Ethan quietly walked across the creaking floor under him and poked a head cautiously into the lit classroom that was only a bit ways into the dark hallway on the east wing.
His green eyes had widened slightly at the sight of a brown haired girl, sitting at a desk at the back with her face in her hands. He immediately recognized her as Irene Schottsman, the same girl that had a grudge against him for who knows hat.
She's crying, he thought as he heard quiet sniffles and soft sobs from her. With a hesitant foot forward, he silently walked into the classroom. This would not go unheard as the girl would look up at him with flushed cheeks and her dull brown eyes filled with tears.
"You! You… You get away! What are you doing here, go!" She hissed, wiping her eyes vehemently. She sniffles and stands up, pushing back her chair and clenching her hands at her sides tightly. She walks past the desks and keeps her head down as she begins to walk past him and out the door.
His mouth opens to utter something "I…" He trails, wondering why the words won't come out of his throat. Suddenly, he grabs her wrist before she can go any farther. This makes her look back with furrowed eyebrows and tries to yank her wrist away.
"Let me go!"
"No, I— wait!" He yanks her back and they go tumbling on the floor. Ethan groans and rubs his head, cracking open a green eye that lands towards the ceiling. He sits up quickly and looks beside him, who Irene laid on her back, staring at the ceiling blankly.
"I'm sorry, really!" He apologized hastily, getting up on his feet. So embarrasing…
"You've really done it now, Pinwick." He heard her grumble under her breath as he watches tears prick the corner of her eyes. The boy began to panic internally, he had not expected this. Him? Make a girl cry? If his father knew, he would be as dead as a small fish swimming with sharks.
"Irene, you okay?" He hesitantly asked as he looked down at her.
"Do I look okay to you, you prick?" She cries, staring up at the ceiling as fresh tears roll down her cheeks and down the sides of her face. Ethan suddenly felt a wave of sympathy past through him and he sat on the white tiles next to her.
"What's wrong?" Asked the chestnut haired boy as he watched her screw her dull brown eyes shut, like she was contemplating.
Finally she spoke. "My grades, I flunked the exam and now my grades are down. If I can't get my grades up…" Her voice trailed off as her bottom lip quivered. For once Ethan was having a normal conversation with her, something he had hoped would be in a different situation.
"Your grades?" He mumbled, deep in thought. Then, the corner of his lips lifted slightly and he looked back down at her. "I could help you— I mean, tutor you." He proposed in an almost hopeful tone.
The boy was a kindhearted one, who liked to do good for others. This was perfect for him to build a nice friendly relationship with her, who seemed to loathe every breath he breathed.
"I hate you, Pinwick. All you do is act nice and be a goody twoshoe. Whatever, I don't have a choice but accept your offer." She sniffles pathetically, curling into her side and not sparing him a glance.
Ethan fiddles with his tie nervously as she cries beside him. He feels like he should say or do something, but what?
"Irene!" Both their heads snap up towards who's now standing in the doorway, panting.
"What are you doing out so bloody late!? Get up and let's go!" Ryder Schottsman stood at the front entrance to the room, panting and shouting at his sister.
Irene furrowed her eyebrows and sat up, "no, you said stay out! I told you to leave me be!" She shouted back and Ethan felt awkward, like he had no place in this argument.
"You dimwit, I didn't mean run away! Let's go!" Seethed Ryder as he didn't spare Ethan a glance and grabbed his sister's wrist, tugging her up and onto her feet.
Irene yanks her hand away and runs out of the classroom, leaving the two boys standing there awkwardly.
Ryder sighs and runs a hand through his blonde hair before turning to Ethan. "What did you do to her?" He asks coldly, clenching his fist and glaring at the green eyed boy.
Ethan gulps, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Honestly, nothing. I just found her crying and offered to help her grades." He admitted, not looking into Ryder's blue eyes.
Ryder walks up to Ethan and puts a hand on his shoulder. Ethan nervously looks up at Ryder's freckled face.
"Sorry, you really shouldn't have been caught in this drama. We're going through a bit of a hardship lately so excuse her behavior. Bye, Pinwick." Ryder gives him a lopsided grin before quietly walking out the classroom.
Ethan watches him go in silence. He sighs quietly and ruffles his curls.
What a day.
"Brother, let's cuddle! It's so cold, my toes are falling off." His little sister whines as she bursts into his room as he's reading a book on his bed.
Ethan peeks over his book and at his little sister who still wore her sweater from the morning. "Oh, not now, Marriane. I'm busy." He waves a hand dismissively, going back to his book about tutoring.
"Hm, this is how you're using today? Not even going to see Pris Pris?" Marriane giggles, climbing onto his bed. Pris Pris was a nickname she gave to Priscilla the first time she came over.
"No, Marriane. I'm trying to help another friend." He explained simply and briefly, keeping most of his attention on his math book.
Marriane inflates her cheeks and rolls around on his blue sheets. "Why so cruel to me, brother? Even father is better than this and he barely says anything!" Complained the girl, playing with her auburn braid.
Ethan rolls his eyes and puts down his book with a slight lip quirk up. "Fine, you giant baby. Come here." He says softly, holding his arms open to allow his sister to come into his embrace.
Marriane grins and crawls over to him, snuggling into his warm embrace and hugging her brother.
"Oh, Ethan, I don't know what I would do without a brother like you." She mumbles, closing her eyes.
Ethan shrugs and picks his book back up. "I'm pretty sure you would act the same way." He replied, thinking about what examples he could use from the book.