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The Not-Date Date

Pepper

"Dear God, why me?!"

"Oh relax, you've gotten most of the answers right," Eric said flipping through my workbooks again. "For now."

"Hey!"

We've been here at White Walls for almost an hour and 30 minutes, studying for a Math test.

And I cannot express to you enough my hate for this subject.

But if it means having to see Eric, then I'll gladly put up with it.

But these last few minutes have tested my patience.

Now all I want to do is to pummel his face to keep him pointing at a problem and saying "last one", yet again.

"Okay, last one."

I mentally groaned and hit my head as I crashed on top of the table.

I stared at him almost incredulously. Yes, he was a teacher, but seriously?

It felt like I was 16 again, sitting across a very eager Ms. Rose, getting tutored in Math for my college entrance exams.

Getting grilled to get the right answers, mentally.

And it seriously brought some cringe-worthy memories.

How is Ms. Rose, I wonder? I haven't heard from her since Mr. Victor had taken over for her.

Which was a lot more distracting since he has the gray-est eyes I've ever met - the only Asian I knew with natural gray eyes.

And he stole my teenage heart.
Well, until I forgot about him.

I would think distance makes the heart forget, not fonder.

"Hey! Pepper, are you listening to me?"

I looked back up at his smiling face. Dammit.

"Come on, Pepper. Last one and then we'll take it up some other time. So here, last one."

I gave him a blank look.

"You said 'last one' for the last 5 questions as well. You're losing all credibility here, Sir."

To my surprise, he'd started laughing.

Heartily.

I thought he'd be seriously mad since I answered him impolitely. But he seems to sincerely find this funny.

"You caught that huh?" He said after piping down from his laughing fit. "I learned that trick from my Mom. She was a teacher too."

"You're mother was a teacher?" I couldn't help myself but ask.

I'd take every chance I can to get to know him.

"Well, yes. She's very strict at school and at home but she really loves us."

Huh. You learn something new everyday.

I wonder if she's anything like my Mom. I hope not.

I found Eric looking at me again, with an amused smile on his face.

"Fine." He'd said closing all workbooks. "I won't force you to answer this last problem,"

Yes! Freedom!!!

" - but you have to answer 5 more questions next time."

Wait. What.

"Nooooooooo..." I cried defeated.

But then I perked up as I remembered what he said. Next time.

So there will be a next time.