Avoid

Chapter 26

    My feet stepped into our dorm and I walked straight towards the sofa, dropped my bag and sank into it with my popcorn feeling sorry for myself. Jason and Mateo walked through the door laughing.
  "Ooo what's wrong Lacey?" Jason asked.
"Nothing major." I got up walking to my bedroom to stay out of everyone's way.

    I pulled my maths books out. How hard could this be. I logged on to the test things to look seeing what I needed to learn first.
      I tried but I didn't understand... why can't things be worded in a more simpler way I might just get it then. I was growing more and more frustrated with it. I knew if I didn't pass I'd be forced to stay on another year. I don't want this hanging over my head. My maths holding me back from what I wanted to do.
     I sighed... then launched my book. And it landed just in the corridor as Mateo just happened to be walking past he looked down at it .. unphased.
   "Did the book do something to offend you?"
He looked entertained. The bastard.
   He picked it up, then strolled into my bedroom. He was looking at the front of it then decided to sit down on my bed and open it. I tried to snatch it from him but he was too quick. I had sticky notes in the pages I really struggled with. He flicked through the book.

"You don't like maths I take it.."
    I shook my head laying back on the floor then huffed.. "No. I have tests each week. To see how well I'm going to do, which isn't very well. If they think I'll fail then I'll be held back a year."
   After a moment he spoke..
    "I could help? But on one condition. If you fail a test I get to choose what your punishment is and if you don't you get to decide what you do or whatever."
  "What would you get out of that?"
He stood up looking down at me laid on the floor.
    "Well you wouldn't be staying another year and why wouldn't I want to choose something less boring  for you to do or a challenge ." He said sounding deadly serious.

   "Don't you think failing maths is punishment enough?"
   He had that devilish smile on his face as if he thought it could be entertaining shaking his head slowly.
    "It will encourage you, to not fail you'll focus more knowing you don't want to have to do whatever task I set. Think about it let me know."
   "No thank you, I'll be fine."
He nodded then went to his room.

I tried and tried giving it up for the night.
I cried silent tears staring at my maths book. Surely maths can't stop me from doing what I wanted.
    I must have fallen asleep I woke up a little later than normal. I only had a couple of hours this morning to get through at uni at least.

     I'd been considering Mateo's offer in those hours at uni. Could he help me? Would he take it seriously.
"You ok Lacey?" Georgie asked.
      "Yeah.. well no I'm struggling with my maths. Mateo offered to help but I said no." I shrugged.
      "Ohh, yeah I don't like maths either Mateo helped me once he's actually really good at simplifying things. You should let him help you."
      "Yeah but you know how we can get bantering off each other and he likes to wind me up."
      She laughed.. "I'm sure it would be fine. Go tell him you've changed your mind he's in his room."
I looked down the corridor.
"Go on don't be a chicken!" She teased me.

    I grabbed the coffee I'd just made and as slowly as I could walked down the corridor to his room debating with myself if I'm making the right choice. What do I have to lose?
  I knocked, he opened his door slightly but he was topless. Stay focused!
"Oh. Lacey?" He looked surprised? nervous even?
    "Hi Mateo I was wondering if that offer still stood... um you know about maths?" I asked shyly.
     "Uhmm yeah." Giving me a tight smile.
  He took my cup from my hands giving me a thumbs up.
"That's my coffee..." I reached out to try take it back.
     "Mateo hurry up I'm waiting here.."
I heard a woman's voice. His eyes widened.
     "Actually keep the coffee." I said quickly snatching my hand back and stalked off to my bedroom walking back and fourth across it probably wearing the carpet away.
   It will be ok just focus on maths! That's all I need to do.

Later that afternoon a text came through.
Teo: Want to start your maths tonight or tomorrow?

      I didn't even want to be near him now but I have no choice I need help and he seems to think he can be the one to help.

Lacey: Tonight? I just want this over with as soon as possible.
Teo: Ok cool is 7 ok?
Lacey: Yes.

     I decided to make us all spaghetti bolognese and I'd made some blueberry muffins for after.
Everyone enjoyed their food including fussy Mateo.
He grabbed a bun, his hand almost completely covering it.
"It's practically seven now." Mateo said.
"Hm I know. Your room or mine?"  I asked.

  Well his face split in two he had the naughtiest grin on his face.
   "Well I never thought I'd hear those words from you." He winked.
  It took me a minute to realise how that just sounded. I blushed.
"Yours then." I smiled.
  With his eyebrows raised and his lips pressed together he nodded.

      We walked down the corridor grabbed my stuff and went into his bedroom. I stood awkwardly in the centre of his room not sure where to put myself.
    "You can sit down on my bed it's not gonna bite you. It's just what I get up to on it." He smirked.

  My cheeks reddened. I coughed to clear my throat then sat on his bed. Trying to rid the thoughts of him and another woman on his bed.
      "You know it wasn't what it looked like earlier. She was laid naked on my bed but not for the reason your thinking. I was drawing her."
   My eyes bugged out, he was drawing a naked woman!
  "Why was you drawing her naked?" My voice was a little high pitched.
     "Sometimes people want me to, she actually has a girlfriend and it was for her. She paid me to do it and I needed the cash but yeah I just thought you should know."
     "Oh. I see. Well you are a brilliant sketcher." I said pointing to a picture of a car he'd drawn on his desk.
    I did feel better that he'd told me, he didn't have to but he did so he mustn't want me thinking of him with anyone.
  "Thanks, anyway let's get too it." He smiled reassuringly rubbing his hands together.

I started my laptop up showing him what tests I had coming up first. He nodded telling me this is easy and how I'd think so once I got my head around it.
      He was actually really lovely and took the time to explain it as simply as he could. He didn't get pissed off when I couldn't understand something he just tried to explain it in a different way.
      It felt good that I could actually understand a lot of what we were working on. He wrote down things for me to do and he'd check them. I wrote notes to help me remember how to do them.
     It was like seeing a complete different side to him. He could be patient. I like this side to Mateo it's not something you see very often.

   He bit into his muffin as I jotted down some more notes.
   "Hmm. This tastes like shit." He licked his lips.
There he was back to himself.
    "Really?? Well then I'll eat it." I tried to grab it from him but nope he wouldn't let me.
   "No really it does. I should maybe eat yours for you." He said grinning like an idiot.

    "Your not stealing mine! Nuh-uh, no way I deserve that muffin." I declared.
    "I would merely be helping you, saving you from the bad taste. Those cookies you made that time though, they were the best I'd ever had."
  I smiled shyly.
"You'd tell me anything you would and I'm glad you liked them. Well I best leave you to your night. Thanks for helping me!"
  He nodded too busy eating his awful muffin.