we smile at the moon

TWENTY-TWO | THE DEAL

IT WAS SATURDAY evening and someone had just yelled my name as I left the dining room.

Yunji had decided not to get takeaway tonight, so I was alone as I walked back to house. Both Analisse and Oliana had gone to their friends' houses since exams were over and papers had been handed back, and House was feeling rather empty.

I spun around, patting the high ponytail I'd spent half an hour trying to properly tie to make sure it hadn't fallen apart. I had this strange feeling I'd be sleeping with it tonight out of fear that I'd never be able to make something like it again.

It was Theodore Yu.

Blinking nonplussed, I glanced behind him to make sure none of his posse was around. They weren't. Theodore was alone, and for some reason he had to talk to me.

My brows creased.

He caught up after a second, since he was ridiculously tall, and I raised one eyebrow as I met his gaze. "Yes?"

He licked his lips and swallowed, clearly nervous. Theodore Yu, nervous. That was the first time I'd seen something like this, and it was fascinating.

Both Theodore and Sebastian were good-looking. If Sebastian was obviously the fun-loving, mischievous one of the two, then Theodore was the mature and stable one who always thought with his brain. Tonight he wore a white t-shirt and shorts. It had started getting hot a little while back, and I myself was in shorts tonight with a tank top. One of the things that had evolved about me since I'd come here. I'd started dressing a bit differently.

He sucked in a deep breath and then said, "I need help."

I shut my eyes. "I need help too, as much as I don't want to admit it."

"Oh?" he asked, tilting his head. "With?"

"You first," I said, nudging my chin towards him.

He winced, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "I, uh, messed up my Theory of Magic exams. And I didn't get the score I wanted for History either."

Okay.

I hadn't been expecting this.

I hadn't asked about their grades. I hadn't bothered, and I doubted any of my friends would know anyways. I met his gaze. This was perfect. If both of us needed help from the other, then there was nothing to feel embarrassed about.

We were dead equal.

Also, he needed help with two subjects. I only needed help with one.

I had the advantage. The higher ground.

I raised my head. "Fucked up for you or fucked up for everyone?" I asked, crossing my arms, using Karina and Starla's words.

He blinked as he stared at me, and then replied, "Fucked up for me. I got seventy two for Theory, somehow. And seventy-eight for History."

"Seventy for Artefacts," I admitted. "I need help with it, and you're the Artefacts god around school."

Hope seemed to enter his eyes. Releasing a breath, he carefully suggested, "So... I know you're good with Theory and History. And I heard you got good marks for both. And you need help from me for Artefacts... so why don't we help each other? You help me with Theory and History, I help you with Artefacts?"

But there was one problem with that, wasn't there?

"And what does Sebastian think of this?"

Silence.

"Does he know?"

Silence.

"You didn't ask him?"