"Kyra! Get you're head out of that stupid book and listen!" Mr. Bowles growled.

I snapped the Harry Potter book shut and looked up with wide eyes. I was pretty sure I had hidden it completely behind the textbook - the textbook! He was probably talking about it which meant I wasn't caught.

"Sorry Sir," I apologized innocently, "I just didn't get what you were talking about, so I thought I'd try and read up on it."

I could tell I had gotten him then. He froze in place, his eyes narrowing down on me. I could tell he knew I was lying but he played along, thankfully.

"I see. I'm afraid we don't have the time to go over it again. Jacob, would you mind tutoring Kyra just for tonight?" he drawled, smiling triumphantly. Who was Jacob? I looked over to see who Mr. Bowles was addressing - oh no. It was McStinky himself. Well, that's what everyone called him. No one really bothered to learn his name and most teachers called him McStinky anyway. Jacob...that sounded too nice to be his. Oh well, I was certainly doomed.

"Yes Sir! Right-" McStinky burped. "Away Sir!" He shot up, grinning with pride, and stumbled over to me, tripping on somebody's foot.

"No McStinky! Later. Not. Now!" he sighed furiously, shooting him a death stare. He mumbled an apology under his breath and slunk back into his chair, keeping his head down. I almost felt sorry for him, but I didn't need or want a tutor, much less have McStinky as one so, after Mr. Bowles dismissed us, I caught up with McStinky.

"Hey. You can't come over because my parents aren't home." I said quickly. He shot me a confused look.

"We can go to mine then." he offered. Now McStinky was turning into McThick.

"I mean, I have my own private tutor," I explained, thinking quickly. He beamed joyfully.

"Maybe me and you're tutor can come over at the same time! We can be tutor buddies!" he exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, but as I said before, my parents aren't home and they trust my tutor, but they don't know you," I said, my patience waning.

"Oh. See you tomorrow then!" he ran off, flinging his arms everywhere and spinning around. I sighed in frustration. How couldn't I have been clearer? I tried to relax and joined my friends, who were at our lockers trading gossip.

"So..." Jade said suggestively, winking at me with a devilish grin on her face. I frowned at her.

"So...?" I asked, confused.

"You and McStinky, sorry, Jacob." Jessica wiggled her eyebrows at me. Vomit threatened to overcome me as realisation hit me.

"Ewwwww!" I gagged. "I was just telling McStinky to leave me alone!"

Jessica coughed and Jade burst into a fit of giggles. I sighed and ended up clutching my stomach as laughter overtook my nausea. Soon, we were able to get ourselves together and we walked to our next lesson.

Later that day, as I ate my spaghetti and drank my water, something strange happened. It was my little brother's turn to cook dinner, but he couldn't do it on his own, of course - he was only eight. Usually, my mom would help him with the oven and cracking eggs, but by the time everyone was starving, she still wasn't home. My dad was cooped up in his office so I decided to help him. I walked over to the kitchen with him, holding his hand gently. He seemed upset today so I made a mental note to ask him later. I sat him down on the kitchen table as I grabbed the recipe book from the drawer. I slid across the kitchen tiles to him, where I "accidentally" slipped and fell on my bum. James let out a small giggle, but now he was smiling. That was better than before. I got up and twirled over to him, bowing as I reached him. I put on arm across my stomach and another across my back, bowing as low as I dared.

"You're menu, sir," I said politely, in a deeper voice. James smiled and sat that little bit straighter, taking the menu from