PRETENDER

Chapter 6

My History class was so boring, I almost slept on it. I was at my locker getting my Chemistry book in it, the book was so heavy. I closed it and started to walk to the corridor. I saw Chloe walking on the other side. I pretended I didn't notice her but I knew that she was looking at me.

I was about to get in my car and someone pushed at me. My body bounced at the door of my car.

"Are you avoiding me? You never reply to my messages. You were avoiding me earlier in the corridor", Chloe said angrily.

"First of all you said to me that I can't do anything that makes it obvious that we know each other. Frankly, after last saturday I'm not comfortable talking to you."

"Come on Nate! My mom and I know that we harassed you, we apologized to you on that day. My dad got mad at us. I can't understand why you did that to yourself."

"Seriously it's none of your business."

"Alright I'm sorry Nate. Don't get mad at me. I need you."

"Look, I can't continue this anymore. I will tell Mr. Brown I quit tutoring with you, maybe someone will help you. I'm not the only one who is good at Algebra."

"What? You're quitting on me. You can't forgive me?"

Before she said another word, her friend Samantha Carter called her. She's black, has brown eyes, black hair and a hot body too like Chloe. She was also in the cheering squad. She is Chloe's best friend and they are always together at school.

She said, "Chloe let's go, we're going to get late on our practice."

She still looked at me like I was a deadmeat, "I don't care what you will do. I'm ending our relationship." She walked away.

Samantha whispered, "You know that guy?"

"Of course not, he's on my way."

It really hurts when someone is quitting on you. Tomorrow I will tell Mr. Brown that he should replace me to tutor Chloe. I hope he will understand me but I need to think of a good reason why I'm quitting on her.

I was outside of our home practicing archery. I can't focus on hitting bullseye. What is the good reason to tell Mr. Brown. Maybe I will tell him that I can't take her attitude, she was so mean to me. Whenever I teach her, she was never serious about it. That was not right she will be troubled if I said it to him and it was all a lie, I'm not a bad person.

As soon as I let go the arrow I got a new idea. I can't concentrate on my other subjects because of tutoring her then my arrow hit the bullseye. He can't say no to it because my other subjects are important too. Now I'm ready.

The bell rang, it means Algebra was finished. I waited until the classroom was empty. I stood up and walked through Mr. Brown.

I said politely, "Hey Mr. Brown."

"Hey Nate."

"You see I need to tell you." I couldn't finish my sentence because someone touched my shoulder.

"Hey Mr. Brown, great lesson today", Chloe said. "You know Mr. Brown, with the help of Nate in this kind of subject I really understands how to solve an equation. I'm so thankful to him", she smiled and I glanced at her.

"Nate is really the reliable person in this room. I know you can do it. You should continue helping her."

I sighed, "Yeah."

Mr. Brown asked, "What do you want to tell me?"

"Oh." I can't tell him I'm quitting on Chloe. "The way you explain the quadratic formula in our class is so good. I just wanna say nice job."

I heard Chloe giggled, "Yeah Mr. Brown you're doing great. See you on Friday Nate. Ciao". She left us.

Mr. Brown said, "I'm so happy that you are doing great to Chloe. I knew you never let me down. Good work Nate."

I smiled, "I've got to go now, see you around Mr. Brown."

I was on my way to the parking lot, I got a new message from my phone. It was from Chloe she texted, you can't quit on me Nate. You can't get rid of me easily. See you on Friday. there was a kiss emoticon at the end of her message. I didn't reply to her message.

I lost to her, I didn't expect that she's smarter than me in this kind of situation. I guess I don't have a choice but to go to her place on this Friday.

I was at home exhausted due to my defeat. I was about to go upstairs, I saw my mother waving at me. I was so happy seeing her face. Georgina Irvine, my mother is an English . That makes me half American and half English. But my parents want us to stay here in America because a lot of my family's business is all here. She has an English accent but she's the only one to have it since me and Naomi were born and raised in America. My mom has wavy dark brown hair like me and Naomi, black eyes, and a good body. She is always conscious about her body.

She walked to me and hugged me, "I miss you so much Nathan."

"I miss you too mom."

"My father wants to talk to you. We should go to his office."

I was confused, "Am I in trouble?" Maybe they knew about Chloe.

"You will know if we go."

I was nervous because my dad wants to see me. I hope he misses me and that's the reason. My mom and I walked to my dad's office with her hand on my arm. I knocked on the door.

My dad said, "Come in." Charles Irvine, he has a black hair, dark brown eyes, and a bloated stomach.

I opened the door. My dad sat on his chair and Naomi was there too smiling at me. He stood up and walked near me then hugged me.

"I miss you so much son."

"Me too dad I miss you."

He looked at me smiling, "Okay Nathan I will tell you a good news. I'm always proud of you son." I was confused and all of them smiled.

I asked, "What is it dad?"

"I saw the headmaster of Stanford yesterday and he told me that you pass." He gave me a big hug. "Congratulations son." He was so happy about it because Stanford was his alma mater.

"Hmmm dad you didn't do anything, right?"

He laughed, "Of course not. It was your effort and you're smart."

My mom and Naomi hugged me too, "Congratulations Nathan!"

"I can't believe it. I'm in", we all laughed.

"I don't have doubt about it. You're a genius", my dad said proudly. "Anyway I'm arranging a party to celebrate it. You can't say no to it, I'm so proud of you."

"You can do what you want dad. I don't have someone to invite to go to the party."

He smiled, "It's alright Nathan. I've got a surprise for you there. The party will be on next Friday, don't forget the date."

Friday. Why is Friday so busy for me? I'll never have a good time on that day. So I need to have a reason for Chloe not to go on next Friday. I didn't need to think about it now because I was so happy about what's happening now.

"Sure dad I will never forget it. Thank you for it."

"I was so happy for you."