lacuna

Chapter Five

Fallon's pov

Me and my stupid mind.

I swear this was all karma.

As soon as I entered the classroom and saw the boy straddling the chair in the front row, I wanted to turn around and sprint out the door and back the way I came. But I held my ground and looked around. It would be easier if I sat across from him at the same desk.

After pulling a chair to where I wanted, I sat across from Eli Horace. My eyes went straight to his face. He didn't look that good.I meant in a healthy way. Not in an attractive way. Because he definitely was good-looking. Quite fine, actually- I mentally slapped myself.

He's a year younger. Get yourself together.

He had a cut on his bottom lip and his left eye showed a faint bruise. I had to force myself to look away as his eyes met mine. Taking out my books, I inhaled. Let's do this.

"So, which lessons do you find difficult?" I asked. Yes, that's a good way to start.

"Uhm, I don't know, all?" He said casually. I blinked. Never mind.

"Okay. Then, let's start with the first one?" I felt awkward.

He shrugged, "Whatever".

This was going to be a long session.

"....and that's one way to do it. Or you can-" I paused, looking at Eli. He was on his phone, a bored expression on his face. I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath. I had passed my limit. This was the fifth time.

"Look, you want this as much as I do so why can't you just make it easy?" I said, dropping my pen. He didn't reply. "Hey? I'm talking to you" I raised my voice. He finally looked up, "What?". I ran a hand through my hair.

"Can you please just put your phone away?" I said.

"Or what, Fal? Are you gonna sue me or something?" The look he was giving me was filled with hatred.

Fal.

"Don't call me that" I said, "and no, I'm not gonna sue, I just want to get this over with".

"Pfft, you think I even want to be in the same room as you?"

"You think I do? No" I snapped back, too fed up with this.

He flashed his teeth, giving me a grin, "Well, look at that, the girl can defend herself". I sighed.

"I want you to listen to me when I teach you, okay? Because we both want this and it's hard enough for me as it is".

"No. I don't want this" he argued.

"Then why did you come? You could've ignored this".

"That's none of your business".

"Well, this is my business. And you'll cooperate whether you want to or not. I'm not going to waste my breath teaching some...some..." I searched for a good enough word.

"Charming? Hot? Sexy? Cute?" he teased. I glared at him. My anger was still skimming above the surface.

"Some lazy, rude, asshole-y guy who doesn't give two craps about his grades" I finished. He rolled his eyes, but I groaned, dragging my hands down my face. I suddenly felt horrible.

"Sorry. That was mean. But please help me with this. It's a win-win. I get my points and you get your marks," I said, looking down at the desk. When he didn't say anything, I added another quiet, "Please?". I looked up and my eyes met his. I felt ridiculous, begging him like this but I was desperate. And the fact that I was practically begging someone younger than me didn't do much of a job of lowering my embarrassment. As he studied me, I knew he was debating something in his head, his brow slightly furrowed. I definitely made him uncomfortable.