The Mute Girl's Tutor

Break Your Heart

Sunday came and went. Aaron stopped by around lunchtime and made me study for an hour before we gorged on the store-bought ice cream he brought over since we couldn't eat what we made yesterday. We sat on my couch and rewatched The Breakfast Club, lounging around for a better part of the day before the sun had set and it was time for him to go home again.

It felt good spending time with him, allowing the unexpected hugs or brushes of our hands as the day went on. He had dropped all pretenses of subtlety but out of respect kept himself in check which I immensely appreciated. When it was time for him to go we shared a moment that would have been the exact time for a kiss if we were in a romance movie, after our hug we pulled back, faces a hairsbreadth away until I all but fell backward out of his arms in alarm. He had laughed at me, pinched my cheek before waving goodbye and getting in his truck with our ice cream tubs in a reusable storage bag.

I woke up Monday morning late and rushing out the door with untied shoes and a piece of burnt toast hanging from between my teeth. Not having time for a nice skateboard ride to school like I had planned I jump on my motorcycle, shoving the toast past my lips before tugging on my helmet and zooming off down the road. Driving idly down a neighborhood as a shortcut it occurred to me that I would never have done this before. Since when was I in such a rush to get to school? It's not like I enjoy my classes. Black hair and green eyes flashed across my vision and I fought back the scoff, has he really turned me into such a typical girl?

Pulling into an open space I remove the helmet and brushed the baby hairs from my forehead once I'm fully in park and jerk my bag out of the side compartment. The bell for homeroom sounded and everyone remaining in the parking lot shuffled into the building quickly, if we all go in late as a pack it doesn't look so bad apparently. Ignoring my locker I walk straight to class figuring I'll just sit my helmet under my desk until there was time after my first lesson.

At least four of us filtered into the classroom well after the bell much to my teachers' annoyance, rolling their eyes at each and every one of us. Dropping into my seat in the back my eyes immediately zero in on the graded test on my desk.

Really good effort! Visible improvement: B+

Marked in red ink across the top of my page my eyes read over the words once, twice, thrice, to make sure I was reading it correctly. I got a B+? I don't believe I've gotten one of those since grade school. My fingers brushed over the words, ensuring they're authenticity before neatly folding the paper and putting it in my sketchbook for easy access. Class passed in a blur with me buzzing in my seat, taking down notes I didn't entirely understand but didn't entirely not understand either.

I found myself at my locker after class, depositing my helmet and sweatshirt in to lighten the load before I head off to my next lecture. Turning around I caught Aaron's eye, he stops talking with his friends briefly to give me a breathtaking smile. I can't help the returning smile I give him nodding in his direction feeling lighter, and not because I stuffed my things into my locker. Adjusting the strap on my bag and looking down at my watch I amble through the teeming hallways toward my next class on the third floor.

Taking the stairwell to the left that usually manages to be vacant, I sigh at the cool looking weather from the window halfway up. The wind but at my arms this morning even through my sweater. I hate how long the cold weather stays, it makes spring and summer seem so short.

"I saw that." Circling around on my heels Veronica stood a few steps below me with a smirk on her face. Acknowledging the extra effort she put into herself today — fake eyelashes and a sundress despite the temperature being in the lower fifties, it was hard for me not to roll my eyes. Giving her a blank stare I debate on turning around and flat out ignoring her, but the look in her eye gives me reason to stay planted where I am.