Chapter 14

Tutor someone.

She wanted me to tutor someone.

Her request was not completely unexpected but what puzzled me was the fact that I, a student, had to teach another student who, by all means, could most certainly afford a professional tutor from elsewhere outside of the school.

I didn't want to seem rude or unhappy about the arrangement so I refrained from asking Mrs. Douglas but it still very much bothered me. She had offered me extra credit and a recommendation letter for when I started applying for universities later in my senior year in exchange for tutoring a student. As much as I didn't want to attract any more attention than I already had, the temptation of a recommendation letter and extra credit was too much for me to pass up this opportunity.

I just hoped that whoever I end up tutoring isn't a complete jerk.

I strutted blithely down the hallway cradling my binder towards my chest. I paid little to no attention to the gazes directed at me and headed straight for my locker. When I arrived, I opened my locker and pulled out my Accounting textbook along with my other pencil case full of stationery I didn't normally take to class.

In my mind, I had begun formulating a plan for how I would conduct my tutoring lessons.

Given the attitude of majority of the students in my classes, I figure that whoever Mrs. Douglas assigns to me wouldn't be too keen on having to be tutored. I predict that it would take some convincing and maybe even a lot of bribery to get them to sit down and follow along so I mentally prepared myself for an outright rejection and or getting insulted in process.

That afternoon, I was finally called back to the office where Mrs. Douglas had said the student I would be tutoring was already waiting. When I entered the office, I was expecting to see some delinquent-looking teenage boy with piercings and tattoos (you know, the usual) but to my surprise however, the student I was instructed to tutor was none other than the class jokester himself; Don Velmont.

He and I looked at each other in utmost surprise as Mrs. Douglas began to speak.

"You two are familiar with each other by now I'm sure so this shouldn't be difficult," she said. "Mr. Velmont, Miss Parker here will be your tutor for the upcoming weeks in preparation for the final examinations. Hopefully, with her help, your grades will turn out something other than abysmal."

Ouch.

Don simply blinked in mild disbelief as the tips of his ears turned pink following her savage words.

"You are free to choose when and where to meet to hold your tutoring lessons as long as it is all on school grounds," she stated sternly whilst eyeing the both of us. "Remember that this school has a strict 'No romantic relationship' policy which must be upheld."

Her words caused a blush to rise up on both our cheeks leading us to avoid each other's eyes out of embarrassment.

"Am I clear?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Don and I replied, "Crystal."

"Good. You are both dismissed. I'll be expecting good results in a couple of weeks," Mrs. Douglas hummed.

Wow. No pressure at all.

I trailed behind Don as we exited the office, lost in thought.

Outside in the hallway, he turned to me and suddenly said, "Um about the whole tutoring thing..."

I cocked an eyebrow, "Yeah?"

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Can we...not do it?"

Oh?

Furrowing my eyebrows, I asked, "Why?"

"It's just...school isn't really my thing and my dad already has a position ready for me in his company after I graduate so there isn't really a need," he shrugged looking anywhere but at me. "I can lie and say you tutored me so don't worry about the extra credit and stuff."

I resisted the urge to facepalm.

"It doesn't work like that," I told him straight. "Even if you lie to Mrs. Douglas, if your results do not improve even a smidge after we sit the finals, it's going to be obvious that something fishy was going on. And then she'll ask me about it and I...well I can't lie."

"Are you fucking serious?" he asked with a snicker, "You're like sixteen and you can't lie? You are really the stereotypical good girl huh."

...This guy was pissing me off.

Holding in my anger, I kept my expression calm and said, "If you are unable to pass a simple accounting test, how will you survive in your dad's company? Even if you are able to keep your job because you are his son, do you think people won't notice something is wrong? What are you going to do if they start talking? What if they start insulting you behind your back out of jealousy and envy because of how easy you have it?"

Finally, his smug uncaring expression dropped and was replaced by something akin to anger.

I knew what I said was probably a bit out of line but he needed to think about it. He was about to retort with something but I cut him off.

"I'm not saying this to piss you off. I'm saying this because it's what will definitely happen if you are not serious with your studies," I told him honestly. "I know I can't force you to attend our tutoring lessons but at the end of the day, you are the one who will be affected in the long run. Not me."

He looked away, not completely convinced.

Ugh, this is hard...

With a sigh, I said, "Okay, how about this; just attend at least one tutoring lesson and see what it's like. There's no harm in that. If you end up not liking it and thinking it won't benefit you at all, then we won't continue and I'll go and tell Mrs. Douglas that it can't work."

Don's eyes widened, "Just like that?"

I nodded, "Just like that."

"...Then what about your extra credit and stuff?" he questioned curiously.

"I just won't get it," I shrugged. "Maybe she might give me another opportunity but otherwise, it won't matter since I intend to keep my grades up and apply for a scholarship to various universities in my senior year. With or without the extra credit and recommendation letter, one of those universities would still accept me based on my grades and GPA alone."

The boy's eyes fell to stare at his shoes as he silently contemplated.

I waited patiently for him to make a decision ignoring the sweat gathering on my brow.

After what seemed like an eternity, he looked up again and opened his mouth to reply.

"Fine. One session. That's it."

I silently released a breath.

First step - done.

"Great! Then, shall we begin tomorrow?"

"Sure, whatever."

"The library after school. Sound good?"

He nodded rubbing his nape, "Yeah. Just an hour though since I got basketball practice later on."

"An hour is fine," I agreed and we were about to go our separate ways when I suddenly remembered something. I turned to him and said, "Ah before you go, could you bring along your past test papers and quizzes?"

"Why?" he asked confusedly.

I waved him off, "Nothing serious. I just want to get an understanding of what you know, what areas you find easy, and what areas you struggle with. Is that okay?"

"Uh, sure..." He didn't sound very sure. "If that's all...I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yup," I replied. "See you tomorrow as well."

After he turned his back, I swung around the other way and started walking. Secretly, I patted my chest in an attempt to calm my beating heart. I rubbed my sweaty palms on the surface of my skirt and released a breath.

Holy cow that was scary...

Where I got the courage to talk like that was beyond me.