Chapter Twenty-One: "Tutors."
"SO TELL me, what brings you here?" Carly says with her arms propped up on the cafeteria table and her chin held in her hands.
We're sat in the cafeteria waiting for the first bell to ring, and I've convinced the lunch lady who's setting up lunch for in a couple hours to give me early servings if I paid her double.
"How do you mean?" I ask, popping a wedge full of ketchup in my mouth.
Since recently, I've been forcing myself to eat more throughout the day. Maybe not as much at night since I need to keep my balance going otherwise I'll get sick, but the whole reason why this sudden change is happening is because I can't have anyone knowing where I came from.
I'm kind of proud of myself for it since I haven't eaten properly since the start of grade nine, and I miss how good having energy makes me feel. I feel like I could run across the country twice without being winded.
"You're from LA, where stars and celebrities reside for work and life. You moved from there to a mountainous city that doesn't get you discovered. What brings you here?"
Right. On a note, becoming famous wasn't on my To Do List, however if it happened, then I'd be fine with it. But, on a separate note, I wouldn't willingly choose to move to whatever this place is if I could help it. It's not that it's not nice, because the landscape is anything but boring, but this is out of my comfort zone. I was forced to be here under my will with nobody. I came alone, went to prison, then got relocated to a place where I still knew nobody.
She wouldn't understand. Maybe she would, but I'm not taking chances. I'm here under my own grid for two yearsâhopefully lessâto get my schooling done, save up, then get on the next flight back home as soon as possible.
"I don't know." I say honestly. I really don't; I was a good kid when my mom shipped me off. I changed my ways for the most part, and I was trying my damnedest to get my crap together. Then I got mailed to Canada and I don't know what to think anymore.
"Do you want to move here, or are you on some internship or something like that?" She asks curiously.
"Not exactly," I mumble.
"Hey, if you don't want to say anything, that's totally up to you. I just figured that since we're friends and all, that we could get to know each other better."
Crap. "We're friends?"
"Of course!" She exclaims. "I wouldn't be sitting here with you if we weren't."
"Oh." I purse my lips together. "Um, Iâuh, um. . . my parents, they ugh, got relocated to New York for business. Where they were going they couldn't have children, so I kinda had to stay back."
"That's really crappy." Carly sighs, and reaches across the table to rub my arm. "But hey, don't stress about it. I'm sure they'll come back for you when they get situated."
I'm not holding my breath. They let me go so easily. However. . . "I hope so too."
"Have you ever been to the Big Apple?" She asks.
I shrug. "Not New York, no."
"Then maybe they wanted to check it out to make sure it's a place they can trust you being in."
"Maybe." I say, munching on some more wedges. I don't realize I've run out until my hand reaches into the box and comes out with nothing. "Do you think I have enough time to get some more before class?"
Carly checks her phone and screeches. "If you ate them fast, yes, but I don't know, Marsha let you off first."
"I'll pay her again." I grin. I didn't hesitate on running up to the lunch lady and grabbing seconds.
"Double, please?" I plea. She gives me a dangerous look, but I keep the smile on my face.
"Only because you're new and your accent is cute." Marsha answers, and I do a mini happy dance in my head as I return to Carly, and start eating once again. On my sixth wedge, I begin to feel slightly lightheaded and sick, but I ignore it and continue eating on.
Five minutes later, the bell rings for next period, and I'm just finishing my wedges. "What classes do you have this semester?" Carly asks as she gathers the garbage off the table. Apparently her friends had some things to do so they couldn't make it to lunch. Again.
It's now Thursday and I still hadn't met them. Carly said that it's not uncommon for her to eat lunch alone at least twice a week considering Thursday's and Mondays are their busiest days and don't even have time for bathroom breaks.
"I have English, Chemistry, Criminology, and Home Ec."
Carly raises her eyebrows. "You're into that?"
"Into which one?" I laugh.
"Criminology and Home Ec." She shivers, like it's a sin.
"Nope. My timetable was pre-made, courtesy of my parents."
"Ouch, you poor thing." She says sadly.
"Tell me about it," I groan. "Crap. I mean, yeah. It makes sense though, but it's not like I'll have to take them next semester."
Carly giggles. "You really bounce, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" I question.
"From English to Spanish," she laughs. "Do you just talk normally and it changes?"
"Yeah, kinda," I agree, "it happens more when I'm not paying attention because I'm so used to speaking Spanish at home and English at school, so it just kind of rolls of my tongue. I won't even realize it if nobody points it out."
"Wow," she breathes. "That's actually pretty cool."
"It has its moments." I laugh.
Carly and I stop off at both of our lockers before heading off to English class. Thankfully I have her in this one.
We walk into class, and the first thing I see when I walk in is a twin.
