Chapter Twenty-One
Damian
“Today we’ll be conducting some experiments,” Mrs. Sullivan says on Wednesday during chem class.
“You and your partner are both responsible for participating in the experiments. I want it written down in clear detail which partner contributed what. No longer is anyone going to scrape by while their partner does all the work.”
She was pretty ticked off a few days ago when she found out some kids were slacking off and dumping their work on the more studious kids.
Sophie, my partner, bends forward. “Tough luck.”
I frown. “Was banking on dumping all the school crap on you and heading out for a smoke.”
She playfully rolls her eyes at me, not taking a word of my BS. We’ve only known each other for two weeks, but she can read right through me.
“But you’re taking the lead,” I tell her.
“Nope. You take the lead in one and I’ll take the lead in the other.”
I frown. “Darn it.”
“No cutting corners, Mr. Non Bad Boy.”
I stare at her, then burst out laughing. “I think that’s the lamest thing you’ve ever said.” And that’s not all. I noticed since she walked into class that she’s radiant. Glowing. Silly as that might sound, it’s true. I bet it’s all because of that Axel guy.
She joins in my laughter. “It wasn’t lame. It’s true. You’re not a bad boy.”
“Yes, I am. Quit ruining my street cred.”
She snickers. “Fine. Start the first experiment.”
I read from the paper Sullivan gave us, outlining everything we need to do. “I have no idea what the heck this is saying.”
She tugs the paper to her. “First, gather all your materials.”
I do as she says. “This is lame.”
“Stop calling everything lame.”
“But it is.”
She bumps her shoulder into mine. I bump mine back into hers.
This is weird. We’re never this playful with each other. I can’t help but just watch her, how much of a good mood she’s in. It’s like she’s floating to the sky.
Her hand shoots to her hair, where she tucks it behind her ear. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I shake my head, not taking my eyes off her. “You’re different, that’s all.”
“Different good or different bad?”
“The most terrible different.”
Laughing, she bumps my shoulder with hers again.
Heels clack on the floor before Sullivan appears at our table. “What is going on here?” She gives Sophie such a look, and for a second I think Sophie might shrink away because she’s goofing off instead of focusing on school. But she smiles.
“Damian was just about to start the first experiment, Mrs. Sullivan.”
She glances from her to me with a stern expression. “Very well. See that he does.” She walks away.
“Looks like she’s convinced I’m a bad boy.” I give my partner a pointed look.
“That’s because no one knows you like I do.”
“Yeah? And how’s that?”
She bends close. “You’re very smart. You’re nice. You care. You try to do well.”
I bang my head on the table. “Seriously killing my rep.”
“Mrs. Sullivan’s watching us. We’d better start the first experiment or we might get detention. I can’t get detention, Damian.”
My head lifts. “Okay.”
She lets me take charge, helping me a little here and there, but for the most part I do it on my own.
When she smiles, her eyes shining, I feel proud of myself.
I don’t like school. I don’t like being tutored, but it makes me feel good to do well.
It’s kind of a rush. Is that why she loves school?
Does she feel that way every time she aces a test?
“What?” she asks. “Why did you stop writing down your conclusion?”
My hands hover over my laptop keys. “Was just thinking about something, but I won’t tell you because it’s lame.”
“Now you have to tell me because I’m curious.”
“No way.”
“The curiosity will kill me.”
“Nope.”
She places her hand on my arm. Most kids took off their blazers because the heater is on full blast and it’s hot in here. My sleeves are rolled up to my forearms. Sophie’s fingers are so warm and soft. They send a spark down my spine, and I feel hotter than before. My entire body is lit up.
Releasing a breath, she quickly drops her hand, looking away from me. Did she feel it, too?
We sit in silence, with her squeezing her hands between her knees and looking anywhere but in my direction.
My fingers still don’t move because they’re frozen over the keyboard. I just can’t move them as I relive the feeling of her warm fingers on my skin.
I’ve never felt that before.
I’m not sure how much time passes before she clears her throat, shifting in her seat. That snaps me out of whatever trance I’m in and I force my fingers to move and finish up my lab report.
Then it’s her turn to start the second experiment. Her voice shakes a little as she explains out loud what she’s doing.
I can’t stop thinking about what happened. Why would her touch have such an effect on me? Does it mean something? Was it just random? Is it a typical boy/girl thing? It doesn’t feel like it.
When class is over, Sophie tells me she’ll meet me later and flees out the door. It’s lunch time and I’m glad I can be alone to relive that feeling again.
I’m on my way to my locker to stash my backpack inside when my phone beeps with a text. Mom wants me and Sophie to meet her in her office.
Great. So much for being alone with my thoughts.
As I turn the corner to head for the exit, I smack into someone, sending them flying toward the floor. I grab their hand a bit too tightly and quickly that they slam into my chest.
“Oomph,” Sophie mutters, her lips pressed to my white shirt. She’s sending off so much heat that I feel weird again.
She backs away, playing with her hair. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Sorry if I hurt you.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Good. Did my mom text you?”
“Yeah.”
“Same. I wonder what she wants.”
