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"So class, I want you all to open your books to page number 237. Look at the figure 2.1. Who can solve this question?"

I raised my hand and guess who else did? Yeah, Isaac.

"Yes, Isaac? How will you find the value of 'a'?" Mr Miller asked him, ignoring my hand.

He never asks me. I was getting impatient sitting there while Isaac kept giving wrong answers. That question was so freaking easy. To make Mr Miller, notice me, I stood up from the chair.

"I know you are very desperate to answer Miss Anderson but can't you see I'm asking Isaac here? Sit down." Mr Miller said, without even glancing at me. How did he even know I was desperate to answer.

"So...Isaac. Did you get the answer?" He repeated and Isaac started to write something on his copy.

Let his answer be wrong....

Let his answer be wrong......

Let his answer be wrong.....

"Sir, 'a' is equals to 25!" Isaac said, confident with his answer but actually he was totally wrong. His answer wasn't even near to the actual answer.

A giggle escaped my mouth, causing everyone to look at my direction. "Nooo.....Sir! He is wrong!"

"Oh My God, really? How did you figure that out Sophia?" Mr Miller said sarcastically and the class erupted into laughter. Ashamed, I looked down at my copy and worked out the solution again to confirm it. I didn't want to be embarrassed again. I got the same answer after solving the second time.

Be confident Sophia! Your answer is correct. Go on.....answer this. "Sir, I'm getting 13 as an answer." I said, my voice full of confidence. Even I was shocked of how it came out. "Yes class, Sophia's answer is correct. Now who is going to explain the sollution......" Mr Miller continued with his lecture. I twisted my neck to see Isaac's face. Oh how much I love teasing him.

The look on his face was indescribable. He was concentrating on his copy, scribbling his pencil harshly, creating a scratchy sound. Starting to pull his hair from irritation, he banged his head on the desk. He looked really cute.

What? No! No, no, no! Erase that!! Erase that!

"Okay, class. Turn to page number fort-"

Bang!!

AND, trouble is here!!!

"I do not allow you to sit in my class when you come fifteen minutes late."

"No problem. I'll stand." He tried to be extra smart.

"Do you realise that you are ruining your future doing all this, Carter!?" Mr Miller was using his this-is-enough look.

"Sorry, it won't happen again."

Yeah that's what he says everyday. Everyday!

"This isn't working Carter. You need to focus. Do you know that if you get one more 'D' you won't be able to play basketball and I've seen you play. You are really good. Do you want to let go of the opportunity of playing just because you couldn't study a little of maths? No...right?"

"You're lying." Carter shrugged his shoulder. "I'm telling the truth."

"What grade do I need to get, to keep playing?" Carter asked, a hint of concern on his face, no matter how much he tried to hide it, his eyes couldn't. He did care about his future, no matter how much he showed that he didn't. I just knew it.

"You at least need to get a 'B' this time or you won't be able to play anymore....."Mr Miller told him in a warning tone and every girl gasped hearing his new declaration. The boys, well they were looking quiet happy about the fact. Obviously, now their girlfriends wouldn't drool over a certain basketball player number '4'.

"Please Carter, you need to pay attention in class. I don't want you to be late anymore and don't think I'm just saying all this for scaring you. The principal was about to talk to you relating to this matter." Carter just nodded and walked towards the seats.

"I'd advice you to sit on the starting rows..." Mr Miller said without taking his eyes from his book.

Turning around, Carter rolled his eyes and walked towards the first row. He walked straight towards me and stopped near the seat beside mine. Too bad, he couldn't sit there. Alex was already occupying it.

If he is near, I couldn't focus on anything. I couldn't do anything productive. His being screams trouble. And I'm afraid of trouble. I'm afraid of him.

He stood there for a minute and just when I thought he would return he cleared his through. Alex looked up from his copy at and started to tremble as soon as their eyes made contact. His breathing became heavy and sweat beads started to appear on his head. I just watched the scene carefully. Soon, his books and stationary fell from the table. I doubt Alex even wet his pants.

"I-I-I'm g-g-g-going t-to washroom S-Sssir....." Alex said, shuttering. I grabbed his sleeve tightly and shook my head, signalling him to not go. To not leave me with this snake. But without even waiting for Mr Miller's reply he fled away.