Crap. Now I wish I hadn't skipped grades. Considering these boys are only seventeen, they'll be in the same grade as me. I wish I could do grade ten like a normal student.
I ignore Liam as Carly and I walk to our seats. I instantly knew it was him considering now that I take note, Landon wears cowboy boots or converse to school, while his twin wears high-tops. Also, Landon's hair is slightly longer than Liam's.
The class flies and the bell rings, and I'm just about to walk to Chemistry when my name gets called out. I stop in my tracks and walk to the teacher's desk.
I wave at Carly, "I'll catch up with you in a minute." She gives me a smile, and follows everyone out of class. I turn back to the teacher, "Yes, sir?"
"I have good news for you." He grins.
"I'm allowed to drop the class?!" I say happily.
He laughs. "No, sorry, you're stuck with me. But anyway, I found you a tutor."
"Really?" I say with wide eyes. He nods. "That's amazing!"
He chuckles, and rummages through his binders. "Yes, it is. You'll have two, however. Your Chemistry and Criminology tutor said that he'll meet up with you at lunch to discuss things with you."
My smile slowly fades. "He?" I question.
"Yes." He replies. "Is that a problem?"
"Nâno. No, no problem at all." I stammer nervously. The teacher's eyes grow confused. "Did I do it again?"
He laughs. "Speak differently? Yes, yes you did."
"I'm sorry." I mumble. "Um, what about my other tutor?"
"He hasn't gotten back to me yet, but he has agreed to tutor you."
"Another he?" I question. Why oh why can't I have a female tutor? It'd make everything so much easier.
"Is there an issue this time?" He asks with a chuckle. I shake my head. "Good! Now, I'll see you tomorrow, Brooklyn."
"Okay, Mr. . ."
"Fitz." He grins.
"Right." I return the grin, and leave class.
I just make it to Chemistry when the final bell rings. I smile as I wave over at Carly, but it drops when I see who's sitting behind her, swapping spit at the corner of the room with some really pretty girl.
Landon.
I pull my eyes away from the disgusting image and take my seat beside Atticus. "Hey there, Sweetheart." He greets.
"Hey Atticus." I reply, putting my books down.
I open up our notes for today, getting ready to start writing everything that comes out of Ms. Ox's mouth again when I see that Atticus, for the fourth time this week, has yet again forgotten to bring even a binder or pencil to class.
"What?" He questions as he catches me staring.
I laugh lightly, shaking my head. "Why is it that you never bring anything to class?"
He smirks, and shrugs. "I don't need to."
"Why?"
He just shrugs again in reply, smirking then winking at me. I'm about to question him more about it, when Ms. Ox raises her voice. "Mr. McGibbon and Miss Gonzalez! Remove yourselves from one another immediately!"
I glance around at what she was going on about, and see Landon finally pull away. He was making out with one of the girls who tripped me on Monday.
What an ass.
Well, at least I know his last name now. Landon McGibbon. Sounds good coming off my tongue.
"But we have chemistry," the girl says, running her hands down his chest while giggling. I continue to look at them in disgust, and I see Landon roll his eyes at her. His eyes suddenly meet mine, and they turn darker and more angry when he sees who I'm sitting beside. I scoff softly, and turn my attention back to Atticus.
"That's disgusting," I laugh to myself.
"Yeah, no doubt." Atticus snickers. I glance at him, and turn my attention back to the teacher as she continues on with her lesson.
I didn't take much note writing.
Atticus and I were talking, and only started listening when we had to do experiments.
"Mr. O'Connor!" Ms. Ox exclaims. I snap my head towards her, laughing my butt off as Atticus managed to make a huge tower of gas and foam rise out of the beaker, all over the desks. "Go to the office!"
"But you said we're doing experiments," Atticus argues. "This was an experiment. How was I supposed to know that mixing them together would make a mess? See, science!"
"Get out of my classroom, Mr. O'Connor." She growls, making me laugh even harder. Her eyes then snap to me, and I kinda shrink. Oh crap. "You too, Miss May."
I meet eyes with Carly, who laughs quietly, and then I feel a strong gaze directed towards me, so I turn to the source.
Of course.
He's glaring at Atticus, and if it were even more possible, he grows angrier once Atticus grabs my hand. Feeling mischievous, I wink and smirk at Landon before grabbing my books and following my chemistry partner out of the class after telling Carly I'll see her at lunch.
"That was so much fun!" I exclaim.
"It was, wasn't it?" He smirks. "God, her face was priceless!"
"You knew what you were doing, didn't you?" I laugh, strolling down the hallway to my locker and putting my books in it.
He gasps in disbelief. "That was fast of you to blame! I did no such thing with such intelligence." He winks after, and I roll my eyes.
He must know his way around chemicals.
Atticus and I walked around the school for the rest of the period, just talking about anything and everything. Since I was surprisingly comfortable with him, I didn't bother being cautious with some things, so I accidentally slipped my words every so often.
