Tutor (Lab Rats Fanfiction)

Chapter 11 Tell-Tale Heart

AN: Yeah, so in case this chapter is all jumbled, I've been having some trouble with spacing. Every time I save a chapter, the paragraphs all squish together. I have no idea why, and I'm sorry if it's doing that now. If the chapter is all bunched together, please tell me in your comment so I can figure out a way to fix it. Thank you, and again, I'm sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats.

"Class dismissed!" Mrs. Bowers chimed before a chorus of relief was heard from all of the students.

Finally! I swear, English gets longer every day. I jut feel so useless in Mrs. Bowers class. There's nothing I can do without completely embarrassing myself.

"Avalon, could you meet me at my desk?"

Oh, great. What now?

"Yes, Mrs. Bowers?" I asked politely, even though all I wanted to do was storm out of the room. She didn't say anything at first. She just let out a quiet sigh and slid a piece of paper across her desk in my direction.

"What's this?" I asked her, not bothering to glance at the sheet.

"The quiz you took yesterday. I was extremely disappointed in your score. Have you been studying at all?"

Studying? Ha! you're a funny teacher! I Just got here a few days ago! Of course I'm not studying!

"No."

She sighed again before asking, "What about your tutor, Chase. Has he been helping you these past few days?"

"Yeah..." I drawled out, hoping she wouldn't ask any more questions. Last night's session ended exactly like the last one. We reviewed some english before I refused to write down another equation. It's honestly getting kind of repetitive. Even if it was only the second session.

"You don't sound so sure. Now, during class, I called Mr. Stevens, and he should've asked-"

She was cut off by a low knock on the door.

"Come in," Mrs. Bowers shouted. Whoever was on the other side of the door eased it open with a loud creak, and I froze in my spot.

Seriously?

"You asked to see me, Mrs. Bowers?" he asked, carrying his binders into the room.

"Yes, thank you Chase. I was concerned about Avalon's last quiz grade."

His eyebrows scrunched together in a puzzled expression before he said, "What's wrong with it? I tutored her last night and the night before, and she seemed perfectly fine with the material."

"Well," Mrs. Bowers started while passing my pen-coated quiz to Chase. "Obviously, she didn't understand it at all. She missed every question except number four."

Why is she giving him my test?! Grades are supposed to be a private thing! Right?

"Avalon, I thought you said you understood all of this?" Chase scolded, strangely disappointed in me.

"I did!" I assured him, trying to make him see without telling him about my dyslexia. If he finds out, I end up right where I started in Pennsylvania: the school idiot/outcast. I can't risk him slipping up in some random conversation and telling everyone. "I mean, I do. I just... forgot," I finished, looking down at my shoes.

"Well," Mrs. Bowers picked up the conversation again, forbidding Chase from quipping a sarcastic remark. "Avalon, did you tell Chase about-"

"Yes!" I squeaked hastily, not wanting Mrs. Bowers to continue and expose my secret. "Yes I did."

Her face twisted into confusion at my slight outburst, and I probably blushed really hard.

Way to go. Now Chase is gonna question you later!

"Alright then. Let's move on," Mrs. Bowers changed the subject warily with squinting eyes, sensing my discomfort. "Right now, Avalon has the lowest grade in my class. And that is not good. Especially since the semester is almost over."

Appearantly, she was just talking to Chase now.

"I think she should do an extra credit assignment to give her grades a little boost."

Okay, that shouldn't be too hard.

"Sounds like a good idea," Chase added, like his input would make any difference.

"Avalon, I would like you to read a story excerpt and write a summary paragraph about the plot."

Scratch that. Not easy.

"W-what story?" I managed to force out of my mouth.
Mrs. Bowers thought for a few seconds. Tapping her red grading pen on her desk seemed to help her think.

"How about an excerpt from, 'A Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allen Poe. He was one of my favorite authors. So talented under the mystery genre," she finished with a wide smile.

I had never heard of that story, let alone the author, but it sounded complicated.

"That sounds great. Thanks Mrs. Bowers," I grumbled sarcastically before stomping out of the room with my books and binders. I walked straight out the the room, ignoring her protesting cries. However, I was not aware of a certain student's presence behind me.

"What was that?!" Chase asked exasperatedly from somewhere behind me. I sighed and kept walking, ignoring Chase.

"Avalon, stop," he called after me. I hesitated, hearing his pleading tone, but kept marching down the hall anyway.

"Avalon!" he shouted, not caring about the questioning glances he got from the other students. I was receiving them too, but I tried my best to keep my head down and pretend none of this was happening.

"Avalon, stop!" he snapped at me, his tone harsh and forced. Like a tough-guy act. Fake and threatening.

"What?!" I growled, abruptly turning around to come face to face with Chase, who caught up to me surprisingly fast. I had had enough of his beckonings, and if this made them stop, I was all for it. I was suddenly aware of how hard I was breathing, challenging my tutor in the school hall.

"What was that back there?" he questioned me, his hazel eyes searching my own for answers.

What did he mean? How I treated Mrs. Bowers or what she was about to say? Maybe he's referring to the quiz.

I kept my mouth closed, not trusting my words. He just sighed and took a step back, seeming to retreat.

"Okay. Don't tell me. I'll just leave now."

In that moment, something hit me. Not physically, like a dodge ball, but mentally. Like something knocked over a barrier that unleashed my sense of reality. If this game keeps up, Chase will never be able to teach me, and I'll never get better grades. People will label me the school idiot without even knowing about my dyslexia. I suppose it's better to have a reason for people to make fun of me other than 'she's just not smart'.

And what about Chase? How will my failure affect him? All of the teachers will be dissapointed in him and he'll loose his 'teacher's pet' role. Maybe it'll even lower his self esteem. Being the smartest kid in school and failing something so simple as a tutoring job would be a big blow to an ego; especially one that is as big as his. Surely my dad would have something to say about my grades to Chase. Now that would be the most humiliating nightmare ever- even worse than having people at school know about my dyslexia. My dad tends to go to the extreme when it comes to punishments and disobeying orders. I honestly think he has some pent-up anger.

"Chase, stop," I urged him, preventing him from walking away. Not believing my actions, I said, "I need to tell you something."

AN: Oh, SNAP!!! Who's excited?!?

QOTD: Do you like the old lab or the new lab more? Whatever your answer may be, please explain!

Until next time...

PEACE OUT PICKLES!!!