|| Monday, early evening ||

     On Wednesday, Callum had an entire day to himself for the first time since he agreed to tutor Lewis, Constance and Giovanni on Friday. Up until that day, he had tutored any of the four of them after school.

He had also started searching for colleges that offered the right study for him to become an official licenced teacher in a boarding school.

Ever since he started helping Elliot, the wish to become a teacher had grown. But now that he was suddenly tutoring four people, he started realizing it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. He had already mixed Lewis’ and Constance’ level up before they had even started.

Which was why he had turned to Freddy to ask how to keep them apart from each other. How did teachers do it? How did they know who was at what level and who understood which emotions? Not to mention the fact that teachers didn’t solely teach emotions, but things like English and history too.

Freddy had suggested for Callum to let them do a small test to see what level they were at, and than use the tests to decide what to focus on, so the two of them had come up with a test themselves that looked a lot like the test people had to take before they were transported from Earth to Terraqua.

They had also bought a few folders in which Callum could keep the sheets with their progress and other stuff to keep them apart. All Callum had to do before heading over to any of them for a tutoring session, was grab the right folder and read the latest notes on the way there.

It seemed a lot easier than it was, but Callum thought he would be able to juggle four different students at once. He just needed to get used to it.

Though, on Wednesday, he took a day off from tutoring, and headed over to the park after his friends had agreed to play soccer there. He hadn’t instantly replied in their group chat, and by the time he did respond, he got no response from any of his friends.

They were probably already playing soccer and not watching their phones.

At least, that was what Callum thought. When he made it to the park, however, it became clear they just ignored him.

Only Arlon greeted him, the rest didn’t take a second to stop playing and greet him. And because Arlon did, he missed a pass from Daley, who then got annoyed because Arlon was distracted.

“Arlon! We’re in the middle of a match!” Daley called out to him.

Arlon just flipped him off and jogged up to Callum with an apologetic smile.

“They’re a bit annoyed with you,” he said when he stopped in front of Callum. “Mostly Daley this time. Gio’s been awkwardly quiet about you today.”

“Why are they annoyed?”

“Because you never hang out with us anymore. I mean, since you started tutoring Elliot,” Arlon told him before he took a seat on the side of the small field. “How is that working out anyway?”

“Oh, it’s okay. We’ve had about four sessions so far, and he made a bit of progress.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, he’s super intelligent so he understands everything really quickly. It’s sad that they never payed attention to his intelligence and used it to help him out.” Callum told Arlon with a proud smile, sitting down next to him.

“Can I just ask…” Arlon took in a deep breath before he continued, “not to be negative or anything, but if you only tutored him four times in nearly two weeks, why don’t we ever see you anymore? You even missed our archery practice on Tuesday.”

“Because I’m now tutoring four people instead of one. I don’t know how it happened, but it did.”

“Well, it explains why you’re never hanging out anymore. Sounds like a hassle.”

“It is, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it and maybe when I do, I’ll be able to come out a bit more too. I mean, I’m pretty tired lately.” Callum shrugged a shoulder while he was following the soccer match in front of them. “You know why Gio’s been silent about it today?”

“No, why?”

“I tutor him too. He fell behind, and not just a little. I thought he was doing well, but the combinations…”

“Well, to be honest? I think he’s expressing negativity a lot. Like, there’s jealousy, rage, anger, annoyance. And on the other side, there’s nothing. He hardly ever laughs; he doesn’t make fun. He’s like an angry robot doing what he’s supposed to do.”

“Yeah, I know. And then my parents told me the numbers are shocking at the moment. More and more students are falling behind while the system hasn’t gotten tougher.”

“Arlon!” Daley called out in anger. “Are you done with your fucking tea-party?”

“I’m waiting for the next match so Callum can join,” Arlon called back, turning to Callum again. “That sounds bad, but what can they do about it? WE can’t make it easier. The line has to be drawn somewhere.”

“Seriously, you abandon our team for him?” Daley jogged up to them, and the rest of their friends stopped. Some stood in their place, patiently waiting, while some joined Daley and stood in front of him.

“What have I done wrong?”

“Ever since you graduated and started playing tutor, you pretend you’re better than us,” Daley grumbled angrily. “We never see you around anymore.”

“I’m busy, that doesn’t mean I’m better, or that I think I am,

“Oh, really? Then what’s with all the tutoring? You know my mom said I have to ask you for help with my homework? Because you’re suddenly the talented teen who’s best in everything?” Daley shot him a deadly look.

“My mom already forced him as a tutor upon me,” Gio mumbled annoyed, crossing his arms in front of him. “You do not want him as a tutor.”

“What?” Callum snorted in response. “Dude, if you don’t want my help, then by all means, please fuck off. I have other things to do.”

“See, acting as if you’re better—”

“It’s him who says he doesn’t need help. And if you all feel about me this way, then you can all go fuck yourselves too,” Callum snapped, his face close to Daley’s. “You’re the ones acting as if you’re better by acting this way.”

Callum swiftly turned around and barged back towards his bike.

“Cal!” Arlon called out, “wait for me.”

Callum looked over his shoulder, noticing Arlon was running after him, while some of their friends—Ryan, Ben and Gary—grabbed their stuff and left the rest behind too.

At least some of his friends were still on his side.

Besides, who would want friends like Daley and Gio? Friends who didn’t even approve of helping others who need help.

Well, Callum didn’t want them as friends. He didn’t need the negativity in his life.

Callum, who agreed to tutor Constance and Lewis a few times to help them catch up, is booked with tutoring. He shows up in the park, where his friends are playing soccer, and is instantly met with hostility. Arlon is the only one who isn’t complaining, but the rest, led by Daley, is complaining they never see him again now that he hangs out with outcasts like Elliot. Gio is keeping his distance, not willing to admit Callum is tutoring him too. When Callum tells it to the rest, the fight gets worse.

Callum, sick of the bickering, tells them to go fuck themselves and leaves in anger, feeling let down by most of his friends.