The lunch bell finally rung, so I said goodbye to Atticus and made my way to the cafeteria to meet up with Carly.
I found her alone where we usually sat, eating away at her homemade taco. She smirks as soon as she sees me. I chuckle as I sit down across from her.
"Where's your food?" She questions.
"No money." I answer. "I wasted it this morning on wedges, and I haven't exchanged my American dollars yet."
She laughs, nodding her head but doesn't question me further. "So. . ." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, "Atticus and you after you got booted from class."
"What about it?" I grin.
"Anything happen?"
"Just talking and me occasionally slipping some foreignness." I reply.
"He's really hot, Brooklyn," she tells me, "you should go after him."
I click my tongue. "I don't think so."
She gasps. "What? Why not? The boy is gorgeous!"
"Yeah, so are the mountains but I'm not going to go after them anytime soon."
"Come on," she presses, "what if he asked you out, would you say yes?"
"No idea," I answer honestly. "I don't know him, Carly. He could be a psycho for all I know."
Carly laughs. "Trust me, he's clean. Besides, you're the one taking psychology, I'm sure you could figure out if he was a socio/psychopath."
"Which brings me to my next point that I am failing that class. Plus, how would you know?" I question.
"He's my cousin." She shrugs.
Oh my God. "Are you serious?!"
"One hundred percent." She laughs.
Oh my heavens. That is priceless.
Oh, shit. "Dude!" I exclaim.
"What?"
"You've been telling me that he's so hot and dreamy and all this stuff all week! You've been hitting on your own damn blood! That's nasty."
Carly bursts out laughing. "Oh please, it's just an act. I know everything about that boy, and if you knew him like I do, then we wouldn't be having this conversation and you wouldn't be questioning it. Plus, it's just easier pretending we're not related. Saves the drama."
I'm about to speak, when Carly stops laughing.
Her eyes grow wide, and she gulps at something behind me. "What?"
I slowly turn around as she remains unresponsive, and I furrow my eyes when I see Atticus and Landon at a confrontation.
"What do you think that's about?" I ask, and Carly hesitates, but then shrugs. Landon looks pissed, while Atticus looks so casual, like it's something that happens often.
I watch as Atticus laughs at stuff Landon says, and then walks away as Landon heaves frustratedly. My eyes open more when I see him walk closer to us.
"Hello there, Carly." Atticus grins, and she nods before he turns his attention to me. "Sweetheart."
"Why are you here?" Carly asks. "You're usually too embarrassed to be near me. You're too hot and popular."
"Aren't you just an angel," he replies sarcastically, and then they stick their tongues out at one another. "I'm sitting with you because I'm here to say hi to my student and tell her the details."
"Student? Details?" Carly questions. "Are you smoking crack?" She laughs.
"Yes, student." Atticus says smugly, ignoring the last part.
"What do you mean?" I ask. "What are you getting at?"
"You're my student, Sweetheart." He says with a smirk.
"What?" I say, a lot of confusion taking over me. What is it that he thinks I'm his student? He's my chemistry partner; that's all he is to me. He's not teaching me anything, and I'm not learning anything from him. All I need to learn is how to get better grades, and to do that I need a tutor.
Ah shit.
No. Effing. Way.
"You. . ." I stutter. "No, you can't be. You're my tutor?!"
"English please." He chuckles.
"Youâyou're my tutor?"
Atticus grins cheekily. "I am, Sweetheart."
"But you don't bring anything to class! How in the hell can you tutor me? What, are you tutoring me to fail?"
Atticus laughs, and Carly starts too. There is no way in hell that Atticus O'Connor could be my Criminology and Chemistry tutor. He doesn't bring anything to class and doesn't do anything in it, either, so how can he be passing well enough to up both of our grades?
"You'll pass with flying colours, trust me." Carly giggles.
Before I can say anything, I'm interrupted. "Relax, May."
"Butâ"
"Hush, child." Carly smiles. "Just trust him, you'll be impressed."
Atticus gives me a flirtatious smile, and then drops it, his expression going serious. "So, what I'm thinking is that we study every other day; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I checked over your student records and you passed all your classes prior to high school with all at a hundred percent or at least ninety five. Then suddenly around November of your freshman year your marks when from minimum A's and A pluses to D's and fails."
I flinch at that. It's the time when I was involved with Taylor, and hanging out with them made my marks drop. I barely passed ninth grade, and everyone was confused because I was a said geniusâhence why I skipped a grade. I couldn't tell anyone why, except Justin and my friends found out the bad way, and so excuses needed to be made.
Nobody believed them, they just thought I was stubborn, but they never really knew why I was this highly intelligent girl who never had a B grade in her life, suddenly changed and she never got even a B- since.
"Yeah." I whisper.
