Sorry this isn't great, its more of a filler chapter to move the story along. :):(

"Um, hey" El greeted awkwardly. She didn't expect anybody to speak to her.

"I'm Max. can I join you?" She raised a brow.

"Yeah sure" El replied weakly, this was new. Max sat to the seat beside her. "Um, why do you want to sit with me?"

"Well…" Max started "you're like the first girl I've seen who's either not coated in makeup or has a bra stuffed with tissue paper" Max joked. El giggled, she wasn't wrong.

"What's your name" Max questioned.

"El"

"That's cool, your outfit looks pretty rad" The redheaded girl complimented and El raised a brow. She looked at max for a few seconds before realising she wasn't trying to be sarcastic.

"I- I'm a mess" El told her with a nervous laugh.

"At least you aren't fake" Max whispered, gesturing over to Jessica who was standing a few steps away from their table. They both giggled.

"Do you know her?" Max whispered. El sighed.

"I guess… not well"

"I hate the way she keeps twirling her hair around her figure. She thinks she's so it" Max complained.

"Yeah she does. So, you've like met her?" El asked.

"Not really, some guy came over and introduced himself to me while that hoe kept sucking face with her little boyfriend and demanding some kid with curly hair to carry her bag" Max laughed.

"What guy?"

"Oh, I think his name was" Max paused for a second. "Uh Lucas I think, you know him?" El tried hard not to roll her eyes.

"He's a dick" El mumbled only just loud enough for Max to hear.

"Really? He seemed really nice" Max looked confused.

"Uhh, yeah he is. Just forget I said anything" She said quickly. Max frowned.

"You can say whatever you want, I'm not going to say anything" Max placed a hand on the brunette's shoulder to tried ease her discomfort.

"I-it's just... I don't know. You probably shouldn't sit with me" El said looking down.

"Why not" Max said looking a little bit offended but more so confused.

"It's stupid, I'm kind of a loner and if you sit with me, nobody will want to talk to you." El emitted. Max just laughed.

"Get a grip" Max said still laughing. El looked up confused by Max's sudden change in attitude.

"w-what?"

"You heard, get a grip. You look so upset over the fact that you're apparently a 'loner' but seriously, do something about it"

"Do what?" El asked unsure.

"I don't know, make some friends or something" Max said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I- I've tried. Nobody likes me. I don't know why" She emitted.

"How do you know that nobody likes you?"

"Because there mean to me..."

"And you let them be?"

"I guess…"

"Girl, I have a lot to teach you." Suddenly the bell went. "What class you in?" Max questioned.

"Um, the principal asked me to come in after lunch. I don't know why he just says we need to talk" El told her.

"Um, ok then. I'll meet you here, same time tomorrow?"

"Sure" El smiled then walked away. A genuine smile. Maybe she wouldn't be all alone this year. But then again, what did max mean by 'I have a lot to teach you'…

She sat outside of the principal's office waiting for him to call her in. She knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. El hated the principal's office, she didn't quiet know why. She guessed she just felt intimidated when speaking with authority figures. She remembered the last time she was called in to see the principal, it didn't end well. She'd came into school half asleep almost every day for two weeks. She hates to lie so when the teachers asked her why she reveal that she'd been up all night, seeing to her younger sibling. It was the truth and taking care of them is always a pain. As soon as one twin starts crying then the other one joins in. Pure torture in her opinion. She's always left to take care of the twins, even when her parents are home. Its her job to do so and she's used to it. The reason they managed to keep her awake for only two weeks despite taking care of them literally all the time was because they were teething. Anyway, the school wasn't too happy to hear that El was taking care of her younger sibling instead of her parents so they called in the whole family for a meeting. Of course, El was severely punished for 'telling tales' as Martin denied everything. Terry didn't manage to get a word in. Martin's in charge, he does the talking.

"El Ives" The principal called out. EL rose to her feet as faked a smile. "This way please" he led her into the office.

"I think you know why we're here"

"Yes sir"

"Ok" He pulled out a file and looked through a few sheets of paper before finding the information sheet he needed and putting on his glasses to get a better look.

"As you can see, your grades from last year we're extremely worrying" He reminded her. El bit her lip. She knew why her grades were down- he didn't. "Your reading level is not only below average but two years behind" He continued to look through the papers. "I can see your pretty good at maths, straight A student". It was true, El had always been top of her classes when it came to maths. She would hear the other kids groan when they walked into class to find a maths text on their desk to complete. El never minded them, in fact she actually enjoyed them. Maths to her is like a puzzle, a game. She enjoyed working out the answers using different tactics and methods. She wondered if this was why the other kids found her weird. The Principal looked genuinely pleased with her Math results but his expression dropped as his eyes scrolled down the paper. "You spelling could definitely do with some improvement" He continued "You have an average grade in science I see and a talent for running" He finished. That was also true, El had a lot of experience with running. Most of the time unwillingly. El just sat and waited for him to say what needed to be said so she could leave. "A tutor" He spoke up.

"A tutor?" She sounded sceptical.

"Three days a week, either during your lunch period or after school. The schedule is for you and the tutor to decide".

"Umm sir, I don't think I need a tutor" She lied. She knew she needed extra help but there was just no time for it. The babies, the house chores, homework, oh so much homework.

"I'm sorry El but its not optional, your lucky to have even graduated sixth grade" He told her seriously.

"But sir! I'll try harder" The principal looked down at another paper.

"Says here that you struggle to work in crowded places surrounded by other children" El just nodded.

"Then I guarantee that quiet one to one session in a library will do you some good." He smiled. El shook her head. She didn't have time for this, Martin would kill her if she arrived home late.

"El" His voice becoming deeper, he was clearly losing his patience. "You either do the tutoring or you don't graduate this year" He told her firmly.

"What if I get my grades up without the tutoring!" El sounded desperate.

"You either do the tutoring or you don't graduate this year" He repeated slowly, he wasn't going to take no for an answer. El, though hesitant, finally gave in.

"Yes sir." She said bluntly.

"Come back tomorrow and ill tell you who I've assigned you to" He smiled

"Yes sir, May I be dismissed?" She questioned.

"Ok El, it was nice speaking with you" He said happily, El just rolled her eyes then stormed out of class.

"Young lady, that wasn't very polite!" He shouted down the hall but she'd already took the first left out of sight.