Chapter 9: Seventy Percent

My mom prepared dinner today. It was her day off.

“I have some good news”, my dad announced when we were all settled at the dining table.

“Really?” I asked at the same time Mom said, “What is it dear?”

“Okay, you remember I said I may be promoted at work this month?”

“Yeah?”

“I got the promotion”

“Oh wow, congratulations, Dad.”

“Congrats dear”

“There's more news.”

“What is it?”

“We'll be having dinner with my boss's family next Saturday.”

I suddenly broke into a coughing spell.

“Are you okay, sweetie? Here, have some water”, my mom offered.

“We're having dinner? At your boss's?” I managed to say after my cough had died down.

“Kay, is there any problem with that?”

“Oh no, no problem.”

Yes, there's a big problem.

I might have forgotten to mention, but my dad works with AB group of companies, which is owned by the Bradshaws. So what this means is, we'll be having dinner at the Bradshaws' house, which is the same house Jayson Bradshaw lives in.

I need to lay down. I can't believe this. Why did all this have to happen on the same day?!

“So we are going over to the Bradshaws' next Saturday”, he clarified.

“Erm, okay"

“Good.”

“I'll be in my room if you need me," I said after I had done the dishes.

I still needed to take everything that happened today in.

*****

Where the hell is he?

We were having our first practical session and my so-called partner was nowhere to be found. It had already been 15 minutes, and he still hadn't come to class.

Why do I even care? I don't need him anyway.

I looked at the dead frog in front of me, and I almost felt like puking. Just when I was about to stab the amphibian, Jayson Bradshaw walked in with his backpack slung over one shoulder. Typical.

“Mr. Bradshaw, would you care to tell me why you are late?” Mr. Brooklyn asked him.

“It won't happen again, sir.”

“It better not. Now go join your partner. She's over there.” Mr. Brooklyn pointed in my direction.

“You?!”

Yes, Einstein. Your partner is the girl you disgraced in the cafeteria a few days ago.

“She's the one I'm supposed to be working with?” I don't know if he expected an answer or not, but our biology teacher just nodded.

He clenched his jaw and moved over to my station.

Correction: our station.

"I won't work with you", He said through gritted teeth.

“Congratulations, I don't want to work with you either”, I retorted.

“How are you even in this class?”

Just what I thought. He didn't even notice I was the one who sat in front of him. How would he, when his mind was always in outer space!

“Are you seriously asking me that? You're the one who had your timetable changed in the middle of the freaking semester!”

“Keep it down!” Mr. Brooklyn shouted.

Oops, I got loud, but it wasn't my fault. This guy of a guy was irritating me with every second that passed.

I sighed. “You know what, just put your annoyance or your ego or whatever it is aside and let's just get this dissection over with.”

“No, I'm not working with you.”

With that, he just turned and left the class, disregarding the presence of a teacher in the class.

Fine! If that's how he wants to do it, no problem. I started without him, didn't I? I can end without his or, as a matter of fact, anyone's help. I don't even want him here anyway.

***Lunchtime***

“No way”

“Yes way”

“So he just left?”

“Yes, Stephanie, he just left.”

“So you dissected in frog all by yourself”

I looked up at her

Three…two….one

Just as I expected, she burst into laughter.

“I don't even know why I still hang out with you. You do nothing but just laugh at my misfortunes”, I huffed.

“But what do you want me to do, Kay? It's not like I can just go and box his ears and threaten him to be your partner.”

“I don't want him to be my partner.”

“Keep saying it till you believe it, baby.”

“I don't. What are you talking about?”

“I know you secretly have a crush on him.”

That left me dumbstruck, I was opening and closing my mouth like a fish underwater.

“Mmmhmm”, she smirked.

“I do not have a crush on Jayson Bradshaw.”

At least, not anymore

“I'm your best friend, Kayra. I know you do, even if you don't know you do.”

“Does that even make any sense?”

“No matter how many times you deny it, I know it's true”, she sang.

“Whatever. I'm going to get soda. Your nonsense has made me thirsty.”

“Ouch. Moi? Oh, did I tell you I have a French test today? I'm preparing for it.”

I just rolled my eyes playfully and said, "You're unbelievable”

“And I love you too”, she giggled.

