"Y-yes! The teacher suggested I'd ask you for help for the next Chemistry test. I'm struggling with that chapter." I had to fight the urge to applaud him. He actually managed to speak like normal people. Good for him.
                              
Wait. The teacher thought I'd help him? Me? Really?
                              
I glanced at my teacher but he was occupied with the test he'd already received.
                              
"Me? Really?" I was genuinly surprised. Nerdy started fidgeting again.
                              
"Yes. He said you're the best student in this class." I am? I didn't even know what the next chapter was about.
                              
"Oh. So... you want me to tutor you?" I don't even think he's capable of that. I mean, he's barely holding it together right now. I don't think he'd feel safe with just me in a room.
                              
I could have some fun with that though.
                              
"I guess? I-I mean if you're up for it. I know you don't usually do this but I really could use th-" Great. Now he was talking too much. I didn't feel like listening to this verbal diarrhea so I held my hand out. He stopped speaking immediately.
                              
The power.
                              
Oh! Maybe I could use this to my advantage.
                              
"Well, the thing is... Eh. What's your name?" I'd almost called him Nerdy. That would've been awkward.
                              
"Tom" No stutter. We're getting somewhere.
                              
"Well, the thing is Tom, I have detention after school. So if it would be possible to tutor you instead of going to detention I'd love to." I don't know if that were possible but the least I could try.
                              
"H-how am I supposed to get you out of detention?" He was considering it. Good boy.
                              
"Maybe you could explain the situation to our teacher. I mean, tutoring someone is way more productive than just doing nothing in detention, right? Maybe he'll give me a pass for one day." I gotta say this is a brilliant idea.
                              
Maybe I could just ditch the kid and go home instead. It would be amazing to have a day off from detention. Seriously, I could feel the life getting drained from me every time I was there.
                              
Tom was nodding now. "I'll go ask right now!" Wow he got enthusiastic. No procrastination whatsoever.
                              
When I looked up he was already talking to the teacher. I really hoped he would pick up the material fast because I didn't want this tutoring thing to be intensive. But it was only a chapter so we should be fine.
                              
Two minutes later Tom was walking towards me again with a huge grin on his face. I guess the plan had worked.
                              
"The next test is in two weeks so you get off detention twice every week until the test. I mean, i-if that's okay with you?" Man, he started out with such confidence and then he went all insecure. I hadn't bitten him so far so why was he scared?
                              
I was genuinly happy with this plan. I figured I'd be able to escape detention just once, but four times! Awesome.
                              
"We have a deal ner-Tom!" Oops. Almost called him Nerdy there.
                              
"Great! Can we start tomorrow?" The bell rang. I started to get up and then I realised Tom was still waiting for his answer.
                              
He seemed so invisible, he didn't really grab your attention. His voice was quiet and his shoulders were hunched. Maybe I should tutor him in confidence instead of chemistry.
                              
"Tomorrow it is. See ya kid!" I waved and then went to my next class.
                              
-
                              
Before lunch I decided to go to the restroom. Oddly enough they were almost empty.  Only one stall seemed occupied.