The walking cliche

No healthy person could possibly like math

Tessa

"How did you do on your math test?" Brandon asked.

Wasn't me pulling my hair and sighing excessively enough of an answer? Did he really need me to say it? I didn't want to say it out loud.

I was failing math.

I was doing fine on everything else, that should count for something, right?

"That bad?" Brandon asked. His voice much softer now.

I nodded. My hands were comfortable in my hair so I didn't bother looking at him. He'd just stare at me with his puppy eyes.

I glanced at him when I felt his warm hand touch me.

He was patting my shoulder. As if that would make anything better. I'd promised my parents I'd keep my grades up and I really dreaded the phone call when I had to tell them the news.

I was failing math.

Failing.

"I could tutor you?" Brandon suggested, a soft smile appeared on his features.

"You could tutor me?" I glanced at his test. A freaking A. How did he do that? I think I would've scored better if I'd taken a Chinese test.

"Of course. I like math." He shrugged. I looked at him like he was an alien. Who likes math? Nobody. Nobody likes math.

I brought my hand to his forehead. His eyes followed my hand in confusion.

"What are you doing, Tessa?" He asked.

"Checking if you have a fever. No healthy person could possibly like math." I explained.

Brandon laughed and shook his head. "You really are something."

"I'll take that as a compliment." I told him. I wasn't sure if it was one though.

"Sure you cou-"

"Tess!" Jake interrupted whatever Brandon was going to say.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" He just walked in the middle of class.

"What? Class is over." I looked around and people were packing in and leaving. I'd been too busy sulking over my failure to even notice.

"Oh. What's up?" I asked Jake. He looked like he'd been running and I could tell he had something hidden in his hand.

He got on one knee next to my chair.

"My beautiful Tessa, will you accept this ring pop from me?" Jake said dramatically and revealed a pink heart shaped ring pop. It'd been years since the last time I saw the littly candy attached to a plastic ring.

"I will!" I played along and smiled when he put the ring on my finger. Before he let go he kissed my hand and got up.

"Gotta go, see you tonight!" He said and left in a hurry.

I started licking the candy on my finger and it must've looked weird but I used to love these things so much I couldn't resist.

"That was random." Brandon broke the silence. I'd forgotten he was there for a minute. We both got up so we could go to our lockers.

"He's really good at surprising me." I chuckled. Brandon didn't laugh along, he only shrugged.

"So about the tutoring...?" I asked him. I could really use the help.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah sure. You could come over." Brandon suggested while fingering his grey shirt.

"Can't, I have to pick up Lily. You could come to my place in an hour?"