Page 81 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
I don’t even knowwhy I’m here tonight in the school auditorium, standing in the room backstage waiting to be called on. Of course, Kaleb isn’t here yet, so it’s just me and two other pairs waiting.
There is no way Kaleb and I were good enough to be picked to perform for the entire school, plus all the parents. I was going to be perfectly happy if we landed a C. For my part, I know I was horrible.
Aside from not wanting to perform at all, I’ve been stuck with Kaleb. Someone I don’t even want to be on the same continent with, much less practicing a scene from a movie where the girl ultimately falls for the guy. We’ve spliced together a few scenes where Kat is fighting with Patrick.
Only, I know my heart was nowhere near in it. I was reciting that poem, and the entire time, my heart was crashing against my ribs. Kaleb doesn’t wear combat boots or drive my car, but I hate that I don’t hate him. Even though I think he deserves it.
“Ginny.” I hear my name whispered and turn to find my mom standing not too far away.
I haven’t spoken to her since the day I left. I’ve roomed with Ronnie, and if I see her in school, I walk the other direction. She’s more than made it clear that she doesn’t care about me at all.
For a second, I’m a little frozen. Why is she picking now to try to talk to me?
I walk over and stop in front of her, crossing my arms over my chest. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry. What I did was wrong, cruel, and heartless. I could offer excuses, but I won’t. There are none. You deserved better from me. Deserve better from me.”
Admittedly, I’m floored. Never did I ever think she’d actually apologize. She’s never done it before, so I had no reason to think she would.
“I called Gilroy and told them you have no desire to attend their school. I also called all the recruiters from the other schools you hadn’t made up your mind about and gave them your number. You should be hearing from them soon.”
“Really?”
My mom nods. “I’ve apologized to Dixie, Chris, Kaleb, and his dad. I also resigned from the school. I cleaned out my office a few days ago.”
Resigned. “You quit your job?”
“Ginny, what I did was a crime. I have no business leading this school when I can’t even use clear judgment.”
My jaw drops.
“I’ve started going to counseling. It’s something I should’ve done long ago, and if I had, we might not even be standing here. I was too ashamed to admit that I needed to or that anything was wrong. Your dad leaving affected me in ways that I wasn’t willing to recognize.” She sighs. “I’ve given them your number as well in case you need to talk to someone too.”
I’m in some sort of alternate reality. I have to be. Either that or I hit my head and I’m seeing and hearing things. “Really?” Geez, it’s like my brain is broken. “I mean, I’m…I’m a little surprised, to be honest.”
She grunts a laugh. “I know. I’m so sorry.” I can hear the sorrow in her voice. She means what she’s saying. There’s remorse in her eyes too.
“Yeah. Thank you.”
She swallows hard and shifts on her feet. “You need to know that Kaleb didn’t see you that day I made the deal with him.”
My guard comes up. “Yeah.”
“He didn’t. We both knew you were listening behind the door, and you didn’t see his reaction, but I did. He’s a terrible liar. I knew the second he said it that it wasn’t true. He only said what he did because he was heartbroken. He told you about our deal that night on the beach because he’s a good person.” She offers a tiny smile. “I hope you’ll give him a second chance.”
Before I can respond, I’m called to the stage. I look at my mom.
“We’ll talk another time. Go be the star that you are.” She smiles a little wider.
“Okay.”
When I get to the stage, Kaleb is already there. I have no idea when he got there or how. I feel very singled out, too, because I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.
Mrs. Yates is at the podium, sitting off to the side. “Ginny Gray and Kaleb Quinn performing ‘The Poem Scene’ from10 Things I Hate About You.”
What? That’s not what we performed. I specifically picked scenes where Kat was verbally assaulting Patrick for a reason. I look at Kaleb, and he’s got this weird grin on his face.
Okay, so he may not have lied about seeing me that night my mom made the deal. That doesn’t mean he can go around changing our project and think I’ll be okay with it.
