That same day, Joe sat in his math class. Joe was a student who kept his grades up simply because he was on the football team. He was not the typical sports star who copied other work or cheated, because he knew he was cheating himself. However, Joe struggled in math. It was his hardest subject, and it forced him to get tutoring after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.
"So, what comes in to play here is the areas of both the rectangle and the circle. The area in-bewteen the circle and the rectangle…" The teacher said as Joe tried to follow along. He immediately put his pen down and just stared blankly at the board.
"This is ridiculous. I don't get any of this. When am I ever going to need this crap?" Joe asked himself. The girl sitting next to him overheard his comment.
"Well, think of it in terms of football." She said.
"Tell me where there's a circle in football?" Joe questioned.
"Well… think of the rectangle as the football field and the circle as the stadium. The space in between them is the size of the stands."
"OK?"
"Find the area of the field, then the area of the stadium."
Joe did the work as he thought about what it would be like to play for the NFL, "So… the area of the rectangle is… two hundred fifty, and the area of the circle is… one eighty-eight?"
"Right! Then, just subtract the greatest number from the least."
"So… the area in-between them is 62?"
The girl smiled proudly, "That's right! See? Not as hard as it looks."
"Maybe, but it never stays easy. It just continues to get harder." Joe said.
"I thought you were getting tutored? What happened?"
"I stopped going." Joe answered.
"What? Why? You know that's not going to help." She said.
"I've been focused on my career, amongst other things. Plus, he was a total ass."
"Well… if you want… I could tutor you."
"Why?" Joe wondered.
"Well… I don't like to see you struggle in class so much, and we need a championship. Can't get it without one of the star athletes."
Joe smiled at the girl, "Why not, let's give it a shot. Can you meet me Wednesday after school?"
"Can do." The girl said with a grin.
"Thanks… um… wow, I don't pay attention at all. What's your name again?" Joe asked. The girl gave Joe a shy smile.
"Alyssa."
"Alright, Alyssa, Wednesday after school. Deal?" Joe extended his hand.
"Deal." Alyssa shook his hand with satisfaction. The two smiled at each other and returned their eyes to the board, concentration on the wonderful world of math.
By lunch time, the students rushed to the lunchroom. Like a lone wolf, Jon stood at his locker getting his books. He was unable to think about anything but Renee. He wasn't even hungry, which was a shock to him. Renee was the only thing he could think about. Her name echoed through his mind. Her face was everywhere he looked. He thought of her beautiful eyes and luscious blonde hair. He was in his own world when he thought of her. It distracted him from all of his surroundings. Jon could not deny he was feeling heavy emotions for Renee. He wanted to search for Renee, but Jon knew he was not going to be able to find her. He sighed at the thought of her beautiful dresses. He closed his locker door and was startled by the person leaning next to his locker.
"Think much?"
"Jesus Christ!" Jon yelled. "You scared the living crap out of me!"
"Aww, little Jon-Jon can't handle being scared?"
"Ooo, Sam, you are seriously pissing me off!" Jon growled.
"It's fun. You should try it. And I told you, call me Sami." Sam said.
Jon gave Sam a disgusted look, "What the Hell do you want!? You've had almost all of my classes and you've annoyed me in each one! Now, you're hanging by my locker during lunch? What the fuck!?"
"Easy, easy. No need to get so heated so fast, killer. This is what friends do, right?"
"You know I was lying, right? Fuck your friendship. Stay away from me." Jon scorned as he walked away
"You don't want anyone to sit with at lunch?" Sam yelled.
Jon turned around and gave Sam a puzzled look, "How the fuck did you know that?"
"I told you, you're an open book. I can read right through you." Sam said.
Jon walked back towards Sam, "Listen, whatever voodoo, exorcism magic you're using on me? Stop."
Sam looked at Jon seriously for the first time, "Look, I'm gonna be straight up here. I can tell everything about you because of the way you carry yourself… I'm the exact same way. You don't like a lot of people. You've got some issues you can't resolve on your own, and you're lonely. You want a fresh start."
Jon looked away, but it was killing him that everything he was saying was true.
"Jon… you and I… are a lot alike. You just don't see it. That's why I'm like this. I'm trying to loosen you up."
