To Get an 'A'

UN

'Why are they so damn happy?' Ellory thought to herself, 'This is prison, not the fucking playground.'

Many of the other Seniors attending Whitmer High walked through the doors beaming with excitement. Having only six months to graduation, they had good reason to be joyful. The problem was that all Ellory felt was anger and sorrow.

Reluctantly, she removed herself from the warmth of her blue Volkswagen bug. The cold January air hit her like a brick, only making her feel worse about facing the world and all the bullshit it had to offer.

The Chorus room was unusually packed this morning. The guys from Ensemble harassed one another, while the girls squealed in delight at the sight of their friends. Ellory weaved through the people, occasionally exchanging a greeting with someone as she made her way to Sawyer.

Sawyer pulled out her earbuds as Ellory took the seat next to her on the risers.

"Hey, El."

"Hey."

"So, how you holdin' up?" She asked.

Hoping Sawyer would bite, Ellory changed the direction of the conversation, "What classes do we have this semester?"

"You're changing the subject."

"Do we really have to go through this everyday?" Ellory groaned, "You grill me on my state of sanity and I tell you that I'm just peachy. But the truth, and we both know it, is that I'm lying. So, why not just save us both the trouble and stop asking? Because I'm fucking fine."

"Liar."

Ellory opened her mouth to retaliate with something vulgar, but quickly closed it as she was interrupted by Mr. Remington, the Chorus teacher, "Good morning, Ellory! How was your Christmas?"

He caught a glimpse of pain that almost immediately turned to irritation in her eyes. Normally, he would have been somewhat offended to have annoyed her with such a simple question, but there was no way he could understand what she was going through. Losing a parent just before the holidays had to be incredibly difficult.

Her lips tilted up in a smile that was anything but genuine and answered, "Oh, it was just wonderful! And yours?"

"My Christmas was absolutely fantastic! My sister flew in from London with a few of her friends and we went caroling in Market Square."

"It sounds like a blast."

Colton waved from across the room, easily grabbing Remington's attention. Ellory snickered and playfully elbowed Sawyer, wanting nothing but to forget the conversation they were having prior to Remington's visit. Sawyer completely ignored her weirdo ex and the teasing from Ellory, thinking about how she wasn't going to allow Ellory to slip out of it that easily.

"Your eyes are bloodshot and no amount of make-up could cover the dark circles you're sporting today," she pulled on the sleeve of Ellory's sweater, "And this thing used to be snug on you."

Ellory was close to snapping and Sawyer was not helping by aggravating the hell out of her with this shit.

"I'm fucking fine, Saw."

****

'I fucking hate it here.'

Ellory's first three classes were filled with thoughts of hatred and displeasure. Lunch rolled around and Sawyer could feel Ellory's irritability growing. She stomped to the courtyard and smacked her head down on one of the picnic tables.

"I can't do this," she moaned, "This is bullshit."

"Come on, El. We've managed to stick it out for the last three and a half years together. All I've heard for the past four hours is 'This is bullshit'. And while I must agree that it fucking sucks here, you can't give up on me six months before we get the hell out."

Ellory whined loudly and a frustrated sigh followed, "Calculus and English are gonna be-"

"Bullshit?"

She shot Sawyer an angry glare before continuing, "Yes, bullshit. Those bitches gave us homework on the first fucking night. Remington is much too happy and energetic for me to handle, and don't even get me started on how much I dread going to French."

"French is gonna be awesome," Sawyer smirked.

"How so?"

"El, that teacher is one fine piece of ass."

Ellory scoffed, "Saw, we live in the middle of fucking nowhere in Tennessee, which is probably the least important state of all fifty. We can't get hot guys to visit, let alone move the fuck down here."

"I don't know, El. I always felt like Delaware was pretty fucking pointless. I mean seriously, what do you think the average Delaware State student gets on the ACT?"

"What?"

"Drool."

Ellory began laughing uncontrollably. It actually wasn't that funny, but it felt good to laugh. For a moment, she felt like she might be alright.

****

Sawyer ditched Ellory on the way to class to talk to her four year obsession, Jake, leaving Ellory to be the first to class by herself.

'Where the hell is this guy? If he's really that attractive, I wanna see, dammit.'

There was a knocking that came from the closet in the corner that made Ellory jump out of her seat. Feeling like the idiot that always dies in the first sixty seconds of 'Supernatural', she hesitantly made her way over to open it.

Ellory was greeted by the most gorgeous man she'd ever met. His hair was light brown and neatly combed out of his face, giving a perfect view of his piercing gray eyes. There was a light stubble that grew from the tan skin on his perfect jaw that Ellory guessed could probably cut glass.

'Holy fucking hell, he's beauitful.'

Levi was caught off guard by the beauty standing before him. Her eyes were a crystal blue that stood out against her dark hair and smooth, pale skin. She seemed surprised as she studied him, too.

'Please be the TA. Please be the TA,' he repeated to himself.

"Hi," he finally said.

Ellory replied almost instantly, "Hi."

"Hi," he repeated.

She giggled, "You said that already."

Levi looked to the floor in embarrassment, "Right, well, I'm Levi Caverly," he stuck out his hand, "You must be the Teacher's Assistant."

Taking his large hand in her small one, Ellory corrected him, "Ellory Crane. I'm actually a student."

'Son of a bitch.'

"Oh, right, then I guess, uh, welcome to French."