The Truce

Chapter 11

The next day at school, I studiously avoided looking anywhere near Sebastian. It wasn't hard. It was really only lunch I had to worry about. We didn't have Geography until Friday. I wasn't sure what my plan was then, but at least it was almost the weekend and we hadn't made any plans for further study sessions. Maybe he'd do so well on his test, we wouldn't need to continue. We could just go back to not interacting unless absolutely necessary. I didn't know why thinking of doing that made me feel so miserable.

When Friday arrived, I focused all my energy on my impending makeover. My knowledge base was limited since I'd never paid much attention to fashion or anything trendy, but I was already starting to feel pretty good about the change. I kept telling myself I couldn't wait to see Scott's reaction since I hadn't told him a thing yet, but his wasn't the face I kept picturing the surprise and gratification on.

But I did want Scott to see me differently. I wanted him to see me as being hot. I wasn't really, but maybe with the right look, I could make my boyfriend think I was. At the very least, I didn't want to be thought of as cute anymore.

Anticipating extreme awkwardness and wanting to avoid it the best I could, I got to Geography early and kept my head down long enough before and after class to allow Sebastian to come and go without us having to make eye contact. I was kind of surprised that I'd been successful, but I was starting to relax. I never usually saw him after Geography on Fridays.

I should have realized it was too easy.

"Michaela!"

On my way to my last class of the day, I looked up just before Sebastian closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms. It wasn't remotely romantic. It was more like a bear hug from your uncle. But I was still ridiculously flustered.

"Um," I said intelligently as he released me. I was about to ask what he'd been smoking when he shoved a paper at me.

It was his algebra test and it had a big A at the top, circled in stupid purple pen. Grinning, I took the paper and looked at it closer. He almost got a perfect score! Just three points off.

"Oh my gosh, Sebastian!" I glanced happily at him before looking back at the paper. "This is great!"

"It's all thanks to you," he said. "I'd given up ever expecting anything better than a D in math, a long time ago."

"I told you you could do this!" I said. "You just had to try. It's almost perfect!"

He flushed a little and bobbed his head. "I didn't believe you."

I laughed as I beamed up at him. "I know."

But of course, since he now knew he was capable, that meant that our sessions were probably no longer necessary.

"I guess you don't need me anymore," I said, feeling far sadder than I expected.

"It's only one grade," he said seriously. "I'm pretty sure I'll still need you."

The air around us suddenly seemed charged. I was almost positive that he wasn't talking about math anymore, and it was, strangely, very hard to pull my eyes from his.

"Sebastian!" someone called down the hall, startling me. He took a moment to look away, but when he did, I seized the opportunity to run. I had no idea where that little moment came from and it scared the crap out of me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My mind had been far far away from eighteenth century France that afternoon. Thoughts of Sebastian crowded everything else out and I left History class without learning a thing.

I didn't understand it. I didn't like Sebastian. I couldn't like Sebastian. But I couldn't understand my mental fixation any other way, and that terrified me. Even though we'd been getting along and had, apparently, shared some kind of moment back there, I didn't trust him. And then of course, there was Scott to think about.

Looking up, I stopped walking, feeling guilty. Scott was leaning against the lockers, waiting for me and he looked furious.

"Hey," I said hesitantly as I went to meet him. He couldn't possibly know what I'd been thinking, so I wasn't sure what he was upset about.

"Hey?" he spat. "That's all you have to say?"

"What should I say?" I asked, blindsided by his attitude.

"You said working with him was a punishment," he accused. "You hated him, you said. He hated you!"

"So?" Now probably wasn't the time to point out that I didn't actually hate him or that I didn't think he hated me.

"So people who hate each other don't typically grope each other in the hall!"

"What?" I said in disbelief. "Nothing like that happened!" Guilty as my thoughts were, that hug was totally innocent.

Scott watched me with heavy skepticism. "Five people told me what happened."

"Then they're full of it!" I said. "It was a hug. I didn't expect it and I didn't ask for it, but it was only a two second hug because he was surprised and happy about doing well on his test that he just got back. That's all!"

"Give me a break, Michaela."

"I did nothing wrong here, Scott. Like I already said, I didn't ask for anything."

"But you weren't exactly angry about it either, were you?"

That brought me up short. I hadn't been upset. Surprised and confused, yes, but not upset. Not even close.

Taking my silence as an admission of something, Scott narrowed his eyes.

"Just because I didn't punch him doesn't mean there was anything inappropriate going on," I said. "I was surprised, but what's so wrong about being happy that all the hard work we've been doing has paid off? You should be thrilled because he won't need me to tutor him much longer."

"Oh, I think he has a whole different kind of session on his mind, Michaela," he said derisively.

I glared at him and crossed my arms. "I get why you're upset," I said. "But you don't get to accuse me here. I didn't do anything! And it's really crappy of you to belittle my work by trying to make it into something dirty. The only reason I even agreed to do this was for college, remember?"

We scowled at each other for a long quiet minute. After swallowing my pride, I sighed. Scott hated this whole thing from the start. Even though I did nothing wrong, his feelings were understandable. "Look, I'm sorry. I promise nothing happened, but I'm sorry."

He still wasn't too happy, but he seemed to thaw a little. "Just let him know that kind of thing is off limits, alright?"

I nodded. "I will."

He took a deep breath and let it out in loud puff. "Sorry I ambushed you."

I forced a small smile and shrugged.

"I have yearbook stuff. Call you later?"

"Yeah."

He gave me a quick kiss and hurried down the hall.