Falling For Seconds

Chapter Four

  Chapter tests were something I wasn't prepared for in the slightest. When it came to test taking, I was fair, but that was only when I knew the subject matter the test was covering or I had a tutor over every school night drilling the information into my head. I sat in class for almost two months now, taking notes and doing my homework, but I honestly had no idea what was being taught. I thought I had some clue as to what my professors were saying, but when I made flashcards and couldn't even remember ever hearing any of those words; I knew I was out of luck.
  I hadn't worked today, but I went there anyway. It was my favorite place to study. Or procrastinate studying. I ordered a cup of coffee from a guy I'd never seen before after only twenty minutes of trying to decipher my notes. Focusing was becoming an extremely difficult task now days.
  I had called Greyson to try and find a time where we could have a study date, but instead of a date, I received a million and a half excuses of how he had to run errands and complete projects and help clubs set up for a fair. A couple times I even got his voicemail. I had told myself going into the conversation that I wouldn't argue, so I accepted the excuses and that's how I ended up at the bookstore. It was the only place I had left and there were so many books that maybe a few could rub some of their knowledge on me.
  A small portion of my body regretted the date we'd gone on two weeks ago. If we hadn't seen each other then, maybe Greyson would have been more keen on spending time with me now. It was a thought I entertained rarely, but still it stayed jumbled in the mess of thoughts I couldn't control.
  I let out a defeated groan and let my head fall against my open notebook. I didn't understand why prerequisites were so hard to grasp. Thousands upon thousands of high school students graduated and went to college everyday, practically acing the first two years. I had gone to a college preparatory school for Christ's sake, why was this material so completely foreign to me?
  "I'm sure smacking your head on the table won't help." A familiar voice laughed. "Oh, but it does, believe me." I protest while slowly bringing my head off the books.
  I was a little taken aback when I saw Levi standing beside my booth. The voice had sounded a lot more mature. maybe it was because they both smoked.
  He had one hand shoved into his pocket with the other wrapped around a medium sized paper cup. I couldn't deny the fact that he was attractive, standing there in his long sleeve shirt and dark jeans.
  Levi slid into the seat across from mine and sat his drink on the table. "Sure, I don't mind if you take a seat." I said sarcastically. He flashed me a crooked smile whilst nodding.
  "I figured you didn't, that's why I hadn't bothered to ask."
  I couldn't understand where all the sass came from. It was as if he had a comeback for absolutely everything I said. It was both incredibly amusing, but at the same time annoying.
  "So, what is this?" Levi's fingers flipped the pages of my book that sat closest to him. The book reacted to him and landed with a slap on the table.
  "I am studying." I revealed flatly and he shook his head.
  "You were wishing you were dead."
  The word 'dead' reminded me of the rumors Julia had told me. Sparks of fear ignited in my stomach the more I thought about it. I wondered if he was carrying a gun at this moment. Would it be a stolen one? Did he even care about the laws? What if it wasn't registered because he had gotten it off the black market?
  I looked him over trying to figure out where he could conceal the weapon, but I came to no conclusions. The shirt he was wearing was too tight to try and conceal a weapon. But I did discover that he had a well built physique. The sleeves were taut around his biceps and shoulders, falling slack off his pecks and down to his waist. It was evident he enjoyed working out. What if he did it because he was one of those guys that went into restaurants asking for money that was owed? What did they call those people..?
  My cheeks heated. He was staring at me with an amused grin across his lips. His hands were steepled in front of his face but it did little to conceal his features. I shook my head, my gaze falling to the table. "This is impossible to comprehend."
  Levi looked back to the book. His smile faltered as a creased formed between his brows. "What is it?" He asked, eyes scanning the information on each page.
  "Calculus."
  "Calculus...?" He repeated in more of a question than a statement.
  "Yeah," I nodded.
  "Why in Christ's name would you need to take Calculus?" He asked. I felt as if he was saying that I couldn't do it and even though I felt the same, I wouldn't let him know that. My tone was a little more condescending than usual as I spoke. "Because I want to make something out of my life."
  Levi sat back against the bench and raised his hands as if to tell me to calm down. "Okay, well I did the same thing until I realized there were other careers out there that would pay a hell of a lot more and I didn't have to try and solve the devil's algebra."
