Gangbanger Study-Buddy

Water and Oil

I couldn't sleep that night. Or the next night.

The fact that Dante is involved in something worse than I could ever imagine kept me awake. The worst part of this whole thing is that he dragged me into it. Well, Lily kind of started it by running off into their hidden lair but still.

What if he gets caught? The outcome of that would be catastrophic for the both of us if the program finds out that I know he is still affiliated with his gang.

His gang.

The boy that I tutor is a gang overlord. This can't be happening to me.

°°°
I arrive at the yellow doors of the summer program an hour before anyone usually shows up. The thought of seeing Dante after Saturday's events makes my stomach roll. Due to this I couldn't focus on my medical textbook whilst at home in my bed, so I figured I might as well make my way to the building to get some fresh air.

Since the door is locked when I arrive, I make myself comfortable on the concrete next to the obnoxiously colored door. Just as I'm about to close my eyes to try and get some much needed sleep, I hear a whistle coming from my left.

I glance over, ready to glare at the person who dares disturb my few seconds of peace when I notice it's Molly Chambers' student that Dante seemed to recognize on the first day.

The guy's previous ponytail is now tied into a neat, yet stylishly messy, man-bun on top of his head with a few stray hairs framing his face. Instead of the bored expression he wore a few days ago, he now wears a cocky smirk that reminds me of a certain brown-eyed someone.

"What are you doing here so early?" Man-Bun asks as he crosses his arms and leans against the opposite door frame.

"I-I didn't have anything better to do...I guess," I stutter while trying to avoid his questioning blue eyes. It wasn't completely a lie.

He scoffs and rearranges a stray hair that wandered a bit too close to his eyes for comfort. "That must suck. Most people would rather do anything other than come to a tutoring program that drains the life out of its participants."

More like a tutoring program that risks the lives of the tutors, I think bitterly.

The boy shifts a little on his feet then extends his hand out towards me.

"The name's West by the way. West Williams." I slowly lift my hand to meet his and give a short shake while stating my name which causes him to break out in a heart stopping grin.

"I have to say, Paz," he states as he plants himself on the pavement next to me,"You got the better end of this whole tutoring thing."

I glance at his hunched over figure while he fiddles with a silver ring on the middle finger of his right hand as I ask, "How so?"

"Well first off," he begins,"You don't have people warily glancing at you every five seconds in fear. Second, you don't have to learn a whole year's worth of material in three months. And lastly, you don't have to pee in a cup every week."

I can't help the laugh that escapes my lips at the last one. "Yeah, I lucked out I guess," I sigh.

At this West turns to face me fully. "You don't seem too happy over this so called 'luck' of yours," he prods while brushing yet another strand of blonde hair behind his ear.

At our close proximity I notice the sandy colored stubble gracing the sloping edge of his jaw. I quickly avert my gaze to my tattered shoe-laces.

"I don't know. It can be hard on the other end too," I say while picking at a blade of grass growing in the crack of the pavement. I mean at least he doesn't have to worry about people coming to kill him because he tutors a gang leader.

West releases a low grunt of understanding. "I get that. I will admit that us delinquents have it easier in one way."

"And what way is that?" I ask.

I'm still fiddling with the blade of grass when West ducks his head into my line of sight to get my attention. I hold his gaze and he gives me a quick smile in return.

"We don't have any expectations. They can't really hold us accountable if we don't succeed cause they already think we're gonna fail. While we can just screw around you and the other tutors feel like if we fail it's a reflection on your abilities. And that," he continues,"Is a huge burden to carry."

I let his words sink into me and I realize just how true they are. That would explain why I was so invested in Dante showing up. If he didn't it would put me in a bad light. It's not because I actually care. Right?

I don't realize I'm gaping at him until he reaches out and gently taps my chin. I quickly close my mouth as a blush spreads across my cheeks.

A low chuckle escapes his lips as he takes in my red face. I immediately look away from his unrelenting gaze.

Suddenly it feels as if he's too close despite the couple of inches between us. It's not that he's creepy or anything just...intense. Almost like he knows something that I don't. Like he's dying to let me in on a secret.

I open my mouth to kindly ask him to scoot over when I hear a voice shout behind me. I quickly glance over my shoulder and see Dante walking towards me, his hands in a fist.

"Dante?" I breathe. He's never this early. In fact it's usually a miracle if he shows up at all.

I look over at West and see a huge smirk spread across his face and he makes to stand up but by the time he gets to his feet, Dante has him by the collar and against the wall. I scramble to my feet in panic.

What the hell?

"Why are you here, Williams?" Dante growls, his jaw clenched. West attempts to push Dante away but he just slams him against the wall harder. "Answer the fucking question!"

A shiver of panic trickles down my spine at the pure hatred radiating from Dante's face which is the complete opposite of West's calm features. They're complete opposites.

Like water and oil. Only I don't know which is which. Who has the upper hand? Which one will float to the top?

Instead of a terrified face, which would mirror my own, West keeps the cocky smirk he had when I first saw him. "Just having a delightful conversation," West coos as he glances at me through the corner of his eye, "Weren't we Paz?"

The way he says my name is similar to the way one would address a lover. Almost like a caress. Like a secret.

And that's when Dante loses it.

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Hello! It feels like it's been forever since i've updated.

Sooo what do you guys think of West? *insert evil witch cackle*

Hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter even though it was a little short (sorry).

Feel free to vote, comment, and what not :)

~Blue ♥