Once In A Lifetime

Grades

Darcy

Parker and I just turned 14, and for our birthday, mum and dad got us tickets to see our favorite band, Illusion. They are so brilliant, I'm so excited. The only thing though, mum said we have to have straight A's or else we can't go.

This is the part I'm worried about, because I don't have good grades. I rush to get the mail after school, and find the report card, shoving it in my bag and dropping the rest on the table. I run to my room and lock the door, then throw my bag on the floor and pull out the letter, sitting down on my bed.

I rip it open and slowly unfold the letter. It's as I feared. I have one B, three C's, a D and an F. She will never let me go. What to do, what to do? I can't tell Parker, cause she's the angel who gets straight A's. Plus, she hasn't told mum she's a lesbian, so she's trying to stay out of trouble.

I just decide to get rid of the evidence. I stand, with the envelope and letter in hand, and open my bedside drawer. I pull out the matchbox I have in there for when I light candles, and walk into my bathroom. I strike the match and light the papers on fire, watching them burn. When the flame gets close to my fingers, I place them in the sink then wash the ashes down the drain. The evidence is gone, now all there is to do is wait. I sit at my desk and begin my homework, doing as best I can.

"Darcy!" mum's voice calls up the stairs. I quickly stand and walk down the stairs and into the living room. Her voice comes from the kitchen loudly, trying to be heard over the Telly Ava is watching. "Did you already grab your report card?"

"No," I call, my heart racing. "I've not touched the mail today."

"Yes you have," Ava says.

"Shut it twirp," I threaten. "Or I'll tell mum what I caught you and Gracie doing last Thursday."

Her eyes grow wide and she clamps her mouth shut, looking at the Telly once again. Last week, I walked downstairs to find Gracie and Ava having a picnic on the couch. Ava knocked over some apple sauce, which made Gracie knock over her grape juice, so the couch cushion is ruined. I helped them clean it up, obviously after a stern talking to, and then we flipped the cushion so no one will see.

"Hmm, that's curious," mum says, entering the living room. "They only sent over Hayden's and Parker's."

"Maybe they combined ours this time," I suggest. Mum opens one of the envelopes and pulls out the letter, looking over the contents.

"No it's just Parker's," she mumbles. I watch nervously as her eyes scan over the paper, before she looks up with a sigh. "Oh well, they'll be online by the weekend hopefully, you know how slow the school systems are, even the private ones."

"Well the concert is Friday," I remind, taking a step closer. "Can I still go?"

"How are you grades?" She raises an eyebrow.

"I've fixed the ones that needed help," I tell a half truth.

"Good," she nods. "Then you may go."

"Thanks mum," I squeal, jumping into action and hugging her tight.

"You're welcome sis," she mutters, hugging me back.

+

Y/N

Harry returns from taking the girls to the concert as I take a seat at the table with my laptop.