Too old for High school drama

The middle of the term is always the busiest, be it relationship drama or the teachers failing every test you have had. It was the time you knew your grades were failing, and failing means your chances of getting into a good college are halved for senior students like me.

I still don't know what I want to be in the future. My options seem so broad yet feels limited. So contradictory, I would say. I do not fancy the science aspect of life. Yet, I take AP chemistry, a subject I had brought with Cleo after bugging me for a whole month to take it since she took all AP science-related subjects.

"Avery," Miss Felicity called me.

She had distributed the grades for our last test in AP chemistry, but mine was not given. I waved Cleo to go ahead of me because I believed it would take a lot of time. She waved back before leaving the room. Miss felicity observed our little goodbye before calling my name again.

"you are a good student" Miss felicity used to be my favorite teacher. Firstly, she praises you for your good points before she scolds you. Then, when your work is good, she picks out your weakness, encouraging you to work on them before praising you for your excellent work. Still, now, as she continues talking, I feel more irritated.

"Why are you getting a B- ?"

She brought out my test sheet from her down lock close to where she sat.

I stay silent.

"you are far behind your peer, and if you can't handle the pressure, I suggest you register for a lesser class."

My expression changed from calm to pissed off. Miss Felicity noticed.

"I know you want to be close with your friend, but I think you have a talent for art. I see you doodling in my class all the time."

"the word you said, Miss felicity, was that you suggested. Suggested was the implied word" she frowned at me.

"well, then you should improve by my next test."

I gave her a polite smile,

"Yes, Ma," before leaving.

My mood was sour. I wasn't emotionally ready for gym class. So I sneak out to the old abandoned chemistry lab. I had the keys which I stole from the principal office a year ago. I duplicated the key and returned it afterward.

It was my personal space. I picked up my sketch pad to start drawing; I went deep into my world, shading each angle I thought needed shading.

My heart jumped as I heard the door open with someone bursting into it and locking the door. The person panted. I tried to hide my presence, but my foot hit an old chair, and the chair fell down, hitting another table. I close my eyes, hoping they would think it were a rat, and the footstep gets closer.

"Avery?"

I looked up to see the trespasser.

"Liam" I was faced with my other best friend since 9th grade. Before Cleo and Liam started dating, I had met Liam first and introduced him to Cleo, then we became the trios. Now he is mostly hanging out with Cleo.

Although I go to his house on the weekend to play Xbox, we still see each other at the cafeteria. However, we never really had the deep conversation we used to have when we were still just friends and not as my friend's boyfriend.

"what are you doing here?" I said, disappointed.

He smiled sheepishly.

He carried the chair that fell down, which was now blocking his pathway to me, and placed it upside down on the table. Liam sat down close to me; he took my sketchbook from my hands.

"I haven't seen your work in a long time" I shook my shoulder. Liam flipped the sketchbook, glazing through every work till he got to the end.

"you know you are talented__ you could major in this" I have been told that many times. But art is not a career. It is a hobby.

"I don't think so__ just forget about it" he goes through the work again.

"But why are the drawing upside down?"

"that's how I view the world" he stares at me.

"Sometimes, I wonder what you think in this your head?"

"just everything a normal teenage girl thinks off," he laughed

"I don't see you thinking about a boy" I pinned his interest, and he smiled, biting his lips slowly.

I remove my eyes from him

"so what are you doing here?" I asked again.

He looked at me, ashamed.

"hiding from Cleo," he mumbled. I still heard him even with the silent mumbling.

I don't ask questions. I was too old for high school dramas. So instead, I take my sketchbook away from his hand to finish my drawing.

"she is angry that Heather likes me."

"like, it's my fault," he continued talking, not getting the hint. I was not interested in whatever mess he was in.

I sighed before speaking.

"she clearly told you that with the way you were treating Heather, she would like you."

"I just wanted her to teach me calculus__ I am not smart like you people."

"by buying her roses?"

"she said that was what she is wanted__ that no guy has ever given her a rose before."

I am too old for this stress.

"Why didn't you ask Cleo?"

He was quiet. But I understood him. He didn't want to look dumb in front of his girlfriend.

"How bad was it?"

"Mr. Dassin said it would take a miracle for any college to take me."

He sneered.

"so you would prefer that your girlfriend think you were flirting with another girl than for her to know you were failing your grades."

"well, when you put it like that, it sounds dumb," I hear the school bell. It was time for the next period. I didn't want to miss any more classes.

"it is dumb" I get up and put my sketchbook and pen inside my bag.

"let go, Liam. I need to close up the place."

He extended his hands for me to help him up. Before taking his hands, I rolled my eyes. I yanked him up, bringing him close to my face. He scans my face, and there is an awkward pause. I slowly remove my hand from his.

I adjusted my back and waited for him to lock up the place by the door.

As I leave the old chemistry lab, my head tells me that I am too old for these feelings.