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Chapter 8

Neela was walking to school, when she saw Ray ahead of her without any of his friends.She thought she was imagining things when she saw Ray holding the math book in his hand,studying.Since he was alone she decided to catch up with him.

"Hey." She called out to him.

"Hi.I'm sorry did I do something? Please don't hurt me." Ray said jokingly.

"Haha,hilarious.Everything okay with you?"

"Why can't I be nice?You like the jerky me right?" He asked.

"Don't answer a question with a question.I don't want to invade your privacy but if something is wrong-" She was cut off by Ray.

"Nothing's wrong.Now once we reach school don't walk with me okay."

"Okay,I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Ray asked Neela.

"If your friends see you talk to me they'll make fun of this right?"

"First of all I don't care what they think and second of all I said that because I don't want Crackshaw to think I'm making use of you to try to cheat on the test.She gets all kinds of ideas about me talking to her treasured students.I am the bad apple."

"No you're not.You don't seem like much of a jerk when something's bothering you."

"Thank you and nothing is."

"Well I don't know you except that you are rough around the edges but I knew someone like you back home,he changed after something terrible happened ."

"Someone like me?So I have my own species now?" Ray asked her jokingly.

Neela just smiled at him."We have reached school,I guess we won't be talking unless your friends and you pick on me and I have to speak my mind."

"Yeah.Sorry about them." He said.Neela smiled at him and walked away.He was surprised that she actually spoke to him like this instead of "speaking her mind".

Ray had never felt so serious about his school work.It was coming close to the end of the school year and all he wanted now was to move on to the next grade and he was determined to work hard until he graduates.He wanted to make his mum proud of him and she already was after seeing the progress he had made.Neela and Kym were 5 minutes late for class but was let off by Mrs Crenshaw.As Neela walked over to her seat she gave Ray a smile and he smiled back.

"Ok 30 minutes,no talking,cheating,borrowing anything.Any one of these,expect a ducks egg on your paper." The teacher warned her class.

After the bell had rung the whole class rushed to hand in their tests and leave.

Neela took the bus with Kym and got down at the stop at her aunt's house.She was hoping her aunt was home so they could spend some time together as she would be leaving in less than a month when her exams were over.At first all she wanted was to come to Philly finish the grade and get it over with and then go home to her home sweet home but she had to admit to herself that kind of got used to the place and was going to miss her aunt even though she hardly saw her,Kym her best friend in the school and for some reason that Raymond guy.She had changed her thoughts about him after talking to him on her way to school.At first she thought he was a,well he was moronic jerk who has losers as friends who thought they rule the school now she just saw him as a misunderstood guy, still with losers as friends.She saw that her aunt was at home and had a special day planned for them.She had borrowed some chick flicks and bought some snacks for them to watchuntil she had to go for her night shift.They talked most of the time instead of watching the movies and that made Neela happy.Getting to know her aunt more.

After talking to Neela,Ray just saw this insecure girl but if you anger her you'll regret it.None of his friends bothered to ask him if he was okay or saw the change in his behaviour but this petit girl who he hardly knew and constantly picked on,did.He did feel like telling her for some reason,but didn't want to totally damage his "bad boy" image,showing his softer side.A month had passed,since he got the news that his mum was diagonosed with colon cancer in its advanced stage.Her days were numbered.She had lost her appetite and alot of weight as well as strength.He and his dad would just sit by her bedside and talk about the exciting things that happened in their day and all the happy memories they had as a family.She would just listen to them and smile.

The next day at school they had got back the results for the final test they had before their exams beginned the next week.Ray was so glad that he did extremely well because he put in effort.Mrs Crenshaw was very pleased with him and gave him a warm smile that she had obviously never given him before.Ray was glad at the reaction from his teacher as he was expecting her to accuse him of cheating,as he thought she was out to get him but he was so wrong about her.

Neela was very pleased with her results.After that Mrs Crenshaw had given them all,time to revise for their exams.

Nick sat next to Ray.He was shocked to see that Ray was actually studying and was also shocked by the fact that Ray's studying,motivated him to.

Ray rushed to show his mum his results.She was so proud of her son and wanted to tell him but could hardly speak anymore but she just smiled and that was enough for Ray,just to see that his mum was happy,happy for him.