****

“Hey”, while I was at the vending machine area, someone tapped on my shoulder.

It was the guy who saved me when the bike was about to hit me the other day.

“Oh hi….”

“Kingsley”, he reminded me

“Yeah Kingsley. What's up?”

“I'm good.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah. You're Kayra right?”

“Yup”

“Nice nice. Um, I gotta go"

“Oh okay”

“So I'll see you around?”

“Sure”

I still can't believe I hadn't seen him in school before until today.

I can only hope he isn't an asshole like someone I know.

****

Stephanie and I were currently walking together to the parking lot. Gale was waiting for her there to take her home.

“Kayra, you know, you should just apologize to Jayson.”

“What did you just say? I don't think I heard you right.”

“Yeah, you should apologize to him”

“Me? Apologize to him? If anything, he should be apologizing to me because he's the one who disgraced me. I only returned the favor.”

“Think about it, you need him for your biology project. And it's obvious he won't apologize, so why not be the bigger person and do it. Who knows? He might soften up afterward.”

“Bigger person? Yeah, right.”

“I'm really serious about this, Kay. Your grade depends on him. If you behave towards him the same way he behaves towards you, then what's the difference between him and you? You're better than that, aren't you?"

“But it wasn't my fault. Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?”

“Why should you not?”

“You know what, let's stop talking about this. I'm not going to apologize. Period”.

“Well, at least think about it.”

I sighed. “Alright fine. Stephanie, I will think about it.”

“Good. I gotta go. Gale's waiting for me.”

“Call me.”

“Sure”

During the drive home, I was thinking about what Steph said. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not contemplating apologizing to him. That asshole? No way.

On the contrary, I was thinking of why I shouldn't apologize first. I mean, this is technically all his fault. If he hadn't poured soda on me, I wouldn't have poured water on him. Not to talk of the fact that despite being my bio partner, he walked out on me and left me to dissect that disgusting frog all by myself. So, if anyone has to apologize, it's Jayson Bradshaw and not me. I am not at fault.

When I got home, my mom was around.

“Hey Mom”, I greeted, "How was work?”

“Not bad. Nothing unusual happened.”

“Oh that's good.”

“What about you, dear? How was school today?”

Annoying as usual.

“It wasn't bad, too.”

“Oh okay”

“I'm a little tired, so I'm going to my room to rest.”

“No problem. But make sure you're down by dinnertime.”

“Yes mom.”

The moment I hit my bed and closed my eyes, I was gone. Yes, I was that exhausted.

Luckily, I woke up just in time for dinner. It was delicious, as usual. I washed the dishes when we were all done eating, as usual, and went back to the room to finish my homework and possibly watch a few YouTube videos before I retire for the night.

When I was sure I was done with all my assignments and, of course, the biology report for today, I decided to take a look at the piece of paper Mr. Brooklyn gave everyone. According to him, it contained all the information we needed on what we had to do and write during the four weeks. I just glanced through and almost didn't notice the little box at the bottom of the page. It read:

This project will account for 70% of your grade this semester.

What?! Seventy percent?! He has got to be kidding me.

If it's that important, I need to get a partner and fast.

I called Steph. She picked on the first ring.

“Hey Kayra. What's up?”

“Steph, did you know the biology project will account for 70 percent of my grade this semester?”

“Kayra, I'm not in your biology class. How would I know that?”

“Okay okay, well, it does.”

“So what's the problem?”

“The problem is I don't have a freaking partner!”

“Whoa, calm down. Stop shouting into the phone.”

“Sorry.”

“But you do have a partner. Jayson Bradshaw?”

“Weren't you listening when I said he doesn't want to work with me? And obviously, I don't want to work with him either.”

“Kayra, are we still on this? I already told you, apologize to him. Maybe he'll rethink things and decide to be your partner.”

“Stephanie, I do not want him as my partner.”

“What other option do you have?”

She was right.

“So you either take my advice or fail biology.”

Why was she always right?

“Fine, I guess it won't hurt to say a simple sorry.”

“That's more like it. Okay I'll see you tomorrow”

“Yeah. Good night.”

“Night Kay”

Before I closed my eyes, just one thing was on my mind:

How the hell was I going to apologize to Jayson freaking Bradshaw?