Homework Hell

Chapter 1: D for "Doing My Best"

Conroy sitting in his back corner of the classroom stared down at his paper is disbelief. A big, glaring "D" penned in bright red ink was written across his Trigonometry test. The future hours long argument with his dad over his grades already stated to write itself in his mind. "God am i screwed,"he muttered to himself. "Yeah you definitely are" Conroy looks up to see his friend Sam looking standing over his desk.

"Not right now Sam I'm visioning my impending doom," Conroy says with his flat sarcastic voice.

"Relax Edgelord, at least you didn't fail this time," Sam says giving him a bright smile. Samantha, Sam, has stuck with him since eighth grade after they both got detention for playing video games during class. She was a friend to keep. After all, the friends that fall together stay together.

"A "D" is not enough to save me from the academy of doom. I can see it already. Five A.M. wake up call and a buzz cut!" Conroy says wadding his test into his bag. His father has been threatening to send him to General Gabriel's Military Academy if his grades did not improve. Conroy was not a good candidate for a military education. His messy habits and sharp witted tongue were sure to get him in trouble daily. Not to mention he would have to leave his one friend behind. He could survive the strict rules, but starting over in a new place would kill him.

"Ey! I said cool it. You worry too much Roy. You're only human; your old man can't punish you for something you don't know." Sam said with a reassuring smile

Conroy smiles some. "That seemed almost heartfelt" he started to say, but Sam cut him off.

"Besides, Teach will curve this one. Everyone did worse than your one good high 'C'"

"And there's the Sam I know" Conroy says with a joking sarcastic tone as he leaves the classroom.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Sam yells as she runs after him.

The two walk through the crowded halls discussing their favorite game OmegaRune as they head to lunch. "I'm just saying that nothing will be better than the original ChamberTale! I don't hate OmegaRune" Conroy says as Sam gets ready to challenge him to a duel. "You are blind my poor friend! OmegaRune is a million times better! The visuals, the gameplay, even the music is better!" Sam exclaims with her fiery, fangirl tenacity. Conroy laughs. Sam goes to punch him, but something catches her eye. "Hey look! All your problems are solved!!" Sam pulls him over to a poster.

The poster is brightly colored and boasts a captivating message: "Does Algebra make you want to X yourself out? Is Geometry bending your mind out of shape? Is your Calculus grade dragging you down below?? Then call me at 1-800-666-MATH!!". "Wow. A Poster. My problems are all solved." Conroy says laying on the sarcasm thick. "Oh shut up! You know what i mean!"

"This tutor could help you improve your grades!" Sam says while grabbing a pull-off-number from the bottom of the poster.

"I don't know, Sam. 'Does your algebra make you want to X yourself out'? That is very dark to be on a normal tutoring poster."

"You are being to judgy! You haven't even met the guy yet." She holds out the number to him.

Conroy sighs annoyed. "Fine. But i will only call at a last resort," he says taking the number from her outstretched hand.

"Ok Edgelord. Let's head to lunch before they run out of french fries." Sam walks away from the poster.

Conroy looks at the number in his hand and then back up to poster. He takes notice of the 666 in the phone number. He chuckles some. "At least they got the number right. Homework is hell," he thinks to himself as he follows Sam to lunch.