'Shit, I got to get an A in this advanced chemistry class,' Stephanie Wallace thought as she drove her new car home from high school.
Stephanie was a graduating senior and her dad had bought her the BMW as a reward for getting into Northwestern and also as an eighteenth birthday present. The problem was she had done nothing but party in her second semester senior year and her grades had slipped a lot. Northwestern would not be impressed with her performance in her senior year if she did not pick it up. As a result, she had fallen hopelessly behind. She also wasn't crazy about Mr. Stern, the chemistry teacher, so going to him for help was not desirable either.
Stef hit the speed dial on her cell and her best friend Kendall answered on the third ring. Kendall was going to Notre Dame in the fall but had been partying hardy with Stef and they were both in the same boat.
"Kay, I'm fucked!" Stef said.
"Who was it this time, Stef, Jordan or Chris?" Kay asked, with a smirk.
"Not that fucked, though Chris nailed me good Wednesday after school. No, I mean in advanced chem," Stef said.
"You know that weird science shit well. What happened?"
"I've been fucking around too much is what's happened," Stef declared.
"Tell me about it! If I don't pull up my calculus grade, my dad is going to freak, not to say anything about how Notre Dame might feel," Kendall admitted.
"What are we going to do? I don't think I can catch back up again," Stephanie admitted.
"Me neither. I don't know but I have a test next week that will be a third of my grade and I'm totally lost," Kendall stated.
"Me, too! We've got to do something."
"Yeah!"
"What are you doing today?" Stephanie asked.
"Going bowling with Kyle," Kendall said. "You want to come?"
"No, Chris asked me to see this movie with him. How about we meet afterward?"
"Sounds sweet. Where?"
"The TGIF?"
"Okay. I'll call you when we are done," Kendall said.
"See ya, Kay," Stef said.
"Later, Stef."
Stephanie turned into her development. As she passed by Cole Richards' house, he was getting out of his car and grabbing his bookbag. She honked and he smiled and waved. They had known each other for years but had drifted apart in high school. Stef was very popular. She was a pompom girl and dated many of the football players. Cole on the other hand had become more of a brainiac and moved in different circles. She didn't ever recall seeing him with a girl or at any of the dances.
Stef thought back to the times they used to play together back in middle school and junior high. She had actually thought he was cute at one point and they always had fun together. She wondered what had happened between them. Nothing really except different friends. He was in her advanced chem class but she sat on the other side of the
room and only said hi to him.
That got her thinking again about her problems with advanced chem. She had to do something. She was far behind and she knew it. She had been a wonderful student with high grades and mostly advanced classes but lately she had let things slip and partied too much. She was smart enough to know she needed help to catch up but dreaded going to Mr. Stern. As she turned into her driveway a thought struck her. She hurried inside as the thought developed.
Stef dumped her books for the weekend, said hi to her mom, and headed to her room. She had an idea she thought she might play out as she looked up a number and dialed the phone.
"Hello."
"Cole, it's Stephanie."
"Hi, Stephanie. How are you?"
"Fine. And you?"
"Good...what's up," Cole asked, more than a little surprised by the call.
Stephanie was one of the prettiest girls in high school. His friends were always impressed when she said hi to him. They had been good friends once but things had changed. Hi had been the extent of their conversations for probably two years.
"Surprised I'm calling?" Stef asked.
"A little," Cole admitted.
"Well, I have a favor to ask. We're about ready to start the labs in advanced chem and I wanted to be your lab partner."
"You do?"
"Yeah. I need help and you seem to know this stuff far better than me," Stef confided.
"I'm already kinda set to work with Mark," Cole said. "I can't just dump him."
"Oh, please, Cole. I need a good grade in chem and I'm lost in that class."
"You can catch back up. You're smart," Cole offered.
"Not as smart as you. You really know this shit and I need a lot of help."
"Go see Mr. Stern. He'll give you some help or extra credit or something," Cole said.
"I can't. I think he hates me for not paying attention and talking to Michelle."
"Gosh, Stef, I really am already committed to Mark as a lab partner."
"Come on, please, Cole. I really need help. For old time sake," Stef pleaded.
"I wish I could but..."
"Come on, Cole! I'll do anything. You've just got to help me," Stef begged.
"It wouldn't be right to just drop...
"Hey, it's a nice day out. How about meeting me at the old bench we used to meet at on the bike path? I'll meet you there in ten minutes on my bike," Stef offered.
"I don't know. It's getting late and I have homework and...
"Please! Come on! Just for a short time."
"Why do we have to..."
"I want to talk to you face to face and not over the phone," Stef said.
"Alright. Ten minutes. I can't stay long though."
"Okay! Thanks!" Stef said.
After Cole hung up he wasn't entirely sure why he was doing this. He had already promised Mark they would be lab partners and to go back on one of his best friends now was something he didn't feel good about even if it was for Stephanie.
Cole went out to the garage and pulled his bike down from the hook on the ceiling. He hadn't ridden it since the fall, so he checked the tires for air. They needed a little so he quickly added some. Stef was right, it was a nice early spring day, and even at four o'clock was mild enough for a quick bike ride. It took him closer to fifteen minutes to get to the bench but Stef was not there yet either. He spotted her coming a few minutes later.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, seemingly a little stressed over it. "My bike needed air in both tires."
"Mine too," Cole stated, knowing she was probably telling him the truth, not that it mattered.
"Well, thanks for meeting me. It's good to talk with you again. We've not talked much for a while."
"No, not too much," Cole admitted.
"What happen to us? I miss talking with you," Stef said, with real sincerity.
"I don't know. Guess we both went our own way."
"Yeah, I guess so. Where did you decide to go for college?"
"I'm going to The University of Illinois for engineering," Cole said.
"That's great. They have a wonderful engineering program, I hear," Stef said.
"Yeah, it's one of the best. Did I hear you're going to Northwestern?"
"Yeah, that's if they don't bounce me out for doing so poorly second semester senior year," Stef admitted. "I really need your help, Cole. You understand this advanced chem stuff and I'm totally lost."
