I Have the Speed and Energy of a Turtle Running Through Peanut Butter

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

A/N Day 1 of 18 for continuous updates. Yesterday was like the intro.

So yeah. Stuff happens in this chapter. But when doesn't it?

<.><.><.><.><.><.><.><.>

*Kaitlyn MacDonald*

The next day at school, I don't see Drew at all, and this time I don't think he's skipping. I trudge through my day with the speed and energy of a turtle running through peanut butter, wallowing in self-pity. I know that I pushed Drew too hard yesterday, but I don't know why.

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. I stand up robotically and throw my trash away, not missing the concerned looks Beth and Parker are giving each other.

Turning around, I face them. "Guys, I'm fine, okay? Just leave it for now, I'm not in the mood."

"Wait." It's Parker.

"What do you want now? Just say I told you so, that you were right about Drew." Why can't people just let me walk away without bothering me?

Parker blinks. "Lyn, what are you talking about? I was just going to say your backpack was unzipped." Then, his eyebrows furrow as he contemplates my words. "Did something happen with Drew? Is that why you're so moody?"

My silence is enough of an answer for him.

"Told you it wasn't her time of the month! Pay up, boy," Beth cackles as she holds out her hand expectantly. Parker sighs before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a Starbucks giftcard.

"Don't spend it all at once, crazy." Beth gleefully clutches the piece of green plastic and skips out of the lunchroom. I can hear her singing in the halls and I wince, for Beth does not have a voice that people voluntarily listen to. Which reminds me, I need to get to class.

"I'll catch you later, Parker," I say, shouldering my bag and quickly making my way towards the door.

"Kaitlyn, what happened with Drew?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me what happened? I'm fine!" With that I storm out of the door and down the hallway, shoving past people in an effort to get away. But from what, I don't know.

My stomach twinges and I grimace. Today is not my day.

Walking into Lang, I'm not prepared for what I see on the board.

"Congratulations, Kaitlyn!" reads the black marker. It's written in Ms. Montgomery's flowy handwriting, her curvy letters swooping across the whiteboard. I'm still staring at the board as I slide my backpack off my arm and onto the floor.

The bell rings again, signaling the beginning of class, and Ms. Montgomery stands up from her swivel chair.

"Good afternoon, class," she begins. "I know you all must be wondering why the congratulations on the board is in order. But this is what I'm here to tell you. Do you all remember the essays you wrote at the beginning of October?"

Lots of head-nodding follows her statement.

"And do you all remember what I said the prize would be?"

"No Lang midterm in December!" calls out someone from the back of the classroom. I look back at the familiar voice and am slightly surprised to see Blake Daniels sitting in a desk next to Chelsea Tempest. I didn't know either of them were in this class. But nevertheless, I am determined to not worry about any of this right now.

"That is correct, Mr. Daniels. Only next time, please refrain from shouting out. We have hands for a reason, and it's probably not the one you use them most for." The rest of the class riots, throwing paper balls at Blake and making random noises. Ms. Montgomery waits until her 5th period AP Lang class quiets down before continuing. "As Mr. Daniels correctly said, the essay writer I feel was the best from each class will not have to take the midterm the rest of you will. And in our class, as you may have already guessed, the winner was Kaitlyn MacDonald!"

She gestures to me and I blush, turning my face down to look at my desk. I don't like the attention most of the time, whether I did something bad or good. Imagine my horror when both Drew and I were called to the principal's office. I'm pretty sure my face was beet red at the time. Thinking of Drew instantly put a damper on my mood, and my smile dropped. But hey, at least it's one less midterm to study for.

I know Ms. Montgomery teaches two AP Lang classes. I wonder who won in the other class. And so I ask.

"Ms. Montgomery?" I question, raising my hand.

"Yes?"

"Who won in your other class?"

"Drew McCarthy. I think you're familiar with him?"

Speak of the devil. "Not as well as you may think."

<.>

At the end of Lang, I walk into the hall to change my books for German, my next class. My locker is near the guidance counselor's office, which for some reason is on the bottom floor. Don't ask me why, and I'm not sure she knows either. I guess it was the only available space.

I spend more time than usual at my locker, mostly because I can't find my German notebook. When I do find it buried behind a pile of old math papers (how did it get there?), I stand up and shove it in my backpack. The hallways have emptied considerably quickly, and the only people I see besides myself are two other juniors huddled around a phone. One of them is laughing and the other doesn't have a backpack.

The second bell rings and the one holding the phone looks up, swears, and sprints down the hallway. The laughing one quiets down, puts her hands in her pockets, and strolls casually to a classroom at the end of the hall. Normally I would be sprinting to my class too, but something in me doesn't want to go. And so I sit.

I sit on the floor, backpack next to me, leaning against my locker. Maybe if my grades drop, I won't be able to tutor Drew anymore, effectively solving both my problem with Parker and my problem with Drew. Why did I agree to do this in the first place? It's led to nothing but trouble.

That's not true and you know it, says my brain.

Shut up.

Suddenly, my head shoots up at the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty hallway. When I see the faded jeans and leather jacket of Drew McCarthy, I bury my head in my knees and pray he doesn't see me.

"Skipping class, MacDonald? I'm gone for less than 24 hours and you've already snapped, I see." I hear his footsteps getting closer and closer until they stop right next to me.

From within my cocoon, I respond. "Why are you talking to me? You made it pretty clear yesterday you were mad at me. Are you really that moody?"

His hand, which had made its way on top of my head, quickly withdrew. I immediately missed the little warmth it brought to the top of my scalp.

"You're right, nerd. I am mad at you. Which, in fact, is why I'm here right now. I am going to see the guidance counselor and get my tutors switched. Preferably to one that's less... nosy." Is that what this is all about? Me asking why we never tutor at his house? I'm sure there must be a reason, but what reason could justify his rash actions yesterday?

"Drew, I understand that I went too far yesterday. But how am I supposed to fix my mistakes if I don't even know what I did wrong?" He sighs and I hear him slide down the lockers until he's sitting right next to me.

"Kaitlyn, I just needed some time, okay? I was mad, and still am, actually. And that's why I need a new tutor. For one thing, you're annoying as hell. But for another thing, I don't like getting mad. And when somebody gets me mad like you did yesterday, nothing good ever comes of it. I promise. So goodbye, Kaitlyn. I'll see you around sometime."

With that, he disappears into the guidance counselor's office.

*Drew McCarthy*

"What do you mean, I can't switch tutors?"

<.><.><.><.><.><.><.><.>

A/N This chapter had a plan, and let me tell you. This is not how it was supposed to end up. But I guess that's the beauty of writing. It's sort of like a river. All parts of it different and flowing, always changing. Apparently you never step in the same river twice, or something like that. I don't know, I'm no poet.

Okay, sorry. I'm done channeling my inner Disney Princess.

For now.

Reminder: deadline to apply to be a character is Saturday by noon Eastern Time. (That's 11am for Central, 10am for Mountain, etc.). Must be following to get chosen!

For all my readers not living in America, or not living somewhere with standardized time, just submit your character by Saturday, whenever that comes for you :)

I've already had three wonderful submissions: thank you guys, you know who you are :)

I got a new mattress today :) it's really comfy

okay I'm done

-RED LOBSTER CHEDDAR BISCUITS






You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net