Tutor

Twelve

Odell

I knocked lightly on Demi's front door, trying not to smile too widely. My lips did twitch a little wider as the door was pulled open and Demi stood in front of me. She was wearing a pair of sweats and a shirt, her hair tied up in a ponytail. She wasn't wearing any makeup which I love. We've been suspended now for 3 days and we have spent every day together.

"Hi" she gave me a wide smile and indicated for me to come in.

"Hi" she leant up to wrap her arms around my neck and I smiled wider as my stomach filled with butterflies. Why am I acting like such a girl? "What's in the plans today?" she giggled as she closed the front door and my body ignited at the sound.

"I thought we could do some math before Marissa gets here with the homework" I nodded in agreement.

"Sounds good."

"Go and make yourself comfortable. I'll grab some drinks" our eyes remained locked for a moment and she bit down lightly on her lip before she turned and headed for the kitchen. I began into the living room and took a seat on the couch. I grabbed everything from out of my backpack and placed it onto the coffee table. Demi stepped into the room a moment later, carrying two glasses of water which she lowered onto the coffee table before she dropped back against the couch.

"You want to start off with a quiz?"

"Yeah, let's see if I've improved."

"I'm sure you have" I flashed her a smile as I handed her the piece of paper. "I'll set the timer for 15 minutes" she nodded as she leant to grab a pen. I set the timer and then occupied myself with some of my own homework until the timer went off. "Let's have a look" I took the quiz from her, watching from the corner of my eye as she turned to me, leaning in closer. The fact that she leant in closer, made my heart hammer against my chest, and for a brief moment I couldn't concentrate. I snapped myself out of my daze and began to mark the quiz. "You only got one wrong. You've improved so much."

"I have you to thank for that" I shook my head as I glanced to her, handing her it back.

"No, you did it all on your own" she flashed me a smile before she glanced down at the piece of paper. I could see her nibbling on her lower lip and I so wanted to lean in and kiss them. I want to feel them against mine again. Stop sounding like a girl, Odell.

"You helped though" she glanced up to meet my gaze. "If it wasn't for you agreeing to be my tutor, I would be redoing senior year, now hopefully I won't have to" she shuffled herself closer to me on the couch. Her arm rested on the back of the couch and I watched as her tongue came out to lick her lips. It wouldn't surprise me if she could hear my heart as it rapidly pounded against my ribcage. Her eyes flicked between my eyes and lips as her face grew closer to mine. "Odell..." I could feel her breath on my lips but before they could connect, the sound of the front door opening made us jump apart. I tried to compose myself and act all natural, as a middle-aged man who had black hair, that was starting to grey, stepped into the room. "Dad?" I don't think I have ever heard Demi sound so surprised.

"Are you going to explain to me why I received a phone call from your school to say that you've been suspended?"

"Th-That was on Monday" I glanced back at Demi.

"That isn't an explanation, Demetria" Demi's eyes danced to meet mine and I gave her a comforting smile. "And who's this?"

"This is Odell. He's been helping me with math" her dad really doesn't spend time here, does he? How long has Demi been living without her dad around?

"I don't like that you've been having boys around, Demetria, and while I'm here, I would like him gone."

"No. He's my friend. If you don't want me having boys around, stop travelling all over the country. Actually step up and be my dad for once. You don't realise how lonely I get here. I hate it. Ever since mom died, you've changed. You're not my dad anymore" my eyes kept flicking between Demi and her father, and I could see the anger starting to form on the older man's face. Demi, I could see was becoming emotional and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around her. "Come on, I'm not staying here with him" she pushed herself up from the couch and signalled for me to follow her.

"I suggest you rethink that, Demetria."

"Stop calling me Demetria."

"No, because that is the name your mother and I chose for you" I reached for Demi's hand and gave it a squeeze, in an attempt to calm her down. She quickly wiped at her cheek with the back of her hand before she turned to face her dad.

"You never used to call me that, even when I was in trouble, you never called me that" her dad just crossed his arms over his chest, the same look of anger covering his features. "I'm leaving and there's nothing you can do or say that will stop me. I'll be home whenever. I may just leave for a month and see how you like it" she stormed from the house and I quickly followed behind. I didn't want to be left in the house with her father who seemed pretty fucked off. I managed to catch up with her before she could cross the road. I tugged on her arm until she turned into me, her arms locking around my waist and she nuzzled her face into my chest as she cried softly. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and ran my fingers through her hair, waiting for her to calm herself down.

——