Your Tutor:
The group throughout the next few days would go to the gym for a few hours. Kick and Gunther helping the girls learn some weight training exercises before getting into a few defense moves using the boxing bag. Things to be going smoothly, however, the boys were still not doing their best in their school work, especially Kick. The call that Ms. Fitzpatrick gave to his mother lead to a few more lectures from her about taking away his vehicles for stunts. It also lead to Ms. Fitzpatrick giving him a scolding that Wednesday to shape up, being that the semester was almost up and his grades were deplorable. She pretty much explained if he doesn't get his "Buttowski" into gear, he could kiss doing senior activities, stunts and maybe even graduation goodbye. He needs to focus to pass the semester.
(**)
As the next day rolled around and the group were getting back some assignments Kick couldn't help but let his head fall on the desk. Jackie and Kendall noticing, Gunther just slipping his paper into his bag.
"You guys didn't do that bad, did you?" Jackie asked as she also put her stuff away. The boys were just silent.
"I think I am just lucky I passed." Gunther glanced away. Jackie gave him a look as she wasn't sure of what to say to that.
"Your moms are definitely not going to be happy about this." Mouth came in. "Especially Mrs. Buttowski." Kick gulped at that.
"I just don't understand how you guys can be so unfocused with this." Jackie tried to grasp how they were not doing well.
"Knowing Kick I'm sure there are a few reasons." Scarlet nudged, a sly expression.
"Oh shut it, like you did any better on that quiz or these assignments." Kick countered. Scarlet couldn't come back to that. Teena giggled.
"I think it's just lucky that the teachers are giving you guys a break, especially you, Kick, in giving you some extensions to turn those assignments in." Teena commented. "I mean the fact they're going to give you an opportunity to pass at least for the semester is pretty lucky." She added. "And that goes for the both of you." She glanced also at Gunther.
"Although they still have to study and do the final projects before the semester ends as well, so…" Mouth brought up.
"Don't remind me." Kick smacked his head on the desk again.
"You really think you can't do this?" Kendall questioned, a bit concerned. "I'm sure you can focus. It's just school and homework."
"I really hate school work and homework though." Kick replied. "I can handle being here, somewhat, but I hate this stuff." He explained. "I just don't mix with this stuff." Kendall glanced at him with that. 'What…what did he say?…' Her mind beginning to wonder.
"Jeez Kick." Teena shook her head. Kendall wasn't paying attention to the conversation as she was brought back to a past dream, due to Kick's comment.
"Kick I thought you hated school?" I asked, laying on the heated cement near the pool. It was pretty humid and hot that night, and since I didn't get to go into the pool at all that night, I wanted to enjoy some alone time before going home. My hair hung over the edge. I turned over, my stomach now getting warmed through the fabric of my tankini. "Why are you here anyway?" I looked up at him, my arms underneath my head. He gave me that smirk that made my heart skip several beats and probably made my face turn a few shades redder. "Thought you have a stunt or…something…" I was getting lost in thought and his eyes. Those chocolate, dark beautiful eyes that were gorgeous and hypnotizing.
"I hate homework." He chuckled as he corrected me. "I just never mixed with it." He spoke, I glanced away, wanting to try and calm my heart, since I was getting a glimpse of a few things, that made me need to calm myself. He made me relook at him. "However…" He grew closer, my breath catching in my throat. "I think you and I are another issue entirely in regards to how we mix." He commented. I felt his lips.
Kendall was elbowed out of her thoughts. Jackie glancing at her, luckily no one noticing she wasn't paying attention.
"You okay?" Jackie whispered. Kendall blushed majorly but nodded.
"Yeah, uh thanks." She quietly spoke. "Just…just a silly thought." She couldn't help but think of that dream and the events that happened after. She was in a way grateful for being forced to stay away for a bit due to Ronaldo because she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of Kick, due to the fact of the types of dreams she was having. Although, she felt kind of lucky to be having those kinds of dreams with everything that was going on. She lightly shook her head, so she could get back into the conversation.
"The point is Kick you seriously have to get your act together or else you're never going to be able to do stunts again." Mouth remarked.
"Yeah, plus you won't be able to do anything else, with what it sounds like given that your mom is probably going to make you live basically." Scarlet added.
"Ugh!" Kick banged his head again.
"I think you can do it Kick." Kendall came back in. "I mean when we were younger you were able to get Ms. Fitzpatrick to pass you to the next grade by finishing all your missed assignments in one night." She informed.
"Yeah!" Jackie agreed. "Plus you did it in six minutes too!"
"That's right, because Oscar ate your homework." Gunther remembered.
"If you can do all that in one night and six minutes." Kendall started. "I am positive you can finish all the stuff the teachers gave, the final projects, and study for the finals, passing the semester like the determined, amazing dare devil everyone knows you to be." Kendall encouraged.
