'Hello.' She knelt down.
'Not a big eater, are you?' She nodded at my apple, which I looked at, then shrugged.
'Not real hungry, you know? Besides, how do you know that I didn’t just finish off a seven course meal and this is my dessert?'
'Because I saw you sit down.'
'Ah. Okay, so you got me. How was the test?'
'Well, I’m not real sure, yet. We don’t find out until Monday or Tuesday.'
'Oh, yeah? Hank is making you guys wait that long?'
'Hank?'
'Rodman.'
'Oh. You two are pretty close, then?' I shrugged. 'So, um, you guys talk?' She cocked her head to the side a bit, her ponytail falling over her shoulder. I narrowed my eyes, knowing exactly where this was going.
'Maybe.'
'Well, you know, if you guys are close, then maybe he’d tell you, you know, what I got.'
'So you want to use me for my connections, eh?'
'And your brain.'
'Oh, I see how it is.' I grinned, shaking my head. 'Meet me at his room after school.'
'Oh, you are so cool!' She reached out and set her hand on my shoulder. 'Thanks, Andi. I just know that having to wonder all weekend would kill me.' She smiled, so did I. 'Look, there’s got to be something that I can do for you. I mean, you’ve been so wonderful with this whole tutoring thing, and now trying to help out with Mr. Rodman.'
'It’s not necessary, Haley, really. It’s not that big of a deal.'
'It is to me.' She looked at me for a moment, finally taking her hand away from my shoulder. I watched it out of the corner of my eye. 'Do you drive?'
'Yes.'
'Oh,' She looked dejected for just a second. 'But I don’t have a car.' Instantly brightening again, she smiled.
'If I get an A on this test, I’ll take you to and from school on all the bad days. Rain or snow. How’s that?' I nodded, liking the idea.
'Okay. It’s still not necessary, but alright.' A huge smile spread across her face.
'Great! I better get going, but I’ll see you after school, okay?'
'See you.' I watched Haley stand and bounce her way back to her friends, who looked at me with obvious questions in their eyes, made more apparent as their heads leaned in to, I’m sure, ask Haley a zillion questions.
'Andi, why on earth should I give this girl her score now? I barely have her test graded.' I leaned over Hank’s desk, looking into his eyes, enlarged behind thick glasses.
'Come on, Hank. Just for me. This girl is my protege, and I want to see how I did.' I smiled, and he stared at me for a moment.
'That is the biggest pile of horse shit I’ve ever heard, but it was such a good excuse I’ll do it.'
'Oh, man! You’re awesome.' I slapped the old science teacher on the back, a huge grin on my face. About then the classroom door opened, and Haley stepped through. She looked from me to Hank, then back at me, hope in her eyes. I nodded, she smiled.
'Okay, Haley. Know this won’t happen with every test, but I’ll go ahead and give you your grade.' The teacher said, looking at her over the top of the spectacles.
'Thank you so much, Mr. Rodman. I really appreciate this.' Haley heaved the backpack further up onto her shoulder, and walked to stand next to me. I could smell the slight scent of perfume on her sweater. It was too faint for me to be able to tell what it was.
'Miss Corregan,' My attention was ripped back to Hank, who was looking at stapled papers in his hand, which I assumed was Haley’s test. 'You received a 92.' He looked up, pulling his glasses off.
'Yes!' Haley turned to me, sticking her hand up in the air. I slapped it. 'Thanks, Andi. You are so awesome.' I grinned.
'Thanks. Congratulations.' I felt proud for some reason, pleased.
'You heading home now?' Haley asked after thanking the teacher. I nodded. 'Come on, I’ll give you a lift.'
The drive to my house was nothing compared to the walk, and it seemed that in no time Haley pulled her car into the driveway. She turned to me.
'Thanks again. I’m sure I’ll be in need of your guaranteed services again.' I grinned.
'Just give me a call.'
'Charyot!' yelled Sabum Nim Kyung. I stopped immediately, as did my sparing partner, Tracy. We walked to our places on the matt and knelt down to our knees, our eyes downcast out of respect for our teacher. Our Sabum Nim stood before us, arms crossed over his chest as he waited. 'Sunbae Nim Andi.' My eyes raised to his, and I jumped to my feet, joining him at the front.
'Charyot!' I yelled, the class looking at me. 'Remember, championships are coming up in January. You guys must try harder.' I looked at the face of each student, most of which I’d known for many years. 'Dustin and Kyle, next week you two will be partnered, and I don’t want to see you fall again, Kyle.' The twelve year old’s gaze dropped, and he nodded. I turned to my Sabum Nim, and bowed.
'That’s all for today.' He clapped his hands, and everyone jumped up and scattered. Tracy walked over to me.
'Nice job today, chief. Your second week as the Sunbae Nim.' I grinned, nodding.
'Kind of cool, isn’t it?'
'Well, not really. You could kick just about anyone’s butt in here.'
'Yeah, well you’re just jealous. We still on for tonight?' she nodded.
'Yeah. I just need to get showered and changed, and we’re off.'
Tracy and I had started in the Kyung dojang at the same time, but she’d left when she was eight when her family moved away. When they came back three years later, she had re-joined. By that time I had moved far ahead of her, starting with Tae Kwon Do at age six. I had earned my third degree black belt over the summer. I was now the senior student, or Sunbae Nim. Tracy was one of my best friends, well, one of my only friends.
'It feels so good to be out of there. Though I have to admit I’m bummed Yoga was cancelled,' Tracy said as she steered her Jeep through the streets of our town.
'I know.' I said. I ran my hands through my still-damp hair, combing out the strands with my fingers, before they became tangled. 'I can’t believe I forgot my brush.'
'I told you I had mine. Jeez, what do you think I have?' I glared at her as I continued. 'So I hear this movie is supposed to be pretty good.'
'I hope so. It’s been so long since I’ve seen anything that was worth watching. The way I see it, if it hurts my brain to watch a movie, it’s just not worth it.'
'Well, yeah, but just about everything hurts your brain.' Tracy glanced over at me as she turned onto Pacos, the street that would lead to the theater complex.
'This is true.'
The place was busy, Tracy having to park near the end of the lot. We made our way through the cars, finally getting to the doors that were open as the line was too much for the lobby to hold. We looked at each other, surprised.
'Oh, boy. Still want to do this, do you?' I crossed my arms over my chest.
'We’re staying.' Tracy patted my shoulder, knowing how much I hated being in a huge group. 'The line will move quickly. I hope.'
I looked around, seeing who all had come out for the grand opening of the new Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant flick. I usually wasn’t a fan of romantic comedies, thinking how stupid they were, and that no one ever acts that way or goes to those extremes for love. Tracy said I was far too cynical for my years, and maybe she was