Now, as we walk to the office, all I think about is her face pressed to my chest. And how…good it felt.
The secretary in the office tells us that the principal is waiting for us. I follow Sophie inside, where Mom tells us to sit down in front of her desk.
She bends forward. “It’s been two weeks since you started tutoring Damian, Sophie. I’d like an update.”
“Damian is doing very well.” Sophie smiles at me. “He’s basically caught up in all his classes and he’s completing his assignments and the extra work I give him every night. And he’s doing well on his quizzes and tests.”
She nods. “Your teachers have been informing me of your improvements, Damian. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
I don’t say anything, not really appreciative of everyone getting in my business. But I don’t blame Sophie because none of this is her fault. She’s just trying to help.
“Does this mean he doesn’t need a tutor anymore?” Sophie asks. I can’t tell from the tone of her voice if she wants to be free from her duties. As much as I hate our sessions, I like spending time with her. And once that’s done, our relationship or whatever you want to call it, is done, too.
Mom shakes her head, clasping her hands together. “It’s only been two weeks and I don’t want him to fall behind. I’d like you to continue tutoring him for a while longer.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I grunt. I don’t want the sessions to end because I don’t want us to end, but Mom doesn’t have to know that.
Sophie nods. “Okay, sure. No problem. I’m happy to help.” She smiles at me again. I would return it, but I don’t want my mother to know we’re friends because she’ll take that away from me, too.
“Great. Do either of you have any questions?”
I sit up. “Yeah, can we leave?”
Ignoring me, she turns to my tutor. “Anything, Sophie?”
“I don’t think so. But I just want to say that you should be proud of Damian. He’s been working really hard and he’s determined. He’s very smart and he puts so much into everything he does.”
“Yes, he’s very bright. He just chooses not to embrace that part of himself. And I’m proud of all he has accomplished.”
It’s shocking that she’s admitting she’s proud of me. Mom hasn’t said anything to me since I moved here. But maybe she’s pretending to be proud so she doesn’t look like a heartless witch to Sophie? Or is she truly proud of me?
“Keep up the good work,” she continues. “I’ll check in with you in a few weeks. Please enjoy your lunch.”
We leave her office and go to the dining hall.
After we grab food from the buffet tables, she goes to her friends and I plop down at the table I’ve been sitting at since day one.
It’s only me and this other guy who apparently no one wants to sit with.
Something about his dad doing some bad deals and he’s been ostracized?
Don’t really know and don’t really care.
I sketch as I eat my food. And when I feel someone watching me, I lift my head to find my tutor’s eyes on me. She quickly yanks them away before meeting my gaze again. She motions for me to join her and her friends. They have stopped eating and chatting and are watching me, too.
I appreciate it, but I’d rather be alone. And I don’t want to impose on them, especially with my negative attitude. I’ll just ruin the vibe. I shake my head at her. She nods in understanding and turns back to chat with her friends.
***
“You never told me how your date went,” I say to Sophie as we’re doing quiet work. She’s doing her math homework and I’m answering questions on chem that she put together. So far, I think I’m all right. “Meant to ask you all day.” But things got weird in chem class.
She shrugs. “Was okay.”
“Just okay?”
She buries her face in her hands. “Oh my gosh! It was the most amazing thing in the world.”
My lips turn up into a smile. “Yeah?”
“Yes! He was so sweet and we talked about books and movies. He took me to pizza and then ice cream. And he sent me a good night text last night and a good morning this morning.” She reaches for her phone. “But he hasn’t said anything since.”
“He’s probably busy with school.”
“Yeah, probably.”
At that second, her phone beeps. I find myself leaning forward to know if it’s him.
“That’s Raven asking if she can borrow my notes later.”
“He’ll text you. He just doesn’t want to seem too eager.”
“I wish he wouldn’t feel that way. I’m okay with him being eager because I’m so eager to hang out with him again.”
I smile. “That’s good.”
She beams.
As we continue our work, I can’t stop my thoughts from traveling to Sophie. I keep seeing her and that guy together, and this weird feeling enters my stomach. I don’t know what it is. I’ve never felt that way before. It makes me a little nauseous.
“Did you finish?” she asks.
I blink. “Hmm? Oh, not yet.”
“Okay, but please finish. We have a lot to cover today.”
Once I’m done, she checks over my work. “Perfect score.” She smiles proudly. “Looks like we have another genius here.”
I scoff. “Or like I said, maybe I just have a good tutor.”
“Better watch out or you won’t need me anymore,” she jokes.
I shrug. “Pretty sure you’d be happy to be done with me.”
Her smile drops. “Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know.”
She watches me for a bit. “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but I wish you wouldn’t push people away.”
I glance away from her.
“Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. We should focus on the lesson.”
I reach for her hand, and as soon as my fingers touch hers, the same spark from chem class zaps through me. I quickly drop her hand. “Just wanted to thank you for putting up with me,” I say in a low voice. What the heck is that spark and why does it keep happening?
“I really don’t mind, Damian.”
She focuses back on the school stuff, but my focus is on her, that spark, and that other weird feeling that enters my stomach every time I think about her and Axel.