Miss nobody strikes back

Tutor.

Chapter Nineteen

Hanna's POV

I walked into my house, and both Mom and Claire were sitting in the living room. Their gazes lifted from whatever they were doing and settled on me. 

“Hanna, hi! Wow, you’re looking... different,” Mom said, eyeing me from head to toe. 

“Yeah, I decided to change my look,” I replied, keeping my voice casual. 

Mom smiled warmly. “You’re looking so pretty. She finally decided to change her looks.” She turned to Claire as if this was a momentous occasion. 

I frowned, not liking the attention or the tone. 

“Ugh, she’s still ugly to me,” Claire chimed in, her voice laced with disdain. I hadn’t missed her annoying voice at all. 

“Whatever,” I muttered, turning toward the stairs. “I’m going to my room.” 

Just as I was about to leave, Mom stopped me. “Come on, you just got back today. I want to hear about your holiday.” Her sudden interest was suspicious. 

I sighed. “It was wonderful. I certainly wished I wouldn’t have to come back, but I had to,” I said flatly, before making my way upstairs. 

I didn’t want to be her second puppet. Claire already filled that role perfectly. I had other things to focus on, like catching up on schoolwork. Besides, the holidays had been full of fun, and I missed Aunt and Uncle. I’d give them a call before bed. 

After taking a warm shower, I changed into some comfy clothes: a black spaghetti-strap shirt and blue pajama pants. I arranged my desk and started reading, getting lost in my textbooks for a few hours. 

Later, I went downstairs to grab something to eat. Dinner was quiet, and after I ate, I retreated to my room. By the time I lay down, it was past eleven. I called Aunt for a quick chat, and we ended up talking for about an hour. Hearing her voice made me miss them even more. 

As I lay in bed, my mind drifted to everything that had happened today, including Dominic. His face popped into my thoughts—his handsome, stoic face. Perfect in every way, but so cold. I wondered what had made him that way. My cheeks flushed, and I slapped myself lightly. 

“What is wrong with you?” I muttered under my breath. I had no business thinking about Dominic Donovan. 

I sighed deeply, forcing myself to stop thinking about him, but it was easier said than done. 

---

*The Next Morning* 

I woke up early, took a quick shower, and dressed for school. Straightening my hair had made it easier to manage, so I tied it into a messy bun. After applying my skincare routine, I packed my bag and headed downstairs. Mom had already made breakfast. 

“Good morning,” I greeted, sitting down at the table. 

“Morning, Hanna. You look pretty today,” Mom said with a smile. 

I raised an eyebrow. What was with all these sudden compliments? She hadn’t cared about my appearance before. It was just because I looked ‘prettier’ now. I quickly ate my breakfast, anxious to leave, but Dad stopped me before I could head out the door. 

“Hanna, it seems like you’re avoiding staying home. Is something wrong?” he asked, his brows furrowing. 

I sighed. “Yeah, we’re family. You should spend more time at home. This isn’t the Hanna we know,” Mom added, a hint of concern in her voice. 

I plastered a smile on my face. “Tell that to Claire,” I muttered. “Anyway, early morning classes can’t wait,” I said before making a quick exit. 

At school, I dropped my bags at my desk and opened Jenny’s notes. I had missed a week of classes, but I had caught up on most of it, except for a complicated part in math. It felt like a different language. 

When Miss Gemma, my math teacher, entered the classroom, I was already feeling a little tense. She was my favorite teacher—fair and brilliant—but math wasn’t my strongest subject. 

The lesson dragged on, and I struggled to keep up. It felt like my brain was going to explode. When she handed out practice questions, I stared at the paper blankly. I couldn’t solve a single one. They were like strange, foreign puzzles. 

“Hanna, what’s wrong? You haven’t even lifted your pen,” Miss Gemma said, walking over to me. 

“I don’t understand it,” I admitted, feeling embarrassed. 

She gave me a kind look. “We’ve gone quite far. Meet me after class, and we’ll figure something out.” 

I nodded, grateful for her help. 

After class, I headed to Miss Gemma’s office, hoping she would give me extra lessons. 

“Miss Gemma, are you going to give me after-school lessons?” I asked, feeling a little hopeful. 

“No, I can’t. I’m too busy,” she said with a gentle smile. “But I know someone who can. He’s very smart and a good tutor.” 

“Who?” I asked, curious. 

“Dominic from your class. He’ll teach you everything you need to know about advanced calculus and more.” 

All the blood drained from my face. “D-Dominic?” I stammered, completely shocked. 

She smiled, clearly not understanding the horror I felt. “I know he can be intimidating, but he’s a good kid. Don’t worry, he won’t bite.” 

“Miss Gemma, can’t I switch tutors?” I pleaded. 

She chuckled softly. “Oh, you’ll be fine. Besides, I love this new look of yours.” 

I forced a smile and left her office, trying not to cry. **Dominic?** How was I supposed to learn anything with him looming over me like some cold, emotionless statue? I sighed, trying to calm my nerves. 

When I told Jenny about the tutoring arrangement, she had a completely different reaction. 

“I’m sorry I can’t go home with you today,” I told her. 

Jenny smirked. “It’s fine! You’ll be in the same room with a hottie. Just make sure you two make out or something,” she teased, winking at me. 

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. Jenny always found a way to lighten the mood. We said our goodbyes, and I headed to the library. 

The room was empty when I arrived. I sat at one of the large tables, arranging my books neatly. My heart raced a little as I fixed my hair and tried to calm my nerves. 

Then I heard footsteps. The subtle scent of cologne hit me first, and I knew it was him. I looked up from my books as Dominic walked in, his hands casually tucked in his pockets. He walked with an effortless grace, like he owned the place. His icy blue eyes met mine, and I froze, unable to look away.