“Hey Zeke, wait up.” Rachel yelled from behind me.
“What’s up?”
“Are you going to try out for the Mathlete’s this year?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I think you should, it would be fun. Plus you can win scholarships and prize money.”
“I don’t know Rach, from what you told me before, it sounds boring.”
“Zeke Ryan Cunningham, the Mathlete’s are anything but boring, believe it or not. I love being on the team and we need a new member. Just try it out, you might like it!” It was always hard for me to tell Rachel no, she always twisted my arm until I gave in.
“Fine, let’s go before I change my mind.”
We walked down the hall and into the small room, beside the gym. There was a small group of kids in the room, ranging from freshmen to seniors. They were sitting at a long table in front of a long white board, full of math equations.
“This is my friend Zeke, he’s just joining us for the day, but I’m hoping we can convince him to stay!” Rachel announced to the group.
“Hey Zeke. Welcome to the Square-roots!” The group said simultaneously.
I waved to the group and whispered in Rachel’s ear, “What are the Square-roots?”
“It’s our team name. Don’t worry, it’s temporary.”
I sat down beside Rachel with our backs to the front door and looked around the room. There wasn’t much in here besides tables, two white boards, shelves to the ceiling full of books and a projection screen.
Rachel left to grab me a practice test book from the shelf and before she came back, I heard heels click into the room—a sweet, familiar sound.
I turned around to see Ms. Sheppard behind us.
“Hey everyone, Mr. Kingston had a family emergency and will be on leave until further notice. I know I don’t look the part now, but I used to be one of you back in high school.”
I felt like my jaw was going to hit the floor. I couldn’t believe she was in here. Now I had to stay, but I didn’t want to let Rachel know that my sudden change of heart was because of a five-foot tall goddess.
***
Zach
I was used to girls becoming clingy after a night out with me, but Mindy had taken that a step too far. She was going around telling the whole school that she was able to “Tame the Z-man.” Which was a complete lie, but I didn’t feel like fighting with her about it right now. I needed to stay focused on crushing Northeast High tomorrow night.
Every class I decided to attend today bored me to death. I’m pretty sure I dozed off during each one of them. On my way to the gym, I heard an annoying voice behind me. “Hey new boyfriend. Where are you going?”
“Mindy, piss off. I mean that in the kindest way possible.”
“Ha-ha, you’re so funny. Do you think we could meet at the diner again tonight? Same time?”
“No, I have practice tonight.”
“I’ll stay and wait as late as you’d like.”
“Mindy, tomorrow is an important game, I don’t have time to-” Before I could finish my thought, I saw Ms. Sheppard walking down the hall. I couldn’t help but look past Mindy and her horrible blonde dye job and directly at the skin tight black dress Max had on.
I pushed passed her and ran after Ms. Sheppard. “So, Ms. Sheppard,” I yelled, causing her to turn around. “What brings you in today? I thought you were only here three days a week?”
“I’m filling in for another teacher.”
“Oh—who?” I said, scanning her body from head to toe, trying to imagine what her body looked like underneath her dress.
“Mr. Kingston, he had a family emergency.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yes, well, I really should get going. I have some Mathlete’s to attend too.”
I had no idea, what a Mathlete was, but it was starting to sound more and more interesting by the minute.
I watched her walk down the hall, swaying her hips with every step. I couldn’t look away until I was elbowed in the side of my ribs. “What the hell, Mindy?”
“I wasn’t sure if you were looking at dinner, or ogling the new slut on campus.”
“She’s not a slut. She’s the new English teacher,” I said.
“No, she’s the new eye candy around here, and I will take her down.”
“Jealous, much?”
“Only when it comes to you, baby.”
***
Zeke
“So guys and girls, I’m sure you all know about the 25,000 dollar scholarship up for grabs, right?” said Ms. Sheppard.
I whispered in Rachel’s’ ear again, “That’s a lot of money for a math competition.”
“You have no idea what it takes to win that prize money. We’ll be competing against college kids for it.”