New Boy (A Javid Story)

Tutoring

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If Crutchie Morris hated anything, he hated math. He generally did well in every other subject, except for math. Science was no problem for him, and neither was history. He had greatly improved in English, but there was something about math he just couldn't get. His math grade was gradually getting worse, and he began to get desperate for some help. 

The second his teacher announced a big math test, Crutchie started searching for a tutor. None of his friends were really phenomenal at math, and he didn't really want to ask a stranger. Then, Jack suggested Davey. 

After school that day, Crutchie walked up to Davey. "Dave! Hey!" He called. 

"Oh, hey Crutchie. What's up?" Davey asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder and closing his locker. 

"Alright. But, I has a huge math test comin' up, an' I was wonderin' if you could tutor me?" Crutchie asked. 

"Oh, yeah, of course!" Davey nodded. "What's it on?" 

"Proving triangles are similar." Crutchie bit his lip. 

"Alright! When's the test?"

"Tuesday." Crutchie said. 

"Okay. When do you want me to help?" Davey started to walk outside, slowing down enough so Crutchie could keep up. 

"Whenever you can come over." Crutchie shrugged. 

"Alright, what about tonight after dinner?" Davey offered. 

"That works for me!" Crutchie nodded. "An' don't worry. Jack'll be out,  so there won't be any distractions." 

"Good, because that boy is a distraction." Davey laughed. 

"Yeah, for some of us more than others." Crutchie mumbled. 

"What?" Davey asked, confused. 

"Ya know what I mean." Crutchie grinned. Davey pulled him off the path, underneath a tree. 

"How did you know? Did Albert tell you?" He questioned. 

"I has eyes, Dave. I knows more about romance than any of us. 'Cept for Romeo, but he just thinks he is good at romance." Crutchie shrugged. 

"Just, how may other people know?" Davey sounded desperate. 

"Just me." Crutchie admitted. "Don't worry, I won't tell Jack." 

"Good." Davey sighed. 

"But if you hurts him, I hurts you." Crutchie glared. Davey nodded as Crutchie walked off towards the bus, catching up with Jojo. 

Jack was right, Crutchie was terrifying when he wanted to be. 

                                                                                          ***

That night, Davey knocked on the door to Medda's theater, a bit nervous. Crutchie opened it and led him upstairs and into the kitchen. 

"So, Crutchie, what are you having trouble with?" He asked, spreading out his books and sitting down. Crutchie propped his crutch up against the wall and sat down next to him. 

"Everything." Crutchie laughed a little, turning a few pages. 

"Do you want me to start from the beginning?" Davey offered. 

"Yes, please." The blonde nodded. 

"Alright then. You know what the vertical angle theorem is?" Davey asked, and the two started to work. About half an hour later, Jack strolled through the door. 

"Crutchie! Medda! I is home!" He yelled loudly before spotting Davey. "Oh, hey Dave. What is you doin' here?" Jack asked. 

"I'm tutoring Crutchie for his math test Tuesday." He admitted. 

"Oh, cool." Jack grabbed an apple and sat on the kitchen counter. "How's that goin'?" 

"Alright." Davey nodded, looking at Crutchie, who nodded back. "He underestimates himself a lot." 

"Yeah, he tends to do that." Jack leaned over, ruffling his hair. 

"Back off." Crutchie groaned, pushing his brother's hand away. Jack laughed a little, taking a bite of his apple. 

"Do you guys mind if I stays in here for a bit? I always need to brush up on my math." Jack admitted. 

"Yeah, sure!" Crutchie nodded. "If it's okay with Dave, that is." 

"Davey?" Jack asked. 

"Take a seat." Davey pulled out a chair. 

"Nah, I is good up here." Jack waved a hand dismissively.

"Alright, then. Let's get back to work." Davey looked back down at his book and started spewing numbers again. Somewhere along the line, Jack got lost. He started staring off into space. Then he started staring somewhere else. 

Jack didn't really know when he started staring at Davey. All he knew was that suddenly, he was trying to decipher what color the other boy's eyes were. After that all he really wanted to do was look. He wasn't really sure what was happening to him. But then it hit him. 

He liked Davey. 

Jack muttered a small "Oh damn" to himself before getting off the counter. 

"What's wrong?" Crutchie asked, his voice full of concern. 

"Nothin'." Jack shook his head. But all he could think of was how cute Davey  had looked with his head turned, talking numbers with Crutchie. 

"Alright." Crutchie refocused on the sheet in front of him. Jack stood there for a moment, watching his brother and Davey talk before disappearing into the hallway and pulling out his phone. 

"Something's wrong." Crutchie muttered to Davey. 

"Like, serious wrong or he's off wrong?" Davey asked. 

"He's off." Crutchie clarified. 

"Shut up, Race!" Jack yelled from the other room. 

"He's on the phone with Race." Crutchie bit his lip. "And I think he's only not talking to me because you is here. No offense." 

"None taken?" Davey seemed unsure. "But what do you think it is?" He asked. 

"I dunno. I wasn't lookin' at him, I was focusin' on the math." Crutchie shrugged. 

"Ugh." Davey sighed. "I hope he's okay." 

"He's fine." Crutchie dismissed. "Don' worry 'bout him." 

"Alright then, you wanna get back to it?" Davey gestured to the math in front of them. 

"Yeah." The two kept working for another hour until Davey's mom came to pick him up. Fortunately for Crutchie, he understood the subject much better. What he didn't understand though, was his brother. So he grabbed Jack and pulled him into their bedroom, and started to grill him. 

"What was that?" Crutchie asked. 

"What do ya mean?" Jack pretended he didn't know what his brother was talking about. 

"Ya know what I mean." Crutchie insisted. "Why did you leave earlier?" 

Jack panicked for a second before taking a deep breath and giving his answer. "I think I like Davey, Crutch." He admitted. 

"I knew it!" Crutchie yelled.