Head On Collision

"Aaaleex!" I heard my name get called from upstairs. I hurried up a bit more styling my hair, it had to look perfect since I wanted to turn heads today.

"What is it mom?" I yelled back.

No answer. Ughhh. It's always the same thing. She's just going to wait until I actually walk up the stairs.
I pick up my shoes from the bottom of my closet and make my way over to see what she wants while trying to see if I remember doing anything to get me in trouble. Oh well, we'll just have to wait and see.

"What is it mom?" I repeat, this time without yelling of course.

"Look I know you don't care about anything other than having fun and running around with those new friends of yours, what their names again?-"

"Zack and Rian?" I filled in her blank.

"Yes, them. But you see Alex, I think, scratch that, me and your father think that it's time you started becoming a bit more responsible. So we've decided that tonight after school you're going to head out and try and find a job."

"What?! Mom c'mon, not tonight! I promised the guys that we'd meet up with Jack-" I stopped realizing my mistake.

"Jack? Wasn't he the boy who threatened you? Why on earth would you want to hang out with him!?"

"Look, I'm sure he's not that bad, it was probably all just a misunderstanding anyway..." Honestly I didn't know that but I really didn't want to disappoint Zack and Ri. "I can't just let my friends down mom, they were counting on me to be there!"

"You will do no such thing. In fact, you won't see your friends outside of school until you manage to get yourself employed. It's time you grew up and became serious."

I could tell she wouldn't change her mind no matter how much I would plead so I simple grabbed my bag and walked out to catch the bus.

---

"Yo Alex! What's up?"

"Hey Zack, sorry I'm not in the best of moods right now..."

"Why? What's wrong man?" I hadn't knew him long but It was easy to see that he was sincere.
"I'm sorry... It's just... I can't go tonight."

"Aw come on, we know you and Jack aren't exactly bff's but this could be a great opportunity! I mean wouldn't you like to be in a band?"

"Dude, I can't even play an instrument so there isn't much use for me in a band, besides, that's not why I can't go. My mom said I couldn't go out until I got a job which basically means I'm stranded forever, believe me, I've tried getting a job before but this town is so small the only places I could work are as a babysitter or mow old people's lawns, not really my kind of job."

"Sorry... Well hey, maybe you could ask your dad... I mean you mentioned he works in a big company, maybe he could hire you?"

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that, I'll ask him tonight, hopefully it'll work!"

"Great! I gotta get to class, meet up at lunch 'kay?"

"Right, see ya!" Maybe everything would turn out fine...

---

I was sitting in science class and of course you'd expect me to have been bored out of my mind, but surprise surprise I was actually paying close attention to what the teacher was saying. Call me a nerd but I sat front row and took notes in that class. I loved learning about sciency things like space and planets and all the living organisms. So today, as usual I was silently scribbling down all the information we were being told.

I still remember my first class with Mr.Wilkston,

" so today we'll be reviewing some material from last year, can anyone tell me what this is?"he'd pick students with their hands up, getting quite a few different answers t none of them were right. Meanwhile I'd located last years notes in my binder and had found the answer.

"It's called a barometer..." I mumbled to myself, wondering why I was stuck in a classroom wasting my time with a bunch of idiots who never payed attention.

Mr. Wilkston looked at me for a moment and frowned. "What was that Gaskarth?"

"Uh," I repeated louder, "it's called a barometer?"

"Indeed it is, now would you like to explain to the class what it does?"

I panicked at the thought. I wasn't and didn't want to look like a smartass.

"...I don't know..."

Again he frowned but this time he looked more surprised than anything. He started explaining it as he walked over to my side of the classroom, right in front of his desk and noticed my notebook. "Well, maybe if you were paying closer attention you would know, don't you think?"

I was shocked. Didn't he see my notes?

"...sorry."

He was upset now, "you know, you're not really sorry. But I'm telling you, you will be when you get a detention."

I could feel that I was about to cry but I wasn't going to let that happen, instead I grew some balls and replied to his 'threat'. "Sir, I'm pretty sure if you'd take a moment to see what I'm writing down you would change your mind."

His face softened, maybe seeing as I was probably shaking now, or maybe he just realized that he'd been too quick to judge, either way he took a closer look at my paper before handing it back, "alright Alex." Was all he said but he gave me a look that told me he was sorry before continuing on with the lesson.

So today, as always, I was cramming as much info about the topic into my brain as I could, so imagine my surprise when I felt someone kick my chair from behind me.

I turned around slightly, without actually looking at whoever had bothered me, "what do you want?"
"Woah, calm down man!" He whisper shouted back.

I turned around again more curious this time and found myself facing no other than Jack Barakat. What DID he want?

"Do you understand any of this?" He looked like a lost puppy and I have to admit I felt bad for him.
"Yeah, it's pretty simple when you pay attention, which I've noticed you rarely do."

"No it's not, I've been studying all week and I still don't understand what those weird doodles have to do with pressure and resistance."

"First off, they're called symbols. And second, why don't you go to remediation at lunch?"

Mr.Wilkston noticed we were chatting but didn't do anything about it, since that first class we'd sorta come to an unofficial understanding that he'd let me be and I wouldn't be any trouble. It's not like I was the one bothering Jack either.

"Sorry to break it to you Alex, but I actually have friends. I have better things to do at lunch then learn about science. Now will you please just agree to help me with the homework?"

"I can't. Sorry." I wasn't lying. Until I figured out the whole job thing I really couldn't do anything.

"Pleaaaase? I don't want to fail science AGAIN." He made a pout which honestly was more scary than anything but a guy making a pouty face is not, and I repeat is not attractive.

"What do you mean 'again'? This is the easies shit we've done yet!"

"Alex! Language!" The teacher scoffed.

"Sorry, it won't happen again." I turned around and glared a Jack before going back to my work, ignoring him whenever he whispered my name.

I had to keep my grades up.

---

"Hey dad?" I called as soon as I heard him walk in.

"Phone" he pointed to his phone which was between his shoulder and his cheek, his hands being full with a bunch of paperwork.

I sigh, he was always busy. I went back to my room and worked on some school work for tomorrow, right when I was about to finish my dad walked in.

"Sorry about before, it was a client-"

"Don't worry about it, I know it was important." Yeah, always more important than me. Whatever. "I just wanted to know if maybe you could hire me? I mean you guys want me to have a job right? That way it's a win-win situation."

"What's in it for you?"

"I'll get to see my friends tonight?"

"And here I thought you were doing it for the money." He said laughing.

"Well you know me dad, I'm not one to live for money, quite opposite."

"Alright, alright. Well, tell you what, I'll hire you on one condition..."

"What is it?"

"That you save up the money and use it for something useful, not just waste it on candy or video games or whatever you kids spend all your earnings on these days."

"Sure dad, no problem. Can I go now? I had planes tonight and I'm already late..."

"Go ahead, be back before midnight, it's a school night. Oh and don't get into any trouble!"

He didn't need to say it twice, I was already halfway out the door. "Thanks, see ya later.!"

Notes

Wow I'm sorry guys I feel like this chapter just really sucks, it's such a filler and ugh. Well. Hopefully it's gonna get better. :/

anywho, comment please if you have any ideas, thoughts or criticism to add :)