Chapter 14
Tyler
My next tutoring session with Serena couldn’t come any faster.
I haven’t seen her since the impromptu car ride home. I didn’t see her on campus yesterday since we don’t share any classes. Maybe Beckham’s right, maybe I am getting smitten by Serena. At the same time, I don’t think I’m ready to admit that to myself or speak it into existence.
There’s something about her that I can’t exactly pinpoint why I’m drawn to her. Then I remember I couldn’t have her. For starters, I made a pact that I wouldn’t get with another girl. She’s also Jared’s sister. There has to be some kind of bro-code to not crush on your friend’s sister.
“Hey, I got you something.” Serena appears at our study table, placing a Thai green tea and straw in front of me. “I wasn’t sure how I could repay you for driving me home, so I got you this. ”
“Thanks.” I accept her gift and unwrap the straw. “How’d you get this?”
Serena sits down across from me, setting her bag down on the tabletop. “I snuck out during lunch.”
My heart thumps louder and harder that I’m afraid it’s going to jump out of my chest and into her hands. Serena breaking rules for me is not what I expect from her, but I like it and I’m not complaining.
“Everything okay?”
I stab the straw into the lid a little too fast and hard that a few droplets escape from the cup and onto the table. “Shit.”
“Oh here, use this.” She pulls a wet wipe from her bag.
“Thanks.” I reach for it just as she does, our hands meet in the middle, an accidental touch that sends a jolt through me.
I need to cool it.
“You ready to go over your homework?”
“Yeah.”
I pull out my textbook and straighten out my notebook. Before I can nudge my notebook toward her, she switches gears by moving to the seat next to me.
The close proximity makes me let out a heavy exhale I hope she doesn’t hear. She’s wearing the same perfume from last time– a blend of fruity and floral scents, mixed with a subtle hint of musk. Her hair is hanging loose today, curtain bangs are styled perfectly for her delicate frame. She wears light makeup as her luscious lashes tie her whole appearance together, making her look absolutely stunning.
“Are you listening?”
I gulp and feel my cheeks heating up. “Sorry, can you repeat that?”
Serena’s mouth curves into a smile. “I need you to walk me through these problems so I can understand your thought process.”
The mood shifts since I remember why we’re here. She’s my tutor and I’m bad at trigonometry.
We go over the six problems from last night’s homework, with me voicing out how I worked out the problem to get this answer and my thought process. Serena gives me a solid C based on the six problems, and makes me rework two of them.
She sits back on her phone, and I can’t help but casually glance at her chest rising and falling with each breath, and small grins as she watches the screen. I finish working on one problem and move on to the next before Serena speaks up, “Hey, what’s this Coke or Crush thing?”
She shows me the student email displayed on her phone. I perk up my head, bringing my eyes to the small screen. “It’s a student spirit thing the social committee likes to do the week of the first home game.”
Serena pulls her phone back to her, responding back with a quiet nod.
I go back to my homework. “You send a Coke to a friend or a Crush to a person you like or someone you’re dating. It’s to boost student morale and hype people up. I think you’ll get them at lunch next Friday.”
“I see,” Serena answers. “Have you ever gotten one before?”
“A couple of Crushes. I’m usually on the receiving end,” I shrug casually and wink at her.
Serena chuckles breathily as she sets her phone down, wringing her hands together under her chin. “You’re popular, aren’t you?”
“Popular is a stretch.” I spin my pencil between my fingers and narrow my eyes at her. “I’m just a friendly person.”
“So you say.”
I clear my throat, “Do you think you’ll get anything?”
Serena sighs and stares off to the side. “Maybe a Coke from Alli. Knowing her, she’ll try to make sure I have a good experience with this activity. ”
I split my attention, half on my homework and half on her. “How do you know Alli?”
“We met at Cheer for Kiddos when we were little. Besties ever since.” Serena turns her head to me, eyes twinkling in amusement. “She cried as soon as her mom dragged her in.”
“So, what’s your love story with cheer?” I smile wide as I recall her asking me that last time.
Serena covers her face with one hand. “Oh, ask me anything but that.”
I set my pencil down and lean back in my chair, arms crossed. “Now I have to know.”
Serena uncovers her face, a sheepish smile greets me, and a hint of pink flushes her cheeks. “My dad signed me up so I could start being active. And with time, I fell in love.”
“What made you fall?”
Serena exhales a soft sigh. “I don’t know, I was decent, so I kept going with it for a while.”
“For a while?”
“Yeah. I stopped after a few years.” She answers quietly, her gaze falling down to her hands. She’s picking at her nails and then switches her attention to her hand tie on her wrist, flicking it off and on .
I take in a breath, ready to ask further, but see her attention avoiding mine at all costs. I’m getting the feeling it’s a sensitive topic for her, so I mentally note to myself to ask again when the time is right. Clearing my throat, I pick up my pencil, refocus on my homework, and change the subject. “Any hobbies?”
The nervous air that was surrounding her seconds ago vanquishes. A smile dawns on her lips, sucking the air right out of me.
Her smile is making me melt into a puddle.
Serena unlocks her phone. After tapping on it for a few seconds, she shows me her screen. She’s showing me a multitude of Spotify playlists. Playlists range from a wide genre of music–pop, R&B, rock, rap, EDM, Korean pop and so much more.
“Your hobby is Spotify?”
Serena chuckles at my answer, “No, silly, I like making Spotify playlists.”
My brows snap together. “Doesn’t everyone do that with songs they like?”
Serena sighs at my straightforward response. She taps on one playlist as an example, “See?”
I grab her phone to look further into said hobby. The playlist is called girl boss . Curated with songs from Style by Taylor Swift, just like magic by Ariana Grande, good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo, and Need to Know by Doja Cat are some of the songs I recognize with a short stroll.
Serena leans in to peek, her body looming over me. Her scent is becoming way too familiar and my favorite. “I made that one with Alli.”
I check out her other playlists, mindlessly scrolling through the hundred playlists she’s made. There’s one that catches my eye and tap it to check out what’s been added. Serena peeks over again, her body tenses as she snatches her phone away from me before I can read the title completely. Quickly, Serena locks her phone and sets it screen down. The brown-eyed beauty lets out a nervous chuckle and looks away from me.
“Can you share that one with me for educational purposes?”
She just licks her lips and puts her phone away.
I turn back to my homework, but before I resume on it, I can’t help but think that making her blush is turning into my new favorite hobby. “So, yes or no?” I ask with a grin, enjoying the playful banter.
Serena covers her face with both hands, but I can see a hint of a smile peeking through. “Shut up and finish your damn homework.”
I chuckle. “I have to admit, I was dreading this session, but you make it exciting.”