This is not a Romcom

June Grows a Pair

"June, he's asking you to tutor the football team," Jackson pointed out as I fantasized about a future with Joseph. "You can't handle this by yourself. Tell him no." Jackson gave me a stern look, knowing I like Joseph.

I sighed as I considered the pros and cons of tutoring the football team. Pros are: a possible romance with Joseph (yeah right), much needed socialization with someone who isn't Jackson or my mom, and... that's it. Cons are: inevitable anxiety attacks, embarrassing myself, awkward conversations, less time to spend watching Netflix, and I would have to put in effort.

Though my brain and my best friend say no, my heart says yes. But screw my heart and all that nonsense, I'm not that hormonal. Before I could text back some lame excuse I got another text from Joseph. He sent me a schedule with times and names. I didn't have the heart to tell him no, so I resigned myself to being a tutor once more.

Some might say I give in too easily, but I prefer to think of it as me being a cool, competent person. Honestly, I don't think I would have done anything interesting if it weren't for me being a total pushover. In a way, it has its perks, though usually I'm not thankful until it's all over.

    Luckily the list didn't include the whole football team, but tutoring five boys five days a week was certain to be tiring. I gulped as I thought about the stress to come. I kept telling myself it would be a good experience, but I was still nervous about being thrown into it.

"Jackson," I said in a small voice, "Teach me your social ways, please."

Jackson gave me a blank stare before letting out a long sigh.

"I guess it won't hurt to try," He said as he stood up from his comfortable position on the couch. I knew my puppy eyes had gotten to him. I was too nervous to celebrate my small victory.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow," he said over his shoulder as he walked up the narrow steps to exit my tiny basement, "text me the names of the guys you'll be tutoring."

"Thank you!" I yelled as he disappeared, leaving me all alone to stew in my basement. I didn't know what he had planned, but I was appreciative that he would help me despite telling me not to do this.

****

The next day as I was walking towards the entrance of the school, minding my own business, concentrating on not tripping over my boot clad feet, I bumped into a stone wall. Or what I thought to be a stone wall. I looked up to find dazzling blue eyes looking down at me.

"Sorry..." I mumbled as I stepped away from the guy with Greek features.

"No problem," he said, staring at me for a moment before a look of recognition spread across his face. "You're June, right? The tutor girl."

"Yeah, I'm June," I said, ignoring the last part. I analyzed his face, finding no signs of malice. He smiled down at me, so casually that I almost doubted his sincerity.

"I'm James," he said, flashing another friendly smile, "You're tutoring me today. It was nice meeting you but I've got to run.. I'll see you later then."

"Yeah, see ya..." I mumbled as his long legs carried him away. Are there really this many attractive guys at my school or are my teenage hormones making me hallucinate? I must have been blind not to notice a guy with such eye catching features.

Replaying the short conversation over and over again in my head, I continued walking. I considered turning around and leaving, but Jackson brought me to school and walking home would be very dangerous.