beautiful angel.

I.

There were only 2 things on my mind this time of year: Homecoming, and who I wasn't going to go with.

Considering I never had a date to any of the dances, or balls, or parties that were hosted, I knew I wouldn't have a date this year. Well, by not having a date a mean none that I would bone to some Redbone. I brought charity cases, the dumb football players that will drool over any girl with a pretty face. Yeah, I am pretty — that's the reason I was accepted so easily into my school when I first arrived. I easily became one of the most known girls at Shilman High School, under my best friend Becca. She was always the one that everyone cared about, not me.

"Hey sweetie!" Becca shouts across the parking lot, about a quarter a football field length away. She struts over with her red lips stretched into a smile; she is wearing a black denim skirt that I bought her and a white cropped T-shirt with a Monarch on the front. She always dressed to impress, and she always succeeded. She is the most wanted girl at Shilman.

"Hey, Beck," I smile, my tired eyes gleaming. "How did you sleep?"

She smirks as if she was waiting for me to ask. "Well, I slept over Connor's last night... I had my way with him, if you know what I mean."

I did know what she meant, and my throat closed up. Connor is my ex boyfriend, the only boyfriend I had ever gotten serious about. Her and Becca started dating the week after we broke up, and I'm convinced that Connor dated me for a year with the objective of snagging Becca. It's not my fault that we fell in love, she told me.

"So, what time are you snatching me tonight?" She asks, popping a stick of gum in her mouth.

I adjust my bag on my shoulders, uncomfortably. "What time should I?"

"Well, the party starts at 7, which means we should show up at 9," she says absentmindedly. "Yeah, that'll do!" Just then, I see Connor start to make his way over. He had always been one of the more attractive boys in our year, with clean beach-waved blonde hair and rose red cheeks, to top it off with an award winning smile. We make eye contact and I feel my heart clench.

"Sounds good. I have to get to class, I'll see you at lunch?" I ask, curtly.

"You know it!" She beams once she sees Connor. I leave quickly.

***

"39 percent... That isn't good, Jean," Mr. Sypek moans, tossing my latest test onto my desk. I stare down at the big F on my paper, willing it to turn into an A. It didn't work, unsurprisingly.

"Brad, I promise I'll do better next time," I comment. He shakes his head and sits at his desk, facing me.

"This is the 4th time you've failed a critical assignment," he reminds me. I open my mouth to speak, but he silenced me with a finger in the air. He continues, "you knew this would be a hard year, and judging by all of your grades from previous years I can only assume that you're failing at your own will and not because you need the extra help."

I stay quiet. He continues, "so I can give you two options. You can either not pass my class, or you can stay after school with me in this room every Tuesday and Thursday until your grade improves."

I sat in more silence as he stared at me, waiting for a response. Just then, the door opened and a student walked in baring a stack of papers.

"Hey, Mr. Sypek, here's all those assignments from when I was on my vacation!" She says, plopping the stack on his desk. She looks between us a few times before going pale. "Oh shoot, did I interrupt something?"

"You're fine, Hailey. I was just asking jean if she would join our little club every Tuesday and Thursday," he says, looking back at me expectantly. I cross my arms and look back at the big fat F.

"Aw, really? It'd be so great to have you! We always have so much fun in here!" She squeals squeals, smiling brightly. I give her a once over before meeting her eye. She is wearing mom jeans with a T-shirt and converse. She isn't the type of person I would spend my afternoon with, but as I look at Brad he meets my expression with one of disappointment.

"It's not for everybody, I suppose," he says solemnly.

I groan internally. "I'll do it, I guess," I mutter.

"What was that? Didn't quite get it," he teases, cupping his ear with his hand.

"I said I'll go to your club."

"Great! This is some real character development, Jean!"

"For sure," I mutter, picking myself up. "School is pretty much over, I'm gonna hit the parking lot early to avoid traffic."

"Okay, Jean. See you tomorrow, in class and after," he grins. I nod half heartedly and leave.