This was the worst day of my life. It is one thing to be a friend to the creepy kid's sister. It is not Frankie's fault that she is related to a creep. She is energetic and loves me like a sister. She is easy to see because of the bright colors that she wears. She looks just like a rainbow or a Christmas tree. I wish that I had her clothes.

Where was I? Oh, yeah.

It is another thing to have the creep as your tutor. I did not care about my future anymore. I had plenty of time and would come up with a career by then - right? I was not desperate. I did not have to make a decision now. I only wanted help. Inspiration. I did not need a tutor!

Ms. Allen dismissed me and Stine and had me promise to give him a chance. She said that he was intriguing. A nice and clever kid once you get to know him. Not true. He was not nice when he yelled at me and Mom. When he pulled Frankie into the school. When he accused me of purposely breaking his glasses - and threatening me. He was spoiled. He assumed that he could do whatever he wanted without repercussions. A person had to take him down and show him the error of his ways.

Was that possible?

Stine and I took our sweet time to our classes and kept our distance. I clenched my fists and tried avoiding eye contact. It was a difficult task because I needed to keep looking ahead. I picked up the pace. I did not want him to laugh if I crashed into something. I just would never hear the end of it.

I heard Stine sigh and say, "I know that you do not like it. I do not like it either. But in order for the...awkward relationship...to subside, we must go along with this."

I stopped in my tracks and finally faced him. "And how do you expect us to do that?"

He stopped as well and pushed up his glasses. "What I do with my...students is interview them and have them help me. They run errands and carry my books and—"

I interrupted. "You are supposed to be helping them. It is your job as the tutor to expand people's thinking and give advice."

"I give them advice."

I unclenched my fists. "Like what?"

"How to be organized. Stick to things that you are good at. Do what you like. Do not procrastinate or waste any time. And much more."

I crossed my arms. "I have a question."

"It had better not be a dumb question. I know how you people work."

I squinted. "'You people'? The heck is that supposed to mean?"

"There are two types of people in the world. People like me - and people like you and my sister."

Now I was glaring at Stine. "So what kind of people are Frankie and I?"

He placed his hands on his waist and moved it around. "You two are among the hundreds of people who think that you are popular and important."

I was flabbergasted. My eyes went wide. I smirked and almost laughed. "You...you think that I am popular?"

Stine shook his head. "It is you who thinks that."

We continued walking.

"How can I be popular when I am the new kid?"

"You will be popular. It is only a matter of time."

I lowered my arms. "I hate to burst your bubble - no, I do not - but I have never been popular. I was not at my old school. I was known as the strange kid there."

"How so?"

"Well...I keep to myself and do my very best."

A sinister smile spread across his face. "Wow. That was such a lame joke that I forgot to laugh."

"It was not a joke. I was serious."

"You truly believe that you do your very best."

"I am a hard worker. The only reason that my teachers and classmates never saw is because they never treated me like a person. They never wanted to know me."

"It hurts when people refuse to know the real you."

"Tell me about it."

It was bad enough that Stine was my tutor. It would be worse if we shared the same class - which we did. All of them. Does the universe hate me or something?

We reached a classroom and gazed at each other. Then back at the door. I grabbed the doorknob.

"What are you doing?" Stine demanded.

"What does it look like? Joining my class."

He pried my hand off the knob. "Your class is down the hall. This is mine."

I pointed at the number on said door. "This is the right class. I am supposed to be here." I pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket and unfolded it. I gave it to him. "See? I was assigned to this class."

He snatched the paper from my hands and stared at it. He growled and shoved it back in my hands. "My gosh. I cannot believe this."

I growled with him. "You can say that again."

"Cannot believe that you and me and Frankie share the same classes."

I folded back up said paper and stuffed it in my pocket. "Frankie is in this class too?"

"She is in all our classes!"

I blinked rapidly. "Wait a second. The three of us share every class?"

His eyelids lowered. "It is an unfortunate truth."

"I...do not know what to say."

His face was so red that I assumed that his head would pop off. "What do you mean? You ought to be outraged that you are in the same classes with me and Frankie."

"I am eager that Frankie and I share the same classes." I grabbed said doorknob again. "But it would be nice if you backed off."

Stine raised a hand - and slapped me.