I write QUOTES AND EVIDENCE at the top of my page, then stare at the TV, ready to pay attention. I hate to admit it, but the TV screen is a lot more pleasant to watch compared to my laptop screen at home.
“Don’t forget to note film techniques too,” Jasper says. “Like camera angles —”
“I know,” I interrupt. “I’m not stupid.”
Twenty minutes in, I’ve written five quotes. I glance at Jasper beside me, who’s typing rapidly. He’s already on his second page.
Once the movie finishes, Jasper turns to me. “How’d you go?”
“Eh,” I say. I tried my hardest to pay attention because I refused to let Jasper think I was more useless and stupid than he already does, but my mind still wandered, probably because Jasper was sitting beside me in nothing but his underwear. I didn’t want to do anything with him — I was still worn out from before. But his presence was distracting. “This is what I got.” I pass him my notes.
He inspects my handwriting and compares it to his document, then types up some of the stuff I’ve written. “I’ll email this to you.”
“Good.” I yawn and stretch my arms above my head. Then I catch Jasper watching me with an unreadable expression.
“What?” I say, on edge.
“Nothing.” He goes back to typing on his laptop, his fingers a blur on the keyboard. Well. I figured he was good with his fingers.
“Can I look at it?” I ask when he’s done. He hands me the laptop and I scroll through the document. Jesus, he wrote a lot. In my defence, though, typing on a computer is a lot easier than writing by hand. “Is English your best subject or something?”
“It’s my worst, actually.” Jasper takes the laptop back and opens up his email. “I’m way better at maths and science subjects.”
“You want to be an engineer or something?”
“Nah, I’m going to study business in uni.”
“Business? Then why are you doing science subjects?”
“Because the science subjects are the hardest.”
“And therefore they’re the best?”
“Exactly.” He flashes his teeth, but it’s not a real smile.
I’m not doing any science subjects.
“I’m kidding,” Jasper adds. “I like science. It’s fun.”
“But you’re going to be a businessman?”
“I’m going to work at the family company, like Juliet and my parents.”
“Huh.” I imagine Jasper in a business suit. He’d look hot.
“Are you planning to go to uni?” he asks.
I look down at my lap and straighten out the duvet. “Nah. Never really considered it.”
“Why not?”
I shrug. “My dad didn’t go to uni, and he’s doing fine. I figured I might go to TAFE or get an apprenticeship, or something. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’ll do after I graduate. I’m planning to take a gap year and work while I figure it out.”
Jasper nods, and that makes me want to keep talking to explain myself.
“Like, I know going to uni is a good idea. It’s not that expensive here, so I might as well get a degree. But for the longest time, I didn’t think going was an option. It was hard to do well in Year 12 at my old school — especially compared to Grammar — so even the smart kids ended up getting screwed over.”
“Why would it be hard at your old school? Everyone takes the same exams.”
