Work Text:
The bell rang as Grian hurriedly rushed to his next class. Who in the world thought three minutes was enough time to run from Calculus in the west wing all the way to AP English in the east wing? Who thought three minutes was enough time to get anywhere in these goddamn hallways? It was so crowded he was surprised he didn’t get lost. Sure maybe he got a little distracted with Joel and Pearl as the three of them teased Jimmy but still. It’s really wasn’t his fault he was a few seconds late.
“Grian you are late.” The teacher said. Not looking up from his papers.
“By like one second!”
“I’ll let it slide this time so take your seat. Class give me a moment to get my papers in check. Please have your homework out and the next few minutes are yours to spend.”
Everyone immediately turned towards their friends. Already chatting away. Grian just sat in his seat and rested his head on his desk. None of his friends wanted to take AP English with him. Apparently it was too hard or they were just not that interested in English or they weren’t in the same period. That third one really made AP English in fourth period sucky.
“Right!” The teacher’s voice silenced the class. “I forgot today I’m changing seats.”
Some people moaned in disappointment, other’s eyes lit up at the new opportunity. Grian could care less.
“Starting in the first row to the right. It’s going to be Gem and Tango. The row behind them will be Acho and Apo. Behind them will be Owen and Oliver. Then the last row is Grian and Scar.
Grian perked up to his name and walked over to his new seat. The sound of clicking against the floor had him turning his head. His new seat partner, Scar, was limping over with his cane to keep him in balance. The teacher went on to giving people seats. Once Scar finally sat down he turned to Grian, a smile on his voice.
“Why hello there new partner!” His voice was cheery and soft.
“Hey.”
“Alright class. Today is a work day for your essays. I’ll gather your homework later. Scar if you need extra time on your essay that is fine. Okay get to work.”
Grian took out his planning sheet for his essay on the classical story: Empires. Scar, however, just sat and stared in front of him.
“How come you get extra time on the essay?”
Scar slowly turned to him the smile still on his face. “I’m a dyslexic. Writing and reading doesn’t come easy for me. So having to write an essay isn’t my strong suit.”
“How are you in AP English if you’re dyslexic?” The question rolled off his tongue a bit too smoothly. He cringed at the sudden question and silently hoped it didn’t come off as rude.
“I’m more into the symbolism and analysis of AP English. When I do figure out what the words say I can add connect the symbols and dig deep into the analysis. So Mr. Grian why are you in AP English?”
“I like writing. Especially poetry.”
“So you must like Third Life Poem we are reading!” The poem was something extra they were doing in class. It helped give them a break from the essay.
“Yeah it’s really good. I just don’t understand deeper meanings in the last few lines.”
“Well if you read it to me I can tell you.”
“Right. Okay uh,” Grian took the poem out of his binder and used his finger to go through the lines, “then there was one. He stood alone in the desert. The world around him finally unpleasant. Lilac and poppies intertwined his hands. The ghosts shout their demands.”
Scar couldn’t look away from Grian. His words flowed with the poem, it was captivating.
“Well because the person is standing in the desert we can assume that represents time because of all the sand. He didn’t have enough time with his lover and now he’s all alone. Lilacs symbolize hope and purity whist poppies symbolize death and remembrance. He thought they had a chance to be happy together but instead there was only death. And the ghost could be his conscience yelling at him for his past actions.”
It was Grian’s turn to be captivated. “Wow you are really good at this.”
“I would never lie! Especially not to you.”
A hint of pink spread across Grian’s face. Scar’s words came out so easily. He hoped he didn’t realize how much those words effected him.
“I know this might be a lot to ask but could you help me with the essay?”
“Um. Sure with what?”
“I guess just peer edit it. If you see any spelling mistakes or stuff like that fix it.”
“Yeah I could probably do that.”
Scar’s face somehow lit up more. “Thanks so much Grian!”
That’s how Grian got a friend in AP English and how he turned into a helper.
Through the week Scar would ask simple questions like; what is this word? How do you pronounce it? What does it mean? And Grian would ask help for analysis and symbolism.
He started to like hanging out with Scar. Talking with him, learning about his interests in the short forty-five minutes they had.
For once in his school year he wouldn’t get distracted when rushing to get to AP English.
“Is Scott not joining us?” Lizzie asked. The group was sitting in the library for study hall. While most of their friends had an extra class some of them used this time to sleep or caught up on work.