"Amazing huh?" Kick glanced at that, as he smirked at her. Kendall blushed again, swallowing silently.
"Ah… that is…I mean…" She tried to think of how to respond.
"Don't encourage the boy here too much Kends." Scarlet came in. "He'll only reach the level of amazing when he actually can focus and go after what he wants." She slyly stated. He gave her a look with that, Gunther, Mouth and Teena laughing. Kick rolled his eyes.
"Do you know what that meant?" Jackie questioned.
"Not really…" Kendall replied. 'Although I think he's amazing.' She slightly glanced away, biting the inside of her cheek. Jackie knowingly giving her a look. Scarlet giggled.
"No worries there Kends." Scarlet told her. "We're all just giving Kick here a rough time." She continued. "But hopefully soon you'll understand." She chuckled, giving Kick a secret look. He let out a breath.
"All I know is you better figure out a game plan here Kick." Mouth said.
"Yeah, I know." Kick let out.
"Mr. Buttowski." Ms. Fitzpatrick called from her desk. They all looked up. Kick let out another sigh.
"And another scolding." He remarked, as they packed up.
"Ms. Perkins." Ms. Fitzpatrick added. She glanced. "Both of you stay behind please. I must speak to the both of you."
"We'll see you guys next period." Jackie waved as they started to head out.
"Good luck." Gunther told Kick as he followed, the rest of the students filtering out. Another bell soon rang, signaling the start of the next class. Kick and Kendall went to Ms. Fitzpatrick.
"Is there something wrong Ms. Fitzpatrick?" Kendall wondered.
"No dear." She replied. "You're not in trouble, well…" She glanced at Kick.
"I bet this has to do with my quiz and assignment scores." He glanced away.
"Kick, your teachers want you to do your best and you are very lucky that we gave you this extension to finish all of the assignments that you have not turned in thus far." She stared hard at him. "Even more we are offering some extra credit, which you should feel very lucky we are doing so." She continued. "However, all this luck will run out if you do not focus and get your act together." She gave him a hard look. He gulped.
"I…I know." He replied.
"Do you?" She questioned. "Kick you are bright. We know you can accomplish and succeed at this if you place your mind to it." She spoke. "All your teachers want you to pass this semester. In fact they want both you and Gunther to pass." She added. "None of us want any of you to fail, however all we ask is that you focus, that you at least try." She commented. He glanced down. Kendall bit the inside of her cheek.
"Ah…Ms. Fitzpatrick…" Kendall came in, her voice quiet. Ms. Fitzpatrick glanced at her. "Ah…well…I…this all seems to be about Kick." Kendall glanced at him. "I…I don't understand why I….Why I'm here…you know hearing this…" She didn't want to hear Kick getting scolded or lectured by their teacher. Ms. Fitzpatrick let out a breath.
"Forgive me dear." She spoke. "I know this is a bit hard to hear given that it at the moment has nothing to do with you." She explained. "However, I am just trying to make it clear to Mr. Buttowski that he needs to focus and get his act together being that the semester is almost up, he just failed this last quiz, and didn't even try on the two assignments given." She continued. Kendall gave him a bit of a disappointed look, which he accepted. He held his arm. "That said, and with the fact there is so little time left, his teachers and I have agreed, if he wants to pass, which I assume you do." She glanced back at him
"I do." He nodded. "I'll figure out how, but I do." He assured.
"No need to figure it out." Ms. Fitzpatrick responded. He had a curious look as did Kendall. "We're assigning you a tutor to get scheduled, help you with your missed assignments, your final projects, and help you study for your final tests." She stated.
"A tutor?" He questioned.
"Yes." Ms. Fitzpatrick nodded. "Someone we trust and know will get you focused on your work." She affirmed. She looked back at Kendall. "Kendall, we know after everything and the fact you are just coming back to school yourself, this might be asking a lot of you." She directed the conversation now. Kendall grew a bit surprised.
"Wait…" Kendall spoke. "You…you want me to be Kick's tutor?" She asked.
"You are the best candidate." Ms. Fitzpatrick informed. "The fact you have already finished this year's assignments, are the top student still, are organized, know the material, are an advanced student, plus have the teachers trust. We would like for you to help Mr. Buttowski by being his tutor." She spoke. "However, the decision is completely up to you dear." She continued. "We know you are still readjusting and this could be asking a bit from you." She stated.
"Not at all Ms. Fitzpatrick." Kendall smiled. "I don't mind helping Kick." He looked at her.
"You sure Kends?" He asked. She nodded.
"I probably was going to help anyway." She assured. Ms. Fitzpatrick did her signature mmm-hmm.
