Page 12 of The List of Things

I start to go over the final and try to stay focused despite the different settings. Normally he’s sitting across from me in the student center. I’m on the clock being paid by the school, and he’s there of his own free will. We have plenty of space between us and plenty of room for me to think, and him to study.

Right now we’re on my couch, and he’s leaning over, right next to me, watching as I go over an equation. His body heat is scorching, and it’s making me far more nervous than I’d ever admit.

My eyes peer over at him, and he’s staring at the paper, his messy hair hanging over his forehead. It’s not like all the girls that go after him are wrong for doing so. He’s easy to look at, and he’s surprisingly charming too. I noticed it far before now, but this is the first time I’m admitting it to myself. I would jump Bellamy Archer’s bones if I ever had the chance because holy hell he’s beautiful.

* * *

After a couple of hours,our dynamic has changed. We’re no longer stiff and rigid as we sit next to each other. He’s slouched into the corner of the couch, and I’m sitting upright, my feet kicked up on my coffee table. I continue going over the study guide I’ve made for the two of us, and I point to the next spot, my eyes flipping to him. He’s not looking at his notes, but straight at me.

I launch forward and steal his notes, noticing nothing written down from the past ten minutes of me talking. I flip my eyes to him, and then I narrow them.

“Are you paying attention?”

“Sorry, I got distracted,” He looks me up and down, and he doesn’t even need to try to flirt, it must just come naturally. When you look like he does I guess it has to.

“Are you serious right now? Bellamy, this is your last chance, there’s no more studying after this,” I try to raise the stakes, wondering if it will set in.

“Yeah I know, but I think I’ve got this covered... Now I mean, I’ve got it covered now.”

“Good, you can go then.”

His jaw drops, “Kicking me out so soon?”

I throw my notes to the side and stretch my arms and back, feeling tight after sitting for so long, “You wear me out.”

I fake a yawn and he laughs.

“I try my best.”

I look over to the side at him, his eyes looking at me again.

“You said you couldn’t tutor me yesterday because you were working, but the student center is closed on the weekends so…” He questions, and I nod.

“I work here at my apartment. Free housing that way.”

He raises his eyebrows at me, a soft nod following.

“You really are smart,” He compliments, and I smirk.

“I try my best,” I repeat his words, and he smirks, copying the look on my face.

My eyes scan him, and I peer at his tattoo, not able to see the entire thing, but seeing wisps, and pretty markings, “What does your tattoo mean?”

“It means I look great naked,” He tells me, and I laugh instantly, him following suit. “That was cheesy, I’m sorry… Um, I got it for my parents.”

I nod my head. It feels so normal for the two of us to just sit here. It feels like we hang out every day, like this is a casual thing we do. I’ve tutored him for the entire semester so I guess that must make sense.

“What’s this?” He asks.

I focus on what he’s talking about. I see his hand start reaching forward to grab something on the coffee table, and everything moves fast. I reach quickly, trying to beat him, but I fail miserably.

“Nothing,” I snap, but he’s already got the paper in his hand, and he’s standing up now, using his other arm to hold me back. I try pushing him, but he turns his head.

“Behave.”

I keep reaching despite the warning. He’s got almost an entire foot of height on me.

“What is it?TheList of things I’ve seen but never done?” His eyes are scanning the long list. I made the list as a joke, more for personal entertainment than anything. “This is all cheesy romantic shit.”

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