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He shrugged. “I’ll walk you to your dorm.”
Though it was a sweet gesture and if she was actually going to the dorm, then she’d have been excited. “I’m not …” She stopped herself because she didn’t have a good excuse for him not to walk her.
As they walked toward the dorms, Autumn tried to think of an excuse why she wouldn’t be going there if she lived there. He rambled on about something, but she couldn’t focus on him. She looked over her shoulder wishing she knew more people, or better yet, maybe one of his buddies would walk by and distract him. Autumn slowed with her hands on her backpack straps as they neared the dorms. She fidgeted in front of the girl’s dorm. She couldn’t go in even if she wanted to. Her student ID was useless since she didn’t live there.
She turned toward him and waited a beat.
He nodded to the doors. “This is you.”
“Yeah.” She felt her face flush. What was he waiting for? Did he want her to invite him inside?
She should tell him already. It was going beyond not wanting him to know because she was his tutor now though. She thought he would see her differently if he knew and she didn’t want that.
She looked at the door and rocked back on her heels, “I’ll see you next time?”
“Autumn,” he spoke softly. Her heart began to race. He knew. Not like that was a big deal. It was fun while it lasted thinking a boy actually liked her and she liked him. She turned toward him.
“Yeah?”
He looked at her for a minute. He was on to her. Did he know this entire time and was trying to catch her in a lie? Then he reached up and his hand skimmed her cheek as he pushed her hair behind her ear. Autumn’s breath caught. She always thought swooning was exaggerated, but that was exactly how she felt.
“I um …” He motioned to his own ear. “That was … in your face.” He mumbled.
“Oh.” Was all that she managed to utter. They stood awkwardly for another few minutes before he said, “Are you going to go in?”
“Right.” She couldn’t tell him now. She could barely speak as it was. She patted her pockets as if she was looking for her student ID. “Um … I lost my ID.” She looked around. “I’ll have to wait until someone goes in.” Autumn wasn’t even sure that was believable, but she wanted to pretend for at least another day. It had been fine to let other people she tutored think she was their age, but she’d never gone to a party with them or even walked home with them.
“I’ll wait with you,” he said.
“Great.” Now she felt stupid for not telling him. Just as she opened her mouth to say something a girl approached the door.
“Hold that door, please,” Kolson said. Autumn’s eyes grew wide. The girl turned toward Kolson.
“I lost my student ID.” Autumn felt the lie thick on her tongue.
The girl stood there with the door open, waiting.
She turned toward Kolson. “I’ll see you later.” Then she ducked inside. The girl looked at her funny when she leaned against the wall. “Thank you.” Autumn said.
The girl shrugged and started up the stairs. Autumn waited several minutes, giving Kolson plenty of time to walk away before she exited the building.