I gulped looking down at my copy and started to solve the remaining questions, trying to ignore the threat Carter's presence was giving me. The seat beside me was filled immediately and my hands stopped working. I couldn't do anything. Whenever I tried to write something they started to shake and I made a mess on the paper.

Ignore him...

Do your work.....

Ignore.......

Focus on maths......

"Sophia?" Carter asked, making my eyes wide. I gripped my pencil tighter and turned my face a little to look at him, breathing hard. "Do you know how to solve this?"

I know?

Do I know how to solve this? No! I don't know!

What is this question even about? I have no idea!!

"Do you know?" He repeated.

I shook my head, refusing and continued with my work. He sighed heavily. "Mr Miller! I don't understand any of these. Will you please help me?" Carter shouted even though Mr.Miller could easily hear him as he was in the first row.

"Sure, why not? Finally you are taking interest in studies. Why wouldn't I ?" Excitingly, Mr Miller said and sent Carter a bright smile.

He was not an always-smiling teacher. I rarely saw him smile and if he was smiling at that moment it meant that this must have been a great achievement to make Carter interested in his work.

After solving five of the problems with Carter he spoke, "I think you need a tutor.......ummm...Isaac can-No!! Sophia will do that. Sophia you have to tutor Carter, okay?" Mr Miller said.

"What?" A cry came out of my mouth. I shook my head slowly to let Mr Miller know I wasn't agreeing. "I-I c-can't!"

"I'm not asking you Sophia, I'm telling you, understand?"

I nodded.

Oh my god! How?

How can I tutor him?

I wanted to cry.

I can't tutor him.

Not now.

Not ever!!

I don't want to be here!!

Tears started to form in my eyes.

Oh god please help me, how will I tutor him?

"May I g-go to the washroom Sir?" I asked, my voice shaking. Isaac quickly turned his face as he heard me and looked at me with a weird expression on his face. Maybe me leaving the class was the reason. I never leave math's class in between, no matter what. Never! And this snake, when ever he is near me I break my rules.

Because of him, I had to break another rule.

"Hey! Calm down. I didn't do anything to you." I heard Carter say, but as soon as I received Mr Miller's approval I ran out.

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"Hey! Wait! Listen, Sophia!" Carter's voice rang into my ears as I walked out of the school. I didn't turn around and played as if I didn't hear his voice.

I could hear his footsteps coming closer and closer. Freaking out, I accelerated my speed but in not more then a second a huge arm was wrapped around my waist pulling me me back and into his arms.

"Gotcha!"

Nooooooooooo!

"Just listen to me Sophia. Please." He released me and turned my body in a direction that I was facing him.

"Will you listen to me?"

I gave him a single nod my feet trembling with fear.

"Okay then. I really want to play basketball and if I don't get a B grade I'll be restricted from playing. This year there is a chance of me being the captain. I don't wanna loose that chance. So will you help me? I'll do as you say."

That is the actual problem! I can't say anything in front of you.

"So....you'll help me right?"

What should I do?

What should I do?

I did the only thing I was fond of doing in front of him.I nodded. My mind and heart, both were yelling at me to shake my head but thought of him hurting me again kept me from refusing him. My body was scared of the torture he'd do to it if he goes angry.

"You're free right now? I think we can study in the garden. Come on, let's go." He said and not even waiting for my answer, he started walking. My eyes widened.

Garden? There'll be crowd there. How can we study in a garden?

"I know what you are thinking. I have a private place in there, where no body goes. What's the fun in studying in the library anyways? We can study in the fresh air of the garden."

Private place? In the garden? Where is he planning to take me? I'm sure this is another plan of bullying me. But this time it's in a public place. A freaking park!

"Come on! Why are you standing there? I already told your driver to go home. He'll tell your mom that you'll be late so no worries."

What the eff-ing hell!?

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The garden was actually a very good place to study. There weren't a lot of people in the garden. I didn't see any swings or rides so I figured children didn't come here. I looked around as I walked behind Carter.

My eyes caught a spot and I instantly liked it. It was perfect for studying. I wanted to ask Carter to stop there but I couldn't. There was a big, fresh, green tree. It's thick, stable trunk stretched upwards but not too far. It's long continuously forking branches formed a blanket over the earth.

"Look, over there! It's where I wanted to study." Carter said, pointing to the same spot that I had a liking to. I smiled widely when he started walking towards it.

