

Wes took his card silently.

"Neil?"

"Newburgh?"

"Parkinson?"

"Richardson?"

Matt took his card, heart skipping a beat.

"Samson?"

"Smith?"

"Sebastian?"

Clearly untroubled, Sebastian took his card.

"Sterling?"

Looking excited, Jeff grabbed his card.

"Thompson?"

David stepped forwards to take his card.

They all left the commons together, not listening to the rest of the names.

"Ready?" Jeff asked once they had all crowded into one dorm.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Thad replied.

They all opened their cards at once, looking over them.

Sebastian furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "How did that happen?"

"What?" Jeff asked.

"I completely bombed the health quiz, but I got an A."

"Isn't that good?" Thad asked.

Sebastian didn't answer that, still looking confused.

Jeff laughed. "Every single note from my teachers says the same thing; I'm a bright student, I just need to stop talking in class."

"I'm just interested to see what they'll do with the copy of mine. I mean, they can't exactly send it to my parents," Wes said.

"I told you before, you could ask."

"I'm with David; just ask," Kurt added.

Wes nodded. "I guess I should."

Matt chuckled. "Jason's not going to be too happy with my health grade." See a few confused expressions, he explained, "He's a doctor."

"Yeah, I didn't do very well in Health either," Blaine said.

"Me either. How'd the rest of you guys do?" Jeff asked.

Sebastian shook his head. "An undeserved A."

"B," Wes and David said at the same time, blushing as the others chuckled.

"High C," Thad said, wrinkling his nose.

"B," Kurt said.

"Nick?" Jeff asked when he didn't answer. "Earth to Nick."

"What?" Nick asked, not looking away from his paper.

Jeff chuckled. "What's so interesting?" he asked, trying to look over Nick's shoulder.

Nick immediately set the paper facedown so Jeff couldn't see it. "Nothing. What do you want?"

Jeff's expression turned worried. "Nick, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Nick's tone was just as tense as before.

"You didn't do very well, did you?" Sebastian asked softly.

"None of your business."

"Nick, everything going on with us is each other's business. Trust me, secrets don't stay secrets long," Thad said.

Nick looked like he was desperately searching for something to say but eventually sighed and gave up. "Fine. You want to see how shitty of a student I am? Go ahead." He handed the paper to Jeff, who's eyes widened.

"Nick..."

"Go ahead. Say it."

"I don't..."

"I didn't pass a single class," Nick said loudly and clearly. "Not a single one."

"We're going to help you," Jeff said decisively, handing the paper back to him.

"What?" Nick asked, surprised.

Jeff chuckled. "What, you think we wouldn't? We're like a family in here, Nick. We help each other out."

"Shit. My family's going to see this. I'm dead."