Tutoring the Bad Boy [REWRITTEN]

05. twins and gardens

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS the only thing that truly made me feel free. Though I was very young, I didn't care about what anybody thought of me. Everyone knew each other and everyone was friends with one another. It was like the perfect utopia that could never last because you had to grow up and face reality and society. I hated both.

"Archie!" the two twins both yelled, jumping into his arms while they both giggled. It was only until they calmed down that they noticed me. Ian was smiling with all his teeth on display— well, there was at least one missing— and the other girl furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

     "Is this your girlfriend, Archie?" she asked and I found myself staring at her in shock. I should've expected this. The thoughts of Ian and I's first conversation popped into my mind. Yeah, I should've definitely expected this.

     It couldn't hurt to play along.

     "Yes! Isn't your brother just wonderful?" I exclaimed with a grin. I was never this energetic, and I could tell Archer was holding in a laugh.

     "Don't flatter me too much, darling, I might just blush," he replied with a small smirk, to which I rolled my eyes to.

     Ian squealed jubilantly, jumping up and down before exclaiming, "I knew it! I knew it! You guys are dating!"

     Ian's twin looked up and down, scanning me and making me feel just a little bit insecure. Is this what it feels like to be scanned by one of those popular girls at my school? Thank the Lord I'm invisible. Hold on, why was I feeling insecure from a forth grader again?

     "How did a model end up with Archer?" she inquired, making me want to burst out laughing.

     "Ouch, that one hurt my ego," he pouted, putting his hand over his heart dramatically.

     "She helps you stay humble," I hummed before turning to the girl with a small smile, "My name's Irene, it's nice to meet you."

     "A pretty name for a pretty girl," the young girl grinned, and I suddenly felt the urge to want to hug her. Kids are brutally honest, so to hear that I was called pretty by an elementary schooler made my heart swirl in warmth. "My name is Claire."

     "A beautiful name for a beautiful young lady," I told her with a grin, "you must get all the boys, huh?"

     She shook her head but didn't seem upset at all and instead scrunched her nose in disgust, "They like girly girls."

     Her remark made me laugh as I patted her head, "Don't change for anyone."

     "Never! I promise," Claire smiled brightly before her and her twin both hopped into the back of the car.

     I turned my head to face Archer. His usual stoic expression from school had turned into a loose smile, his eyes glistening with what looked like happiness. The boy made eye contact with me and I felt my heart do a flip inside of my chest. It wasn't the ideal time to do something like that, but I was the one staring at him. And he caught me. . . staring at him.

     "You should take a picture," he suggested humorously, "it'll last longer."

     "Haha, very funny," I replied, playfully rolling my eyes.

     As we were heading towards the car, a thought hit: he never told the twins that we weren't actually dating. I never told them either, and I think it's a tad bit late to just say that we weren't out of the blue. I shrugged the thought off— how bad could it be? I can just tell them later when the time is right. Bulletproof plan, if you ask me.