Chapter 10: Midterm Exam

Friday

Alissandra Cadence

Today's our midterm exam and we just finished like half of it. It's kind of stressing but manageable, I still believe that I'll get A this time.

"As I count to three, all answer sheets must be here already." Ms. Carla shouted.

"All right, pass it forward." then all of us began passing it forward. "One."

I looked for Jason in the classroom - and he's literally taking a nap right now and Ms. Carla is walking towards his row.

"Two - uh, excuse me? The one with the hoodie at the back? Isn't that Mr. McKenley?" he's so dead asleep.

Clint patted his back and he woke up like nothing happened. The audacity, McKenley.

"Well good morning, mister. Did we interrupt your sleep? Pass your paper, now!" then he immediately passed it forward.

All the papers are already on Ms. Carla's desk. He looked through all the papers, and pulled out one, which is definitely McKenley's. She wore her glasses and began browsing it and after a few minutes she moved her head back a little bit.

"Wow, this is ridiculous. Looks like Mr. McKenley's test isn't that bad at all. Impressive..." she said then the whole class just began clapping.

What?

"Do y'all wanna know your score today?"

"Yes ma'am." we all said in unison.

"Then we're gonna have to check it today." she said then scrambled all the papers and gave them to each one of us. "Make sure you don't have your own paper, huh."

I got Travis' paper and Ms. Carla began dictating the answers. We finished checking and Travis got a score of 34/50 which is pretty good, for him.

"Aight, Imma do a roll call, if the paper you're holding belongs to the person I called, you're gonna have to tell me their scores. As easy as that, understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Steve Anderson?"

"Absent."

"Unsurprising," Ms. Carla said then shook her head.

"Okay, Kurt Austins?"

"28 ma'am."

"Clint Avans?"

"40"

I am literally so bored, and Travis Montgomery is already close to the call so I gotta pay attention.

"Jason McKenley?"

"48!" Travis shouted.

"16!" Clint shouted.

"Excuse me, what?" confused Ms. Carla asked.

"Dude I have McKenley's paper and his score is 16." Travis insisted as he stood up and showed him the paper even though Clint won't see it at a distance.

"I have McKenley's paper too and it's 48 - oh wait I think I know what's wrong." then he took a closer look. "The name written is actually - Alissandra...McKenley?"

WHAT?!

I quickly approached him and grabbed the paper. He's right, the name written is Alissandra McKenley and it really is my paper.

"Hey Cadence, don't be in a hurry, you'll be a McKenley real soon." said someone and they all began laughing.

I just looked down as I quickly returned to my seat then facepalmed.

"Okay, enough with that. Travis Montgomery?"

"34..."

I don't know why I feel so really bothered with all these things that are happening these days. I've been overthinking stuff these days which is basically not normal but it's manageable and it feels relieving as it's also a kind of a way to reflect on all the stuff going on. Growing up like this isn't what I dreamt about when I was a kid. Though my childhood isn't that great either, it just gets way worse from time to time. All I thought is when I grew up, I'll understand things more, live life as it is, and just go with the flow. But no, the more you understand things, the more you question things. I've been stressed out lately. Mostly because of Elijah, Jason, Jessica, school, and Rebecca... And speaking of Jason, I miss those days when we're actually together as close best friends. If it wasn't for the people around us and Jessica, we could've been together for a long time now. Because, to be honest, I love him so much, I really do. I just couldn't express it because I'm afraid of being judged by people, so I judge myself directly before anyone else so I won't do certain things just for the sake of my own happiness because reputation is just a huge thing for me. I wonder if I could ever wake up one day, and I'm back to meeting Jason again for the first time, I would rather not. I'd rather risk losing it all than to let myself see him suffering this way. I mean, we could've just been together without minding all of the people around us but, I just can't. I'm such a coward about love. And about my sister, Rebecca, I'd also rather let myself the one that'd get hit by the car if that's the only way, I would even love to, with all the things I've experienced about life, there are times that I just wanna rest, permanently. Because believe it or not, even if you are wealthy and shit, life still fails you at certain times, the cruelest and unexpected times. Life sucks but hey, why waste your time stating all of its flaws than living it and looking at the bright side of it?

I'm already walking my way back home since dad got into something on his way to driving me home, and I don't have any extra cash left so I had no choice but to walk. It's already getting dark and the breeze is getting cold. I walked down the road as I watched the streetlights turn on as the lights made their way down the road. Staring at all the cars passing by, the mist of the approaching dusk, I just sighed.

I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder "Hey, Caden-"

"Fucking-freaking hell!"

It was Steve Anderson, this shitty playboy athlete.

"Jeezus, don't scare me like that, I almost swung on you," I said then held my backpack straps with both hands.

"I'm sorry, I just pulled over when I saw you walking by, I just wanted to offer you a ride," he said and grinned wickedly.

Ew, just ew...

I looked at his car and I was like nah, I'd rather walk than get in that disgusting sports car that not even God knows how many girls have made out with him in that.

"Nah, I'm good and thanks for asking, I'm just gonna walk, it's a part of my diet anyway so, see ya," I waved goodbye and started to walk away but he grabbed my elbow.

"C'mon, I also just wanted someone to talk to since Jessica broke up with me," he said then frowned.

I'm sorry but I know those moves, he's not even that serious about Jessica either. I know that agreeing to have a ride home with him will lead me to a whole new different ride in life, if y'know what I mean.

"I'm sorry but I just couldn't-"

"Come on now, please?" then he held my elbow even tighter.

"Get your hand off of me, please, Steve," I said with my eyes closed, trying to contain my temper.

"Hey! Alissa, I'm sorry but the tampons you wanted are already out of stock, how's your cramp by the way?" Jason just showed up from nowhere and directly approached in front of me and Steve already let his hand off of me.

What the heck does he mean?

His eyes were telling me something and I couldn't figure it out at first but it was like telling me that I should just get along with his plot.

"Is that so? Gawd, it still hurts so bad, it feels like a river down here," I said as I acted up then hugged my abdomen as if it really hurts so bad.

"Come on now, your dad's waiting for you," then he pointed at his car.

I'm trying so freaking hard not to laugh but I'm absolutely grateful for him doing this, as I'm almost seduced by a handsome and yet disgusting playboy.

We already walked towards his car and left Steve, cluelessly standing and speechless.

As we went inside I just sighed as if I survived a plane crash, then facepalmed, realizing the consequences I've gotten into if Jason wasn't there.

"Are you okay?" he asked then already accelerated the car.

"Well, now I'm okay," then I laughed, then teared up.

"What's the matter?" then he took out a box of tissue and handed it to me.

"Nothing, I'm just grateful about what you did, and thank you so much," I said then smiled.

"I told you you could always count on me, I'm still your best friend, no matter what," then he smiled back.

"Okay, so where's my daddy in this car, huh?" I joked.

He just smirked and shook his head "I should've just let that guy get you, huh." he said sarcastically.

"As if Jason McKenley could ever handle letting that happen?"

"Tss," he then smirked.

"I'm just kidding, I literally owe you my whole freaking life for that one," I said.

"Owe me a yes, and then your whole freaking life," he said.

Jeez, I felt bad all of a sudden... and I just got speechless.

"I'm just kidding too," then he pinched my cheeks.

I just laughed as he got me with that one, but I know you weren't kidding, Jason, we both know...