❝ 'Cause I can hear you two times, run it on back, will it ever make sense to me? ❞

- Rihanna, SZA, Consideration.

"That'll be all for today," Mrs Colton, the teacher who taught us AP biology said to us as the bell rang, indicating the class was over. "Please go through chapter three of your text talking about evolution of man. Be sure that I'll be giving you a short quiz on it tomorrow."

While everyone packed their bags, I sighed and bit my lip. I hated tests or quizzes. I hated that I did all I could in studying for them, but still failed. I didn't know what it was about them. I would never be ready for tomorrow's test.

"Hey, you need to smile," Kaleb appeared behind me, flinging his arm around my shoulder.

"Why should I? We've got a test tomorrow," I rolled my eyes.

"That's not a problem. Text me when you're leaving work, I'll meet you at home and we'll study together. I'll go over it with you."

"What's the point? I'll still fail anyway," I shrugged.

"Don't say that," he frowned.

"We both know I'm not lying, Kaleb," I chuckled.

"I'm still coming over," he said, pausing for a while, "I have b-ball after school, then I might head to Sydney's, I'm not sure."

I nodded tiredly, "Okay. I'll just go to work."

"Make sure to text me when you get there," he told me.

"I will," I nodded again.

I hadn't stopped worrying even when I got to work. How I was in advanced classes, I didn't know. My marks last term weren't good and that meant I had to work even really hard studying this term.

I was so screwed.

"I heard when people who don't smile for like two hours straight will get wrinkles by the next day," River's voice filled my ears and I broke into smiles and I chuckled. My only real smile in hours, "That's not true. You don't smile when drawing, and may I add that, that's over three hours. You don't have a wrinkled face."

Yes, his face was still as perfect, I thought to myself.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

I shrugged, "School stuff."

"You're not being specific, you know," he leaned on the counter and I sighed, "I have a test tomorrow... Tests aren't really my thing."

"So, what's your thing?" He teased, chuckling.

I shook my head, "Not tests."

He looked around before looking back to me, "Are you done working?"

I nodded, "There's literally no one in the bakery anymore."

"Come with me, then," he said.

My eyebrows furrowed as I wondered why, "I'll have to get my backpack from inside."

"I'll wait."

I walked to the dressing room and saw Sky hanging up on the phone.

"Hey Sky, I'm done for the day."

"Alright. Have a great night, Renée," she said.

I'd gotten by bag when Sky said, "I see you and River have been hitting it off."

I flushed, "He's quite friendly."

"Yeah, I bet he is," she replied. "Really talented too. The samples he had done for the bakery was exceptional. I can't wait to see the end result of what he's doing."

I nodded, "I think it'll be great," I slung my bag over my shoulder and said bye to her before leaving.

I got back out and saw River still standing by the counter. I walked to him and together, we walked to where he usually sat. I watched him sit, grabbing his pencil.

He looked up at me, "Sit too."

"Why?"

"If I were you, I'll get to studying for my tests. Except you want to go hone to start."

I sighed and sank into the seat beside me, "If I stay here or go home to study, it'll make no difference. I'll still be failing anyway."

River blinked, his eyes on me, "Why would you say that?"

"That's what happens. I'm not good at my subjects."

He was quiet for a while before saying, "That's one thing I hated about school. The tests."

"I bet you didn't fail as much as I do."

He laughed, "I failed loads of classes. Did you bring your text?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Perfect. You should take it out and read it out to me."

"W- Why would I do that?" I voiced. "You're not the one preparing for the test."

"Just read it out to me," he said simply. I opened my mouth to say something but River started getting busy doing his thing. I looked at him weirdly before getting out my text and opening to chapter three of my AP biology text.

"You don't even know what I'm studying for," I said.

"I don't have to," he shook his head and my confusion doubled, but I swallowed and started to read, "Uh, as a footprint believed to date back more than 900,000 years and linked to our ancestors was discovered in a beach, we look at how man evolved from million years ago —" I looked up from my text, "God, this is boring."

"First, have it at the back of your mind that it isn't. Second, go on," he said and I wondered what was up with him, but I continued,

"— The human lineage split from chimpanzees, our closest—" I stopped immediately. "Wait, what? Are they saying we come from chimpanzees?"

He chuckled, "I do not come from a chimpanzee. Scientists can think that, but there's only one way I know man came."

"What way?"

"You've never heard of the creation story?"

I thought for a while, "Is it the one where God created Adam?"

He nodded, bit his lower lip and let his gaze drop back to his sketchpad.

I raised an eyebrow, "I'm surprised you'll know that."

He looked amused, "Hey, what do you mean?"

"It's just... I feel like people don't exactly know about it. I don't even know the full story, if I'm honest."

He hesitated before saying, "My grandma taught me."

"That's cool. Can you tell me?"

"Yes, but that'll be after you're done studying."

I raised my eyes back to my book and said, "I still don't know why I'm doing this, but I'll continue," I paused. "Human ancestors believed to have separated from chimpanzees ancestors more than 6 million years ago."

I looked up to see that River was so busy with what he was shading.

"You're not even listening to me!"

He didn't look at me, "I'm not meant to. Just keep reading.

By the time River dropped me off at home, I was exhausted.

I'd read the whole chapter out to him and still had no idea why he made me do it. I'd never read out to anyone. I never even read out while studying. I also didn't understand why he wasn't listening to me when he'd asked me to read it to him. He just kept working.

I sighed and plopped down on my bed. I'd called and texted Kaleb but he wasn't replying or anything. After having a dinner of chicken Cesar salad with Tanner, I headed back to my room. Texting Kaleb again, I yawned. Why would he tell me to text him if he wouldn't respond? Plus, he also said he would be coming over.

Kaleb was an idiot.

I took out my text to study but in no time, I felt myself falling asleep and there was nothing I could do to stop myself.

●