North From Here

- 3 -

I walk in the house were Austin, my little brother, attacks me in a hug. I miss being a kid, when I didn't understand the real world, And when I was always happy like that.

"Hey bud!"

"Hi sissy!"

I pull away from his hug and go into the kitchen to were my mom was.

"Hey mom, so uhm are you chill with someone coming over tonight-? I'm tutoring them.."

Please don't ask questions, mom.

"Tutoring on a Friday night, huh? No I don't mind, as long as she leaves before 10"

I roll my eyes at my mom little 'joke' about tutoring on a Friday night. My mother assumed i was tutoring a girl, which is false. However I don't wanna deal with more questions so it's fine I'll explain later once I think about it.

"Thanks mom!"

I run upstairs to my room. Me and Oscar had exchanged numbers during lunch, he's gonna be here in a hour. Why the hell do I feel like I need to look more presentable than I do at school? What the hell is wrong with me. I look in the mirror, fixing my hair. And looking myself over.

Nope. Nope. Not needed. I sigh with frustration before still running  a brush through my thick hair. For the next hour I sit on my bed thinking. That's a lie, there's was a few points were I was pacing my room and probably started to wear a hole into my floor. Just stay calm hazel, it's a normal tutoring session. Right? Yes. Mhm. That it.

Finally the time came and he was going to be here any time now.. I hear the doorbell ring. Shit.

And before I can get my ass downstairs to awnser the door my mother is already at it.

"Hi, Mrs. Collins. I'm Oscar"

He remembered my last name. Huh. Okay. Oscar held his English textbook in his hand. I was surprised he took time to remember my last name. Though it was a basic last name, so I doubt it was hard to remember.

"Oh hello there! You must be the boy hazel is tutoring"

She exaggerated the word boy. If my mom didn't know better she'd be convinced he was my boyfriend or something stupid. I already knew I'd be getting questions, and side eyes from my father when he got home from work. Love my dad, but he's overly protective some days.

"Oh-kayy mom" I laugh nervously grabbing oscards free forearm..damn he got some muscles..shit..shut up brain...and dragging him to the dining room.

"Sorry, about that"

I sit at the table and he sits down next to me, getting out his English work.

"No problem, Hazel"

He had a sweet smile on his face. Faint dimples appearing. Ah fuck. Okay look away. I quickly looked back down at the table.

I think I had been helping him for about thirty minutes when the front door opened. Dad must've gotten back from his shift a little early!

"I'll be right back"

I jump from my seat and run to the door, embracing my dad in a tight hug. He tries to make sure to get good shifts so he's able to make it for dinner and stuff, but it is hard since he's one of the higher ranks on the police force.

"Hey sweet pea" my dad smiled and ruffled up my hair.

"Moms in the kitchen making food, Austin's in there too."

He nods and goes to the kitchen. I return to the dining room and continue to help and study with Oscar. My dad walks in the room a few minutes later after changing out of his work clothes.

"Hey you gi-"
I think my dad's jaw dropped honestly.
"-uys want anything to drink?"

"No sir I'm alright, thank you"

Oscar said, I just simply shook my head no. My father left the room. Could've been worse, right? I mean my dad could've flipped the hell out that I was tutoring a guy, or he could've assumed Oscar was my boyfriend or something else obscure. My dad sometimes jumps to conclusions because I'm his 'princess'.

After a good hour, we finished up our study session. It was nice, to have company. We said our goody byes and he thanks me before leaving. I walked into the kitchen to see my mother still cooking, and my dad and brother playing on the living room floor.

"Hey hazel, sweetheart let me talk to you"

My dad spoke. Getting up from where he was with my brother. He walked into the dining room an I followed suit.

"yeah dad-?"

"Who is he?"

I sigh. I should have expected this more than I did.

"His name Oscar.. He's a exchange student from Sweden.. And uh he needed help with his English work.."

I say, my voice soft. Was I scared, yes. Yeah I was. Not of my dad, just of my dad assuming the wrong things.

"Oh. Alright sweetheart. I have to say, I thought you had a boyfriend for a minute and was about to go protective dad mode"

He laughed and engulfed me in a hug. I hugged him back.

"Oh god no"

I smile on with a small laugh.

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A/N: sorry for not much dialogue between these two is this chapter! Hopefully you'll see some bantering between them soon!