Parker

I keep my distance from Matt the best I can, which wasn’t difficult until school started. We both went to Huntington Beach High School so I was forced to see him every day but thankfully he was a senior and I was a junior so I didn’t have any classes with him; or his girlfriend who shot daggers at me every time she saw me. That’s right, she’s still with him. Though, I’m not sure she knows about the second time Matt and I slept together. It doesn’t matter, it wasn’t going to happen again. She had nothing to worry about.

The first month or so of school went by with ease. I was always one of the popular kids in school despite having switched schools three times in the last three years. It was just the type of person I was. I got along with every group of people, I loved how different everyone was and I embraced it. I loved the jocks and I loved the punks. I got lattes with cheerleaders and smoked a doobie with the potheads. I got along with everyone, everyone liked me so it was easy to be a part of the popular kids. That made things difficult though once I realized Matt was also the kind of person who got along with every group of person. Our groups of friends meshed and every now and then I was stuck talking to someone who would bring up Matt or his band, or Matt would walk up just to terrorize me.

Okay, he probably wasn’t doing it on purpose but it sure seemed like it. He always seemed to find his way towards me especially if Austin was around.

Austin and I started dating a week or so after school started. I had met him over the summer and we began to talk and hang out. He was cute, funny, and most importantly – single. Austin was great. He came from a good family, he had a car and a job. He was a senior like Matt but I didn’t mind much, we might not have any classes together but we spent quite a lot of time together outside of school.

Sex with Austin was good, it was. It wasn’t completely mind-blowing like sex with Matt was but it would get there eventually. Right? That’s what I kept telling myself anyways. It didn’t matter how great sex was with Matt, he had a girlfriend and now I had a boyfriend. Sex between Matt and I would never happen again, I’d make sure of it.

My classes were easy enough. English, US History, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, French and last was Physical Education. Since my credit from my last school didn’t count as a PE credit I had to retake it. I didn’t mind the class, it was one of those that could be blown off and still pass. I was just annoyed I had to retake it because if I didn’t I would have been able to leave school an hour early. Ah well, at least it was only for a semester and not an entire school year.

History was the class I was having the most trouble with. I was a smart kid. I was responsible, I did my homework, I stayed after if I needed to…but I just really, really hated history. How am I supposed to do well in something if it bores the fuck out of me? But I still tried, but I knew my grade was falling with every assignment.

My best friend, Bethany was horrible at History as well otherwise I would have made her help me. If anyone was any worse at History than I was, it was her. Bethany didn’t even try and was already in tutoring for it. I’m pretty sure she was sleeping with her tutor too because he was constantly bringing her homework to her, completed.

I had met Bethany though Austin. They had grown up together and were really close. She was a cheerleader and was dating one of the guys on the football team until last year when she caught him sleeping with someone else. Apparently a lot of cheating happens in Huntington Beach.

“There’s a party this weekend, are you going?” Bethany asks me as I trade my English book for my history book.

“Whose party?” I ask before answering. I tried to avoid parties if I thought Matt would be there. It was easy to hate him and stay away from him sober but I didn’t know how well that would work with a drunken mind.

Bethany smiled. “Brian Haner’s! You know, he has that big ass house since his dad plays guitar professionally or something. Well, his dad has a thing this weekend and I guess everyone in the family but Brian is going so he’s throwing this huge ass party. You have to come! It’ll be so much fun. And his house is right by the beach so you know what that means! Bonfire and swimming!”

I returned her smile but shook my head. Brian and Matt were best friends, and I think he was even a part of his band. If he was throwing a party, there was no doubt in my mind that Matt would be there. “Nah, I think I’ll sit this one out.” I tell her.

“Oh! Park, come on. Please. It’ll be so much fun!” She pouts.

“Okay,” I tell her. “I’ll think about it.” I wouldn’t. I knew my mind was made up and I knew I’d have to come up with an excuse why I couldn’t make it once the time came.

Bethany jumps up and down out of excitement. “Yay!”

The bell rings out and I groan. “Now, I’m late!”

Bethany laughs. “Oh, it’s history! Nothing important!”

I shoot her a look. “Yeah, you can say that because you’re sleeping with your tutor!” She winks and she walks off and I make my way down the hall and into my US History class.

“You’re late, Ms. Stevens,” Mr. Hill comments as I walk in. I give him a fake grin and apologize as I take my seat.

