CHAPTER 1

“ Ughh, Can this test be any longer?” I said.

“Alright students,” Mr. Garcia exclaimed. “There are 5 minutes remaining until day 1 is done for testing. 

YESS! I'm so glad it's almost over. I'm done with this class.

“And remember, this test is worth a big chunk of your grade. It's at least 30% of your total grade.”

 “...” I look down at my paper. Blank. Nothing. I realize that my grade will drop down from a C to a D if I fail this test. And if I fail this class, then I won't graduate. And if I don't graduate, then I won't go to high school. And if I dont go to high school, then I won't get into college and get a job. I start having a panic attack now realizing that I need to pass this test to save my grade and my future. 

“I FINISHED!” exclaims Veronica whilst waving her paper all around joyously..

Mr Garcia asks, “Did you check all your answers yet?”

“Yes I did. I'm confident I will get one-hundred percent for sure. One-hundred and one in fact”

“Love that confidence. Well just turn it in right ther—”

RING!

“Oh. Well then students, good job on day 1 and I'll see you tomorrow to continue testing and if you are finished early, you can play some games on your chromebook quietly.

As I walk down the stairs I start panicking and have a mental breakdown right in the middle of the hallway. I walk out of school and wait in the parking lot until my brother comes out of work and picks me up. I sit down on the curb and pull out my notebook and start studying everything we have done in the past months. I start trying to memorize every formula and write them down on flashcards to test myself later. 30 minutes pass and my brother finally arrives. 

"Yo buddy. Come on. I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat. I'm thinking maybe some McDonalds?"

"Hold up. Let me pack my stuff. I'm trying to study for a test"

"Test? What's it about? If it's about math then I can probably help out. I'm amazingly exceptional, and great at it.”

“Sure you are. It is about math and it's also worth a big chunk of my grade. If I dont get more than a C, then I'll fail the class. I need to pass this class or else I won't graduate.”

“Alright, well tell me about it at home. I'm about to starve.”

CHAPTER 2

After we eat, we start driving home around 3:45. I'm so tired, but thankfully tomorrow is Friday. 1 more day and this week will finally be over. I get my notebook out and start writing some quick and easy problems to help me memorize the equations a little. 

My brother asks, “Soo how was your day today?”

“Bad” I respond

“Well besides the test obviously”

“Average day, I guess. For P.E. we just ran a little and for ELA some grammar review. In science we did a fun lab though. We cleaned some pennies by dissolving the rust with a mixture of salt and vinegar. It did, however, burn my cut. Not pleasant at all.”

We arrive at the house around 4. I sluggishly walk to the door and open it with my key while my brother parks his car. I open the door to an empty house. My parents are still at work. They don't come out till 8 so I don't see them that much sadly. It's alright though. I got used to it after 5 years. Sometimes, they have days off that we spend together all day. We eat food that my mom cooks, drive to carnivals and amusement parks and end the day off with some ice cream.

My brother groans as he opens the door. “Ughh, I'm exhausted from work, man. I might take a little nap for a bit.”

“NO!” I exclaimed. “You will help me get better at math first. Then you can rest. I can’t fail this test.”

“Nope buddy boy. I need my rest. I just need 2 more hours.” He explains as he gets on the bottom bunk.

I reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”

I get on the top bunk of our bed and start working on other homework. I put on some music and try to focus. As I continue to work, I start to doze off and end up falling asleep. I try to keep myself awake but inevitably fail and fall asleep.

* * *

I wake up to the sounds of keys clanking. “I doze off,” I said to myself. I start to rise and realize that I was knocked out. The time is 9:16, my clothes are drenched in sweat, airpods dead, and chromebook on 6%. 

“Hey hunny, we're home,” my mom said joyously as she entered the house. 

“HEY,” I said frantically whilst getting off my bed. 

“What's wrong?” My mom said, all confused.

I lied and said, “Uhh nothing important really”

“Oh ok then just slow down. You scared me.”

I hit the carpet of our bedroom and wake up my brother who is out cold and snoring like a pig.

“WAKE UP! ” I screamed in his ear. “WE OVERSLEPT! IT'S ALREADY DARK OUT! 

“Oh shi-. I forgot about that. We can start right now if you want. Just let me use the restroom real quick.”

“Alright well hurry up then. We don't have much time. We might have to pull an all-nighter to cover everything my teacher has taught us.”

As my brother comes out of the restroom I am waiting on the kitchen counter with my notebook and flashcards. He sits down across from me and starts flashing the cards at me. As time goes by, we get done with half of the cards by 11 PM.

My brother yawns, “Are we almost done? It's been two hours.”

“No, not yet,” I responded. “We’re halfway done with them”

“Alright well I need to sleep. I'm so tired from today.”

“Fine. Maybe I should go to sleep as well. I hope that's enough studying.

CHAPTER 3

I woke up at 6 AM a little tired since I didn't get a full night's rest. I crawl out of my bed and into the restroom as I do my usual routine and get ready for school. My brother gets ready along with me and we eat breakfast. He starts the car and we leave the house around 7 AM. 

I arrive at school nervous for my test, shaking and quivering. I go to my first period which is my elective: Engineering. We do a review on the engineering process. My next class was social studies. We took notes on the book about slavery which was the current topic we were learning.  My 6th period class was ELA in which we did the same thing the day before as well as how to format an essay like a professional. We then had lunch where I mentally prepared myself for “The Test.” As the bell rang, I slowly walked up the stairs and entered the classroom. 

Mr Garcia passed the tests out and began the timer. My pencil started dancing around the paper as the time ticked down. Minute by minute, student by student, they started turning in tests. As the final minute's approached, my pencil lifted off the paper as I finished. I was the last one to submit it. We swapped papers as we began to grade it. I felt confident as Mr Garcia showed the answers on the board. As the final answer was shown, Mr Garcia was looking through the tests as the bell rang. 

“Alright everyone have a nice day. I'll pass out the tests tomorrow. “

“Finally, I can go home in peace. No more tests. No mor-”

“Hey Alexis, can you stay after class?”