The Player and the Played

26. Ice Cream And Psychics

"Hailey!" 

"Yeah?" I asked, turning, to face Jesse.

"I was just um wondering whether..." he started, looking shy and awkward. I couldn't help but smile. It looked adorable.

"Uh...whether you could tutor me in English. I don't get most of the poetic stuff. It's annoying Plus you're really good at English so..." He was so awkward that I couldn't help but smile and say yes.

"What time?"

"After school today, if you're free? We can set up other times later," I replied.

"Sure. Thanks!" he replied, giving me a very unexpected and brief hug before running away. 

"Ready for Calculus?" Tyler asked, his voice friendly but eyes annoyed.

"Yeah."

"Who was that?" he asked curiously.

"Just Jesse."

"Oh. Huh." 

"Yeah...You coming?"

"Oh, yeah, right." It seemed like his zoning out moment never happened and he was back to being that annoying yet totally adorable teddy bear.

***

"So, we're doing 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas and 'The Hollow Men' by TS Elliot right now. Let's start with The Dylan Thomas one as it's a little easier."

"Okay." Jesse's demeanour suggested a forced interest.

"Look," I sighed. "It's not going to be easy but you have to try to be interested at least, okay?"

"Fine."

"Okay, so the poem was written by Dylan Thomas for his dying father, convincing him to keep fighting even though he was going to die. It's about how while being ignorant about about dying was wrong but that didn't mean he should have given up or given in. But, the beauty of poetry is that it can be used in almost every situation. The poem is not only specific to his father. It means, just because you're fighting a losing battle doesn't mean you don't give it your best shot. Let's go over each line now."

"So, the first line says 'do not go gentle into that good night'. What do you think it means?"

"It means that you shouldn't give up or go gentle even when something inevitable is going to happen...?" he replied.

"Yeah, you've got it. see, it's actually pretty easy."

"Huh, I guess it is," he replied with a smile. We continued till we'd done at least half of the poem and he could do most of it on his own when a sudden thud outside interrupted us. I rolled my eyes, dismissing it but then a dark figure jumped into my room.

"Holy shit! Who the hell is that? And how are you not freaking out?" Jesse asked me. I strode over to the shadow and turned him so his face was towards us.

"Look, Tyler, we're friends and all but please do not just randomly barge into my room especially while there are people."

"Keep your window shut from the inside, then," he replied, not even slightly ashamed. I glared at him for a few seconds.

"Okay, fine. I'm sorry, Hailey," he aid, looking a little afraid and sheepish. I smiled, giving him a 'thats-better' look. 

"So, what are you doing?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in on Jesse and me.

"Just a bit of tutoring in English," Jesse answered for me.

"Mind if I join?" he asked.

"Yes," I said.