Chapter Text
Cat leaned forward with her elbow on her mother’s desk, head resting on her palm. She couldn't believe that her mother made her drive all the way down to her office after her classes just to yell at her. Not that she was surprised. What did she really expect from the woman who rented a lush, downtown, office because ‘being a writer doesn't mean I can sit at home all day, kitty’.
However, she hadn't expected this impromptu meeting to be about her grades, of all things. Cat sighed and brought her attention back to her mother’s ridiculous ranting and pacing.
“This is unacceptable, kitty.” Her mother drones on, swirling the alcohol in her glass. “You are a Grant—that comes with certain expectations.”
“Mother, please.” Cat sighed, rolling her eyes.
“I cannot let this stand. An ‘F’, no matter the class, must be rectified.” Her mother shook her head, her hand going to the glass of amber liquid sitting on her desk.
“I can just drop the class, mother. I can take it next year!” Cat argued, knowing this was heading nowhere good.
Her mother downed the rest of her scotch. “I've already spoken to your principal and it's too late for that. If you don't pull up that grade, you'll have to make up the course in summer school.”
“But I was due to start my internship at the Daily Planet over the summer!” Cat complained, jumping to her feet.
That internship was a chance for her to spend the summer in Metropolis. It would be a summer getting coffee and answering phones but it was an honest-to-goodness journalism internship and it would be an excellent addition for her application to college. Plus, it had the biggest perk of all—getting her away from her mother for the whole summer. There was no chance in hell that she was giving that up now that she’d been accepted.
“Then get your act together!” Her mother snapped, going to pour herself another drink. “I've arranged with your principal for you to get a tutor. You’ll meet with her after school three days a week until you get your grade up.”
Cat scowled. Three days a week would really cut into her extracurricular activities. “I don't think I can't fit anything else into my schedule, mother. I'm on the cheerleading squad and I’m on the school paper! Those things take time!”
"Quite frankly, kitty, that's something you’ll have to figure out.” Her mother handed her a slip of paper. “There’s the girl’s number. You can set up whatever three days you want but, as I'm paying for three days a week, you will fit it into your schedule. Now, I have to get back to work.”
Cat took the piece of paper her mother was offering, crumpling it in her hand and storming out of the office. She was beyond done with conversation, anyways.
The elevator dinged, signaling its arrival, and she stepped into the metal box. She had no idea how she was going to rearrange her schedule to fit in the tutoring. Monday and Wednesday she had cheerleading practice, with games on Fridays. Tuesday and Thursday, Cat stayed after school in the newspaper room. Both activities usually lasted until after four in the afternoon and then she barely had time to do her homework and eat before going to sleep and starting the whole thing over again.
Cat looked at the crumpled bit of paper. Maybe she could arrange to meet the tutor during her lunch. Or, if it was that whimpering Schott kid she was thinking of, she might be able to convince him to do all her homework for her. Cat straightened out the paper to see the name written on it.
An annoyed groan passed her lips. Of course, out of all the tutors available, her mother would have to pick the biggest goodie-goodie on the face of the planet.
Kara Danvers.