Page 18 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Oh... I’m sorry, Danny. I spoke with—”

“Scottish accent?”

“Yes.”

“Peter. He’s my brother. I know he wants me to stay after school. He told me he called you.”

“He said you’re struggling with the homework.” I don’t answer her. “We’ll go over it together after school. Did you have a hard time with math last year?”

“I’ve never been good at math.”

“We’re going to change that.”

Matt runs through the door. His treads are very hard and loud for someone his size. Maybe the huge backpack helps. Everyone stares at him. The bell rings just as soon as he steps into the classroom. He laughs.

“I’M ON TIME, MRS. ROLAND!”

“Matthew, please take a seat.” She steps away from my desk and heads toward the front of the room. Her heels clack against the tile.

Matt walks to the desk right beside me. I push the tip of my pencil into my desk, running it back and forth until it makes an indentation.

“This seat taken?”

“No.” I put my pencil down and pull my textbook out of my backpack.

“Cool.” He drops his backpack onto the ground. It sounds like a boulder hits the floor. What’s he have in there? Doesn’t he know lockers exist?

Mrs. Roland turns around and raises one eyebrow at him. “Everyone, please look at the whiteboard for your do-now. It’s called a do-now because you do it now.” Her eyes don’t leave Matt. “You have ten minutes.”

“Why’d she look at me when she said that?”

I glare at him. “Probably because you don’t have your textbook on your desk.”

“Whatever. I’m getting to it.”

He reaches into his backpack and pulls out his book, flipping to the correct page. Everyone is working quietly, including me.

“Mrs. Roland, this is too easy. Do I really have to do this?” Matt announces to the entire class.

Why would he say that? I told him I have a hard time with math. I feel the blood rush to my face.

“Not another word, Matthew.”

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket. Mrs. Roland is sitting at her desk now, grading papers. I pull it out quietly and place it on my lap. The text is from Matt. I look over at him and he smiles weirdly. I read the text.

r u gona to be able to play tonite?

Or does ur friend want the TV again

Not my friend.

I hate her.

7:00 gd?

Yep.

Mrs. Roland looks up from her desk. I stuff my phone back into my pocket and stare at my textbook. I don’t understand. That’s so embarrassing. Matt thinks this is so easy...

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