AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She brushes past me out onto the deck, and I follow silently, closing the door behind us. She huddles over to the far corner of the porch’s seating area, but doesn’t sit down. Instead, she crosses her arms over her chest in a protective stance. As I walk over to where she’s standing, she looks like she’d rather be anywhere but here with me right now.
“Is this about tutoring?”
I rub my free hand along the back of my neck. “Uh, yeah. I wanted to apologize.” I hold her gaze. “You know, for totally ditching.”
“It’s fine,” she says.
Her eyes say it totally isn’t.
I hold out the gift bag. “I got you something. To say I’m sorry.”
She looks at my extended hand, eyes widening like she’s surprised but also suspicious. Then back at my face, then back at the bag.
“It’s nothing that’s gonna bite.” I laugh. “Swear to God, it’s something you’ll like.” Then I shrug. “I mean, it’s nothing big or anything, just… I wanted to get you something to say sorry. For being an asshole and forgetting tutoring.”
She takes the bag cautiously, like she really is worried it’s gonna blow up in her face or something. She removes the couple thin sheets of gold tissue paper and peers inside, then back up at me with furrowed eyebrows.
“Well, take it out,” I can’t help grinning. This girl is so freakin’ suspicious of everything.
She reaches gingerly into the bag and pulls out the puffer fish stuffy I got from one of the souvenir shops in town that sells a bunch of ocean-themed stuff. There’s a flash of genuine surprise, then the glimmer of a smile—really brief, but still, a freakin’ smile—and then suspicion, again.
“The only thing I know about you is you’re really into ocean animals. Like fish and stuff. So I thought you’d like him.” I shrug again. “Or her… Not sure how you tell the difference between uh, bro fish and lady fish.”
“Female puffer fish are usually larger and more rounded than males,” she says. Totally serious.
I lean in and peer at the stuffy she’s holding in her right hand. The other hand is still clutching the gift bag.
“Definitely a female, then.” I grin. “Not that I’m judging. She’s totally rocking the full-figured look.”
And… nothing. Not even a tiny giggle.
Tough freakin’ crowd, amiright?
Caroline inhales a slow breath. Her eyes lift to meet mine. “Um, well. Thank you.” She strokes the fish’s soft belly absently. “You didn’t have to do that, though.”
“I wanted to… It was shitty you were totally left hanging this afternoon. And I swear I didn’t bail on the tutoring thing on purpose. I sorta, um… forgot.” I roll my eyes. “Forgetting stuff is kind of my claim to fame. So definitely don’t take it personally.”
Nothing.
So, I continue:
“But I swear I didn’t mean to. I had a reminder set on my phone, but I didn’t have it on me. I was on a trampoline, and uh…” I stuff my hands in my pockets so she won’t notice the thumb tapping. “Anyway, I want you to know I’m going to take this tutoring thing, and my grades and stuff… I want to take it seriously. I swear I won’t be late again.”
“You weren’t late,” she says in that soft voice. “You didn’t even show up.”
Ouch.
“Yeah, I know. And I’m really sorry. I feel like an ass. I was—”
“You know I quit, right?” she interrupts. “I hope your dad told you.”
“Yeah, he told me.” I scrape my teeth along my lower lip. “But uh, I was really hoping you’d reconsider. That you could give me another chance? If I swear to show up on time to every single session from now on.”
“I’m not tutoring you.” She swallows. “Sorry.”
“Come on… Caroline. Please. I’m begging you. I need to bring my grades up. Stat. Or I’m off the team.”
I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure she just rolled her eyes at me. It was really quick, but I think that’s what it was.