Jon looked back at Sam, "Look, Sam… Sami… I appreciate it, and maybe you're right, but right now… I've got some friends… well, I think I do, but I need to focus on them for right now. Nothing against you. Sorry for being such a dick. I just need some time right now. Maybe down the road, we can hang out a lot, but for right now, I need you to stay away from me, for your own good."
Sam looked at Jon with concern, but nevertheless, he nodded, "Alright. I'll catch up later then." Sam walked away.
Jon stared at Sam as he walked to the cafeteria. He was slightly conflicted, but he called to Sam, "Hey, Sami! Sit at the table in the very back! I'll meet you there! I gotta do something first."
Sam gave him a thumbs-up and walked out. Jon grabbed his bag headed up the stairs.
"First stop, Mr. Colby Lopez." He said to himself. The library was the fourth floor, two flights above from Jon's locker. He was actually excited to see Colby, since he had not seen him since the incident in the courtyard. When he made it to the fourth floor, he found his way to the library. Jon had never been in the school library, so he felt odd being in there. He walked over to the librarian to find Colby.
"Hello, young man. How can I help you?" She said.
"Can you tell me where Colby Lopez is? I sort of need to talk to him." Jon said confidently.
"Colby? I haven't seen him today. He didn't come in."
"Really? Are you sure? He didn't sneak by like a little ninja?" Jon questioned with worry.
"I'm positive. Colby is always one of the first ones here. It is strange he's not here." The librarian said.
"Thanks." Jon ran out of the library. This had Jon worried completely. It was not safe for any of them in the school since the incident. He ran around the fourth floor looking for Colby, but no luck. He quickly searched the third and second floors, but got the same result. Jon could not think straight. He was worried to death. When he did not find Renee in the morning, Jon got slapped by Devin and snubbed by Renee. What would happen if he did not find Colby? Jon ran to the cafeteria, knowing that it was the last place he could possibly be. When he walked in he saw Sam sitting at the table alone. Sami gave a gesture to Jon to join him, but Jon did not know where Colby was, and it was tearing him apart. Jon had no other option but to tell Joe. The bad part was that Joe was with the football team, and he did not want to have anyone talking about him and Joe. However, Jon knew it was the only choice he had. He gave Sam a gesture to wait one second. Sam looked on as Jon walked slowly to the football team's table. His eyes were locked on Joe and students nearby looked at Jon as he approached the table.
"Joe, that Good kid is looking at you." One of the players said.
"I'd deck him if I were you." Another encouraged.
Jon stood in front of the table, his eyes fixated on Joe. Joe looked at Jon with a confused look.
"What are you doing here stupid? Leave." A player said.
"Why don't you go hang out with those crackheads."
Jon gave the players an evil look, but changed his focus back to Joe. Jon bit his bottom lip hard and grabbed Joe by the wrist.
"What are you-?" Joe questioned.
"Just!" Jon dragged Joe with him as the football players scrambled and yelled at Jon.
'What the fuck are you doing?" Players heckled Jon as he ran across the cafeteria with Joe. The whole cafeteria turned their heads to see what was going on. Sam watched the situation unfold in front of him.
"Guys, don't worry. I got th- Whoa!" Joe said as he was pulled out the door with Jon.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, but now, it's serious! Seems like Joe's got himself a new tutor, and Sami finally gets through to Jon. But now, where is Colby? Looks like Jon doesn't care about the repercussions that come with talking to Joe. Leave reviews and comments! Also, shout out to one of my IG followers hounds_ofjustice who I have commandeered to play Joe's tutor, Alyssa :). Also, since I'm bad with timing and I can't be trusted xD, here's a preview of Chapter 10:
"Colby's gone!" Jon exclaimed.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a damn minute. What do you mean 'gone'?" Joe asked.
Jon paced around with his hands on his forehead, "Oh, I don't know, gone, vanished, disappeared. He's missing, Joe!"
Joe tried to stop Jon from stressing out, "Jon! Relax, calm down. I'm sure he's not missing. Maybe he's doing something."
Jon looked at Joe with his eyes squinted and his mouth opened, "The fuck!? Joe, I went looking for him! He has lunch now! He spends his time in the library and he wasn't there! You tell me, genius, where the fuck is Colby!?"
Chapter 10 Coming At ya Soon ;)
