Once the teacher entered the classroom Aaron's attention passed from resting on Hannah to the teacher and on the blackboard for today's lesson
"Well class we will review what we saw last class about the equations of..." the teacher began the class while Aaron took notes and looked at the blackboard understanding to a great extent the equations the teacher explained
And it is that as a former student of an Ivy League university he had to strive hard academically in his past life so although he did not remember everything he still had extensive knowledge about what they teach in high school
While Aaron was busy doodling the problems in his notebook he felt a hit to his side from his friend
"Psht" Drew whispered trying to catch Aaron's attention
Once Aaron's attention was caught Drew said "friend do you have the answers?" Drew asked putting his hands together in a sign of prayer and putting a pitiful look waiting for Aaron to give him the answers
At Drew's blatant question Aaron simply rolled his eyes and lowered his head again to his notebook ignoring Drew
"Aaron Aaron" Drew continued whispering raising his voice a bit more trying to catch his friend's attention again
Unfortunately for Drew he did not catch Aaron's attention but he did catch the teacher's who was at the front explaining how to solve equations with variables
"Mr. Deluca" the teacher raised her voice causing Drew's look to change toward one of panic
"Since I see you are conversing in class I imagine you already know how to solve this equation" the teacher said while pointing with her marker at the equation that was in the middle of the blackboard
Solve [k]. 4.5+1.5k=18-3k
At which Drew saw the equation as if it were anything but numbers and how the teacher extended the marker in his direction
"Teacher I..." Drew began looking toward any side trying to find an excuse or anything to avoid going to the blackboard
"Now Mr. Deluca" the teacher said with a more severe voice and with a look that said she was not in the mood for games
Seeing there was no way out Drew stood up and headed in front of the blackboard with his back hunched and slow steps as if he were going straight toward execution
Once in front of the blackboard he took the marker the teacher extended to him and stayed looking at the equation as if it were magically going to solve itself
"Well Mr. Deluca" the teacher said after seeing how Drew remained motionless in front of the blackboard
At that Drew lowered his head and kept silence while the laughter of the rest of the classroom was heard
"Silence" the teacher said recovering the order of the room "Take a seat Mr. Deluca" the teacher finished saying while Drew took a seat
"Does someone have the answer" the teacher asked while her gaze rested on each desk of the room making the students lower their heads as soon as the teacher's gaze was put on them
After that it was seen how some hands were raised waiting to answer the question mainly from those seated in the first row
But to the teacher's surprise someone from the last row raised the hand someone who was bigger than all the students
"Mr. Reed do you want to come to the front?" the teacher asked with a raised eyebrow believing she was mistaken
"Yes teacher" was Aaron's response
"Come to the front then" the teacher said while seeing Aaron get up and walk toward her as soon as he was in front the teacher had to tilt her head upward just to see him in the eyes
Taking the marker the teacher was handing him Aaron set out to observe the equation and to solve it without any problem
"Then we move the k to the left and pass the numbers to the right of the equals sign" Aaron could be heard saying while solving the equation
"k = 3" Aaron wrote quickly once he cleared the equation and waited for the teacher to give him the okay knowing he had written the correct answer
"Very well done Mr. Reed" the teacher said this time giving a smile toward Aaron
"Thanks teacher" Aaron said while returning to his seat
"I don't understand friend" Drew whispered in a low voice toward Aaron once he sat down
"What thing?" Aaron asked wanting to know what thought had occurred to his friend
"You are a great athlete and also a great student" Drew began
"You are supposed to be only good at one not at both that is unfair" Drew said with a pitiful expression and incredulity toward his tall friend
"What can I tell you I am someone special" Aaron said with a smile of self-sufficiency toward Drew
At which Drew rolled his eyes and returned his gaze toward his notebook taking notes from the blackboard before they were erased
What Drew nor anyone knew was that there was a reason why Aaron strove academically although it is true that Aaron with his knowledge of his previous life would not have problems graduating from high school he still took his studies seriously
Because although now he had the talent and skills to go to any university he wanted he would have better chances with a higher GPA because although universities lower their standards for athletes Aaron wanted to stand out in both aspects
He knew that universities not only see the sporting aspect but also the school and disciplinary one so if Aaron wanted to go to a good university in the future he cannot let his grades be horrible
And also one more reason which was that Aaron hoped to get the Gatorade player of the year award of New york an award that not only rewards the sporting aspect but also the educational and the extra-sporting one
Aaron knew that no 9th grade player ever got the Gatorade award of the year until Cooper Flagg achieved it in the year 2022 something that was more than 10 years in the future which gave Aaron enough time to be able to take that achievement away from him and make his name stand out more in the basketball circle
After that classes continued without setbacks while waiting for the bell to ring indicating the start of lunch hour