He placed his stuff on the grass, sat there and motioned for me to do the same. Carefully I sat down, keeping my distance from him.

"You know, sometimes I think you are mute. I mean I've never seen you speak but then I remember that day when you said 'Thank you' to me."

Don't you remember the days when I cried? Because you were being a snake?

"Okay. Let's start. It looks like I'm the teacher and you are the nursery student.....come on, say something. How can you teach me like that?"

I thought I was clear, that I can't teach you! But no! You had to force me into it.

"God! How can I get you speaking to me?" He said, annoyed.

Try being a little less scary?

I'm sure it will work!

"Okay! Are you hungry?"

Yessss!

I shook my head, declining. He might just add something in my food, another trick of bullying, you know.

"Are you hungry Sophia?"

I shook my head again.

"Sophia, are you hungry?"

I shook my head.

"Are you hungry?"

Oh god! What is he trying to do? I should tell him the truth. Maybe he'll stop......

I nodded.

He smiled widely showing his white teeth. "Sophia? Are you hungry?"

I answered again with a nod.

"Are you hungry?"

I nodded again, fast this time.

"Are you hungry? Are you really hungry?"

I nodded more wildly.

"Are you-"

"Yes! I'm really hungry!" I shouted with irritation and then I realised what have I done. My hands reached up and I covered my mouth with them.

He cackled, making me doubt his actions even more. I thought he was going to be angry and start yelling at me. But this was the first time I've seen him laugh and it's sound was so good, I wanted to listen it again and again and again and again.

Maybe, he isn't that bad Sophia.

"Okay, sit here! I'll be back." He said and walked away after giving me a smile. I rested my back on the trunk of the tree and started doing the homework Mr. Miller gave.

I lifted my head towards the sky. It had been almost fifteen minutes and Carter hadn't return yet. My homework was also done so I didn't have anything else to do. Just then I felt a presence beside me. "Booo!" My hand went to my heart and I stifled a scream. Startled, I looked at that way only to find Carter laughing at me.

Was he sitting there all along?

How long was he here?

How did I not know he was here?

"I'm sitting here from five minutes. You were so engaged in your work, you didn't realise I was here." He answered my mental questions.

"Here, take this! I've decided that we will study from tomorrow. I mean when you start speaking to me." He spoke, handing me the burger he bought. I reached out for it, my hand shaking. He threw the burger in my lap and grabbed my arms tightly. It was so sudden I didn't know how to react.

"Why? Why are you so scared of me? Do I bite you?" His shout made me flinch. Tears formed in my eyes, though I tried to control them. "Tell me Sophia! Do I bite?"

I shook my head. "Answer me!" His voice was more harsh this time. He was acting just fine a minute before and now he has returned to the monster that I hate.

"N-No!!" I cried, tears slipping on my cheeks. At the very moment he released me and got back. After running his hands up and down his face he spoke, "I......I'm sorry. Just eat your burger." He turned away from me and looked far in the garden, with his eyebrows knitted together, forming wrinkles on his forehead showing that he was thinking something deeply.

I swallowed hard and opened the burger but my eyes never left him. I was scared. Scared of what he'd do to me if I looked somewhere else because at that time he looked blood-curdling. Like he'd kill anyone who touches him. I brought my burger towards my mouth to eat it but I wronged my eyes with my mouth and all the sauce went onto my glasses.

That made Carter laugh. His laugh was so contagious that even in such a situation it made me giggle too. Bringing his hand closer to my face, he took of my glasses and wiped my tears.

"I'm sorry Sophia." He said, his eyes never leaving mine. I bobbed my head. "You know what?" He asked, still looking into my eyes.

I raised my eyebrows. "You are an idiot!" He said making me cough. I am an idiot?

I?

Me?

If anybody over here is idiot, that's you!

He just smiled at my reaction and I continued eating my burger. I was eating in silence and Carter's weird sounds of his chewing had stopped too. Carter kept staring at me, making me uncomfortable. "Your eyes!" Carter whispered suddenly making me tremble with fear. I thought he was going to shout at me, again.

My eyes?

"M-my eyes?" I asked, trying to make eye contact with him.

"Yes, they sparkle. Like they are sparkling. I've never seen eyes like yours."

My eyes sparkle? I don't even know that.

"Your eyes.... sparkle." He repeated.

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