Tutoring the Bad Boy [REWRITTEN]

12. long nights and spilled secrets

"YOU'RE REALLY TRYING to tell me that you didn't know Hans was the bad guy until they actually revealed it?" Archer asked while wheezing and laughing, "oh my God, my stomach hurts."

"Yeah, what about it?" I said, my cheeks flushed as I glared at him.

"You know, for a straight A student, you're pretty fucking oblivious," he told me, laughing hysterically again and clutching his side. "You're a comedian, Irene."

"I literally didn't do anything," I deadpanned, moving my head to where the credits were now ending.

"Why else would he want to marry Anna?" he inquired while calming down.

"I don't know! Maybe because of Anna's sexy looks and desperate personality that can classify her as clingy. Maybe Hans is into clingy girls. They never specify those details!" I answered in a defensive and he bursted out laughing again.

"Just stop talking," he managed to get out between laughs. "I can't fucking breathe."

     Five more hours of Disney movies seemed to fly by like the snap of your fingers. I didn't mind it one bit; I didn't want to go back home. Waking up in the pitch black night to a drunken woman barely able to stay conscious wasn't on my itinerary unfortunately. However, it was a school night and I wasn't sure if I was welcomed that much to even possibly begin to ask to spend the night at his place. It was already 10:30 p.m.

     "I'll drive you home," he offered, an easy-going smile etched onto his already-beautiful face.

     "That won't be necessary," I replied, politely declining his request.

     "It's 10:30 in the nighttime and you don't have a car," he scoffed, "I'm taking you to your house."

     "Sir, I can walk just fine," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest with a determined look on my face. I could tell that he felt the same way as I did.

     "Like hell I'm going to let you walk back to your house in the cold weather at nighttime. When your house is what? An hour walk from here? Where anything could happen?" he told me, and a million ideas of what could possibly happen flooded into my mind. My body involuntarily shuddered at the thought, and the dark-haired boy seemed to notice when he gave me a victorious smirk.

     "Fine," I murmured, the ends of my mouth tugging downward.

     "It's a win win," he smiled, standing up and leaning over to give me a small peck on my cheek. The gesture made my heart skip five beats. "You get to hang out with me and I'll even let you pick the music."

     "Ah great, even more time to spend with the infamous Archer," I replied sarcastically with a small smile etched onto my face. I couldn't deny the fact that he made me feel happy. Even with his stupid puns and his charming mannerism, he seemed to understand me. Like Oliver did. Like I thought Oliver did.

     The smile dropped from my face, but Archer was already too preoccupied on finding the keys to his car to notice. I was grateful because I still didn't know if I wanted Archer to know. I wasn't sure what I was afraid of, but I just knew I was afraid. Maybe it was because he would judge me. He'd see the weakest side of me and turn me away. Or he'd see that side of me and view me as a plaything. An easy toy to use and control, who'd follow every order just for a little bit of validation and love. Too broken to ever leave him.

     I wasn't sure if I was still broken. Would I still fall for the trap that Oliver had set up so perfectly and effortlessly? You accept the love you think you deserve. A simple phrase from one of my favorite movies. Did I deserve that?