Broken Memory ✓

3. Math Solving for the Void

"Ashlyn. Or Ash, whichever you prefer."

Before he can respond, the teacher shoots us a look and I sigh, moving my attention to my notebook. He subtly flips my notebook open and starts to write in messy handwriting.

'New here? I tend to know everyone, although I can't say they're all friends.'

I scribble back in my borderline neat handwriting, 'yep. I know my schedule and my locker, but I don't know where anywhere is or who anyone is. Except I unfortunately know Jonothan and Liam.'

I slide the notebook back over to him and he quickly reads what I wrote, immediately scribbling a response back. 'Disgusting. Well, you know me now. What's your schedule? What grade are you in?'

I write down my schedule and my grade - 10th - and hand the notebook back. He nods, smiling a dimpled smile, and writes down a response.

'We have history, art, and lunch together. And this study hall obviously. But we should stop passing the notebook, I see the teacher staring at us.'

I nod at him, closing and setting the notebook aside, then opening up my book. For the duration of the class we stick to ourselves, but once the teacher dismisses us we're back to talking. I hold my notebook and book in my arms and wait for him as he gathers all of his things. Papers randomly scattered in a folder. "Do you know where science is?"

"Yeah, follow me," he nods, picking up all his stuff. Kids hurry to get out of the class and as I try to stay close to him, I'm shoved into a kid.

"Sorry," I murmur, realizing it was the kid from earlier. The guy being attacked in the antique shop.

"It's fine," he mutters, speeding ahead. Connor looks back to me, moving his head a little to get his curls out of his eyes, and waits for me to catch up.

"Sorry, someone shoved me."

"It's fine. Come!" he points down the hall. "The last door in this hall and on the right! I'll see you in History."

"See yah later!" I slightly wave, heading to my locker. Jonothan is nowhere in sight, thankfully, and I realize I'm running late to my next class. Good old science.

The morning goes unusually smoothly, something I wasn't expecting seeing as I barely know what's happening in each class. It's lunch now, and I'm in line behind Connor, who is giving me all the tips he has from years of experience going to this school. "Alright, Ash," he nudges my shoulder. "The salad here is nasty, and although it doesn't look like it, I normally like salad. The pizza here reminds me of those cheap frozen pizzas, so mediocre, but oh my God. Get their nachos and you will rise to Heaven."

I laugh. "That good?"

"You will literally rise above Heaven. They're that good." He hands a tray to me and grabs a tray for himself.

"I'll take your word for it." I end up getting nachos like he highly recommended (or more like forced), and we sit at a vacant table.

A thought dawns upon me that made me quite sad for him. He doesn't really have any friends, it seems. All just... People he's alright with. At least at my other schools, even though I switched often, I had friends. He's been here for years, but now he has nearly nobody. Nearly, because I'm here.

"And?" he asks as I take a bite into one of the nachos soaked in cheese. A satisfying crunch fills the air and I'm surprised by how good it is. A perfect amount of spice.

"I'm sorry for ever doubting you," I put the rest of the chip in my mouth and immediately go for another.

"You are forgiven," he begins to dig into his own nachos.

The last class of the day comes around. Math. My nemesis.

I used to be good at math... But after all the times I've moved and all the different curriculums, it seems I've missed quite a chunk of math rules and lessons.

I find a seat in the back as kids file in, the teacher also walking in. He sees me and walks over, "Ashlyn Bowers?"

"That's me."

"Alright, well welcome. Try to do our lesson today, and then I'll give you a test to figure out how much you know. And that can be your seat for this marking period."

"Sounds good," I nod. He walks off and I put my things below my desk. A kid with black hair meets my eyes and I see his expression drop. He walks over and sits down next to me and I realize - you guessed it - it's the kid from the antique shop. He doesn't acknowledge me besides the change in his demeanor, but I shrug it off as papers are being handed out.

Turns out, this math is also in a system where we solve for the void. Not really. It just seems that way as I stare at the 1st problem on the worksheet, suddenly feeling like my intelligence is in the negatives. Am I this stupid?

Oh math, how I despise you.

My cheeks start to turn hot as I become more and more frustrated.

"Need any help?" a voice from my left asks.

A/N My best friend has declared Connor as her new child (and best boi). I love Connor so much :)