I got this idea from somewhere on the Internet. Thanks Internet.
"Pops is back home, today," Philip told Angie when he picked her up from school again.
"Oui," Angie muttered. She took an envelope out of her bag and opening it, pulling out the piece of paper inside. She unfolded it and began to highlight certain words and sentences.
"What's that?" Philip asked.
"A letter," Angie stated.
Philip narrowed his eyes. "From who?"
"The school board."
Philip relaxed. "Oh. What about? Are you in trouble?"
"No. Just smart."
"Well, yeah, duh."
"Eyes on the road, hermano."
They got home and went inside, only to be greeted by something rare: fighting.
"No, John, it's not okay," Pops was shouting, pacing around the kitchen. Philip's stomach dropped while he watched from the side with Angie. "You can't just do something like that," Pops continued.
"I didn't mean it," Dad sighed as if he'd already said it a thousand times.
"You can't do something like that without meaning to do it."
"Well, maybe if you had told me-"
"I have told you! A hundred times!"
"Baby, I said I was sorry!"
"Sorry won't bring back my fucking Skittles, John!"
Philip calmed down a bit.
"You didn't write your name on the bag."
"Because you never eat them."
"Because you always write your name on the bag."
Pops scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"I promise it won't happen again, okay?"
"It better not."
Dad sighed deeply and ran his hands down his face.
"Are you two imbéciles done arguing about nothing?" Angie spoke up. Her parents turned to her and Philip in surprise, their faces turning red."
"How long have you been home?" Dad asked.
"'No, John, it's not okay,'" Angie quoted in a gruff voice.
"Right. We're done."
"Buen. I have something for you from school." Angie held out her letter. "I highlighted the important parts."
Pops took the letter and put on his glasses. He began to read, muttering to himself. At one point, his eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, what?" He whispered.
"What is it?" Dad wondered, stepping closer. "Did something happen? Is she in trouble?"
Pops shook his head. "Just really smart."
Angie grinned proudly.
"'Dear Mr. and Mr. Hamilton,'" Pops read, "'it has come to our attention that your daughter, Angelica Elizabeth Hamilton, is an incredibly advanced student. The year, she is learning at a high school level in all of her classes, excluding art, choir, and physical education. Due to this, we have elected to change her grade. Instead of going into the eighth grade next year, we believe it would be wise of her to transfer to the high school to become a sophomore."
Dad gasped and covered his mouth. "Are you serious?" He asked from underneath his hand. Pops nodded, causing Dad to squeal and jump in place. "This is incredible!"
"Well, it would be incredible if they hadn't taken so long." Pops' huffing was offset by his smile. "She was memorizing multiplication tables in first grade."
"She already skipped kindergarten."
"I didn't go to school until third grade and here I am. She should have skipped more. And earlier."
"Well, she's moving up now. Just be excited, Alex."
"Yeah, yeah. I am." Pops held out his arms to Angie. "Come here, ma merveilleuse fille." Angie stepped forward into the hug, which her family joined in on. Samuel barked and ran in circles around them.
"You're cutting off my oxygen," Angie muttered. Her family laughed.
Philip mussed Angie's hair. "We're proud of you, kid," he said.
Angie looked at him. "I know." With that, she made sure she had all her things before going to her room.
"She's very blunt, isn't she?" Dad chuckled.
"Saves time," Pops shrugged. He turned to Philip. "Do you have anything exciting to tell us, too?"
Philip shyly shook his head. "Even if I did, I don't think it'd be as astonishing as that."
"Alright." Pops patted Philip's shoulder. "Go do your homework, then."
Philip nodded and went to his room, immediately taking out his phone and not doing his homework. He texted Theo.
You: Angie's skipping a couple grades next year.
Theo: That's wonderful! What grade is she going in to?
You: Sophomore year. She'll be two below us.
Theo: I'm not sure why I'm surprised. She is very intelligent.
You: Yeah. She's smarter than me, honestly.
Theo: You're also very smart, Philip.
You: I don't know.
Theo: You still want to go to law school don't you?
You: Well. Yeah.
Theo: You're smart, Philip.
You: Have you decided what you what you want to do yet?
Theo: No.
You: It's a hard decision. Medical school or law school.
Theo: Mom or Dad.
You: Right.
Theo: I honestly want to go to med school more.
You: Then go. You're fully capable.
Theo: I know. But the problem is that you won't be there.
Philip felt his face grow warm.
You: You shouldn't just go because one of your friends will be there.
Theo didn't respond for a few minutes.
Theo: I have to go. Swim practice. I'll see you at school.
You: Yeah. Okay.
Philip set down his phone and lay on his back on the floor. Unrequited love was hell.