Classes at Huntington Beach High were sixty minutes long with a five-minute passing period in-between each class. The school day started five minutes after eight o’clock in the morning, unless you were scheduled a period zero, then the school day started at seven o’clock instead. Period zero was a period set aside for many reasons. Some of those reasons included a class credit make-up, a test make-up and tutoring; some people even used the extra hour as a study period. After Periods one and two – and zero for some – we got a break. No one really knew what this break was actually meant for but most students used it as a chance to walk off campus and smoke a cigarette, or just hang out and talk to friends. It was only fifteen minutes long, so not much could happen but we used it to our advantage. After break we had periods three and four and then lunch. Lunch was thirty minutes long. Most students used it as a chance to run to the nearest fast food place but some stayed and ate in the cafeteria. Freshman and Sophomores had lunch together and Junior and Seniors had lunch together. Grades nine and ten didn’t get a break between periods two and three so they got their lunch earlier than us, they were also required to stay for six periods – seven if they had period zero, whereas juniors and seniors were only required to stay for five, unless like me, they were behind for whatever reason. After lunch was period five, ending the school day at 2:10 or 3:15 if you had a sixth period.

I bring myself out of my thoughts and glance at my classmates. Everyone around me has their history books open and they’re taking notes. My history book remains closed in front of me and I sigh. This is why I’m doing so poorly in this class; I can’t focus enough. I don’t mean to drift off into thoughts or day dream, it just happens, one moment I’m listening to Mr. Hill and the next I’m thinking about something totally different.

The bell rings not too long after I start taking notes. I groan when I look around and my classmates have at least two pages covered in notes and slide my half a sheet of notes into my binder before getting up and walking towards the door.

“Ms. Stevens, can I speak with you please?” Mr. Hill calls. I stifle a sigh as I allow my classmates to walk past me and then approach his desk. “Parker, your grade is dropping an astounding pace. I’m afraid if we don’t do something and soon, you’re going to have to fail the class and the only option is to retake the first semester as a sixth period next semester or retake it in summer school.”

“That won’t be necessary,” I smile. “I’ll get my grade up.” And I would. There was no way I was taking a sixth period next semester or going to summer school.

Mr. Hill returns my smile as he shuffles through some papers and then hands me one. “I’ve talked to the junior counselor and she was able to find someone to help you with this class. You’ll be expected to attend period zero until I’ve signed off on you to stop going.”
What? Period zero? No. I shook my head. “Mr. Hill, really…”

“Go to the guidance counselor’s office today after fifth period to meet your tutor. I think her name is Hayden and then tomorrow morning is when you’ll start with period zero.”

I sighed and nodded looking down at my paper that he had given me with my name and my tutors names along with some other information. “Okay,” I tell him before walking out of the room.

I really, really did not want to attend period zero but I knew I had no choice. I would just have to buckle down, try harder and in a few weeks I would be out of it and down to only six periods a day in no time.

I was glad break was after history and I found Bethany and Austin immediately on a bench outside. “Hey baby,” Austin greeted me with a kiss as I approached them.

“I am having such a shit day,” I complain after a sit in between them. Austin wraps his arm around my shoulders and I lay my head on him as Bethany looks at me.

“What’s wrong?” She asks.

I roll my eyes. “Mr. Hill signed me up for period zero. He says my grade is dropping and either I can do the tutoring or I can take a sixth period again next semester or do summer school.”

“Period zero isn’t that bad,” Bethany smiles.

Austin laughs. I ignore him and shoot a look at Bethany. “Again, you can say that because you’re sleeping with your tutor!”

“So, hope you get a hot tutor! Then you can enjoy it too!” Bethany winks.

“Hey!” Austin exclaims. “No way!”

I laugh and kiss him on the lips. Matt catches my eyes across the field; he’s tossing a football back and forth with a friend. Vanessa is sitting on the grass not far from him, watching him. “Alright, I have to go to class,” I kiss Austin on the lips again before saying my goodbyes and making my way to Pre-Calculus.

The rest of the day went smoothly. I sat at lunch with Austin and his friends while Bethany was off doing God knows what. After my fifth period, French, I walked to the counselor’s office.

“You must be Parker,” a dark headed, plump woman smiled as I entered. I nodded and she motioned to a chair. “Take a seat, your tutor should be here soon.”

“I actually have a sixth period,” I tell her.

“No worries, dear. I’ll write you a pass that you can give your teacher so they know why you’re late.” The counselor told me. I sat down and looked around the room. On the bright side of this meeting I was missing gym.

I sat there in the chair for a couple of minutes until the door opened and someone walked in. “Mrs. Harmon,” they said walking to her desk, “Sorry I’m late.”

I recognized that voice. I looked up from my hands and suppressed a groan. Was this going to be a group tutoring? Tutoring was bad enough I didn’t want to be in a group, especially with him.
“Matthew,” Mrs. Harmon ginned, she stood up from her desk and looked at me. “Parker, this is Matt. He will be tutoring you this semester.”

Matt turned around, his grin turned into a smirk as he saw me. Shit.

Notes

Kind of a cliche start but it's just the beginning! Thank you for reading! Keep the feedback coming!

Thank to Cheyenne16, Hollie, and MeRi for commenting!

Title credit: Of Mice and Men "Relentless"