Once in the cafeteria Aaron felt again the gaze of people toward him but remembering what his aunt told him years ago about the noise he kept calm pretending not to see them while eating peacefully
"They are looking at you dude" Drew said slightly hunched at the table while looking at all the gazes that rested on Aaron
"I know" was Aaron's short response while he continued eating
"It doesn't bother you?" Drew asked Aaron seeing him eat while imagining that if it were him he could not eat peacefully
"It is only noise" Aaron said equally concentrated on his food
"Noise?" Drew asked without understanding what his friend meant with the noise
"It's..." Aaron began to say to then stop and shake his head keeping for himself the explanation his aunt had given him so many years ago
After that he was seen eating peacefully while Drew did not stop asking him questions and glaring at him trying to get him to explain what he meant with that about the noise
That was until a person approached toward them he wore the maroon jacket of the basketball team with a shaved head and a slight incipient beard and hands in pockets he looked like the typical relaxed high school student
"Hey Aaron" Omar said once he was near and sitting at Aaron's side
"Omar" he responded to the greeting of this one while his gaze remained on his lunch tray
"I saw the list congratulations dude" Omar said giving pats on the back to Aaron along with a smile on his face
"Thanks" Aaron responded modestly while he continued chewing his food
"What brings you here?" Aaron asked knowing that this was the zone for 9th graders and 10th graders eat at other tables
"Just passing by to congratulate the new member of the team" omar continued talking with a smile
"And let you know that coach Joe wants to see you after class" Omar finished saying seriously giving to understand what was the true reason why Omar was there
"Understood" Aaron said understanding
"Well mission accomplished" Omar said to himself getting up and brushing off the non-existent dust on his pants
"I'll see you at practice or in the hallways I guess" Omar said already heading toward his friends
"Almost forgot" Omar said stopping with his back to Aaron and slowly turning his face
"Be careful with Maurice" Omar said seriously looking directly into Aaron's eyes to then move forward
Once Aaron stopped hearing the footsteps of Omar's shoes he directed his gaze again toward his friend who stayed there quiet during all that conversation
"Who is he?" Drew asked looking in the direction where seconds before Omar was
"Omar Calhoun plays shooting guard on the varsity team" Aaron said explaining to Drew who omar was
"I remember him" Drew said remembering Omar's face in the practice game yesterday and how he was the only one who ended up playing proactively with Aaron in the game
"I guess he will be your teammate" Drew finished saying while lowering his gaze to the plate
"Yes" Aaron said seeing how Drew's mood fell slightly
"Do you think I will be able to get to play at the same level as you?" Drew asked with his gaze low and with a discouraged tone not very common in him
At that Aaron remained momentarily without knowing what to say since it was rare to see Drew with a low mood thinking carefully what to say Aaron said
"Yes" firmly and with confidence "But it won't be easy you will have to train hard and disciplined" Aaron said giving to understand that Drew had to strive if he wanted to be able to play at the varsity level at least once in high school
At the affirmation that he could Drew cheered up to then get discouraged again upon hearing Aaron say that he would have to train more than he trains which is almost never
And although drew was thin he could not compare to the visible and stylized muscles of Aaron
"UGH" Drew moaned at the idea of exercising
Believing that Drew would give up after that Aaron lowered his gaze again toward his food knowing that everything depended on Drew and that he could not force him or help him more than encouraging him
"You could help me" Drew was heard murmuring in a low voice toward Aaron
"What did you say?" Aaron said without having understood what his friend had said
"If you could help me" Drew said this time louder toward his friend
"Sorry what?" Aaron asked Drew again with a smile on his face
"I said if you could help me!!" Drew yelled this time making more than one head turn to look at him in his direction
With his face red from shame he sat down slowly glaring toward Aaron who made the maximum effort not to laugh at his friend
"Bastard" Drew said with teeth clenched
This time not being able to hold it anymore Aaron's laughter was heard "hahahah" he laughed heartily for a time under Drew's glaring gaze
After that recovering air Aaron said "fine fine I will help you" he finished saying toward his friend
"We start this Sunday" Aaron said looking at Drew
"But the party is Saturday and I will be tired Sunday" Drew claimed trying to make Aaron understand
"The faster we start the better so I expect you Sunday at my house" Aaron finished saying getting up under Drew's attentive gaze
"Come on please" Drew said following Aaron
Once seeing that the pleas served for nothing Drew gave a sigh of resignation accepting his fate
"By the way what do you think the coach wants with you" Drew asked toward Aaron
"No idea" was Aaron's simple response without understanding what coach Joe wanted to talk about with him
"And do you already know what you are going to dress up as tomorrow?" Aaron asked deciding to change the subject while they returned to the classroom
That pulled a smile from Drew while he explained his costume excitedly
"You are not going to believe it it is..." Drew began to say while they walked through the school hallways
Author's thought
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