Chapter Text
“ Sorry, but you’re off the team.”
“ WHAT?! “
Sonic stood stunned at what he had just heard from his coach’s mouth. “ off the team” , the sentence echoing and repeating in his mind as he tried to grasp what was just given to him.
He let out some gasps of air, trying to collect his thoughts.
“ W-wait, why?! “ he sputtered out, not only asking his coach but himself. Why was he, one of the greatest runners on the team, kicked off?
His coach sighed, scratching and shaking his head. He avoided Sonics gaze for awhile before continuing to talk.
“ Listen, kiddo, I’ll give it to ‘ya straight: your grades ain’t hitting the mark the school wants you to be. “ his coach finally explained, “ and if you’re failing, it means you can’t join any extracurricular activities, including track.”
Silence filled the atmosphere in the gymnasium. So silent and quiet, you could hear the school bells tick every second.
Sonic tried to collect his thoughts; how could he fix this?! He loved track! He loved being with his track members and he loved running, how could this happen?!
His couch noticed the worry and disappointment in Sonic’s face and sighed, muttering something to himself before speaking again.
“ And due to your low performance scores, the school’s is requiring you to take their new program called the Tutor Program. “ continued his coach as he grabbed something from one of his pockets and handed it to Sonic.
It was a pamphlet with the title “ the Tutor Program” with images depicting random students smiling with books and pecios in their hands. Needless to say, Sonic wasn’t ecstatic about the whole thing and quickly crumpled and wrinkled the pamphlet into his jacket pocket.
“ Gee, thanks. I’m soooo excited about this” saying sarcastically before getting a pat on the back from his coach.
“ See! That’s the spirit! his coach said, clearly not getting the hint “ you’ll be back on the team in no time with that attitude! “ which did give Sonic some hope of getting back on the team.
The two chatted in some small talk before leaving the gymnasium and into the high school parking lot, separating and going their separate ways.
The cold breeze quickly hit Sonic, putting his hands in his puffer jacket. His cold hands felt the folded paper of the pamphlet and Sonic’s mode worsened.
“ Pfft.. Tutor Program. I’m smart enough as is! “ he reassured himself in an attempt to heal his ego.
Sonic turned the corner to see one of his closest friends from childhood, standing in the parking lot holding onto two bikes.
His best buddy Miles.
The two always rode together by bike so neither of would be alone when riding back home.
“ Miles! “ Sonic called out with a friendly smile which quickly caught the attention of his best friend in which he smiled back.
“ Finally, you took forever! I was about to go home by myself. “ Miles joked, handing Sonic his bike.
“ Speaking of taking forever, “ Miles continued “ what did your coach need to tell you? “ he asked, hopping onto his own bike, looking back for Sonic’s answer.
Sonic rolled his eyes and scoffed before hopping onto his bike as well.
“ Coach kicked me off track. “ he said bluntly as he started to peddle away from the parking lot.
“ What?! But you’re one of the best people on the track team; your coach even said it for himself! “ Miles said with surprise, quickly catching up to him on his bike.
“ I know! I had the same reaction as you! But he said it has something to do with my grades and if I don’t change it, I’m never getting back in. “ Sonic explained as they began peddling down the street in the neighborhoods.
“ I could always tutor you if you wanted me to? “ Miles offered, looking at Sonic for a second before focusing back on the street.
Miles is a smart kid, nothing more than that. Despite being a year younger than Sonic, he was able to skip a grade and join the seniors because of his intelligence and capability to learn. The only negative was the taunting towards his extra set of fingers on his hands.
“ Nah, it’s okay dude. Plus, it’s not like I could take you up on the offer. They sighed me up for some nerdy,geeky tutor program.. no offense.”
“ None taken. “
“ But yeah, it’s either this- “ he continued, pulling out the pamphlet from his jacket’s pocket “ or no track. Not much of a choice for me if I want to get back in the team. “
The two continued to peddle down the streets of the neighborhoods until Sonic reached his stop. He hit the brakes of his bike, setting one foot on the ground and looking back at Miles as he waved him goodbye. He threw his bike on the side of the house before jiggling the door knob of the front door.
It was locked.
He checked his pockets to feel the shape of his keys but were nowhere to be found.
“ Aw crap. “ Sonic had lost his keys AGAIN. As of his day couldn’t get worse. He tried to remember his steps this morning to see if he had left them inside or taken them with him but his memory was fogged as usual. This act of forgetfulness was common all throughout his life from meetings with friends, birthdays, time, everything! Even forgetting important details about his own life on some occasions. Sonic always wondered what was wrong with him: why can’t he focus and remember?
He shook his head and walked to the side of the house, luckily finding a window that was unlocked and managed to enter through.
Sonic entered his room, walking over the piles of clothes and random trinkets he’s found in the hallways of his school. He liked his room messy but it was a hassle looking for what he needed in a huge pile of mess. He flipped into his unmade bed, letting out a sigh before pulling the pamphlet out from his jacket’s pocket.
He opened the pamphlet out of curiosity to see the information written inside:
‘ Welcome to the Tutor Program! Here, this program will set you up with one of our highest passing students in the school as your tutor and from there, you’ll be able to learn and grow with your student tutor and raise your current grades! This program will last until your grades are passing. The location is set in the school library, we look forward to seeing you there!‘
“ God damn it“ was all Sonic could say from reading that god-awful pamphlet.
This is going to be a while.