Page 9 of Jain

"Maybe we need to get you extra English tuition. I'll find out how much it is. I'm not sure I can afford it as well as French," Mum mumbled anxiously, clearly trying to do the math in her head. I felt terrible then, so I sat up.

"I could get a job—"

"Darling, youcould, but this is your final year. I want you to focus on your studies. Maybe less partying and more studying would be a good idea?"

I nodded glumly, knowing she was probably right.

"You didn't...do anything foolish last night, did you?" Mum stared at the floor, her face paling when I hesitated.

I hadn't done anything stupid, no.

I'd managed to disentangle Sarah and Kate from the boys, and we had danced most of the night away. But, as much as Harley wanted a repeat of our one-time fuck session, it wasn't going to happen again.

One, it had hurt like fuck. Two, it wasn't anything explosive. So I didn't see what the big deal was. Harley had puffed away on top of me and lasted about three seconds before letting out a rather girlish cry and collapsed on top of me out of breath.

No thanks, I'd rather order pizza and watch Netflix.

"No, Mum, nothing daft."

"Good. You don't want to end up like me, working in a shop all day for a pittance. I always wanted to study psychology…."

My mind drifted away as Mum told me the same story she told me every other month.

My phone pinged, and she sighed.

"Why don't you go to the library? I used to spend so much time there before I met your father."

"Mum, I'm going to sleep. I'm eighteen and hungover. I've done my French lesson, and now Ineedto sleep, or I'm worried I might die."

Mum rolled her eyes before nodding, pursing her lips. "I'll ask your school about English tutors. Sometimes they have certain students that will do it at a reduced rate."

"God, Mum, it will be Zita Winfred. She's a bloody know-it-all and a nightmare. I don't want to." I pouted as she ignored me, muttering to herself as she walked away.

I knew I would end up with Zita frigging Winfred. She was the most stuck-up, arrogant girl in the whole school. Yet, she aced every exam, in every subject. She even scoredthe highest in our county for English, making her the go-to girl for any potential study buddy.

I drifted off to sleep, my mind filled with thoughts of exams and presentations, Mr Silver glaring at me with disappointment before dropping a big fat red F on my papers.

I woke up with a start, sighing with relief when I realised it was dark. I grabbed my phone and saw it was eleven PM.

Had I slept all day? I was starving, too, so I trudged downstairs, being as quiet as I could. My mum was asleep, as she needed to start work at six AM.

On a Sunday.

I realised that she was right. I wanted to push myself as far as possible to give myself as many options as I could, and if that meant asking for a study buddy, then so be it. I needed the help.

I made some toast before sitting at the table to eat it. I had decided to agree to a buddy. I knew it would be Zita, but I would have to put up with her for the foreseeable.

Ugh.

Chapter Five

Itried not to panic when Mr Silver asked me to stay behind.

Harley sat beside me with his arm slung around my shoulders as he stared at the teacher with boredom.

"Mr Owen, I don't recall asking you to stay," Mr Silver said finally, lifting his eyes to Harley.

"Yeah, I know, but—"