sensitive, because he had no idea who I was, but his rejection stung. If he could remember me, it would be totally different.
Finally, the bell rang. I didn’t even try to catch his attention. I was tired and lost in all my classes. I was ready to go home, but I had four more classes to go to… with Brecken. Why had I done this? It was torture being so close to him, yet unable to talk with him like I used to. It was as though everything we went through had never happened, and an ache grew in my chest that threatened to explode in the form of uncontrolled tears.
It took monumental effort to remember why I was here, in this class, in an unfamiliar school, chasing a boy who hardly gave me the time of day… because Brecken needed to find a wife, get married, and have kids. I wanted that person to be me, and I was jealous of someone who didn’t even exist in his life… yet.
When I stood up, I was surprised to see him still sitting in his seat, watching me. I stopped and stared back in frustration. “What? We’re going to be late for our next class.”
He smiled and exhaled a chuckle. “I just thought you might want an answer to your question.”
“What question?”
“The one about wanting a tutor for math?” He grinned, and it was totally adorable. My heart melted. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself into his arms, but I refrained and walked away. He followed, which I suspected he would. We stopped in the hall and were so close that I could smell the soap he’d used that morning. I took a deep breath, to soak him in for a moment longer—to bask in the feel of him so near, his crooked smile, his long, black lashes. I wished I could place a kiss on each of his eyelids. His bangs had grown long, and I was tempted to reach up and brush them away from his eyes. I couldn’t stop staring enough to answer his question.
He cocked his head to the side and studied me. “You okay?”
“Um, yeah. I would really like that… the help, I mean.”
He smiled. “Okay. I charge ten bucks an hour.”
“What?”
“You want me to do it for free?”
“Uh…” I stared, incredulous, into Brecken’s beautiful, blue eyes. He was going to charge me?
“I tutor for my job. It’s how I make money. It’s the only way I make money.” The silliness in his voice was gone. Plus, he knew I could afford it.
“Of course. Sorry. Yes, I’d be happy to pay you.” I had no idea he’d started tutoring. So much had changed since I’d been gone. It was almost like we didn’t know each other anymore. He seemed so different, and something inside me cracked just a little. He danced. He tutored. What next?
He smiled, pointed at me, and then turned to walk away. Over his shoulder, he called, “Three-thirty in the school library!”
***
I waited in the library, watching every student walk by on their way out of the school. Large, glass doors separated the library from the main foyer, so I got a good view of everyone. I’d gotten here before him as I’d skipped going to my locker. Actually, I didn’t have one here, but whatever. Ten minutes later, Brecken sauntered in and plopped down beside me.
“Man, what a day.” He looked tired and so was I, but we didn’t have much time. I had to be home early for my stupid ceremony with Adam and Claire. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all, but I pushed it to the back of my mind and focused on the gorgeous hunk sitting beside me.
“So this is why you switched schools?” Claire asked inside our head. “For a guy ?”
“Where have you been?” I said out loud… accidentally.
“What?” Brecken asked, his eyes opening wide at my ill-mannered question.
“Oh… not you, Brecken.”
“Well, he is good looking, I’ll give you that.”
“Shut up!”
Brecken was staring at me, his mouth gaping open. “O-kay. So, no math then?”
“Yes, math. Definitely. Sorry.” I nodded, mortified, opening my notebook. My face had grown hot, and I wanted to slither off my
Finally, the bell rang. I didn’t even try to catch his attention. I was tired and lost in all my classes. I was ready to go home, but I had four more classes to go to… with Brecken. Why had I done this? It was torture being so close to him, yet unable to talk with him like I used to. It was as though everything we went through had never happened, and an ache grew in my chest that threatened to explode in the form of uncontrolled tears.
It took monumental effort to remember why I was here, in this class, in an unfamiliar school, chasing a boy who hardly gave me the time of day… because Brecken needed to find a wife, get married, and have kids. I wanted that person to be me, and I was jealous of someone who didn’t even exist in his life… yet.
When I stood up, I was surprised to see him still sitting in his seat, watching me. I stopped and stared back in frustration. “What? We’re going to be late for our next class.”
He smiled and exhaled a chuckle. “I just thought you might want an answer to your question.”
“What question?”
“The one about wanting a tutor for math?” He grinned, and it was totally adorable. My heart melted. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself into his arms, but I refrained and walked away. He followed, which I suspected he would. We stopped in the hall and were so close that I could smell the soap he’d used that morning. I took a deep breath, to soak him in for a moment longer—to bask in the feel of him so near, his crooked smile, his long, black lashes. I wished I could place a kiss on each of his eyelids. His bangs had grown long, and I was tempted to reach up and brush them away from his eyes. I couldn’t stop staring enough to answer his question.
He cocked his head to the side and studied me. “You okay?”
“Um, yeah. I would really like that… the help, I mean.”
He smiled. “Okay. I charge ten bucks an hour.”
“What?”
“You want me to do it for free?”
“Uh…” I stared, incredulous, into Brecken’s beautiful, blue eyes. He was going to charge me?
“I tutor for my job. It’s how I make money. It’s the only way I make money.” The silliness in his voice was gone. Plus, he knew I could afford it.
“Of course. Sorry. Yes, I’d be happy to pay you.” I had no idea he’d started tutoring. So much had changed since I’d been gone. It was almost like we didn’t know each other anymore. He seemed so different, and something inside me cracked just a little. He danced. He tutored. What next?
He smiled, pointed at me, and then turned to walk away. Over his shoulder, he called, “Three-thirty in the school library!”
***
I waited in the library, watching every student walk by on their way out of the school. Large, glass doors separated the library from the main foyer, so I got a good view of everyone. I’d gotten here before him as I’d skipped going to my locker. Actually, I didn’t have one here, but whatever. Ten minutes later, Brecken sauntered in and plopped down beside me.
“Man, what a day.” He looked tired and so was I, but we didn’t have much time. I had to be home early for my stupid ceremony with Adam and Claire. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all, but I pushed it to the back of my mind and focused on the gorgeous hunk sitting beside me.
“So this is why you switched schools?” Claire asked inside our head. “For a guy ?”
“Where have you been?” I said out loud… accidentally.
“What?” Brecken asked, his eyes opening wide at my ill-mannered question.
“Oh… not you, Brecken.”
“Well, he is good looking, I’ll give you that.”
“Shut up!”
Brecken was staring at me, his mouth gaping open. “O-kay. So, no math then?”
“Yes, math. Definitely. Sorry.” I nodded, mortified, opening my notebook. My face had grown hot, and I wanted to slither off my
Similar Books