"Alrighty then, if you are sure?" She confirmed which Kendall just nodded again. "I'll have the teachers send you an email of all he needs to do." She commented. She got out a piece of paper and started to write on it. "In the meantime, I want you two to take some time to discuss a tutoring schedule to get Kick on the right track." She handed him the note. She gave him a look. "We are giving you a chance here Kick. We all expect you to pass." She affirmed. "Do not waste this chance" She told him. "I expect you to listen to Kendall and follow everything she says. Do you understand? You will not be given another opportunity like this." She instructed. He nodded.
"I understand. I won't, thank you." He acknowledged.
"Alrighty then, you two are dismissed." She said. They walked out, heading down the hall.
"Wow…that was…uh…pretty intense…" Kendall admitted glancing at Kick. He let out another breath.
"Yeah." He agreed. "But thanks for agreeing to be my tutor." He smiled. "You seriously didn't have to do that you know."
"Are you kidding?" She questioned with a small smile. "Of course I did." She spoke. "I'm your friend and I really was going to help you anyway." She stated. "Plus you helped so many times and are helping me now, so why wouldn't I help you." She added.
"Still, thanks Kends." He told her. "I really appreciate it." Her cheeks flushed.
"It's no problem really." She commented. "We're friends after all." He nodded.
"Right."
"Anyway, we should think of how we're going to schedule this tutoring." She brought up.
"Right." He let out. "How do you think we should do it?" He asked.
"Well, with your grades being as bad as they are, I have to admit we're going to need to probably work after school." She confessed.
"That probably means no more self-defense training for a bit." He concluded.
"I know. But I think your schooling is a bigger priority right now." She said. "But I think this also means no more stunts for a while." She poked her fingers, feeling a bit nervous telling him that. He stopped his tracks, gulping.
"Uh….what?" He asked.
"I mean, just the big, crowd attracting ones." She reasoned. "Just holding off on those. You can still do your small ones at the skate park or ride around on your bike or O'blue." She tried to help. "But you need to focus remember?"
"Uh huh….right." He nodded. "I can…I can do that." He agreed. "I mean, I pulled of no stunts what so ever for 24 hours when I was a kid, I can go a little bit without my big stunts." He also reasoned.
"See." She smiled. "And I'll be there to help." She assured. "We can meet here in the library or in some of the classrooms…" She tried to think. He gulped. 'Oh great, my stunts help keep me distracted from her, now I'll be alone with her, even if it is as school…' He trailed in his thoughts.
"Maybe…maybe not at school." He commented. She looked at him.
"I thought you said you didn't mind school?" She asked.
"When'd I say that?" He questioned. She blushed. 'Okay Kendall smooth confuse dream Kick with reality one! Real smooth!' She screamed in her head. "I won't focus here." He admitted.
"Oh." She spoke. "Then maybe we should trade off from your place to mine then." She suggested. "Maybe that might help, since I'm sure your mom probably will want to know you're doing your work as well." He let out a sigh with that.
"Right." He agreed. "Plus if I am your place, she'll know I am doing my work." He added. 'Although that still won't help me… I'll just have to seriously focus on my work.' He thought.
"Exactly." She nodded.
"We'll I think we have everything figured on a schedule." Kick commented.
"Yeah. We can start today even with the tutoring, getting those assignments finished, and materials down." She smiled. "I can even send an email about the schedule during lunch." She mentioned.
"Sounds good." He said, glancing down, something catching his eye about the note. Kendall noticed.
"Something wrong?" She asked.
"I think Ms. Fitzpatrick put the wrong time." He had a curious look.
"Really?" She looked at the note. "That's over half of the period."
"Yeah until we have to go to our next class." Kick reminded.
"Maybe she thought we would discuss the scheduling longer?" Kendall thought. "Which is why she gave us so much time. Plus she did say all the teachers were in on this." She added.
"That is true." Kick agreed. "Guess we have some time then huh?" Kendall silently gulped at that as they started walking.
"Ah, yeah." Her face was heating up as she glanced away. 'Okay, don't freak out, don't freak out.' She kept repeating in her head. He noticed her slight blush and smiled as he hadn't seen her react like that in a while. They walked for a bit, slowly. She glanced back at him, noticing him smiling. "Some…something up?" She questioned.
"I… I just haven't see you react like that in a long time is all." He confessed. She flushed more.
"Like…like what?" She asked. He chuckled.
"Like this." He said. "It's actually nice to see." He admitted. "I thought….I have to admit I didn't think you would come back and be like this you know." He had a somewhat worried look. She glanced down.
"I thought that too for a while." She spoke, her voice quiet, but he heard it. They stopped walking. He stared at her. "I lied to you guys about so much and went through so much and…I just…"
"Kendall none of that matters you know." He assured her.
