My day started normal, making breakfast, dropping off Elliot, getting to school, but half way through the day I was called to the front office.
I was quickly escorted to the principals
Office, getting looks that held..... sympathy?
Crap.
I walked through the open door, leading to the plain white room of the principal.
The principal sat at her desk, her hands clasped in front of her while she talked to a boy in front of her.
I cleared my throat, her head snapped in my direction and she smiled.
"Hello Jessica, this is Clayton Marshal, please, take a seat." She said kindly.
I gave her a small smile, I sat down on one of the round leather seats infront of her desk.
"You see," the principal began, "Mr. Marshal is failing some of his classes, I was wondering if you would tutor him. Each subject you do tutor him in you'll get one extra credit."
I thought for a moment. Clayton Marshal is this schools 'bad boy'.
He's been in 18 fights, been suspended 13 times and has a reputation as a gang leader. It's all gossip, well, I worked in the office Sophomore year so I know the fight and suspension is true, but I have my doubts of the gang leader one.
"Sure." I replied, it's just tutoring, I don't need any more credits but I extra is always nice.
"Okay, you two can work out the details , your dissmissed." She said and waved us off.
"Okay," I told him, "meet me today, Thursdays and Tuesdays at the library at four o'clock."
"Why not just right after school?" he asked, rather impatiently.
"I have stuff to do." I informed him, short and simple.
"Okay, and don't tell anyone about this little arrangement nerd." he sneered at me but I didn't even flinch.
"I have no friends." I said, keeping my face blank.
He looked at my face carefully, checking for sarcasm, then turned and just left.
"Gee, bye to you to." I muttered but went to my next period.
The time flied and I was soon walking into the cafeteria.
I had no money for food so I just sat at the far table and did my homework.
I was finishing my physics homework when a hand slammed infront of my binder.
I looked up to see Juliet Drams, Queen Bee and supreme bitch standing in front of me.
"Listen here you little nerd." she hissed. "Stay away from Clayton, he's mine."
I sat there emotionless and then when she left I got back to my work. Not without noticing the school population staring at me though.
By the time the bell rung I was done with all of my homework. I gathered my stuff and I zoomed to my last class.
After school I only had an hour so I quickly drove to the daycare to check out Elliot and after he was buckled in I was out of there and on my way to the library.
I walked inside, the smell of paper hit me and I smiled.
I set Elliot down and grabbed his hand and he toddled beside me as I headed to the study area. I saw Clayton's dark hair and headed in that direction.
I set my books infront of him and sat Elliot in the seat next to me.
I notices Clayton and Elliot staring at each other and I choked back a giggle.
"So, what subjects do you need tutoring in." I asked, my hands overlapping infront of me.
"Um, all of them." He said sheepishly.
"Let's start with your math." I said and he handed me his work.
"Who's this little guy?" Clayton asked while I looked over and his head motioned to Elliot.
"My baby brother.' I said and smiled at him.
"Why isn't he with your parents?" he questioned.
"There busy." I lied.
"Oh," he said and we went back to tutoring.
After a few hours and a lot of confusion, Clayton finally got the materials an had successfully completed his home work, with, little difficulty.
By little I mean he needed help on every question.
After the extremely difficult task of tutoring Clayton, I shut my binder and gently lifted a sleeping Elliot off a chair.
"Thanks, see ya tomorrow." Clayton said quickly and was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking down the hallways was very different today, instead of being invisible people were talking about me.
My normal absolute nobody status was fucked.
I couldn't hear much of their words but a lot of them here words you like 'whore' and 'slut'.
I had to clench my jaw but I kept quiet and got my stuff out of my locker and slammed the door, sprinted to my next class and plopped on my seat.
Kids looked at me and spoke in whispers, I was annoyed but again kept my mouth shut.
I got through my lessons, which seemed hours longer that usual and finally went to lunch, I was starving but hey hit myself, remembering I didn't have money so I just walked back to my table.
As I was walked I notice someone coming up behind me and the room quite.
I instinctively turned and held up my forearm, defecting something styrofoam and it landed with a splat in the person who tried to dump it on me.
I say a very angry, and very pasta covered, Juliet Drams.
"You little bitch! Do you know how much this cost! it was my favorite cardigan-" I just stopped listening and stared there with a blank look on my face.
After she was done she glared at me, "Say something you weak whore!" she spat and tried to slap me.
Without even flinching I grabbed her wrist that was inches from my face, her hand dangling there and I wish I had my camera out because saying she was shocked would be an understatement.
I kept my face expressionless, twisted her wrist a little and dropped her hand.
I saw everybody staring at me, wondering how I had just done that probably and I sat at my seat and fiddled with my camera.
I felt the stares and glares and withheld the urge to turn around and flip them off.
I sat there in silence until the bell rang and I gathered my stuff and went to my next class.
I got the same quizzical gazes all day, I chose to ignore them and focus on the dull lesson.
I couldn't have gotten out of there faster, my feet sprinted to my truck and I sped out of the parking lot.
I parked in the parking lot of the daycare center and smiled at the lady, paying her and retrieving Elliot.
After I had gotten to the cafe I place Elliot back in the same play pen thing I usually put him in and got to work.
The day was hectic with the place filled with a flood of people coming in every time I look at the door.
Once business slowed I still had two hour left of my shift so I just read a book.
Once the bell above the door signaled I had a costumer I slid my book in the drawer below me and I stood up.
I was extremely surprised by what I saw.
It was Clayton and his only friends.
Clayton was in this sort of trio of trouble, he is like the leader while his friends are also as tuff as him.
There was Austin, he was the silent one and when he got pissed he got violent.
And then Easton, the sweet one who could also kick ass when he got angry, which was rare.
I notices I was staring and I got back to playing with the cash register thing.
"Can we have- oh, hi." Clayton started but notices who I was and paused.
"Hey isn't that your tutor?" Easton asked.
"Yeah, um can we have three coffees and 3 slices of coffee cake?" Clayton ordered.
"Sure, that'll be ten sixty seven." I told him and he handed me the cash.
"Will that be for here of to go?" I asked.
Before Clayton could answer Easton interrupted. "for here."
I nodded and handed him the change and got their stuff ready.
I carried the platter and went to their booth, setting one coffee and cake infront of each if them.
"Thanks." Easton told me and I smiled at him.
I heard a cry and I turned to see Elliot wailing in his crib.
"Your welcome." I told him and gave him a quick smile.
I went to Elliot's play pin and lifted him up.
I cradled him in my arms but I hadn't calmed him down by the time a few more customers came strolling in.
I was torn, go serve them or take care of my brother.
"I got him." A voice said and I lifted my head to see Clayton standing there.
"Thanks." I said and gently placed Elliot in his arms.
I ran behind the counter and greeted the customers and served them their orders.
I saw out of the corner of my eyes Clayton gently swaying with Elliot in his grasp while the guys talked to each other and played with his little fingers.
After the customers left I came from behind the counter and went to go get Elliot.
"I'll take him back, sorry if he was a burden." I apologized.
"No, he wasn't a burden, can we play with him until you shift ends. Please?" Austin begged.
I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh, sure, just tell me if he gets to be to much of a hand full.
After a few minuets I saw they had moved to the floor and were playing with his toddler toys.
I fished out my camera to capture the moment where the three most feared boys in school played, willingly, with my baby brother.
Maybe it would be a good year.