  The way that he slid back in his seat caused his knees to brush mine. The slight contact caused my breath to hitch in my throat. Levi raised an eyebrow at me as he noticed what had just happened.
  The lip ring he wore was pulled in between his teeth as his eyes traveled down my body then to the textbook in front of him. I should've hated the action, but my mind was too entranced by the way he looked.
  Like I was unable to concentrate whatsoever, my mind changed tracks and remembered what he'd revealed. "You went to college?" I asked.
  He spun the textbook around so he could read the contents. Levi's eyes shifted from page to page before his fingers flipped to the next. "Yeah, for about four years or so."
  "Why?" I blurted.
  He took in a deep breath, raised his head, and placed both hands atop of the book. I watched his fingers intertwine before looking back to his eyes. They squinted as he looked between mine. "What did you say you wanted to major in?"
  I looked at him for a moment before telling him my answer... that I was going to be a doctor. "Right, me too," he responded with a smirk.
  I leaned forward and mimicked his body language, "You're lying."
  His smirk transformed into a smile, "When you tell me what you really want to be, I will tell you mine."
  I was completely bewildered by the man in front of me. He knew nothing about me, but still knew that I was lying. Granted, I had never been great at lying.
  I lived more of a tell-the-truth-and-nobody-gets-hurt kind of lifestyle. I gave him a blank stare as I had absolutely no response. He was the complete opposite, the show-me- yours-and-I'll-show-you-mine.
  My mind wondered as I contemplated asking him for help. I needed the aid, but I wanted to make sure it was worth getting involved with him. The conversation between Julia and I replayed in my mind. but I needed the help. I wasn't technically getting involved with him if I was just studying at the bookstore, right? Wrong, the little voice in my head screamed. I didn't listen.
  "Would you be willing to help me study?"
   "What's in it for me?" I looked around the room trying to find something that I could bribe him with.
  "I don't know, maybe the satisfaction of helping someone in need?" I shrugged.
  "Or I could do it just to see more of you." Definitely a show-me-yours-and-I'll-show-you-mine kind of guy. If anyone else had said those words I would have been incredibly flattered, but because the words came from his mouth, the comment gave me chills.
  I closed my notebook and placed it in my backpack beside me. "I thought you wanted my help?" He asked confused. Levi sat back against the bench causing our legs to brush again. The same sensation washed through me causing my breath to hitch for the second time.
  "I can't study with someone who has ulterior motives." I spoke softly as I tried to calm the fire that had been ignited inside of me.
  I grabbed the textbook from across the table and also put it in my bag. "Have you never been touched?" Levi asked fascination was written all over his face. He threw his arms over the back of his seat and sank lower, causing our legs to make even more contact. As I said before he was a lot taller than me, making his knee now graze my inner thigh. The thin black fabric of my pants did little to stop the electricity. I couldn't look up at him. I didn't want him to see that effect he had on me.
  "That's none of your concern."
  "But it is...I need to know a little about who I'm tutoring. Your answer might just make my part of the deal sweeter."
  "Don't make me regret asking for your help." I said sliding out of the booth.
  He chuckled lowly, "just remember that it would be your loss."
  I looked down at him. It was one of the only times I would. "I'm sure it would be your loss just as well; you wouldn't be able to see me or my ass as much as you had hoped."
  Levi didn't respond and for the first time since our meeting, was he lost for words? I smiled sensing my victory and turned slightly towards the door. "Meet me here tomorrow at four and make sure to bring your mature personality." I instructed. The left corner of his mouth twitched and his eyes matched what his mouth was trying to convey.
  "Yes ma'am," He spoke with hints of sarcasm.
I didn't respond as I walked away from him to the front door. I should've been more afraid of Levi as I knew what he was (possibly) associated with, but I was too excited about finding a study partner.
  As I rounded the corner and headed toward my house, I couldn't help but walk a little bit taller. I guessed it was a side effect of conversing with a person who seemed so confident in himself. It somehow rubbed off. I had a fire in my belly and it wasn't just from the places he had grazed me. Being with him made me feel... alive? That thought terrified me.
  As I unlocked the door to my apartment, the realization of what had take place loomed overhead. He was a complete stranger with dark and sexual motives. My hand pauses on handle. Should I call Greyson? As quickly as the thought entered, it vanish and I entered the dark apartment. Safety and comfort washing over me and I welcomed it, for however long it wanted to stay.