me. âQuite honestly, I think itâs very selfish of you to take another, more suitable studentâs place on the track, knowing all along you arenât worthy.â Mrs. Bennett is smiling from ear to ear, which can only mean I didnât do too well on the practice examâno surprise, but I really wanted to show her ass up.
âA two,â I say, reading my grade aloud. I need at least a three to pass, and Iâm sure I did better than this, but Scantrons donât lie, I guess. The grades for the essay questions are another thing altogether, and, knowing Mrs. Bennett, she didnât cut me any slack. Good thing sheâs not grading the real thing, or Iâd really be screwed.
âYes, a two. And to think, because of your financial dilemma, you donât even have to pay for the three exams youâre scheduled to take, yet Iâm sure youâll fail them all. What a pity,â Mrs. Bennett says, walking out of the room as the final warning bell for third period rings, signaling the other students to leave as well. Talk about a hit and run. As I gather my backpack and purse to head to government class, I notice that everyone else seems real cool about their grades. Am I the only one who didnât get it?
âDonât worry, Jayd,â Mrs. Malone says, propping herself up on the corner of my desk before I can make my escape. I feel so humiliated. The last thing I want is counseling from the hippie teacher. âThere are still several weeks left to prepare for the exams, and youâre not far from passing at all. You should also consider linking up with Alia and Charlotte to attend as many study groups as you can between now and then.â
âStudy groups?â I ask, rising from my seat. This is the first Iâve heard of any study groups. They must have wanted them to remain private, but if itâll help, Iâll gladly crash that party.
âYes, they meet at least once a week after school, off campus. And trust me, it helps. I have complete faith in your abilities no matter what, and believe in the No Child Left Behind Act fully.â I know sheâs trying to help, but her public-service announcement isnât making me feel any better. But I will ask Alia about her study crew during fifth period.
âThanks, Mrs. Malone. I appreciate the information,â I say, meeting Jeremy by the door. He stuffed his exam into his backpack without a second thought. Must be nice to be so confident.
âBye, kids,â Mrs. Malone says to our backs as we walk out. Itâs a good thing our government class is in the hall around the corner. The warning bell for third period rang almost three minutes ago, and Mrs. Peterson would take great pleasure in marking us both late.
âSo how did my girl do?â Jeremy asks, pulling me into his embrace as we walk together. I put my arm around his waist and allow myself to breathe in his soothing scent. Jeremyâs just what I need to make it through the long days up here.
âNot good at all. Mrs. Bennettâs wicked ass made sure I failed,â I say, even though I know itâs not all her fault. âI still donât understand how you could like that bitch.â
âSheâs not that bad,â Jeremy says, looking down at me. âShe and my mom go way back. I guess I just see a different side of her.â Yeah, I guess he does.
âHow far back do the Wicked Witch of the West and your mom go?â Mrs. Weiner also has it out for me, and I make sure I stay out of her way.
âElementary school. They were in Louisiana together, and you already know South Bay is their alma mater, and thatâs where Chanceâs mom enters the picture.â Witches traditionally travel in threes, but Iâve never met Chanceâs mom, so I donât want to jump to any conclusions. âIâm sorry, Jayd. I think I have something thatâll make you feel better,â Jeremy says,
âA two,â I say, reading my grade aloud. I need at least a three to pass, and Iâm sure I did better than this, but Scantrons donât lie, I guess. The grades for the essay questions are another thing altogether, and, knowing Mrs. Bennett, she didnât cut me any slack. Good thing sheâs not grading the real thing, or Iâd really be screwed.
âYes, a two. And to think, because of your financial dilemma, you donât even have to pay for the three exams youâre scheduled to take, yet Iâm sure youâll fail them all. What a pity,â Mrs. Bennett says, walking out of the room as the final warning bell for third period rings, signaling the other students to leave as well. Talk about a hit and run. As I gather my backpack and purse to head to government class, I notice that everyone else seems real cool about their grades. Am I the only one who didnât get it?
âDonât worry, Jayd,â Mrs. Malone says, propping herself up on the corner of my desk before I can make my escape. I feel so humiliated. The last thing I want is counseling from the hippie teacher. âThere are still several weeks left to prepare for the exams, and youâre not far from passing at all. You should also consider linking up with Alia and Charlotte to attend as many study groups as you can between now and then.â
âStudy groups?â I ask, rising from my seat. This is the first Iâve heard of any study groups. They must have wanted them to remain private, but if itâll help, Iâll gladly crash that party.
âYes, they meet at least once a week after school, off campus. And trust me, it helps. I have complete faith in your abilities no matter what, and believe in the No Child Left Behind Act fully.â I know sheâs trying to help, but her public-service announcement isnât making me feel any better. But I will ask Alia about her study crew during fifth period.
âThanks, Mrs. Malone. I appreciate the information,â I say, meeting Jeremy by the door. He stuffed his exam into his backpack without a second thought. Must be nice to be so confident.
âBye, kids,â Mrs. Malone says to our backs as we walk out. Itâs a good thing our government class is in the hall around the corner. The warning bell for third period rang almost three minutes ago, and Mrs. Peterson would take great pleasure in marking us both late.
âSo how did my girl do?â Jeremy asks, pulling me into his embrace as we walk together. I put my arm around his waist and allow myself to breathe in his soothing scent. Jeremyâs just what I need to make it through the long days up here.
âNot good at all. Mrs. Bennettâs wicked ass made sure I failed,â I say, even though I know itâs not all her fault. âI still donât understand how you could like that bitch.â
âSheâs not that bad,â Jeremy says, looking down at me. âShe and my mom go way back. I guess I just see a different side of her.â Yeah, I guess he does.
âHow far back do the Wicked Witch of the West and your mom go?â Mrs. Weiner also has it out for me, and I make sure I stay out of her way.
âElementary school. They were in Louisiana together, and you already know South Bay is their alma mater, and thatâs where Chanceâs mom enters the picture.â Witches traditionally travel in threes, but Iâve never met Chanceâs mom, so I donât want to jump to any conclusions. âIâm sorry, Jayd. I think I have something thatâll make you feel better,â Jeremy says,
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