Don't forget

Decision

Yes, I know what I said.

I wasn't desperate before, but now Mr. Campbell has already graded the exams and if I fail the next one, I'll have to stay extra hours for more math classes.

I can hardly resist the normal time at school, why would I want to spend more time there?

The class finishes and I still have the time of the next one to make a final decision. I know I need whoever the hell is this help from, but do I really want it? I’ve tried to find good strategies to be better at the subject and haven’t found any so far. Why would this stranger be able to help me?

I guess I wouldn’t lose anything, right?

Once gym is over, I hurry up to meet the person who left the note in my locker. As I walk to the library, I start thinking about who they could be and I, honestly, can only think about one person. But maybe that’s just because I’d really like it to be them.

I take a heavy breath in the moment I stop right outside the huge doors of the library. After pushing one of them I realize that I hadn’t entered this place before and, apparently, not many students have been here either.

The lady by the entrance asks me to register my visit on an almost empty -yet old- notebook. I take the time not only to fill in my information, but also to read the other registries names to find a handwriting that’s like the one in the note I received. Sadly, I find nothing but names of students of higher grades than mine.

The fact that no one else has registered today makes this mystery bigger until the woman behind the huge desk reads my name and says: “Oh, I have something for you.”

I furrow my eyebrows as she opens a drawer to her side and takes out a thick book, leaving it right above the notebook. The title reads “The calculus lifesaver” but I’m pretty sure you could kill someone if you hit them in the head with it.

“Sorry?” I ask while shaking my head, trying to comprehend what’s happening. However, it doesn’t seem like she’ll answer any of my questions since she acts as if it’s a common thing to do.

“Bring it back before Thursday.” She says before turning away and putting her attention on the book she was reading.

The place is completely silent as I carefully put the book inside my backpack. The one who I was supposed to meet won’t come and I don’t really feel like staying longer.

With heavy steps, I exit the library and go straight to the entrance of the building.

It’s until I’m alone in my bedroom that I decide to give the calculus lifesaver a chance. I sit on my bed, picking up my backpack to take it out. The book lands on the mattress right in front of me and I open it.

It takes me several minutes to finally find an actual lifesaver, though. There’s a yellow sticky note right at the end of chapter five with a phone number written on it. A scoff abandons my lips as I notice there’s still no information about the person who’s left it.

I don’t understand why they want to be so mysterious, but I don’t hesitate on taking my phone and dialing the number.

“Hi Noah.” The distorted voice that speaks through the speaker sends shivers down my spine since I kind of feel like I’m in a scary movie.

I shift over my bed and clear my throat. It’s obvious that they won’t reveal their identity. Thus, I’d rather spend my time asking questions that could have an answer.

"How and why do you think you can help me with math?"

They remain silent, probably taken aback by my choice of words. "Well, I've taught more students and-"

"They're not like me." I interrupt him abruptly. It’s just the distortion he’s using that makes me want this to end as quickly as possible.

“Why?” His question lingers in my ears as silence comes back. I will never in a million years tell a stranger about the little thing that makes me different to the people around me.

“How can you help me?” I repeat, waiting patiently for them to finally say something.

“Ok, if you don’t want to spend time studying, I have another way to help you.”

“This is really creeping me out.” I confess, laying back on the pillows behind me.

"I’m sorry.” Although the apology doesn’t sound very human, it does feel like it’s honest.

“Knowing who the hell you are could help, you know?” I argue, rubbing my temple with my free hand.

“I can only do much. Hold on a second." They say with a chuckle, ending the call with no further explanation.

I stare at my phone while my finger positions right above the call button again. I’m about to press it when I get a message with a link to a file. As it’s downloading, I still consider calling them again to ask more questions. However, I conclude that if they’d like to share more information, they’d call.

When the file finally opens, I feel a little regretful. I only have to read it once to be completely sure that this will be the next exam. The only difference is that the answers are already there.

I soon feel the urge of telling someone about this. The problem is that I can't prove anything at all. I don't know their identity. Jeez, I don't even know if this will actually be the next exam applied by Mr. Campbell.

What do I do?

Should I cheat?

Should I make every exercise wrong on purpose?

Both paths may end badly, if I’m honest. It doesn't matter what I choose, I always end up regretting my decisions.