Summertime Loving

Chapter 18

He approached Ms. Bissette, who was sitting at her desk, sipping something from a purple flask. She glanced up and smiled warmly, setting the drink aside.

'Is she drinking wine? This early in the morning? Wow,' he thought, taken aback by the possibility.

"Travis, how may I help you?" she asked, standing up from her desk.

"Oh, about those private classes. I'd love to take them, if you don't mind," he said casually.

Ms. Bissette's face lit up, her happiness unmistakable. "Really? That's wonderful! I'm so happy to hear that. Are you doing it for the reward?"

"Wait, there's a reward? I didn't know," Travis admitted.

"Oh, so you're not interested in the reward?" she asked, her tone suddenly sad.

Travis quickly waved his hand, "No, no! I want the reward too. So, when do we start?"

"We can start today, but you'll need to bring your dictionary, of course," she responded.

"Uh, I lost mine. Do you have any extras?" he asked, hoping for a backup plan.

"That's unfortunate. No, I don't have any extras, but you can find one in the library. I always spend time there when I need to be surrounded by books."

"I'll head to the library this afternoon then. I guess that means we'll start tomorrow."

She nodded with a smile. "Yes, that works. Have a great day, Travis."

As he walked out of the class, he was met by Eve.

"Travis, why are your eyes red? Were you sleeping?" Eve asked as they walked to their next class together.

"Yeah, I worked out a lot yesterday. Now my body's feeling it, but don't worry, I'll be alright," he reassured her.

She nodded and smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her. Eve was glad that Travis was willing to open up a bit about his life; it made her feel closer to him. As they walked, her mind began to wander.

' I should share more about myself as well, she thought' , realizing that opening up could strengthen their connection.

Their next class was Math. Travis and Eve settled into their seats, but to his surprise, Mia chose to sit next to him. The long tables could accommodate three students, placing Travis right in the middle of the two girls—each a beauty in her own right.

Who would he focus on more you might wonder. Well the clear answer is neither of them. Why? Well that's a question for next time.

Travis sat quietly, pulling out his notebook and starting to write down what was on the board. Not that he wanted to—he really didn't like math. Given the choice, he would much rather laze around. However, with two girls on either side of him, each vying for his attention, he had to play the part of a diligent student. It was a clever tactic to make it seem like the other person was blocking their chance to speak with him.

There was an unspoken truth about life: when people desire something, it suddenly becomes more valuable. Both Mia and Eve were drawn to Travis, and it was clear that they cherished his attention. Normally, they were overlooked, but Travis offered them something rare—he made them laugh and engaged with them without hesitation, even when they had to navigate the complexities of strict, religious households. He genuinely listened to their rants about anime, and it all contributed to a unique bond.

Now, with someone—himself—standing between them, they felt the competitive urge stir within them. The need to capture his focus and divert it from the other grew stronger. He could sense the rising tension from both sides, imagining their thoughts racing as they considered their options. A smirk crept onto his face at the realization of the situation.