Pulse

20

AUTHORS NOTE: hey guys. Been a while! Well, here's a new chapter ;) hope y'all love it. Sorry for the wait, I got a job :3

I see him before he see's me. The brown hair, the intense eyes. He struts into the library like he owns the place. His backpack is lazily slung over his shoulder, the zipper slightly open in a way that reveals several sketchbooks. He looks around in annoyance but his eyes scan everywhere but my direction, which flares up a storm of mixed emotions that cause my heart to stutter.
I watch him wander over to the librarians desk. He leans in, eyes curious. He's asking a question. The librarian points at me and the stuttering in my heart stops. Infact, I think my heart stopped.

What a bitch.

I pick up a text book, attempting to hide my face from mikes prying eyes. Maybe its not me he's looking for. Maybe there's someone behind me. Maybe he's just looking for a friend or something...

"You can't hide from math, austin."

I fumble open the pages of the textbook I'm holding, and I dont bother to look up. I might actually pass out.

"Austin?"

I glance up. Mike is standing there, in all his perfectness, looking bored as fuck.

"Oh.. I'm.. Not-"

"That's a history book." He states Confidently, rolling his eyes.  

I feel blood rushing to my Face.

"And it's your business because...?" I retort, not expecting a fast comeback.

why are you such a dumbass?

"my assignment says I'm supposed to tutor you in-"

"Nothing. Because your not my tutor. It was a mix up" I cut him off in my most convincing voice. mike furrows his eyebrows in complete non-confusion. In fact, I almost see a hint of a smirk before he gathers his composure, takes a deep breath, and attemps to speak to me as evenly as he possibly can.

"No, austin. Im about a hundred percent sure that you're the one I'm supposed to be helping. Can we just put everything aside and make this strictly business?" His voice is smooth and I take his words into considering, looking away and still fumbling with the wrong textbooks.

Strictly business? Bullshit.

I want to leave so bad.

"my...my grades are fine.." I mumble, very obviously lying. I don't look up to see the frustration on mikes face but I know it's there. I pretend to be reading the history book, hoping for mike to go away, but instead he shoves his stuff on the table angrily and plops down in the seat across from me. Startled, I finally lower my text book. Mike is beyond annoyed by this point but seems content that he finally got my attention. He leans in closer to me, close enough that I can smell whatever gum he has in his mouth. He takes a deep breath before narrowing his eyes.

"Look. I dont want to be here anymore than you do, but this is the only way I can graduate this year. I need the extra credits and tutoring you is whats going to get me them. I don't care if you pay attention, I don't care if you play on your stupid phone for this hour every day after school. I can sit here all night and explain geometry to you... But you sure as shit aren't going to leave during this hour. Understand?" His voice is stern. Not angry but definitely no where near happy. He sounds like a mother demanding respect from her unruly children. I find it difficult to keep eye contact with mike but he doesn't let up.

"i don't.."

"I said, understand?" He presses, raising an eyebrow. This is so out of his charismatic self that I find my hands shaking and my heart rate rising. I cant think of anything to say. I cant think of a snarky comeback and honestly... I find myself speechless. I bite my lip and nod.

"Good." mike says, leaning back in his chair. He pulls out all of his notebooks and starts explaining some weird concept to me that I'm not even listening to. I can't, my mind is racing with the concept of having to spend an hour after school everyday with mike.