Bullied and the Bitch

Chapter 17: I'm a Genius

On the Wednesday, close to the end of January, El is called to stay back in class during lunchtime. I give her a what's-up look. She shrugs in reply.

I wait for her outside the class as Mr Treitro talks to her. I hear soft voices inside but can't make out anything beyond the closed door. They don't talk very long. Maybe about five minutes? But I get worried anyway.

I'm relieved when finally, the door opens and El emerges, Mr Treitro behind her. He raises an eyebrow at me, then leaves. I stare after him.

"What happened?" I ask, turning back to my girlfriend.

"Nothing," she says with a shrug. I take her books without a word, completely used to it by now. She hands it over, an automated action for her as well.

"El. Tell me."

"It's really nothing, Ian."

"You think I'm stupid? I can tell," I say, my tone demanding. She sighs.

"He just wanted to talk to me about my grades. I haven't been doing so well..."

"Really? What's wrong? Is it because of the lack of sleep?" El and I have been running on five hours of sleep for a while now. Even though we agree that the next day we'll sleep and not boink like bunnies, it never works out. And both parties are totally guilty of it. I would seek her out – but she would meet me halfway before we rush to her room.

"No, this has been going on before you even knew I existed," she says. I frown, but I can't deny it. It still shocks me sometimes to think about how this girl had gone from being nothing to me, to my most-hated enemy, to my saviour, to my girlfriend, to someone who loves me.

"Why?"

"Well, I'm not actually that smart. I work hard. I studied lots to get into this high school. It's the best in town, you know? And mom and dad have been saving up for college fees for me..." she explains. "But when Eddy entered elementary, things changed. Did you know Eddy is the top student in his year?"

I blink. The brat that wakes me up every morning – which I, admittedly, am pretty fond of – is that smart?

"Yeah," she says, when she sees my expression. "And I don't want my parents to waste their college fees on me – I'm not even that good of a student. So I've kind of been neglecting my studies, and concentrating on the greenhouse instead. The greenhouse used to be Eddy's, actually. But I traded duties with him. I want him to study, and get really good grades, and get a good job so he can support mom and dad later. Help them retire early, maybe. They work way too hard."

"And what will you do?"

She stares at me with wide eyes. I realise then that she hadn't thought of that. "I guess... I'll stay at home and help my parents as long as I can? Get a job as soon as I graduate high school? Something along those lines, I'm guessing."

"But you could be going to college and getting a better job. You could earn enough to fund Eddy's education," I argue. She shakes her head.

"No. I'd never do as well as Eddy. And besides, I'm not that studious. I'm better in the kitchen, or in the garden," she says.

"That's bull," is my reply. She shrugs.

"Yeah, well. That's life."

How can I argue with that?

"So! You guys are coming to my party, right?" Em asks us when we get to the lunch table. Usually she's busy flirting with some guy, since Rob's in college. But today she seems to have diverted her attention elsewhere. At us.