AllFreeNovel
Share Us
RYLAN
From:[email protected]
Subject:Tutoring
Hey Aidan,
I’m sick and can’t make tutoring tonight. Attaching this week’s assignment from Professor Carringan for you to look over. We’ll review it next week.
Best,
Rylan
Ignaw on my bottom lip, rereading the email I drafted to send to Aidan for the twentieth time. I’m aiming for a casual yet professional tone, something that doesn’t suggest I spent a ridiculous amount of time writing and reviewing this.
Or that I’m feeling uncomfortable about how our last tutoringsession ended.
And most of all, I’m trying to ensure he doesn’t think this is a lame excuse to avoid seeing him.
I’m annoyed I’m sick, and not just because feeling crappy sucks. Because I’d like to get this awkwardness out of the way as soon as possible. But short of attaching a photo of me mid-cough with a red, dripping nose, I have no clue how to prove to Aidan this email isn’t an excuse to evade him.
I addCongrats on the win, deleteCongrats on the win, and then hit send.
Quit out of my email before a response could possibly come through, and slump back against the pillows. I started feeling stuffed up last night, then woke up with a sore throat and a cough. Dragged myself to my morning class, then came home before lunch and changed into sweatpants.
I’ve been in bed ever since, chugging sports drinks packed with electrolytes and nibbling on some crackers I found in one of the cabinets. I feel too shitty to make myself a full meal and am quarantining in my room to avoid getting my roommates sick, since that’s a certain way to become the least popular person in the house.
I’m planning to take some cold medicine in an hour and hoping a solid night’s sleep will mean I feel better in the morning. If not, I’ll text my mom and take advantage of the fact she only lives ten minutes away now to have her come take care of me.
After scrolling on social media for a little bit, I attempt to do the reading for my Philosophy class. Give up, after only a few pages, and start watching a comedy on my laptop.
The opening credits are still rolling on the small screen when I hear a knock.
Not on my door, on my window.
I sit up in bed, sniffling before I climb off the mattress,keeping my blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Creep over to the curtain and pull it back.
Aidan is outside.
I stand, stunned. Then mouthGo away.
He shakes his head.
I glance over one shoulder at my shut door. I texted all my roommates to let them know I was sick. Chloe has already tapped on my door twice, asking if I need anything. I really don’t want them overhearing this conversation, and I wouldn’t put it past Aidan to walk around to the front door if I refuse to let him in this way. Surprised he didn’t do that in the first place, actually.
Reluctantly, I flick the lock on the window open and tug the sash up an inch. Shiver, when a gust of frigid air invades my warm room. There’s no screen on the window, which might become an issue in May.
I step back, tightening my grasp on the blanket wrapped around me.
Aidan opens the window as wide as it’ll go and climbs inside like he’s done it a thousand times before, quickly shutting it behind him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask.
I feel awful and am well aware I look terrible, and I’m irritated I care he’s seeing me like this—in ratty sweats, wearing no makeup with a runny nose.
Aidan glances down. “Oh, shit,” he says. “I left it outside.”
