Finding Cinderella

ღ Finding Cinderella (17)

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Last periods were supposed to be the calm after the storm, the cool-down exercise after an intense workout, but in my case, the last period was the ninth circle of hell.

Calculus.

And the longer it went, the more I looked like I was having constipation. Mr. Cross stood in front of the class like the Queen's guard, emotionless. His lecture about functions and derivatives wasn't recording in my brain properly because, aside from the fact that my brain actually refused to record them, I couldn't stop thinking about Julianne's reaction a while ago.

She'd been upset, hadn't she? What Lacey had told her was a white lie, and little white lies were just fine, right? Everyone tells them now and then. After all, they're necessary for people to get out of trouble or to be protected.

But once they're revealed, they bounce back right at you, a little voice in my head said, and the impact is ten times worse than being hit with a coconut in the face.

I shook the little voice away. Even so, my guts started to churn. I felt bad for keeping this from my best friend.

The class seemed to go on for eternity. Still, nothing made us students feel motivated. At last, when we heard the bell ring and the beautiful words, "Class dismissed," everyone scrambled out as if there was a virus outbreak in the room.

Before I could escape, however, Mr. Cross called me, and I knew I was in for bad news.

"Based on your previous test results," he said in a monotone voice, scanning his record book. "It seemed like you've been struggling with the subject."

"Uh, yeah," I mumbled. You don't say, sir.

"So what are you going to do about this?"

I scratched my head. "I'll... um... I'll work harder, I guess."

He sighed. "Listen, Miss Harris, you're the one that creates your grades, not me," he said. "I only teach you the course and calculate your grades. If you won't do something to improve your current status, then I'm sorry, but I don't have a choice."

In other words, he was just trying to be Gandalf, saying, "You shall not pass."

I groaned to myself. "Yes. I'll keep that in mind."

"Very well. You're dismissed."

Right after that, I proceeded to the library to borrow an advanced Calculus book. I seriously had to step up my game or I would disappoint those around me, especially myself. I would never see the light of day again if I failed.

It was raining hard by the time I stepped out of the front door of the building. I stayed under the shed together with a few students, waiting for it to stop. Moments later, I felt something covering my head. A purple varsity jacket. I looked up and saw Tristan with his jacket on, the hood almost covering half of his face.

Hide and seek was over. He found me.

Frowning, I was about to take the jacket off when he put his hand on my head to stop me.

"Don't. You'd get drenched," he said.

"Why are you doing this?"

He ignored my question and instead looked at the gray sky. "I don't think the rain would stop soon. Guess we'll be stuck here for another hour."

I winced. "I don't want to get stuck here with you."

He grinned at me. "Then let's run."

"Wha—"