Math isn't that bad
chapter 1: Worst grade, again!
Merlin sat silently at the back of the classroom, a sheet of paper was clutched in his little hands, his latest Mathematics test. Staring at the big crimson E-scribbled on the left corner of the sheet, the dark haired boy sighed heavily and ducked his head, trying to stop the tears forming in his limpid blue eyes from falling.
"Now I'm going to read out your names one by one," said their Math teacher, Mr. Agravaine, with his usual cold tone that never eased to send a shiver down Merlin's spine whenever he spoke. "And you will in turn read out your grades so that I can write them into your academic records."
Merlin bit his lower lip, sinking further into his chair. Why didn't Agravaine do that when he had been grading them? Instead, he had to make them read their grades out loud and embarrass themselves in front of the whole class! Okay, maybe it was only just Merlin, but still.
Gazing around the class, Agravaine began to read out the names, his voice was full of scornful boredom.
"Cenred Ellis." As the first name was called, a tall thin boy sat in the middle of the class stood up.
"D+". Cendred said with his chest puffed out smugly as if he had just received an A, which made Merlin snort.
Well, at least his grade is better than mine. Merlin's head dropped sadly, making a small bang when it hit the table.
Mr. Agravaine continued to read out his students' names with a scary frown on his face. "Elena Gawain".
"A". Came a respond which took no one by surprise. Elena was the best student in Merlin's class, and the fact that she had got the best grade again went without saying.
The raven-haired little boy whined miserably in silence as his least favorite teacher went on reading out names, the man's icy monotone echoed on end across the classroom.
"Gilly Melling"
"B"
"Guinevere Coulby"
"B-"
"Lamia McKenna"
Merlin winced; his name went right after Lamia's. Trying to make himself as small as possible, Merlin wished, of no avail, that Agravaine would somehow get his head hit with a brick so that he wouldn't have to make a fool of himself in front of his classmates anymore.
After writing down a C been reading out by Lamia's horribly shrill voice, Mr. Agravaine proceeded to look at the name list for the next 'victim'.
Merlin squeezed his eyes tightly shut, waiting for his death sentence to be announced.
"Merlin Emrys"
The poor boy stood up so abruptly that he almost knocked his chair off. Merlin lifted his eyes up just a bit to look at his teacher and, oh no, he could have sworn that, for a brief second, Agravaine was sneering at him. But his expression soon turned into something that looked neutral yet cruel at the same time.
"I…e…" Merlin stuttered, his hands clutched at the edge of the table. "E minus." He said, sounding almost like a whisper.
A malicious glint appeared in Agravaine's eyes as he simply stared at Merlin made the boy fidget uncomfortably with his too-long sleeves, he quickly lowered his gaze to the table. Merlin hated Math.
"You have the worst grade," Mr. Agravaine stated slowly, that never boded well. "And if I remember correctly, this is the second time, right?"
Merlin swallowed hard and nodded his head, eyes never leaving the surface of his table.
"Well," The man went on. "I am not surprised at all. How could such an ignorant student like you get any better?" He said with venom in each and every word.
Poor Merlin blushed furiously, biting his lip harder to hold back all the tears. He didn't want to hate his teacher. Why did Mr. Agravaine have to insult him like that? After all he was just a little eleven-year-old kid and really, what kind of teacher are you if you enjoy hurting an eleven-year-old kid?
Why can't he be like the other teachers? Thought Merlin. Like Mrs. Mithian who teaches me French. She's really beautiful and nice and always encourages me. Or my English teacher, Mr. Fisher, he always re-explains the lesson when I don't get it. Or…
"Emrys?" the man's icy tone once again sent a shiver down Merlin's spine, breaking his flow of thinking.
"Yes Mr. Agravaine?" He asked with shaky voice.
"There's another test in store for you next month," Agravaine said slowly, looking Merlin up and down. "And if you don't get at least a D+, I'll have to talk with the headmaster."
Merlin's blood ran cold; every Camelot student who got the worst grades in class three times in a row would have to deal with their worst nightmare: Extra classes. And the headmaster, Mr. Kilgharrah, would directly arrange them.
"Do I make myself clear?" The man spat.
Merlin nodded weakly, a single pellucid tear managed to shed down his pinkish cheek.
After receiving one last glare from Agravaine, Merlin was allowed to sit down. Hugging the massive dragon backpack tightly to his chest, the boy buried his then tear-soaked face to its relaxing soft belly, ignoring the murmurs wandering around the class.
He loathed school!
-End chapter 1-