Tutor Girl (Emison)

Chapter 9

Next Day

Alison POV

I watch Emily as she waits for me to grade her paper and I notice that she keeps at her phone with her eyebrows pulled tight together and her lips in a straight line.

"Still in denial, aren't you?" I say simply as I make checks on the paper and some x's.

"About what?" She says when she breaks her gaze from her phone to look at me.  I shrug, "missing her," I say and then sigh, "it's okay that you do, you know."

Emily raises an eyebrow with a playful smirk, "what are you my tutor or my shrink?" 

I snort and chuckle, shaking my head, "whatever you need."

I perk an eyebrow up in surprise of my own words and look up to see Emily's reaction and I notice something I would never expect. A...blush? No, that can't be. When she looks at me I gulp and quickly, trying to get the thought that Emily just blushed because of me out of my head.

She doesn't comment on what I said but she talks more, "I treated Hanna pretty bad. She had every right to walk away."

I scoff and look at her with an incredulous look which makes her scoff and nod with a slight grin, "alright, so it was my fault. I screwed up. I just...wish I had another chance."

I nod and look at the paper, "nice work," I say.

"That was the truth," she responds, as if she believes I was thinking that what she said was an act. I knew it was real. This side of her is...raw and true to herself. I admire that. I like the real Emily.

"No. On your practice test. 82." I hand it to her and Emily grabs it, "oh." She chuckles and scratches her head, "you know, it's funny. I think we've actually talked more than Hanna and I ever have."

I raise an eyebrow in an impressed manner, "Hanna and I...good job."

Emily looks into my eyes and I see the beauty within hers as she speaks, "yeah...you too...hey, are you going to the game?"

I sigh and nod, "well it depends on how you do on your English exam. Anything less than an 82 and I am staying home and watching the 100." I perk an eyebrow with a playful smirk as I stand up, gathering my things.

I walk towards the front door of her mansion and I hear her behind me, "sounds good." . She opens the door for me and I smile gratefully at her before I walk out but her voice stops me. "Alison."

I turn around to look at her, "yeah?"

"I uh...I know this hasn't been easy for you so I just wanted to say...thanks." Her fingers are fiddling and she's biting her lip which tells me how hard it was for her to actually say that out loud. Like she doesn't know how to say thank you. And for some reason, knowing that makes my heart flutter in my chest like crazy.

I look down with a blush and smile, looking up, "good luck." I nod and walk away.

I make my way to Mary's Cafe and walk up to the golf-course Ce and I built together.

"Hey."

I look up and see CeCe walking over. I smile gently, "hey...I really don't want to be like this, Ce."

CeCe puts her hands in her pockets and shrugs, "and what is that?"

"This! Us skirting around each other. I mean, we're best friends. You know, when you wanted to join the team, I didn't understand it and I told you that, but I supported you."

I know that guilt tripped her because she tells me, "I know."

I smile hopefully, "so... support me! When I'm tutoring someone, and they get it, and that light goes on, I feel good! I feel worthy. The same way that you feel when you play basketball. Besides, having things gotten better for you? The team's left you alone, the hazing's stopped?" I look at her and read her facial expressions to get my answer, "yeah. So, that's worth the risk for me. What's not worth the risk it us. We're friends and that is important to me."

CeCe bites the inside of her mouth and sighs, "you're just tutoring her?"

I close my eyes and nod, looking at her, "I am just tutoring her. That's it." CeCe looks at me and groans, giving in, "okay."

I squeal, "yes! I've missed you best friend!" I hug her and she chuckles, "whatever dork."

I gasp, slapping her chest jokingly, "hey! Don't be mean!"

She shrugs, "that wasn't mean."

She walks away and reaches for something which makes me raise an eyebrow, "CeCe. What are you up to?"

She smirks and throws a water balloon at me, making me screech, "CECE FIELDS! ARE YOU INSANE?!" I laugh and she hits me with another, making her cackle loudly.

"Oh you are so dead!" I sprint over to her and she laughs as she picks me up, spinning me around and I groan, "PUT ME DOWN!"

Spencer POV

"Woo! Game!" CeCe jumps down from the hoop at the River Court, making me chuckle, "whatever. Think I just pulled a kidney."

"Oh please. You're not that old." She pats my back and I raise an eyebrow at her, "that old? I'm 36."

"36, 86...what's the difference?"

I scoff, "you better watch it you." She chuckles and I nod, "so...you decide on the name thing yet?"

"Well, I downloaded the forms. But, uh... Mom's still got to sign off on them."

I nod and look out at the water, "mind if I tell you what I think?"

CeCe looks down, "I think you just did, actually..."

I sigh, "hey, I know I'm not your parent, and, I'd never try to tell you what to do, but... I just... wish you'd think about it." Truth be told, I don't want Charlotte changing her name. I love her being a Fields. Not because she shares it with my little brother but, because she shares it with me.

"I will... and you know you don't have to play if you don't want to."

I look at her concerned, "oh. Why do you say that?"

She shrugs, "I- I know it puts you in a weird spot. And Wayne and Emily are your family too, right?"

I sigh and shake my head, "as far as I'm concerned, you and your mom are my family. As long as you'll have me, at least."

CeCe and I laugh and we sit on the picnic table by the court, "you know, Wayne and I, we, uh, we've never seen eye to eye. Even when we were kids. And Emily's practically a stranger. Besides, uh, I was honored that you asked me to play, Ce." 

She smiles at me, "good. I was hoping you'd say that...Listen. I've got to take off. Talk to you later?"

I nod, "of course." I hug her and she nods, "take care, all right? And Spence?"

"Yeah," I breathe out, looking at my niece with curiosity.

"Thanks."

I feel my lips creep up into a smile, "yeah. No problem kid."

I make my way back to the shop and see a girl driving by. I notice her dark hair and she notices me too, smiling as she looks me up and down. She winks and I smirk at her as she continues on driving.

She was gorgeous...but also somewhat familiar.

Oh well.

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Who do you think the girl was?

Review and comment!

~stay fearless~

caleigh <13