Book Smart, Romantically Challenged (Wesley Stromberg/Emblem3 FanFic)

Chapter 3

*Sofia's POV*

The two weeks following my first tutoring session with Wesley went by quick. He had come every day of tutoring and had brought his grade up to a C+ in just those two weeks. Keaton walked me to my first period every day and was slowly becoming my closest confident.

Monday morning was no different from the last two weeks. Keaton came to my locker as soon as he walked through the front doors of the school.

"Hey, Sofia. Since today is a Monday, I was wondering if you had any plans for after school?" he asked.

"No plans today, why?"

"You wanna hang out at my house? I really don't want to be sitting in my room all lonely while my brother has his idiot friends and whichever girlfriend he's with this week over," he sighs.

"Sure. I gotta tell my aunt and talk to my cousin, so just meet me by my locker after school. Okay?"

"Okay, cool. See ya later, Sofie!" he shouts as he walks away from my class. I laugh and shake my head as I walk to my desk.

The day goes by pretty fast and before I know it, I'm waiting at my locker. Adrian walks up at the same time that Keaton does.

"Hey guys. Wow, really didn't think this through, uhm... Keaton, this is my cousin Adrian, Kuya this is my friend Keaton. Kuya, I'm going over to Keaton's house for a while. I already talked to Tita Norma and she said it's okay." I said.

"Manang, maaari ba akong makipag-usap sa iyo?" Adrian asks.

"Yeah, sure." He pulls me aside.

"What the hell is this? Why are you telling him? I thought you didn't want anyone to know."

"Well, yeah. But Wesley already knows. He saw us walking out a couple weeks ago. And I trust Keaton, he actually cares. Someone finally saw me without any negative intentions. He's not like his brother." I said, a pleading tone leaking through my voice.

He sighs. "Okay Manang. Just be careful please. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I will. Mahal kita, [I love you]" I smile.

"Mahal kita" he replies and kisses my cheek. With that, he bids us goodbye and walks off.

"I've got a lot of questions for you, Sofie," Keaton chuckles.

"Sofie, huh? I've never been called that. It's always been Manang, Ate, anak, iha [daughter], or prinsesa [princess]. But I like it. My first American nickname. Thanks Keats," I chuckle.

*****

After a short, five minute walk to the Stromberg house, we slip into the kitchen. There sits a middle aged woman making sandwiches.

"Hey Mom," Keaton says with a smile.

She puts down the knife she'd been using and looked up at us. A bright smile spread across her features. "Hi honey. Who is this pretty girl?" she asks.

I blush and extend my hand. "I'm Sofia. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Stromberg."

She shakes my hand with a laugh. "It's nice to meet you as well sweetie, but I haven't been Mrs. Stromberg for a while now. My last name is Claire, but please, call me Laraine."

At this, I blush a deeper shade of red. "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry," I breathe, embarrassed.

"No harm dear. You didn't know. Well here are a couple of sandwiches. I hope you like peanut butter and jelly." She hands us each a plate with a sandwich on it.