Mackenzie | √

Chapter 5

I sat on Ryan's seat as he stood, talking to me. "So, like—" He started to say.

"Settle down, class! Good morning!" Mrs Martinez said as she strolled in.
I sighed as I rolled my eyes and got up from Ryan's seat.

"I'll see you later," I said to him.

I walked up to my seat as I sat down. Tanner wasn't doing anything. He leaned back in his seat, a pencil in between his teeth.

"Alright... to our lesson!" Mrs Martinez said.

I sat down and looked at my note. I saw Tanner throw a quick glance at me. I took a deep breath.

 In fact, he hadn't made any nasty remark to me or about me today. . . yet.

"Smith!" Mrs Martinez called Ryan
I turned to look at him as he just got up from his seat.

"What was the last thing about identity I talked about?" She asked.

"Huh?" Ryan looked confused, scratching the back of his head.

"Why are you sleeping in my class?" She demanded.

"Uh... I'm sorry. I was up all night studying," he answered.

"Does this mean you stay up all night everyday?"

Everyone laughed, and I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

"Take your seat," she said to Ryan, then looked at Tanner.

"McCann!" She called.

He didn't stop tapping his pencil against the desk.

"Can you try to solve the equation on the board?" She looked at him

Tanner opened his mouth to say something, then he closed it, then said, "You know I can't, Mrs Martinez, so why do you keep calling me?"

*

I let out a little breath.

The bell rang and everyone was finding their way out of the class. I picked my bag, but, "Starr!" Mrs Martinez called.

"Yes, ma'am?" I went to meet her.

She smiled at me, "I can see you and Tanner talked about it."

I was lost, "Talked about what?"

"The tutoring. I knew you would work a way around your busy schedule. Thank you so much."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I looked at her.

"Tanner came to me, said he's agreed to do the lessons," she said in excitement.

My eyes widened.

"What?" I asked, "He sure didn't say he wanted me to tutor him."

"Oh yes, he did. He agreed."

"It can't be true, Mrs Martinez. I told you I didn't want to do this." I was horrified.

"And I also told him that, but he said he wanted the lessons, what could I do?"

"Why are you so concerned about him anyway?"

"Because he's my student."

"Alright. . . but it's not like you're paying me or anything."

"I could pay you."

Was it that bad?

"Nah. I was just kidding," I chuckled.

"So. . . are you agreeing to do this?" She looked at me.