Crushing on my brother's best friend

Chapter nine - History report

Rosie's POV:

I spent one week at Austin's house. It's good that there is someone who can take care of you. He is a great friend, and I'm happy to have him by my side. I need to do something for him, but I don't know what. Lately, I have been busy with other stuff. Jessie still goes after me. She will randomly knock out all my books on the ground. Once, she took part of my hair, put it in my locker, and locked it. I had to use the camera on my phone. That way, I could see which numbers I was using. That's why everyone was watching, but no one came to help me. I don't understand what type of people these are. They see me struggling, but no one makes a minimum effort. It's not like I expected something else. If I talk with someone, Jessie might go after them. No one deserves this. My best friend asked me why I don't go on dates. This won't happen soon. I mean, not after everything that is going on. Neither a single boy has talked with me. They see what is happening, but they won't help me. Also, I don't like any of them. Let's say they aren't my type. It's not like I have one. Honestly, I don't know what I want. Well, I would like to find someone else like my best friend. Sadly, he is irreplaceable. No boy can compare with him. Probably that is why I am with him all the time. There are things that only he can do. That is the only person who knows me better than me. Austin has noticed stuff that I haven't. He is too good for me. Well, I can't stay away from him. The thing is that I don't have anywhere else to go. I know that his doors will always be open for me. That's why I have to keep him. I won't be able to find someone else like him. That will be mission impossible. I have no idea why he puts so much effort into me, but I appreciate it. I hope that we'll always be so close to each other. I want to keep this friendship for as long as possible.

It's Monday. That means I have to go to school again. It was supposed to be fun, but it felt like hell. Josh didn't have any problems at high school. I don't know why I have. I haven't done anything to anyone. Maybe I have slapped Jessie, but she deserved it. You can't talk horrible things about others and expect to get away with it. That is not how things work. One day, she will get what she deserves. It will be too late for her to fix that. She needs to change her attitude.

I woke up and checked my phone. It was 6:30 am. I got out of bed and went to get ready for school. Later, I carefully opened Austin's door. He was still sleeping. I will use the chance to make breakfast. Usually, he always takes care of me. Now, I can return the favor. Honestly, no matter what I do, it will never be enough to show him how thankful I am for everything he does for me. I decided to make scrambled eggs with bacon. It's not the best thing to eat for breakfast, but I'm sure he won't complain. I was sitting on the table when I felt a hand wrapped around me. I don't need to look up to know who this is. Also, there are only two people in this house.

- Good morning. When did you wake up? - I asked.

- Around fifteen minutes ago. I got ready, and here I am.

- Breakfast is ready. You can sit down and enjoy it.

- I could've made it, but I appreciate your effort. I'm sure it will be delicious.

- I hope you like it.

Austin and I had a peaceful breakfast. I'm glad he liked my food. I can't cook as well as him, but I try my best. Later, both of us walk to the car. I was nervous the whole ride. The thing is that I don't want to go to school. I know she will be there. Well, I can't escape it. Maybe it's time for me to face her.

- Are you ok? If you want, I will go inside with you.

- Thanks, but I'm not a little kid. I think you should stay away.

- I only said it in case you needed me.

- I appreciate it. Now, if you excuse me, I have to go.

- Are the keys in you?

- Yes, they are in my backpack. I don't plan to go out later, so you can come home.

- You can go out if you want. I'm not stopping you.

- I prefer to stay inside.

- Ok, go now. Being late is not something I want to happen.

- See you soon.

- Bye. - he said, and I left

I took a deep breath and walked inside. I went to my locker to leave my stuff. I saw Jessie standing with the guys from the football team. Hopefully, she won't notice me. I don't want to deal with her.

On my lunch break, I went to see if there was an empty table. Sadly, I didn't have luck. Today's fruit is a banana. I guess that will be my lunch. I took one and went back inside. I threw the peel to the trashcan when I saw Jessie coming in. Please tell me this is not for me. I don't want her to be here.

- How is my favorite loser? Any news today? I saw your best friend dropping you off. I wonder if he will do the same for me. Maybe even give me a little treat before I walk in.

- Please leave me alone. He won't do anything for you.

- You don't know how convincing I can be.

- I have talked with him about that. My best friend is not interested in you. Also, you can't win against me.

- What did you say? You have no idea what I'm capable of.

- I don't need to know. He is my best friend and will always be by my side.

- How sweet. I wonder who lied to you. This boy will be mine in no time.

- That won't happen. - I said and clenched my fists

- If you hit me one more time, I will make sure you won't wake up tomorrow. Understood?

- Yes.

- Good. Also, tell your best friend to stay away from this. It's between you and me, ok? I don't need him to get involved. If he wants to be with me, there are many ways to do it.

- Please, leave him alone. He didn't do anything to you.

- Why did you do it?

- Because you can keep talking like that about him.

- When he gets what he wants, he will leave you. Then, you might get heartbroken. Sadly, no one will be there to help you. Get away from him before he has r*ped you. It will be better for you.

- He won't do anything to me, ok?

- I won't be so sure. Anyway. I have to go. Bye, loser. - she said and pushed me to the lockers

I walked to my next class. I have history. This is one of the subjects for which I don't have to study that much. I walked to the classroom and sat in the front row. It's better to be closer to the teacher. Soon, she came in.

- Ok, class. I will come to collect your reports.

- Sh*t! I forgot about that.

- What do you mean? Your report is right here. - Cassie said

- What?

I looked in my textbook and saw a history report. How did this thing appear here? I didn't write it because I forgot about it. There is only one person who could've done this.

- Rosie. Will you give me your report? - the teacher asked

- Yeah, sure. Here you go.

