School Boy

4 - Mom's Cookies

*Erm, so I didn't really think about this but they're juniors. I've already said that somewhere, I think, but I gave them the same classes I have. I'm a freshman. See the dilemma? I want them to be in fairly advanced classes (and I didn't make the connection that advanced for me isn't for them, uggh) but, for the sake of being able to write it better, I put them in classes that would be kinda low for their grade level. Can we pretend that the classes are actually advanced for them? I hope that's ok.

By the way, I'm changing the name of this soon! It's gonna be School Boy. Ik, so original, right? I'll change it as soon as I can save and add the awesome picture that my AMAZING friend made for me to use as a cover.*

I peeled myself off of my bed on Thursday morning. I had been distracted all day Wednesday. Every time I saw Phil, my mind would wander to the most likely disastrous tutoring session that would be happening today.

I managed to work up the energy to get up and dressed. I put on yet another monotonously black outfit and unconventionally zipped shoes. Then I went downstairs to find a note from my mom saying she left early and hoped I had a good day. Yeah, right. With Phil to look forward to? I grabbed an apple and left for school.

I arrived early to talk to PJ about our history project and rest my head on a cold binder. I was so not looking forward to this afternoon.

Unfortunately, time passes quickest when you don't want it to. Before I knew it, I was trudging down to the library.

On my way inside, I passed a man with black hair, brown eyes, and tattoos everywhere. He looked really uncomfortable so I nodded and smiled at him as I passed. Not long after, I noticed him shooting pleading glances at Mr. Way.

Today, we were just doing homework to practice working with each other. So, Phil and I pulled out our worksheets for algebra. Mr. Way instructed us to work for the next hour and a half before going into another room with the man by the door.

I began to do my sheet while Phil still sat there.

Phil leaned back his chair back and put his hands behind his head. "And so it begins."

I looked at him, confused. "What's beginning?"

He glanced at me with a poorly hidden smirk, "Well, only the plot of every noteable porno ever."

I glared at Phil and shoved his own homework sheet in his direction. "Start. Now." I commanded him. He sighed and went to get a pencil; thankfully his own.

Phil surprisingly was serious the majority of the time. He only cracked about two other risque comments, so the rest of the session went relatively smooth. When we were done with math we went on to biology, then history. He clearly had been doing the work but not bothering to understand how he was doing it. So, he was very behind. I deduced to spend most of Monday looking over the notes we'd taken in class and maybe improving his own skills at taking notes.

Almost too soon, the session was over. Mr. Way came back into the room along with the tattooed man, looking slightly flushed and unshelved. The man kept glaring at Mr. Way, who appeared to be oblivious. "Well, tutoring for today is over. Now go! I've got places to see, people to do . . . " He trailed off slightly awkwardly as he all but ran to the man by the door. He grabbed the man by his wrist, dragging him out before he could quit stuttering enough to form a coherent protest.

We slowly got up and left, with me walking slowly back to my house with Tyler. He was a bit annoying really, everything he said consisted of "Connor this . . . " and "Connor that . . . " Before I could snap at him, I changed the subject to gossipping about our slightly obese and stupid chorus teacher. Don't get me wrong, she's an amazing teacher and has a beautiful voice, but she's about as dumb as the zippers on my shoes.

I went on through an amazingly dad-free - or, as I like to say, cunt-free, but that isn't considered appropriate - weekend before it was eventually Monday again. I was oddly excited for tutoring tonight. Of course I had to wait for Phil to get out of football practice. But I would get to meet his parents, and possibly find out where they must've went wrong. Either that or I get to witness how completely different he acts in front of his parents. Either way, I was looking forward to it.

The day, once again, passed quickly. I went to the park during Phil's practice, so he managed to beat me to the house I said I was in. I ended up running up to him out of breath right as he was going to knock on my door. He looked at me confusedly before turning around to go to his own house. I followed him inside . . . and was instantly bombarded by his mother asking how his day was or if we wanted snacks.

She gently grabbed my head and studied my face. "So you're Dan. The elusive neighbor that my Philly somehow doesn't talk to but still manages to talk to me about all the time." Phil's face went bright red and I hid a snicker. (*We, the fat Americans. I typed snicker and it autocorrected to Snickers. I don't even like that candy, fight me.*)

"Okay . . . Mommy," he hid his face further and I nearly burst out laughing. This was just too good. I was right to look forward to this. "We're going upstairs now."

She ceased studying my face and said, "Okie dokie, Philly." Then she turned back to me, "Do you want any cookies, Dan? They're chocolate chip and they just came out of the oven." She said tauntingly.

I put on some adult charm and said, "Of course, Mrs. Lester. That sounds lovely!" I smiled contagiously as Phil stared at us slack jawed.

Mrs. Lester gave us a tray of the - admittedly, delicious - cookies and we went into Phil's room. He practically slammed the door behind me and sighed. He put a hand over his face and slowly shook his head.

"Oh my God that was so embarrassing." He looked up at me. "Don't you dare say anything about that. To anyone. Got it, Howell?"

At that point, I couldn't hold it in. I burst out laughing and he scowled at me. "And what the fuck was your deal? You and my crazy mom actually got along!" (*Okay I feel like I should point out that I actually love Phil's mom. And her character in this. She isn't actually crazy. Just one of those awesomely funny moms. It's just the character, who might seem a bit over the top*)

I stifled my laughter enough to choke out, "Don't you mean mommy?! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. I just knew the school's resident bad boy was a total momma's boy!! I . . . I need a second. This is just too funny."

Phil's scowl deepened and he shook his head slowly in disbelief, but I could see the edges of his lips curl up. A genuine smile, from Phil Lester. This day kept getting better and better. Plus, the cookies were amazing. Food is always a plus.

Eventually I calmed down and we started working on math. We went over all the notes Mrs. Dodds gave us today and last week. I compared his to mine and instructed him on how to take notes differently. Despite his horrible note-taking skills, he actually began to improve. By the time we were done, Phil could do the homework without my help. Granted, he got half of it wrong, but it's a start.

I had to go back home soon enough, so I bid my farewells to Phil and his mother before returning with an extra plate of cookies clutched tightly in my hand. I didn't ask for them, but I was too nice to not accept them.

That night, I thought about how Phil hardly cracked a single joke. I was able to look at him like a regular human, rather than just a giant dick. With this happy revelation, I slept peacefully.