Page 8 of Private Tutoring
I closed the distance, my legs feeling wooden and heavy.
“I understand you’re in need of tutoring.” He said it plainly, no hint of remorse and no dancing around the truth.
I nodded, still unable to convince my mouth it could move.
“I’m willing to tutor you.”
I blinked. Waited. Blinked again. “I’m sorry?”
His lips twitched in a mockery of a smile that somehow unglued my tongue from the roof of my mouth.
I tried again. “What do you mean?” I’d always thought he was intimidating. He never cracked a joke or smiled. And now that I stood right in front of him, with nowhere else to look but his face, I realized he was far more handsome up close.
“You need a tutor for my class. Who better to tutor you than me?” He shrugged, and I guess it was meant to look casual, but he winced a bit, ruining the effect.
My breath stuttered out. “Um. Thanks?” I didn’t mean for it to come out sounding like a question, but honestly, how could I not?
“You’re welcome. I expect you to show up for every lesson. And every class. If you put in your best effort, so will I.” Heturned halfway toward the board. “And I expect to see you sitting up front from now on.”
“Yes, sir.” I squeaked out my reply and bolted for the door, almost plowing over Delilah.
She caught me while staggering to the side. “What was that all about?”
I gulped air like I’d been oxygen deprived the whole time I stood in front of him. “I’m failing his class. He offered to tutor me.”
Delilah’s eyes narrowed. “How verykindof him.”
Her emphasis caught my attention. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing.” She fluffed her long hair, teasing the blondish ends she maintained in the sorority house bathroom on a religious basis. “Just that you’re incredibly lucky.” She winked. “Maybe I should start failing too. See if he offers me a little private tutoring session of my own. I’d be sure he didn’t regret it.”
Delilah had never been shy about voicing her fantasies for the silver fox of the Dream Team. She thought he was the most handsome. I heard about her fantasies every single time we had a math class. I’d even dreamed about him one night after hearing her detailed explanation of what she wanted to do in bed with him.
“I’m sure you would.” I looped our arms together and led her from the building despite her constantly looking over her shoulder and bemoaning the fact that she hadn’t considered failing to gain his attention.
We made it to the sorority house as a whole group of girls rushed up the steps and in through the front door.
Delilah eased away from me and jogged ahead. “Wait until they all hear.”
“Delilah, no.” I ran after her. “Please.
“What? It’s not a big deal, Harmony. So you’re failing math. Who cares? It’s the private tutoring I want to talk about.” She grabbed my arm, laughed, and raced into the house, shouting at the top of her voice. “Harmony has a private tutoring session with Professor Harding!”
The squeals and shouts from our sorority sisters echoed throughout the house. I huffed and rolled my eyes but gave in to the pressure of Delilah pulling on my arm as she dragged me into the living room.
Leighona was the first to bounce into the room and flop onto the couch in her graceful way. “What do you mean?”
“I mean.” Delilah sat forward and grinned. “Harmony is going to spend timealonewith Professor Harding.”
“No way.” Angie, one of the newest sorority sisters, dropped next to Leighona, bouncing her on the cushion.
“No joke.” Delilah winked at me. “Lucky girl.”
Samantha and Jessica rushed in next, each of them taking the chairs on either side of me and Delilah where we sat on the love seat. The sight of them gaping at me while they laughed and talked about Professor Harding made me uncomfortable. I crossed my ankles and pulled them in tight against the bottom of the love seat. I knew better than to try and leave the room. They wouldn’t stop talking, and at least this way I’d hear every word.
They’d gossip later, well out of my earshot. I could almost hear them already, talking about the poor girl who couldn’t afford to fail her classes and had to take favors from the teachers. It was the nature of those supposed favors they drooled over.
“He’s so hot.” Delilah fanned her face with her hand. “I’d jump in bed with him anytime. No bad grades required.”
