Poppy Pov
I followed Miss Anthony to the teachers' office. Her table was overflowing with books and papers. Miss Anthony was one if my favorite teachers. Apart from having a formidable classroom control and a charming personality, she cared for her students a lot. I think part of what made her so appealing was her ability to be and express her authentic self. It seemed like her only fatal flaw is having the tendency to babble.
I used to assist her with after school tutoring sessions in the past. It was fun at first, but I stopped because it seemed that some parents and students equate the term 'tutor' with 'homework machine'.
She sat down and pointed to a chair on the opposite side of her desk.
Immediately I sat down, she spoke, "Before you say no Poppy, please hear me out."
"That does not sound promising, Miss Anthony," I said.
"I know, I know," she said quietly, while she toyed with her curls. "A student in your class has asked for help, but I think he would benefit more if a fellow student were to teach him. Would you consider tutoring him?" she looks at me hopefully.
I raised my eyebrows. "We have been down this road before. I think you are talking to the wrong person."
Miss Anthony smiled. "No, I definitely chose the right person. You are one of my smartest students and I believe the student will benefit greatly from your perspectives."
I sighed. "I am sorry, but my answer is still no. I think there are other students who will be willing to help. If that is all, I think I would be heading to lunch. Have a nice day Miss Anthony."
Before I could stand up from my seat she says, "As you know, we have a project in the eleventh grade for English, which accounts for 50 percent of your total grade and the school just decided recently that that project should involve public speaking at the school fair."
This didn't sound good. "Where are you going with this ma'am?"
"If you do this, you will be excused from the presentation, she said. "I'll count this as your grade instead."
To be honest, I don't have the greatest track record with public speaking. When I was seven, we went to visit my aunt in Texas. There was a local poetry reading competition and when it was my turn, I started crying during the performance. Luckily, the only people I knew in the crowd was my family but still, not my best moment.
Another incident happened when I was eleven. This time, I had won a local blog contest for the most humorous blog. I was asked to make a speech impromptu and obviously everyone was expecting something hilarious. It turns out my blog really wasn't and even when I tried to make a joke or two, the room stayed silent the entire speech and maybe 20 seconds after I left the stage.
So public speaking was a big no for me.
Being free of this obligation just to tutor Colin for three days a week seemed like it was worth it.
But still…
"Poppy, you are a straight A student and you have helped a lot of other students in the past--"
"Some thanks I got," I muttered and I noticed she was looking at me exasperatedly for cutting her off. "Sorry Miss Anthony," I said abashed.
She nodded and continued. "No one is more perfect for this job than you." She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.
I knew that she was saying all of this to encourage me, but I couldn't help but feel immense pressure from all of this praise. I don't want to let her down, not when she believed in me this much. Plus, it seemed like a good deal. At least, I wouldn't have the chance to be humiliated in front of the whole school.
With a bit of reluctance, I said, "Okay fine. I'll do it."
Her face lighted up immediately. "Thank you so much Poppy."
"So who's the student?" I asked.
"He is in your class. He just moved here. I believe his name is Cole…no Colin. Colin Parker."
I immediately began to feel uneasy. Why did it have to be him of all people?
"Colin?" I repeated. "Colin? You mean the Colin Parker?"
She looked confused. "Yes. Will that be a problem?"
A problem? I almost laughed out loud. I must have betrayed a country or something in a previous life because it seems like the world was clearly against me. "No Miss Anthony," I said with a fake smile. "Not a problem at all."
She seemed relieved and she let out the breath she was holding.
"Should I still use the free classroom on the second floor?" I asked.
I could do this. I was Poppy Williams and nothing was impossible for me.
"I would prefer it if you went to the library. I'll tell him to meet you there." She gave me a folder. I have taken the liberty to draw up a schedule but you can feel free to change things up, so that you can find a way that works for the both of you."
My smile was already strained. "Thank you very much Miss Anthony. I'll get going now. Have a nice day."
After putting the folder in my bag, I left the office and made my way to the cafeteria dejectedly. Lucy and Sarah were laughing at something they are looking at on Lucy's phone and when they see me, their smiles faded.
"Are you okay girl? Did somebody get hurt?" Sarah asked worriedly.
"No," I said as I sat down next to Lucy, "Everything is fine. Everything is great. I…" unable to say more, I groaned and slammed my head on the desk. I was still holding up to the hopes that I heard wrong. I barely know Colin, even though we spent some time together these past week. But tutoring him sounded like it was going to be my worst nightmare.
"What did Miss Anthony want?" Lucy asked.
I gave her a tight smile. "She wants me to tutor Colin."
There was a beat of silence.
And another.
And another…
…And then Sarah's phone falls from her hand to the table and she laughed. "What? No way."
I sighed. "Yes way. I shouldn't be surprised he isn't good at English because he is surprisingly daft. I just wish I wasn't the one stuck helping him. And I know this is going to be a nightmare. Why would Miss Anthony do this to me?"
"I think the question you should be asking is why you didn't say no." Sarah looked at me quizzically.
"How are you complaining right now?" Lucy said throwing her hands up. "He's not that hard to look at."
I sighed in exasperation. "Is that all you think about? Does your life revolve around boys?"
"I hate enabling Lucy, but she is right," Sarah says shrugging. "Maybe you only have eyes for Liam but he is literally gorgeous. I heard Miranda Coney talking about him and you know she has standards."
He was kind of good looking, not that I would actually admit that, but still my friends are ridiculous. "Since you guys like him so much, why don't you ask him out? I am tutoring him, not setting up a marriage meeting. My other option is public speaking for the school project and we all know how that would go. It would be a miracle if I can teach him anything. Stop joking around. I am tired of you both."
"Jeez, calm down Poppy. I am just pointing out there is a lot of potential here," Lucy said with a scheming look on her face.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Why are you so bent on shipping both of us together?"
"You are no fun." She pouted, but she also turned her gaze towards Sarah, which meant that topic of conversation was over. Thank God
The only problem left now was figuring out just how I was going to get through spending more time with Colin.