"I know, but I….I still…to me…. I feel like I never acted like a friend to you guys." She let her hand go to her arm. "If I had just…if I just let you guys in just a bit, maybe…" She trailed.
"Kends that's not…" Kick tried to speak.
"You can't say it's not true or anything along those lines because had I allowed myself to wear less concealer, or tell where I actually got my bruises from, or not be so afraid…maybe….maybe things would be different." She interrupted. "But…I didn't do those things." She countered. "I was afraid. He made me afraid." Kick stared at her. "Constantly afraid. I just…I couldn't…I didn't want to bring you guys in…I couldn't risk putting you guys in more danger than I already was…" She admitted.
"He used us against you didn't he?" Kick asked. She nodded.
"He threatened that if I kept hanging out with you guys that he would get rid of you guys." She held herself. "And I knew he could do it." Kick tightened his fists. "So I begged him to take out any punishment on me because I had to go to school with you guys anyway, and well I didn't stop hanging out with you, so I can bet you can guess who ended up getting his wrath." Kick had to keep himself calm. "I didn't want to give up my friendship with you guys, especially since I just really started to become friends with you." She glanced at Kick. "And even though he really hated you guys for whatever reason, I took his wrath, knowing at least you guys would be safe." She continued.
"That doesn't make any of this okay." Kick said. "None of it. He….What he did…" Kick didn't know what to say, and the thought of that night coming back, was just making him pissed, especially with what she was saying now.
"I know." She agreed. "Personally I think I'm mostly just glad you guys are okay and that nothing happened over these years." She was relieved. "I was always worried about that." Kick gave her a concerned look.
"Kends…"
"Even with everything, and feeling like I deserved the punishment and then finding out it was my father you know, I just….I'm really glad nothing happened to you guys." She told him.
"Kends you never deserved that punishment, ever. Not from your father, not from Ronaldo. And the fact your father, what he did… to your mother…I'm so sorry. But you…" Kick was trying to reassure her. "You are so important you know. With you said the other day at the gym, you need to know that." She smiled.
"Thank you." Her cheeks grew pink. "I admit what my father did is still hard, on so many levels." She spoke. "And I still can't find myself to accept what he planned…what he did." She continued. "I blamed myself for so long…"
"Can I ask why?" Kick wondered.
"Because…" She breathed out. "I…that night…we had an argument…my mom and me…and I thought…I thought it was me who…who you know caused her to be distracted." She confessed. "I thought it was my fault why she might have swerved and not have seen the on-coming car…" She told him. "But….but it wasn't…..I didn't…." Kick just stared, feeling saddened.
"No. You didn't." He confirmed. "None of it was your fault." He spoke. "Not that accident, not what your father did, not what Ronaldo did, nothing." He reaffirmed. "Nothing was ever your fault Kends."
"Yeah, but what Ronaldo did… I can't….I can't find it in myself to care anymore. Especially since I never loved him and our relationship was nothing for so long." She continued. "Like I said what he did was wrong, but I also know there were reasons, and I just…I can't care." Kick had a curious look.
"But that doesn't…." Kick began. "What he did…"
"I know." She looked up at him. "It will never make it right." She said. "But I think I'll always care more about my father's abuse then his, because…" Kendall glanced down, holding herself tighter. "In some way…I wanted my father's acceptance…and just could never get it…" Kick eyes widened. "I wanted my father, his love you know, and all I got was…nothing…" She admitted. He just listened to her. "Even now. I…I can't hate him, but I don't love him…I'm just….it's empty…." She glanced back at Kick. "Am I wrong to feel that way?" He let out a breath.
"I think, you can feel however you want." He responded. "And no one can tell you it's wrong or right." He wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say, especially given he hated the man, but he also knew that this was her father and she was probably feeling conflicted given what she just said. "I think over time, you'll figure it more."
"Right." She nodded. "Thanks Kick." Suddenly he hugged her, since he saw she let a few tears come down her cheeks. It was a natural reaction his part, to hold her. Her eyes widened when she realized she was in his embrace, her arms naturally wrapping around him. "Kick…" She breathed out.
"Kends, you have to know, you're just important okay." He spoke in her hair. "No matter what happened, no matter what your father said, you have a family with us." He comforted. "You are so much more than he said, and you just need to know that." He held her closer. She breathed in his scent. Her heart pounded as a minute or so went by. He loosened his grip, her hands going to his chest.
"Kick…I…" She silently gulped as she glanced up. "Kick when you….the other day….I mean…" She felt nervous now. "I have to tell you…..at the gym…..you're" Her voice was quiet as she stumbled more with her words, her heart pounding louder. "The guy I was talking about…" She felt a lump in her throat. "It's…" She breathed out.
"We'll look who we have here." A voice interrupted, making the two part.
To be continued…
Thank you for reading and see you soon! Please keep safe.
