Page 43 of Player Problems

Wilder waves his goodbyes after extracting his promise I would see him and his friend, Colby, at the party later. I shut my laptop as I watch their backs. My last appointment of the day is the illusive Jason Locke. Once again.

This will be the fourth session he’s made he doesn’t show up for and at this point, I’m not sure how to handle it. I’ve already told the tutoring head, but she waved me off. Told me to keep inputting my reports the way I have been, but Jason’s sessions weren’t mandated and were scheduled at his request. Nothing more we can do.

At least, I’ll have a little bit of extra time to figure out my costume for this party tonight. Just as I’m finishing packing my stuff up, a soft knock sounds at my door. I pause, looking up to find a student poking his head in. His wide eyes meet mine and a flash of panic is quickly followed by determination.

“Jason?” I ask, ready to pull my laptop back out of my bag. I’ve already refreshed myself on his file plenty of times that I almost know it by heart. An average leaning toward mediocre student. Not close to failing any classes, but not thriving or even really succeeding in any either.

His face flushes red as he opens the door and comes into the study room. “Umm, yes ma’am.”

My eyes narrow on him and I pull my laptop back out and open it to the notes and plans I’d made for his schedule this semester. “Call me, Torryn.”

He hesitates as he falls into the seat across from me but nods his head in agreement. I tap my pen on my desk and lean back, observing him as he pulls out a couple notebooks, a planner, and a small binder. At least the kid is organized. Tension blooms as we sit in silence for several long moments, the only sound the tap, tap, tap of my pen against the desk as I continue to study him.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out and I hum in acknowledgement, nodding. “I was nervous to come see you,” he admits, but I just give him a look. I’ve already figured out exactly why he requested me and why he’s been skipping, and especially why he’s still nervous enough to barely look me in the eye.

I click my tongue, dropping my pen. “How’d you get into my bar?” I finally ask, leaning forward. It took me a second to connect the pieces, but he was part of the rowdy group that harassed Lucy not too long ago.

His smile turns sheepish. “Fake I.D.” He turns to look behind him, checking to see if the door is still closed. “Are you going to take it?”

I snort, relaxing back into my seat. “I’m not a cop.”

He nods his understanding. I know from his file he’s only nineteen, making him the same age as I am. No one has ever claimed Tease is on the up and up. “I was only there for my brother,” he mutters. He looks up to directly look me in my eyes. “I owe you an apology for that night as well. I didn’t think him and his friends would act that way.”

Deciding to let him off the hook, I snap out of Tease Torryn and back into tutor mode. “Don’t stress yourself. Now, did you actually want help in your classes or was this a ploy?”

“A ploy,” he admits, not surprisingly. “But, umm, I’ve watched some of your sessions. Or at least bits and pieces that I could catch.” Surprise and a flicker of something else catches me off guard. A flash of my car and it’s busted– well– everything. Before the thought can even fully settle, I wave it off, waiting for him to continue. “I think maybe I could really use your help. It would be nice to actually understand what I’m learning.”

Alright, he may not be my favorite student, but this will work. I hand him a packet I created to get to know my students strengths and weaknesses. “Complete this and bring it to your next session. Don’t just bullshit it. It’ll help save both of us time and energy. Got it?” He nods sharply, taking the packet and slips it into his binder. “Do you have any assignments completed that don’t need to be turned in yet?”

He shakes his head, eyes dropping to the table. “I’m more of a do it at the last minute type of guy.” Not surprising. Most students are. I can still work with that. “Any assignments that have been returned to you?”

His face scrunches as he thinks about it. “I think so.” He digs through his notebooks and pulls out an assignment marked with a C-. Perfect.

I grab it from him, tossing it into my own bag and review his schedule. “Great. You have no tests coming up next week, nor major assignments due.” I use my pen and circle several upcoming assignments in his classes. “You are going to do that packet and start on these projects so I can get a better idea of what we’re working with. I’ll see you next week.”

Jason nods along with my words but seems confused. “Okay. But, umm, is that it?”

“Yup,” I pop the p, packing my shit up again. “You wasted several sessions a we’re not in dire straits. I’m not wasting my breath until I see what I’m working with.”

“Okay,” he says emphatically.

“Great, now fuck off.” I have a costume I need to go figure out.

Fog machines, spooky decorations, and flashing lights have transformed the hockey house into something out of a movie.

“I’m actually impressed,” I admit to Isla as we walk through the front yard. My fingers tracing over the gravely texture of a fake tombstone.

“Can you even see?” she asks back. It could be snarky, except for the note of worry that causes her voice to pitch higher. She grabs hold of my arm and clings to me as if she would really be able to catch me if I fell.

I might be wearing heels, but the chunky rubber heels of my black combat boots hardly feel unstable. It’s not like I’m sinking into the grass as some other girls are. I hope the guys knew better and prepared the back of the house a little better. “There are eye holes for a reason, babe,” I tease her.

She huffs, clinging to me tighter. “You covered up the eyeholes.”

“With sunglasses,” I retort.

“At nighttime,” she says through gritted teeth. Okay, fair enough. But there are enough flashing lights to keep everything illuminated while still creating shadows to play tricks on your mind. I might actually have to give the boys props.

Isla leads me through the front door and the white of both our costumes glows under the black lights. I’ll never admit it aloud, but it is a little harder to see inside. It’s a good thing I don’t plan on staying very long anyway. She doesn’t hesitate as she pulls me through the crowd and leads us into the kitchen, barely letting me stop and get a good look around. I’ve never actually been to their place before.

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