[ f i f t e e n ]
November 3rd 2010
As the school year drew to a close, Ashleigh realised how grateful she was for Louise. The latter had constantly been there for her, and they were known as the anti-social duo of the grade for a while. Soon enough, several other girls joined them, forming a group of five by the end of the year.
They would gossip constantly, and they would form their own study group quite often. When one girl didn't understand a question, the others would come to her aid.
"I'm so screwed," Ashleigh groaned, as the girls fretted over their yearly examinations. While most students struggled in mathematical and scientific areas of study, Ashleigh struggled with the most basic subject of all: English.
She despised English with a passion, and she was fairly sure it was her worst subject. Analyzing text sources were definitely not her forte.
"Go tutoring," Marissa offered. "It could help or get your parents to teach you."
Ashleigh grimaced slightly at the mention of her parents. They would never in a million years, help her study. Her father was too busy hanging out with his mates, and her mother was a workaholic, who had apparently found another man.
Despite being only twelve years of age, Ashleigh understood a lot and was constantly aware of her surroundings. Maybe a little too much for her age, but it was only natural to her.
She knew her mother loved her; it was just the fact that she wouldn't bend her crammed timetable to even give them some mother-daughter time, that got to her. Her mother still left kisses on her forehead, affectionately, every Sunday night Ashleigh had to leave.
She'd gotten used to it though. Packing every Friday and Monday was now on her weekly timetable, and she didn't mind. Even though she would prefer having her father at home like he once did, she'd rather her dad leave the house for her alone than to stay at home with an alcoholic stench.
She had to take care of herself.
"I don't have the money to pay for tutoring, and my parents are busy," she replied.
The other girl shrugged. "Well, the English test is a close passage where you fill in the missing words. It's going to be an excerpt from one of the Harry Potter books apparently, and one of the harder parts to remember or analyse. Try reading those books."
And so, she did. Ashleigh stayed back in the library to borrow all seven books and shut herself in the room for the next two weeks, reading and studying the Harry Potter series.
The next day, she received a ninety-two out of one hundred.
