A+ Romance

One

You were keeping a secret. It wasn't a harmful secret or anything but to you, someone who had spent the better years of their youth being as predictable as ever, it was a life changing secret. Each step you took felt like you were walking on clouds and nothing could touch you anymore.

The big secret? You were dating the quarterback of your university's team. You. How did this come about? Jock with horrible grades in need of tutoring from an academically gifted student. Predictable. Wait, no, let's say....normal. The way you met him was normal and it was all going according to schedule until something so profound knocked you off your course and tilted your world off its entire axis. Similar to the big bang theory and all. What was your big bang theory?

Falling in love.

Let's go back to the start when the lines weren't blurred. Wait, no, that's too far back. Just to when he called your number from a paper ad on the bulletin board in the lobby of the dorms. Yeah, let's go there.

Your phone vibrated on your desk as you were pulling an allnighter for an exam tomorrow but you ignored it. Your iced coffee was now a very warm watered down coffee, the condensation forming a small puddle on the desk. Your phone vibrated again, dancing across the table top towards you as if it was taunting you to answer it. Fine. You bit the bullet and answered. "Hello?"

A bunch of noises assaulted your ear and you almost hung up but the caller spoke. "Hey, is this y/n?"

"Yeah. Who's this?"

More noises, sounded like some guys cheering. Was he at a party? "I need a tutor in economics. I gotta pass the exam otherwise coach is gonna bench me and that can't happen cuz we got scouts coming to the games."

"Okay. Send me your schedule and I'll make some time for sessions during your free periods. When is the exam?"

More yelling ensued and the guy cursed. "Come on, dude, I'm on the phone," he yelled at someone. "Sorry about that. Exam is in three weeks. Think it's possible?"

You tapped your fingers on the edge of your laptop, contemplating if you could get this guy to pass his exam in under a month. "I'd have to see where you're at first. You know how much I'm charging right?" There have been some cases where students tried to shorthand you but now a lesson was learned and you made sure it was very clear beforehand and if they couldn't afford it then the library was free.

"Money's not an issue. I just need to pass this. Everything's riding on it."

"Meet me at the library at 4 tomorrow. We'll go over a few things quickly." You hung up and leaned back in your chair. This would make the fourth student you'll have on your roster which makes things sticky but you could use the money. Tale as old as time right?

Monday came around much too soon and after two shots of espresso and a spoonful of peanut butter, you were ready to face the world for another day. Classes flew by and lunch came around and left. Soon it was ten to four and you were on your way to the library to meet this new student of yours. You held your student card against the scanner and pulled the library doors open when they beeped. You made your way to the elevator, which thankfully was empty, and leaned against the back wall, letting your head drop back for a few seconds so the tension of the day could escape you for a bit.

Before the doors closed, a hand stuck itself in between them. They bounced open and a tall guy wearing a letterman jacket stepped in. He barely spared you a glance, turning around to face the front as if you didn't exist. Whatever. You were in completely different worlds so it didn't bother you that much. You silently observed him, wondering if this guy was your student or not. Could be. He didn't have a bag, just held his books in the crook of his arm as he looked down at something, probably a phone.

The doors opened and he stepped out, almost halfway across the room in a matter of seconds. You followed him while reassuring myself that you weren't stalking him, you just happened to be walking in the same direction, he just had a freakishly long stride. He didn't even look over his shoulder once but maybe he had already registered you as someone who was safe..which was ironic if one considered the fact that all strangers were dangerous until proven otherwise.

He came to a stop in front of the room you reserved. He bit his lip as he peeked through the small window on the door. He pressed a few buttons on his phone and then yours started vibrating in your pocket. He must've heard it as his head popped up and watched you approach. "You the tutor?"

"The one and only," you responded as you unlocked the door with your student card and held it open. "So, economics?"

"Yeah," he said with a sigh as he placed his books on the circle table. "If I had a choice, I'd never take the class but my parents are kinda anal about academics. Yours the same?"

You swallowed the lump that formed in your throat at the thought of your parents. "Similar," you settled with. "You got all your past papers and exams?" He eagerly nodded and slid them across the table to you. Silently, you went through everything, wincing when you saw how little he understood about the subject.

"It's bad, isn't it?"

"It's not terrible but it could be better. We'll get started with the basics so you can understand the core of it all before moving onto the more complicated topics."

"So it's like how being physically fit is important for sports?"

Much to your disdain, a chuckle escaped you. "Yeah, something like that." Over the next hour, you put together a plan and schedule for the next few weeks before his exam. You emphasised how important it was for him to respect your time and actually try to learn the material rather than memorize it. "Oh. I have a three strikes and you're out policy. If you show up late or skip sessions three times then I will no longer be providing my services. We good on that?"

"Sounds reasonable." He skimmed over the schedule. "Thanks for this."

You hummed as you packed your stuff. "See you next week." You didn't wait for a response before leaving. This all felt like it was way over your head but there was something different about him. Sounds super cliche, I know, but it's like he was desperate.

So are you, the weird voice in your head reminded you but as per usual, you just ignored it.

At dinner that night, you slurped on some ramen noodles while going over some notes, making sure you didn't miss anything from class. Honestly, being a student was exhausting. All of this for an expensive slip of paper that held no guarantee one would find a job in their field. Feeling satiated, you pushed the bowl aside as you thought about him. Tomorrow was your first session and you wondered if he was going to be there like he said he would.

Whatever. You quickly got ready for bed and crawled underneath your covers, enjoying the only time you felt like you could truly be yourself and not have to be anything for anyone. Peace. Soon, that would be all you knew but that was neither here nor there.