If You Only Knew //e.g.d

•6•

*Thursday*

Vanessa's POV
Today Ethan gave me a ride back to my house. I once again got pretzels and settled down in my room. I sat on my bed up against my wall, crossed my long legs, and put my math textbook on my lap. Ethan sat right next to me up against the wall too.

"Alright, let's do things differently today. You do a problem how you think you should, and I'll check it." He nodded and we both started on the homework.

"Done." He announced after a minute. I took his paper from him and looked through the first problem... it was all wrong. As I was looking through it, I tried to wipe a smile off my face, but I guess Ethan saw.

"Why are you smiling?" He asked. I started to laugh silently and I turned away from him so he wouldn't see.

"Are you laughing at me? Wow... that hurts" he said. I turned to him to see that he had a fake pout on his face.

"Ethan I'm sorry." I said and placed my hand on his shoulder. "You did this all wrong..." I explained what he was supposed to do as he fixed the problem.

"You got it!" I said once he had finished. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Nessa." It felt weird hearing him call me by my nick name.

"You're welcome, Ethan." I smiled and looked back at my paper to hide my blush.

*****

Ethan's POV
The next few hours went just like this. I'd do a problem, Vanessa would laugh at me, and I'd act hurt even though I thought it was funny. She really is a sweet person, and I enjoy spending time with the funny, kind, and real her at home. Not the quiet, scared one at school.

When I was almost done with the homework, the door burst open and Will walked in.

"Ethan? What are you doing here?" He asked. He must have seen my car in the driveway.

"Nessa is tutoring me." I told him.

"Nessa? Tutoring you? She's an idiot bro! Were there no other options?" Will really didn't have a filter, and he didn't hesitate to insult his sister... and that pissed me off.

"Actually the teacher suggested that she tutor me," I said standing up off the bed, "And she's really smart." I could tell Will was getting mad again.

"What's with you, Ethan? Defending her all the time? What, do you like her or something?" I wasn't expecting that. I didn't respond.

"Oh, I see, you do like her, don't you?" Will seemed to find this amusing.

"Can we not do this here?" I stepped closer to Will so I was kind of in his face.

"Will, stop please." Vanessa said getting off the bed. "We are trying to study so I'd appreciate it if you'd leave." She said firmly.

"Shut your mouth." Will said to her without breaking eye contact with me.

"Don't talk to her like that." I snapped and glared back at him.

"Who do you think you are?" Will spat at me. "Leave NOW." He ordered.

I scoffed. "No."

"Ethan please, just go." Vanessa said and grabbed my arm to get my attention. I grunted and pushed past Will in the doorway who lightly shoved me back just to prove a point.

*****

*Tuesday, three days before the test*

Vanessa's POV
Today, Ethan walked home with me. While we walked Ethan got me craving a smoothie.

"What are you doing?" Ethan asked when I headed to the kitchen.

"Thanks to you, I now need a smoothie." I laughed. I opened the fridge and grabbed some fruit. I put them on counter next to the blender and began to open the containers.

"Do you want one?"

"How can I not?" He said and sat on the counter. I whacked his leg and he hopped off the counter.

"My mother would not approve." I told him.

"Where is your mom anyway? Is she ever home?"

"She's a single mother, she works hard. I don't even see her everyday. So, Will normally goes out to eat so I make myself food." I explained and dumped some strawberries on a cutting board. "Here, make yourself useful."

I put the knife into Ethan's hands.

"Feisty!" He joked. I rolled my eyes and we both laughed. I like his smile, and a lot of other things about him. Do I like him? No. I can't. But, does he like me? No. He can't. Even Will said he's way out of my league, and I agree... that's obvious. But he always does stick up for me, and he is really nice to me. He's probably like that with everyone though, I'm nothing special.

Ethan's POV
We went back up to Vanessa's room with our smoothies and worked on the homework. I sat down on her bed up against the wall, and she sat next to me... very close. Our legs were pressed up against each other and our arms had no space between them. I'm not complaining, I like this.

We both sipped our smoothies and did math together, but it was hard for me to focus when she was this close to me. Her hair often brushed on my bare arm, I could feel her breathing, and I could smell her perfume. I wish I could tell her how I feel, but I don't know how I feel.

"Hey, I don't know if I'm available on Thursday." I told her as I was leaving her house. "I have an extra practice before the big game on Friday, so I won't be available till late."

"How late?" She asked.

"Probably around 8:30." I told her. "Unless I could come over after?"

"Sure, that works for me." She said.

"Cool." I said. I think I am blushing.

"Cool... see you then." She waved and closed the front door.

Again, I stood there smiling like a fool even though she was gone.

How does she do this to me?