Today was report card day. They were going to get their first report card of the semester. Natalie had failed a test and some quizzes in this class and was struggling. Her mouth grew dry as she sat silently. She really wanted to have that party and having good grades was the only way her parents let her throw parties. 

  The morning announcements began.

   “Goooooood morning Tiger Sharks! Friendly reminder that Club Rush is tomorrow and will call for an extended lunch! Be sure to sign up and join any activities and clubs your fellow peers have made, thank you to the staff involved as well for giving their time and support! Tickets for the halloween carnival are now on sale at the Student Store, 5 dollars for a ticket. You won't want to miss the DJ, booths from your clubs, food trucks, party games and of course, our Haunted Maze! Auditions for the Haunted Maze are still going on; so if you want to frighten your fellow classmates and teachers now's the time to do so! In other news, winter formal pre-sale tickets will be happening on October 19th through the 29th for 15 dollars and then will be available after for 25 dollars. Be sure to get yourself a ticket and a date! Winter formal will be Friday, November 20th. And that is the end of our announcements for today! FIN.”

  Class began, an hour of agonizing torture for Natalie. She couldn't focus on the subject at hand, she was only concerned with what the report card would say. Finally it was time for the report cards to be handed back. The teacher called the students by last name, alphabetical order. When it finally came time for Natalie, her heart was half way up her throat. She grabbed her report card, sat back down and hastily opened it up, as if she was ripping the band aid off of a fresh wound. Sure enough, her worst fear was realized. She got straight A's in everything else but her Trig class; in that, she received a C.

  “Shit!” She thought to herself.

  She waited for the class to finish packing their stuff and leave. Once most of the class had left, Natalie got up to talk to the teacher. Her name was Mrs. Pearson, an older lady with dirty blonde hair. She fashioned a pixie cut and normally wore business casual clothing. 

  “Hey Mrs. Pearson, I was wondering if there was any way I could possibly retake some older tests I have failed or do extra credit to raise my grade,” Natalie charmily asked in a sweet voice.

  “Sorry Natalie, I can't do that, you know that grades are final in my class,” she said in a stern voice. 

  “Please Mrs. Pearson, this is very important, there must be something I can do!” Natalie pleaded.

  “You can get a tutor and try applying yourself in the course,” she responded.

  "But how am I going to get a tutor? Do you know anyone?"  

  The teacher looked behind her and noticed Adrian still packing his stuff away. 

  "Luckily for you, one of my top students is still in the class," she said, "Mr. Parker, can you do me a favor and be Miss Mendoza's tutor, I know it's a lot to ask all of a sudden, but if you do, I’ll let you sit out on the next test." 

  Natalie turned with hopeful eyes to him, eyes he had long admired since middle school. He felt flustered but managed to give a response.

  "Yes ma'am, it'd be my pleasure," he replied. 

  Natalie gave him a huge smile, "thank you, thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed.

  "Now Natalie, you're honestly not doing too bad, if you can manage to pass these next two tests then you'll move up an entire letter grade." Pearson informed her. 

  "When I do, can I get my graded test early! It's very important I have it ready for my parents!" She begged.

  "Alright alright, just don't go telling anyone, I don't want people to think I'm picking favorites." 

  "Thank you!"

Natalie and Adrian left the class together. 

  "Goodluck," Pearson said to them. 

  They walked outside and moved over to the corner, so as not to be in anyone's way. 

  "Hey, so, I'm Adrian, and I guess I'll be your tutor," he said, extending his hand to her. She shook it excitedly.

  "Nice to meet you, I'm Natalie," she replied.

  "I know, you're pretty popular, I'd be surprised if someone didn't know who you were," he said, then added on, "actually we've been classmates since elementary school, you invited me to your birthday once in the 3rd grade."

  "Oh that's right! I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you before!" She apologized.

  "No worries! We never really talked much after that, I guess I was just too nervous."

  "Well don't be! I don't bite!" She laughed, "why don't you give me your number?" 

  Adrian's heart was beating faster, he felt like he could burst with joy. "It's my lucky day!" He thought.  

  "Yeah of course," he said. 

Messages

Natalie: Hey! :) This is Nat! Thank you so much again!

now

Adrian: this is Adrian, No Problem! :)

now

  "Alright, Awesome!" Nat said,"I'll text you the time to meet up!" 

  "Awesome, Alright, see you around!" 

  The day went by, and before anyone knew it, it was lunch time. Adrian had received a text.

Meet me at lunch! Second floor near the back of the school. Something very Important to discuss :o

  Adrian walked to the meet up spot, still happy about the morning. He couldn't believe he got her number. He turned the corner and exited the building that led to the small tables on the second floor.

  "Hey Audrey!" He said, waving at Audrey and her friends. 

  "ADRIAN! you're here!" 

Her expression bloomed. 

"C'mere, I want you to meet my friends, this is Samantha, Looz, and Jacob."

  "Hellooo!" Sam said in a cute soft voice.

  "'sup," Looz said, very chill.

  "Hey, nice to meetcha," Jacob said. 

  "Hi everyone! It's a pleasure to meet you all." He said, removing his backpack and sitting down near Audrey. 

  "So how do you know Audrey?" Looz asked.

  "Well, we literally just met the other day." 

  "What is your friend group like?" Jacob asked.

  "Well I actually just sit in a class room by myself with Mrs. Sonne, the creative writing teacher," he stated, "I just sit there writing stories or watching videos, sometimes there's other students there but I don't really interact with them."

  "You don't have friends?!" Sam gasped in surprise and pitied him. 

  "Well, I know people, I just don't socialize too often, I used to have friends in middle school but they went to different high schools." 

  "Perfect!" Jacob said enthused, "now we got another bro in the group! Aside from Looz of course," he teased.

Looz punched him in his arm. 

  "Punk." 

  "Yeah we'd be more than happy to have you hang out with us," Audrey said. 

  "I'd be delighted to hang out with you guys!" 

  “So what kind of hobbies do you have?” Jacob asked.

  “I like to write, play games, watch movies, learn about film and stuff.”

  “Ooh that sounds neat,” Audrey said.

  “Yeah, but do you like to play any sports?” Jacob asked again.

  “I’ve never really been one to partake in any sports. I'm just not that good at them.”

  “You mentioned movies. What kind of movies?” Looz asked him.

  “Well any movie really, I do particularly like the horror genre and thrillers, but I also love fantasy and sci fi. I can't pick a favorite really.”

  “Ever see any movies with Tom Hardy? I love Tom Hardy.” she said.

  “Yeah a couple.” .

  “Do you like to shop? Or love going to the mall? I love the mall!” Samantha said.

  “I wouldn't say I love to shop, I try to only get what I need so as to not waste so much of my mom's money,” he continued, “But I do like going to the Ridgewell Mall, it’s really fun over there and I like the arcade and theater they have.”

  “Just a huge fan of movies aren't you?” Looz said.

  “They're a fun pastime, yes. I think I want to write films in the future.”

  Amidst all the questions, he remembered why he was here.

  "Oh wait a minute guys, I totally forgot," he interrupted the questions. "You said you had something important to ask Audrey?"

  "Oh yeah!" Audrey exclaimed, "I had almost forgotten in the excitement of getting to know you!" 

  "Gather around everyone, have a seat," she said.

  "We are seated, Dri," Looz replied. 

  "Good!" 

 She got up. "We should start a club!"