Page 7 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
Part of me wants to say,Yeah, I know. You’re perfect.Because in reality, my mom is as close to perfect as a person can get. At least, that’s how she presents herself to me and the rest of the world.
“Night, Mom.”
“Night. Make sure all of your schoolwork is done.”
“I will,” I say as I take the twenty steps to the right and slip inside my room. My homework is almost done, so I flop down on my bed. In an instant, my thoughts begin to wander.
Yeah, my mom is awesome. She made great decisions, but not everyone can be Ms. Norma Gray: perfect student, parent, and principal. People do make bad choices. At least, I think so. Not because they’re bad people, but because they’re…flawed.
What do I know? I’m seventeen. Yeah, I think about life, love, and all that other sorts of stuff, but I also know I’m still trying to figure out all of it. It’s too hard to solve tonight, and I’m too tired to think any deeper.
Chapter Four
Kaleb
The next day at school,I’m earlier than usual. Mrs. Yates’s class is my last of the day, but since I need to see her as quickly as possible to let her know Ginny isn’t the best choice for my tutor, I’m already waiting outside her classroom when she arrives.
“Mr. Quinn. Good to see you so early. How did your tutoring go?”
I scratch the back of my neck and wait for her to unlock her door before answering. As I step inside behind her, I search for the right words to land me a new-and-improved tutor. “Uh, well, our personalities clashed, and I really think I’d be better off being tutored by a guy.”
She sets her purse on her desk and folds her arms over her chest. “Is that so?”
“Yes, ma’am. Um, we just don’t see eye to eye.”
She cocks an eyebrow and tries to hold in a smile. “Kaleb, I’m not buying that. Not for a second.”
Why not? Everyone else has determined that I’m nothing but trouble. Well, minus my dad, and he’s mostly holding out because of hope. “Why? Isn’t a tutor a tutor? Why does it have to be Ginny Gray?”
Mrs. Yates flicks her gaze to the door and back to me. “Because she’s the best. Despite her tardiness, she’s the best student I have, and she’s an excellent tutor. She’s got just the right amount of patience.”
“But Mrs.—”
“Mrs. Yates.” Ginny stops short as her gaze hits mine. When her shoulders sag, I’m wondering if I’m seeing things. I thought she’d be grateful. Not…disappointed.
Mrs. Yates strolls past Ginny and swings the door almost shut. “Great. Both of you are here, which means we can get this settled right now.” She turns to Ginny. “I thought we had a deal?”
Ginny glances at me and back to our teacher. “We did. We do. But he doesn’t want me as a tutor.” Her lips press together in a hard line, and she steps closer to Mrs. Yates. “Kaleb said you were going to fail him if he didn’t get a tutor. Why would you already be threatening him with a failing grade? We’re only four weeks into the school year. Just because he’s had a hard time doesn’t give—” Ginny’s eyes widen like she’s just realizing what she’s saying, and she slaps her hand over her mouth.
Mrs. Yates’s eyes narrow, flicking between Ginny and me like a game of roulette. Then her attention settles on me, and I’m pretty sure I just lost. “Is that so?”
I swallow so hard I feel my Adam’s apple bob. “Uh.”
Ginny drops her hand and turns to me. “You jerk. You lied to me.”
I scowl. “You didn’t want to tutor me any more than I wanted to be tutored by you.”
Tears spring to her eyes, and I must admit, I’m surprised. Why wouldn’t she be thrilled to be rid of me?
I point toward the door. “Plus, I don’t want to drive a town over every time I need a tutoring session. I have a curfew, and I can’t be late.”
She blinks a few times, and the tears vanish. “I…I just…”
Before she can finish the sentence, Principal Gray is standing in the doorway turning the color of a stoplight. Her lips pinch together as her gaze quickly moves from Ginny to me and lands on Mrs. Yates. “Whatexactlyis going on here?”
“I’m setting up tutoring for Kaleb. Ginny happens to be my best student. Is there a problem?” Mrs. Yates's words are polite, but the temperature is north of the Antarctic.
“Ginny doesn’t have the time to be tutoring. There will be recruiters in the stands this weekend, and she needs to practice.”
