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I’ve been up against worse than Kaitlyn’s petty pranks and harassment. Besides, if it comes down to a fistfight, I’m sure I can take her.
“I believe you, k-bear.” He gives me a charming smile but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
13
It’s close to seven, and I fidget with my sweater, nervous about Aiden’s arrival. Should I have changed? Cleaned up a bit? What’s he going to think about my house? Wait, why do I care?
Five minutes before seven, the doorbell rings, and when I open the door he’s there, looking as handsome as ever.
“Hey,” I say as Aiden steps inside.
“You ready to learn?” he says as he kicks off his shoes.
“That depends. Are you ready to actually teach?” And not be an asshole is what I don’t add.
He shoots me a smirk and follows me into the house, setting his stuff down on the kitchen table. Before I can wonder if Aiden is going to take this seriously, he gets right into it, pulling up a common problem and explaining how to solve it. I have to resist the urge to do a double take. He explains the problem patiently and calmly, nothing like the Aiden I’m used to.
I follow his steps like they’re a map to a hidden treasure chest, but every time I try, I still don’t get the answer at the back of the book.
“Aiden! I did exactly what you told me and it’s not the answer!” I shove my calculator in his face, showing him the wrong answer. “I knew it! I knew you wer
e just screwing with me! Are you even going to help me or do you get your kicks watching me fail? This is such a waste of time—you’re not even taking it seriously!”
He calmly looks at my calculator screen, then at me, his face blank of emotion.
“Amelia,” he says, “your calculator is in the wrong mode.”
“What?” I’m sure the color drains from my face as I look back at my calculator, and what do you know? It’s in the wrong mode.
I expect some sarcastic comment or asshole remark from him, but he doesn’t even mention it. He simply outlines the steps I should follow again.
“But—but this actually makes sense!”
Aiden leans back in his seat and crosses his arms, a triumphant smirk on his face. “That’s because it’s easy.”
“But I got a question similar to this wrong on the test.”
“You never had me helping you before.”
I actually laugh. What do you know? Aiden’s actually a very good tutor. He’s patient and understanding and nothing like the asshole I’ve come to know. I even ordered us a pizza around the hour mark and we ate like we were longtime friends. About three hours after that first embarrassing outburst, I actually understand the last few lessons from class over the past couple of weeks.
Now, just past ten thirty, we decide to call it a night.
“Thanks for this. And sorry for yelling at you.” I stand up and start clearing the pizza box.
He stands up with me and grabs the discarded plates. “You’re improving.”
“You’re surprisingly really helpful.” I smile. “I never thought that you of all people would be able to help me.”
He leans against the counter, his muscles straining as he crosses his arms across his chest. “What? You didn’t think I was smart enough?”
“No, it’s not that. Well, maybe. Mostly I didn’t think you’d be patient enough. But I guess I am kind of surprised that you’re actually a genius. Not because you don’t look smart, just that you have that I-don’t-care-about-anything-now-get-out-of-my-face kind of vibe,” I rant, letting the worlds spill out of my mouth before I have the chance to realize what I’m saying.
Instead of being offended by what I said, Aiden just looks at me seriously. “Having good grades is the only thing that’ll help get me out of this hellhole.”
“Oh.” I never stopped to consider Aiden’s home life. He drives a pretty expensive car, but he’s never talked about his family. Then again, neither have I.
He straightens up and grabs his bag from the floor. “I should get going. When are your parents getting back home?”