“Nah. He was but then chorus auditions for the solo changed to today. So of course he can’t miss that.” Jimmy answered. His eyes focused on a question for science.
“Awh too bad your boyfriend can’t join us.” Pearl teased.
That snapped Jimmy right out his homework. “He is not my boyfriend!” The blush on his face told them Scott was something to him.
“Right. Sorry. I meant the boy you’ve been crushing on since the third grade.” Pearl smiled.
“Shouldn’t you be in Orchestra right now.” Jimmy hissed, getting back to his homework.
“Nope. Told the teacher I had stuff to catch up on.”
The loud speaker turned on, “Lizzie Solidarity-Shadow please report to the principal’s office. Lizzie Solidarity-Shadow please report to the principal’s office.”
Everyone looked at Lizzie, who was already packing up.
“What did my beloved sister do?”
“You know how Joel sometimes lets me paint his nails and do his makeup?” Lizzie said, resting her arms on the chair back. The three nodded.
“Well today he’s nails are green. I’m sure most of you saw. A girl had commented on them. Calling him unmanly and all that. So I poured water on her.”
“Yes Lizzie!” Pearl cheered.
“Pearl we don’t condone that.” Said Grian but he was silently cheering for Lizzie, who was leaving.
“You’re just mad you’re lover, what was his name? Scar? You’re just mad that Scar would never do such a thing.”
She was right. Scar was way to nice to dump water on someone but that’s why he liked him. But he wasn’t going to admit that to his twin sister who could take anything to tease anyone.
“Shut up. He isn’t my anything. Plus aren’t you supposed to be in Orchestra right now?” Sure he just copied what Jimmy said but he was too flustered to come up something else.
“You are too! Mom still wants you in Orchestra.”
“Well I told her I was too busy.”
“Whatever.”
Today Scar wasn’t in English nor was he the next.
“Mr. Smith do you know why Scar hasn’t been in school?” Grian asked on the third day of Scar’s absence.
“I think he told me he was going into the hospital for the week. The doctors needed to check up on his leg.”
“Oh okay. Thanks. Have a good day Mr. Smith.”
“You too Grian.”
Grian softly banged his head against the lunch table.
“What’s up with him?” Joel asked when he sat down. Lizzie pecked him on the check and rested her head on his shoulder. “His favorite person in AP English won’t be there for a week. He’s sad.”
“You two have been talking for a while and you still didn’t get his phone number?” Scott questioned.
“I keep forgetting.” Grian says into the table. They always talk about other stuff so Grian never knew how to bring it up.
“That really sucks for you.” Jimmy said munching on a French fry.
“You don’t get to talk Mr. Third Grade.” Grian hissed. Pearl snorted, almost spitting out her drink.
“What does that mean?” Scott asked. That’s when the twins lost it. Jimmy hid his face in embarrassment.
“Now I got to know what that means.” Scott said leaning closer to Jimmy.
Jimmy quickly grabbed his stuff, “sorry I have to go,” and left the the table.
Scott hummed in disappointment, “so no one’s gonna tell me.”
“I think it would be better if Timmy told you.” Grian said.
“Yeah just keep pestering him about it and he’ll be bound to tell you.” Joel added.
Scott’s face lit up. He could be annoying if he truly wanted to be.
The week went by slow. On Monday Grian practically ran from Calculus. He got to English almost before everyone else. He sat down at his desk and bounced his leg up and down.
He watched the clock. One more minutes until the bell rang. Then a familiar sound of clicking hit his ears. There was Scar walking in. Grian couldn’t hold back his excitement.
“Miss me?” Scar asked once he was in his seat.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
The class went by fast. And with five minutes left Mr. Smith told them they had free time.
“So how’s your leg?”
“A lot better. I am still tired from the hospital air but at least it’s over.”
“Well I’m glad your back. I was worried.” Grian mumbled. Scar smiled at his comment.
“Well since I was out I didn’t have time to study for the up coming English test. Could you help me? We can study over at my house!” Scar suggested.
Grian was taken back from the offer. “Uh sure that would be fun.”
“Perfect it’s a date!”
Grian immediately turned red and Scar laughed at his expression. Later that day Grian met up with Scar and it went well.
Let’s just say he had more than just a friend in AP English.