Quiet Backstage: A Series of Lippa Oneshots

Calculus Tutoring

Inspired by Forever In Your Shadow by @elizathedragon

Pippa woke up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. After sitting up in her bed and stretching her arms, earning a loud pop from her back, Pippa reached over for her phone.

She sent a quick good morning text to the director of the newest TV show she was working on.

Pippa
Hey, good morning! I'll see you at four today, right?

Craig
Yep, four o'clock! See you then!

Pippa smiled, setting her phone down back on her nightstand. She pulled the covers off of her legs and stood up, crossing to her vanity to start getting ready for school.

~~~~~

Pippa had been working on this TV show called The Code for a while now. It would be a lie if she said that it wasn't her main priority.

While she did prioritize the show in a way, she was still incredibly dedicated to her schoolwork. She couldn't afford to fail. She wouldn't let herself fail. She had to be perfect at everything. Whether that be at acting or schoolwork.

"Phillipa, could you come here for a moment?" Her calculus teacher, Mr. Bradshaw asked.

The young actress looked up from her textbook. "Sure." She spoke, standing up. Her chair squeaked as it scraped against the floor, drawing attention to her that she didn't appreciate.

"Let's go out in the hall." Mr. Bradshaw said, gesturing towards himself. Pippa followed him into the hall. "Philippa, I'm not sure if you're aware, but your grade in my class has been falling significantly."

"Oh." Pippa whispered, her eyes dropping to her ankle high boots.

"You're going to have to pass this final to pass my class. So, I've decided to put in place for you a tutor."

Pippa's head snapped up at that. "A tutor?! I'm sorry, Sir, but I really don't have it in my schedule to do after school tutoring. I have The Code, and this smaller project I've started working on, and--" Pippa rambled, fearing her failure in his class as well as fear of slipping in her professional life.

Was this all too much?

"I understand your conflicts with your professional career. That's why I've set these tutoring sessions up during your fifth period study halls, in the library."

The tension released from Pippa's shoulders when she heard that she wouldn't have to be arriving late to work after school. "Who will my tutor be, then?"

"Lin. I take it you two are friends already?"

"Yay!" Pippa smiled gently. "And of course, he's one of my best friends!"

"I'm glad to know I paired you with someone you enjoy being around. Your first session is tomorrow, but you could always start after school tonight. If your professional responsibilities do not interfere." He explained.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Bradshaw."

"No problem, Miss. Soo. Now, I'd like to see that grade being raised." She smiled and opened the classroom door once more.

"Consider it raised." Pippa smiled as she sat back down in her seat.

~~~~~

The next day, Pippa was headed to the library for the second half of her first tutoring session with Lin. She split lunch with fifth hour, meaning she'd do half of her fifth hour class, eat lunch, then do the second half.

Pippa stood at the front of the cafeteria, holding her lunch between her hands. She scanned the tables for somewhere to sit. She could find nowhere. Her usual table was with Lin and their collective theatre friends, but they were all gone eating lunch in the drama room as they worked on set design. Pippa could not participate in the school shows, because of her professional conflicts.