- Thanks.

For the rest of the school day, I tried to avoid Jessie. It's not like that was easy. She found me and knocked all my books down again on the break before the last class. I don't know what I did to deserve this. I was quick to go home. Lately, this has become the only place where I felt safe. I'm sure she won't hurt me, but what she does is more than enough. I went into the kitchen and took something to eat. The whole afternoon I spent writing my homework. I need to talk with Austin about this report. I appreciate his help, but he can't do my schoolwork. That is my job. When I finished studying, I decided to walk to his work. I need some fresh air.

- Hello, guys.

- Hey, Rosie. How are you? - David asked

- I'm fine, thanks. How was your day?

- Same as every other one.

- At least you have company.

- Rosie, what are you doing here? - Austin asked

- I wanted some fresh air. That's why I decided to go out.

- Cool.

- We need to talk about something.

- Someone is in trouble. - Pete said, chuckling

- About what? - Austin asked

- Did you write my history report?

- I have no idea what you are talking about.

- I think you do. Let's go home. We'll talk there.

Austin and I went home. I need to know why he did this. I forgot to do that, but it doesn't mean he has to do it instead of me. The good thing is that he saved me from having an F. I wouldn't like this. Well, the work I gave to my teacher wasn't mine. Technically, she will grade something written by my best friend. I'm sure she has done this many times while he was in high school. After all, I have the same teachers as my brother. He was with his friends in every class.

Soon, we arrived. I walked out of the car and got inside. I'm sure he will follow me. Mostly, that is because he wants to know why I am mad. The truth is that I'm not, but that can work to my benefit.

- Can I know why you are mad at me? I didn't do anything wrong.

- Are you sure? I didn't write his history report. I forgot about it.

- I know. Do you think I would let you have an F?

- No, but it doesn't mean you should do my work. She will grade something that is not even mine.

- It's not that bad. Also, that happens only once.

- It doesn't matter. I will tell her that work is not mine.

- So you want to have an F?

- I appreciate your help, but I can't lie.

- You can't lie to me. Well, you have done it many times. How many things did you hide from your parents?

- Don't change the topic. I'm serious.

- Why don't you accept my help and move on?

- It will look like I'm good at something when I'm not.

- You are good enough. If you want, write this report and give it to your teacher.

- It's too late. Today was the date. If you give her something after it, she won't read it.

- You can close your eyes and pretend you didn't happen.

- This is your last time. I prefer to fail instead of accepting your help.

- Why? I was a good student.

- Your help is not helping me. If you do things instead of me, I will never learn how to do them.

- That is true, but I didn't want you to fail.

- Please, never do this again.

- Ok, I won't help you anymore.

- I didn't say that.

- That's how it sounded to me. You can say goodbye to your perfect essays.

- What do you mean?

- Nothing. I will go and take a shower.

- Hold on, mister! What have you done? - I asked and grabbed his hand to make sure he won't go away

- I may or may not have checked your essays. Also, I edited them to sound better.

- You did what?

- I wanted to help.

- You are telling me that all the work I submitted wasn't mine.

- No, I only edited them. I didn't change any of the meanings that you put in them.

- It's still not my writing. I have submitted someone else's work and presented it as if it were mine because I didn't know it wasn't mine.

- That's not true.

- Yes, it is. Can I know how you did it?

- Why do you think I always go to school with you whenever you have to present an essay or a report?

- You swap them!

- Yes. I did it for you.

- But it was wrong. I thought I was good at these things, but now I realize it was a lie.

- You are a good, but not an A good.

- Why do you want to boost my grades? You graduated high school years ago.

- Because you need higher grades for university. Also, it feels nice to be back in high school.

- Please, don't do this again. You are not helping me.

- Ok, I won't do this again. I promise.

- Let's say that I believe you.

- Thanks.

- You can go and shower now.

While he was showering, I walked into my room. We have to make dinner, or we can eat the leftovers from last night. I can't believe he did all of this. It's not like I mind, but I thought I was good at writing. Now I know I'm not, or at least not good enough. After some time, I decided to walk up to Austin. I can't be mad at him. Also, I knew he had good intentions. No matter if what he did wasn't right. Maybe I'm too dramatic about it.

- Knock, knock. Can I come in?

- Yeah, sure. What do you want? To read me another lecture?

- I'm sorry about this. The thing is that I thought I was good at writing, and I wanted to do something with it in the future. Now I know that it's not true.

- You are good at writing. You need someone to tell you the correct techniques and words to use.

- This is what a beginner should do. You are telling me that I'm not good at all and I don't have any skills.

- I didn't say that, and you know it.

- That's how it sounded to me.

- Very funny. You do have a talent. I haven't changed anything else in your work except for some structural things. You are good.

- Then why did you do all of this?

- Because I know what teachers want. No matter how good my work was, it was never good enough for some of them. I don't know what they wanted for me.

- Ok, but you graduated. Are you trying to ace your grades through me?

- Maybe. What I wanted was to help. Then I thought if you had good grades, it meant I have them too.

- This is the last time.

- Yes, it is.

Austin and I talked for a while. Later, we ate the leftovers from last night. I told him not to cook anything. After all, he deserves to rest as well. It's enough that he takes care of me every single day. I tried to help with what I could. It's not like he lets me do much. I feel like he likes to be in charge of everything. It's not that bad. This is his house, so he can do whatever he wants with it. I appreciate that he wants to help me, but I should do this alone. He deserves the award for being the perfect best friend, even if he doesn't think like that. I hope that from now on, he will let me do things on my own. Otherwise, I won't learn anything.