Colours

chapter three

It's been a week since Jake asked me to tutor him, I still haven't given him an answer and I've pretty much avoided him at all costs other than in class. Today as I make my way to our shared seat in, I catch him carefully watching my every move toward him. I mentally panic, having a feeling he's going to ask a second time and I'm going to be forced to answer. Thankfully, before I can, this girl Victoria, who everyone says is a total bitch, walks up to Jake; easily distracting him by sitting right onto his lap.
I get close enough to my seat in time to catch most of their conversation.

"Get off me Victoria, I have a girlfriend."
Victoria smirks at him, "She doesn't have to know."
"We've had this conversation, it was one time in 10th grade; whatever you think was there, wasn't.. I. Have. A. Girlfriend. Go back to fucking with Tristan, yeah? Maybe it'll help us win the season."
Victoria gasps, shocked at Jake's words, quickly rising from his lap, "God you're a fucking asshole aren't you?"
Everyone knew Tristan, a soccer player at Bluevale High, our rival school, had cheated on Victoria countless times and vice versa; but they kept going back to each other, something about their messed up relationship somehow working. Jake doesn't answer her just turning away and focusing on whatever he had been writing.

I'm still standing, trying not to laugh as Victoria walks by me, hitting straight into my shoulder on the way by.

"Watch where you're fucking standing bitch," she practically hisses my direction before continuing back to her seat.

My eyes widen in shock at her words and I quickly take my seat beside Jake, pulling all my things out for class and not saying a word to him.

After the longest 75 minutes of my life, the bell finally rings and I rush to get my stuff together and leave class.

"Ella," Jake grabs my attention just before I'm about to leave our desks.
I mentally curse and turn back in his direction, "Yes?"
"You, um, never really gave me an answer about tutoring me..."

I stand there, not answering for a moment; realizing that I'm going to have to say yes or else the rest of the semester would be entirely too awkward for me.

"Umm, yeah, sure. I'd love to."

I force a smile, looking up, finally catching his gaze.

"Really? Awesome, thanks so much Ella! When can we start?"
"Umm what're you doing Thursday?"
"I don't think I'm doing anything," he begins to relay his schedule, seemingly to himself, "Soccer practice is today and Wednesday and because the first game is Friday, no practice Thursday..."
"So Thursday is good?" I interrupt him.
"Yeah, it's perfect."
I nod, "We'll meet after class then?"

He nods in reply and we both go our separate ways. I shake my head as I reach my locker, wondering how I could've possibly gotten myself into this.

* * *

I woke up on Wednesday and went about my day as normal. At lunch, Grace and Madison wouldn't leave me alone about Jake and tutoring; they were giving me a ton of tips on how to flirt which seemed irrelevant because Jake has a girlfriend. When lunch finally ended, I basically ran away from them in an attempt to get them to stop harassing me about Jake. Of course, they continued to text our group chat all about it and I began to actually take an interest talking back and forth with both of them.

Madison: oh, Jake and Lizzie got into a fight last night apparently so be careful, he can be touchy
Grace: yeah definitely, both of them can be pretty short fused when the two of them are in a fight
Me: alright.. What does Jake like other than soccer
Grace: ooh look who's suddenly taking an interest in Jake
Madison: Ella and Jake sitting in a tree
Grace: k i s s i n g
Me: guys stop being dumb and focus
Grace: alright alright, but really you guys would be cute
Madison: if him and Lizzie ever break up you better be the first in line Ella
Me: lol okay will do

Madison, Grace, and I continued texting back and forth throughout third and fourth period. Once the bell rang signalling the end of school, I turned toward Jake, "So where do you want to go?"
"Well you know the little diner downtown, Roller's?"
"Of course."
"I was thinking that'd be a good place to work... Plus they have really good food and I'm starving."

I laugh at that remark and then agree to going there. Jake and I both decide to take his car and leave mine at school, after we studied, he'd drop me back off here and then I could go home.

On the way there, we talk and laugh about anything and everything; and I notice how easy Jake is to talk to. I look over at him as he's driving and can't help but admire how good looking he is. I'm snapped out of my trance when Jake speaks up again, "Ella, we're here."

I blush immediately at having been caught staring and quickly open my door, grabbing my backpack before shutting it and beginning to make my way towards the front door of the restaurant. Jake quickly follows, holding the door open for me and shutting it behind us. After the waitress seats us at our table, I pull out my English binder and textbook to find out from Jake what he needs to work on but he quickly speaks up, "No school work yet."

I look at him confused, seeing as the sole purpose of us getting together was to study but he simply replies, "Food first, school second."

I laugh but put my binder and textbook away, opening my menu to decide what to order. After both of us place our orders with the waitress who comes by, Jake speaks up again.

"Let's play 20 questions to get to know each other."
I laugh at the childish game but agree anyways, "Alright, you first."
"Hmm... What's your favourite movie?"
"Umm, probably Breakfast Club, what's yours?"
"I don't have one"
"Ugh, one of those people," I gently tease, Jake putting his hand against the left side of his chest just after, "I'm offended Ella."

I laugh, shaking my head as I wait for him to continue with his next question.

"Favourite book?"
"Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell... Favourite song?"
"This is getting repetitive but I don't have one, what's yours?"
"Umm I'm not sure... Maybe Holes by Layla?"
"Never heard of it."
"I'll have to show you."
"Yeah, I guess you will."

Just then, our conversation is interrupted by the waitress dropping off our food and all I can think about as we start eating is how I can definitely see myself falling for Jake; and maybe this tutoring thing isn't such a great idea.