The enthusiasm instantly dwindles from my body. It’s more likely he’ll be underwhelmed and pile on more equations to solve.
Oh well. Let’s bite the bullet.
“Mr. Pritchard,” I say softly, raising my hand as he passes by my desk. He turns to me, and I slide my notebook to the top of the desk. “Can you look over this? I worked on it last night and I think I’m starting to get it.”
A happy smile graces Mr. Pritchard’s face. “Certainly,” he says, lifting the book. He nods along as his eyes run along the work I did to get my answers. He lowers the book with a smile. “This is a vast improvement, Jamie. There are still ways you can improve, but this is a step in the right direction. Did someone else help you with this?”
I nod. “I’m getting tutoring.”
He places the notebook on my desk. “Excellent. Keep up the good work.”
As he walks away, I slink down in my seat with a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. I didn’t want the hours of homework with Milo to be for nothing. Hopefully, he can give me enough pointers over the next week or so, and we can end the tutoring as quickly as it began. As long as my grade average improves, the school administration will get off my back.
When the bell rings, I notice how relaxed my shoulders are. Another bonus of manning up and showing Mr. Pritchard my work caused him not to call out to me in front of the entire class. Without being singled out, Camila and Yvette didn't make horrid comments about me.
I file out of the classroom with everyone else. I just need to dump my gear in my locker and then meet up with Milo for soccer drills. At least I’ll feel more in control out on the field and giving the instructions instead of struggling to understand him.
I bypass the Miss Perfects, but unfortunately, not in time.
“Tabby,” Yvette calls, waving at her friend.
Tabitha smiles and waves at her friends. While she struts toward them, she locks eyes with me.
Dang it. These girls are always so much stronger as a trio.
“I see that look, Tabby,” Camila says with a wicked grin. “The tomboy looks absolutely bizarre in a skirt.” Camila sizes me up. “They should just let you dress like the boys. You’d fit in better.”
I keep my stare on Camila as all three girls look me up and down. Their faces twitch like they’re about to burst into laughter.
“I don’t know how you can stand it,” Yvette says, twirling her platinum blonde hair around her fingers. “Look at your long hair. You just let it become a knotty, gross mess.”
I swallow hard, touching my hair out of instinct. I didn’t think it was that bad. It’s gross?
I hug my books and pen case close, bunching my shoulders high as other students pass by, easily able to hear the girls hurl verbal abuse at me.
“She can’t help it,” Tabitha mutters, turning away like it’s a conflict of interest to tease her boyfriend’s best friend. “Sheisone of the boys.”
At this point, she should just admit she’s trying to get me out of the picture so she can have Kai all to herself.
“Well, she certainly has the figure for it,” Camila sneers. “Or, should I say, lack of a figure.”
Yvette laughs, elbowing Camila’s ribs. “What did you say earlier about her mother?”
I almost drop my books, sickened to my core.
“Oh, what?” Camila asks with feigned forgetfulness. “That she’d never be able to pull off the tricks her mother did?”
A soft gasp pours out of Tabitha as her mouth falls open, staring at me.
Yvette cackles alongside Camila. “Come on, Tabby,” Camila says, linking arms with her. “Let’s get going.”
The laughter continues as they sashay along the hall.
I stand still for a few moments, taking in their barbed words. Again, throwing in my mother just for kicks. All she did was dance in a bikini, nothing worse. At this point, I’ve heard worse about myself. It’s ridiculous that they’re picking on me for being a tomboy while I’m wearing the same feminine uniform as them. It’s like they already had the insults locked and loaded.
Oh my gosh. What if they were firing off the same insults around Kai last night?
Gah! How can he be with someone like that? Seriously. I need to shake sense into that boy.
