Tadhg had always struggled with maths, no matter how hard he tried to study, no matter how much he tried to pay attention in class, nothing made sense to him. He hated it, hated that he couldn’t do it, he couldn’t wrap his head around the numbers and letters and equations and how a letter equaled a number, it just didn’t make sense to him.

It used to be due to the fact he could never study at home, back when him and his siblings lived with their real mam and dad. He was always in constant fear, but that all changed when Edel and John adopted them. But nothing he did seemed to help him get better at maths.

He refused to tell anyone he was struggling, he hated people taking pity on him. The only indication that he was struggling was an accident, when Edel saw his report card and seen he had failed a maths test. He brushed it off and said it was a one time thing and she dropped the conversation.

It was clear in school, to his maths teacher, that he only getting worse the more she tried to teach. She had a whole class to look after so couldn’t help Tadgh individually. She managed to get him a tutor. A girl in a higher level maths class who agreed to help tutor him. He complained and tried to get out of it but the teacher wouldn’t budge, and he hated it. He hated the thought of someone helping him, looking at him like he was stupid, like he couldn’t understand simple equations, especially a girl his age. But he eventually agreed to do it when the teacher threatened to call Edel and tell her he was struggling.

Tadhg was sat in the library, staring down at the closed textbook and waiting for his tutor. He heard the door open and look up as his heart stuttered. The most beautiful girl he’s ever seen walked into the library, long hair, bright eyes and breathtakingly stunning. He watched her eyes scan the room before landing on him. His heart rate spiked when she started walking over and he sat up slightly straighter.

He hoped this girl would be tutor, he prayed it would be. She reached the table and sat down

“Tadhg?” She says softly and he had to fight the urge to smile widely. Her voice was angelic, soft and so full of life. She was the tutor, and he silently thanked the heavens

“Yeah” he nods with a small smile

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.