All the Wrong Reasons

All the Wrong Reasons - Part 7

It was when I got home that I realised what I had done. I had just signed up to do extra work with someone I barely even knew. Hoping that Noah had forgotten, I started to fill the kettle and prepare four cups of tea whilst my friends idly chatted. It want till Noah text me his address and ‘if you’re free tonight ;)’ that I started to bang my head against the kitchen cabinet.

‘Woah, you might need those brain cells – hold your horses missy! What’s wrong with you?’ Lee enquired with a smirk as she watched my overly theatrical reaction.

‘I just signed myself up to do extra work, Lee. Why would I voluntarily do this? I should never leave the house,’ I moaned to Lee as I started to massage my forehead which was now throbbing, I so needed to rethink my actions before carrying them out.

‘Knowledge is a wonderful thing; you should feel great that you can share yours with someone else. Lots of people in the world don’t have the chance to study further into their passion you should be grateful.’ Declared Lee. I rolled my eyes, it wasn’t because I wasn’t grateful for an education (though the sum of money I needed to pay back after said education was finished was flashing in my mind, as well as the fact that ‘there is no certainty that if you have a degree you can get a job straight away.’) it was just that, well, I’m a student. I like sleeping, reading, eating, sleeping and watching the telly. And sometimes painting if I could be bothered. Extra learning meant having to put clothes on that aren’t pyjamas and having to make the effort to converse with people. Just thinking of the ordeal made me tired and I sighed in frustration.

‘Go on then, what’s got your knickers in a twist then?’ Asked Jamie as she plonked herself down onto the counter.

‘I just dug myself into a hole. I am now doing a study session with Noah. I didn’t think he was being serious. He just text me know asking if I was free to do it tonight.’ I whined in hysterics.

‘No way,’ Hannah squealed in delight. ‘Don’t you see! It’s a study date! No boy texts back that quickly – they all try to act cool by texting a day or two later. And he was the guy from the party who brought you back inside! He likes you!’ I just sat there, shocked. She can’t be real. We are 21 and she’s acting like a 13 year old with their first crush.

‘She’s right you know,’ said Jamie after mulling over what had been said. ‘No boy ever replies that quickly – it’s been what, two hours?’

‘He’s probably just eager to learn, which is perfectly acceptable,’ claimed Lee, her eyes shining in approval. Sometimes I wondered if the world in Lee’s eyes was seen as sunshine, buttercups and daises – with people skipping and holding hands to school. She had yet to learn that most things in life had ulterior motives. Any advert on the television that claims to be helping you, is just trying to grab your money and earn them a profit. If only I knew the extent of this.

‘Maybe he didn’t do well on the last test and he’s being forced to find a tutor or something,’ I reasonably suggested, before adding the sentence that changed the whole atmosphere of the conversation. ‘That’s probably why he text back so fast.’

The room stilled as everyone thought this over. I had assumed this meant that they all agreed with my point, so I started to pour the tea and stir it before passing it to its rightful consumer. It wasn’t till I looked at everyone’s face that I realised something was wrong.