(Ashley's Pov)

"Ash sit down please." Baker said even though I was halfway towards the door already.

I turned around and sat in the nearest desk as everyone walked out of the room. Jerrit wasn't here to defend for me since he was absent today.

"I seriously think you're smart and everything, but I can't keep holding it back anymore....."

"What?" I asked feeling like he was going to give me another trip to the office.

"I seriously am dropping your grades. I hate to be the one to do that, but that's what needs to happen. You need to learn to keep your mouth shut in class."

"You're failing me?"

"I have to. You've been nothing but disruptive in my class and I can't teach."

"Wait wait. Baker I need those grades. Those are the only things that are going to get me on the track team and to college."

"Well I guess you're just going to have to skip track this year. Sorry."

"It's my senior year."

"I'm not the one calling girls in the class bitches and sluts. Your loud mouth and daily trips to the office are what I'm failing you for. You seriously can't keep quiet in my class. Although you stay and act like a role model in other classes. If you just did your work and ignored Madison then maybe I wouldn't have flunked you."

"I can do whatever you want me to." I pleaded. No other teacher has ever threatened me with my grades.

This guy may not know me, but I was vulnerable when it came to my grades. All I needed was the grades so I could finish as top of class so I can get scholarships. Then I needed to get into track and soccer, which I have. I needed those grades.

"There's nothing you can do Ashley. Your opportunity is gone."

"Please Baker. Look, I need that soccer scholarship."

"Not my problem. It's yours."

"There seriously has to be something else I can do. I can't sit out tomorrow night for my basketball game. I need to be playing."

"You can play your basketball game another time. Just go to your next class. We're done here."

"Baker. Please...."

"That's it."

I sat in that desk and kept staring at him. He didn't acknowledge it and walked back to his desk to get on his computer with the stack of papers in his hand.

"I said that was it." He whistled.

"You can't flunk me. I need those grades"

"I just did." He replied bluntly still ignoring me.

"Baker you gotta help me out here. I can't fail this class."

"Redo all of this week's assignment then."

"Fu..... No."

"Meet up with Combs on Saturday for Saturday school."

"I have soccer practice and I can't miss it since this is one of our last practices before spring break."

"If you won't do those then, 10 page essay about Romeo and Juliet summarization.... On my desk Friday afternoon."

"That's three days."

"And?"

"I have practices and meetings to go to and I haven't even read that play or whatever. I don't have time to read a dumb romance story."

"Alright..... 10 page essay about something music related like your favorite artist, genre, producer, or whatever, it's still due Friday afternoon at 3pm sharp. End of story."

"Will it raise my grade?"

"Yes."

I stood up and grabbed my bag and walked out. If I was going to be able to get that grade up, I would have to get out of practice tonight.

"Hey Melanie!" I yelled seeing one of the fellow players.

"Oh wassup Ash. You coming to practice tonight?"

"That's the thing..... Have you seen coach lately?"

"He's in the gym. He held back Angel for back talking." she replied.

"Thanks."

I speed walked to the gym just in time to bump into Gillum after seeing Angel walking out of the doors with her head down.

"What are you doing?" he asked not even taking a step back just grabbing my shoulders to keep me from losing my balance.

"Coach." I saluted looking up at him.

"Young female point guard." he saluted back. "Whatcha want soldier?" He started walking and I followed him. His steps were kind of quick and I had to basically jog. Especially since he was so tall.

"I wanted to ask if I could skip tonight's practice."

"And why?"

"I got to write a 10 page essay about my favorite music related thing for Baker. I need to skip because I already have other meetings and practices to get to. I also got my sister to take care of tonight."

"You can't.... Besides, shouldn't you be in class?"

"Shouldn't you be meeting Angel in your room? Isn't that why you and her are in such a rush?"

He stopped and looked at me. "Why would I be doing that?"

"Why do you have to lie?"

He looked around to make sure no one was looking and he focused on me again. "Seriously, who told you?"

"Bruh, I know everything."

"Who told you? Did Angel tell you?"

"Would you be mad if I said yeah?"

"No."

"Then yes, she did tell me and I think you should calm it down because Madison and her stank ass will find out and mess up your career."

"She's suspended for two weeks. Shut your mouth and don't say a fucking word."

"I would've said something already but I didn't. So can I get off the hook for practice tonight?"

"Can't believe this but I guess you can skip."

I watched him walk away and I walked back to my next class. Which was with Musto who promised to teach me something new on the piano.
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"Fuck. I don't think I can make it to practice." Angel groaned stretching out her long legs.

We've been in weights running for what felt like forever. Then we have to go lift after we're done with laps.

"What do you girls think you're doing? 4 more laps." Bieber said blowing into the whistle.

I rolled my eyes as we started running again to finish 4 more laps. We surprisingly finished first and the other girls were still sprinting.

"Can I get Ashley for a second?" a voice asked from the gym doors.

I glanced and saw Musto standing there with Baker.

I was squatting trying to gain my breath back but it wasn't coming back at the moment.

"Give me a minute." I breathed looking at them.

Musto was saying something to Baker but Baker wasn't looking at him, but at me. I felt those eyes piercing through me and I kept the eye contact even though Angel was hitting my shoulder.

"What?" I asked finally taking my eyes off him when he did the same.

"You have to go with them." she whispered.

"I know."

"Get going."

I stood up straight and grabbed my hoodie to put on since I was only in a tank top that was made appropriate for this class.

"What's up?"

"We have to talk about something." Musto said motioning me to follow.

I felt Baker stare at me and I had to look back to check but he unfortunately wasn't.

"What do we need to talk about?"

"Behavior."

We walked out the doors and I expected Baker to say something but he kept quiet and kept to himself.

"We need to talk about your behavior and responsibility. Nothing bad."

I heard Musto talk to Baker and then he handed him some papers before Baker disappeared into one of the never ending hallways.

"Let me guess, I'm in trouble for Madison again." I groaned.

"You're in trouble with Mr. Combs."

"What did I do?"

"You can ask Mr. Gillum when you get there."

I finally made it to Comb's room and I had to sit down while he finished up his conversation with Gillum.

"What now?" I sighed slipping on the hoodie.

"Detention for a week." Combs sighed also seeing me sit there in the big chair.

"For what?"

"Vandalizing lockers and humiliating the whole student council."

"How did I humiliate the student council?.... And since when have I vandalized a locker?"

Mr. Combs got on his phone and showed me a picture of what I remember as the "Homecumming Crisis"

I laughed at the picture when I saw "explicit" drawings on the walls of the gym.

"This is not funny Ashley."

"I......I'm sorry...." I said laughing while tearing up.

"We never knew who did this but we know it was you. So you get 3 weeks of detention. Lunch and after school."

"Why not just suspend me?"

"I can't because Gillum has talked me out of it."

"So who do I serve detention to?"

"Definitely not Musto or Gillum."

"Wait, but Mr. Markowitz is on leave."

"Correct. Which means you get detention with Baker since he seems to be the only one who you can keep you under control."

"What?"
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