"Well, that's where I come in. My goal, for you, is to have your grades back to how they used to be." Atticus grins.
"Okay." I nod. "So how is this going to work? Do we do the studying before school, after school, my house, yours, the library, what?"
"Well, we can do them on either one of those. If you can't make a session, we can book it another day. As for location, it doesn't matter. You live pretty close to my place, so it shouldn't be hard. However, I think my place or somewhere else would be best."
I don't question it. If it means I can stay away from the McGibbon's, then I'll do it. I'll even study everyday if I have to. "Sounds good."
"Great. How about we start tomorrow?"
I bounce my head back and forth, acting like I'm testing the idea, even though my decision was already made. "That's fine by me."
"Okay, cool. So just get off with me at my place tomorrow and we'll go from there." He grins.
"Okay. Thanks Atticus." I smile, waving at him as he stands up.
"No problem, Sweetheart." He winks. I have to admit, I get huge swarms of butterflies whenever he calls me that. It may only be to tease me, but it still gets me off, strangely.
Carly starts squealing out of happiness, and I turn my head back around to face her to see her staring at me intently.
"What?" I laugh, picking at one of the pickles on her plate.
"He doesn't call you Brooklyn," she says matter-of-factly.
"So?" I giggle. "A lot of people don't call me Brooklyn."
"Yeah, but he doesn't call you anything relatively similar to your name."
I cut her off, "Actually, we call each other by our last names." I point out.
"He calls you Sweetheart, Brooklyn. Sweetheart." She laughs.
I frown. She does have a point. Atticus I don't think has ever called me Brooklyn. He's only ever called me sweetheart or May. Whereas I hate it when Liam calls me Cupcake or how Landon calls me Blue.
For some reason, I don't mind how Atticus chooses to name me; I've never told him to stop once about it, though I probably should. The same goes for Landon; I don't care that he calls me Blue, but I think the part that bugs me most is that he calls me something I would name my dog.
I wanna point out to Carly and say 'so? Landon calls me Blue and his stupid twin calls me Cupcake. It's no different.' But then Carly would know that I'm involved with the Rebel Brothers and I don't want any high school drama or hassle. Plus, I'm still suspicious on if whether or not the rumours about them are true.
"People back home have much more names to call me than that that Atticus runs by. It's nothing I'm taking to heart." I laugh.
"What do people call you back home?" She questions.
Awe, man.
I got called a lot of names in LA. I had a lot of bad ones when I was rolling with Taylor, and even worse ones when the crew we were involved with had a feud with some other groups.
"I'm usually called Brookie, Brooke, or JâLo." I say with a smile. I missed how Justin would come over in the morning to wake me up by crawling in my bed and cuddling with me until he annoyed me so much I had no choice but to get up.
It causes a slight tear in my heart and tears to my eyes.
"JâLo?" Carly asks with a laugh.
Oh God, here come the water works. "Yeah," I whisper, smiling. "My best friend, he calls me JâLo because of how big my butt is. He used to call me Nicki until he found out that her ass was fake."
Carly starts to chuckle, and so do I. It's silly when you think about it, but it was our thing. We always had a connection that would bring us together.
"He sounds like he's very influential in your life." She says softly, almost scared to say the words.
I frown sadly. "He was; he is," I say.
"Tell me how." She whispers.
"He's helped me through so much, and I've been in the deep, unimaginable gutter before and he was the one with the harness to bring me out of it. He got straight F's for two weeks once before when I was in the hospital. He didn't go to school from the day I was admitted to the day I was discharged. I told him to go home so many times, but he refused. He told me every time, 'I go home when you go home. We're a package. Forever and Always.' It wasn't like I was dying, but I was pretty close to it so I guess he was just scared.
"I went through this dark phase of my life where I wasn't me, and he was there for me even when I pushed him away. He was just always there for me, and it's not going to change. It hurts to even think that I can't see him on a daily basis anymore."
By now, tears are slowly falling down my cheeks as I recall my best friend in such little detail without Carly asking too-personal questions. The dark phase is a topic I'll avoid at all costs, but I don't think I'll have such a problem with the hospital one, seeing as I was in there in the first place because I couldn't decipher whether or not I was with the stingrays or Manta Rays.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to be someplace with nobody you know to help."
I shrug. "It's fine. I got what I deserved." She just gives me a confused laugh, and I brush it off, not explaining further.
The bell rings, and I say my goodbyes to Carly before heading to Psychology.
"We should hangout tomorrow," she grins as I walk away.
"I'm with Atticus tomorrow," I shout.
"Well I'm sure you're not with him all night, are you?" She smirks.
"I guess not," I laugh.
"Great! I'll swing by his after your visit and pick you up."
"Sounds cool."
And I walk away with a content smile on my face.
Maybe this place won't be as bad as I thought.