Chapter 3
Seth
A light touch to my shoulder pulls me from my homework as I reach to remove my headphones. “Sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I was wondering if you could help me with this?” Abigail holds up her ninth-grade algebra textbook.
“Sure, what do you need?”
Sighing. “Your brain, I need your brain. I don’t understand any of this.”
“Okay,” I laugh at her and her pouty face.
I’m always happy to help and this is what I’m good at.
Only my closest friends know how smart I am, I know people at school know I’m smart, but I don’t think they know how smart.
My parents got my IQ tested last year and I scored a 154 which falls in the ‘genius’ category.
Not quite as smart as Quentin Tarantino but close.
School work has always come easy to me although looking at me no one would pick it.
I’m big, rough and look like your typical footballer.
She lays her textbook on my desk and uses her delicate fingers to point at some equations. “I thought if maybe you show me how you would approach these two questions it might help me understand.”
“Sure, have a seat.” I stand and allow her to take the seat at my desk.
Clearing away my homework she opens her notepad, and I talk her through how I would go about answering each question.
Her tropical fragrance fills the air as I lean over her and reminds me of summer days spent at the beach.
She is cute and perfect and like a typical 18-year-old I must tell my dick to behave around her.
Her dad and I spent two hours working on his car today and I’m certain he wouldn’t approve of the mental image I’m conjuring up of his daughter right now. So, I adjust my pants and end up spending the next two hours tutoring her.
***
“Seth!”
I hear my name called, as I cross the high school football field, two weeks later.
Turning, I see Abigail jogging toward me, her long wavy brown hair flowing down her back.
At the last second, she surprises me—leaping into my arms. I catch her easily as she wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tight.
Her feet dangle midair, our faces inches apart.
A massive smile lights up her face, triumph shining in her eyes.
“I got a B+ on my algebra exam,” she beams.
“That’s amazing, Abigail,” I say, standing there with her still in my arms. Her breathing is heavy, each rise and fall of her chest pressing against mine.
“Mr. Burrows just handed back our results, and I had to come find you,” she says, her voice bubbling with excitement. “I’m so happy. Thank you.”
“No problem. I’m proud of you.” I gently place her back onto her feet. We are still holding eye contact, and it takes me a few moments to realize I’m still holding her. Releasing my hands from around her waist she takes a step back.
“So, are you coming to my birthday party?”
She needn’t ask, our families do everything together and her seventeenth is no exception.
Our families are neighbors, so we are all going, my mom, me and both my sisters – Missy who is seven years older and Heather who is nearly two years younger.
I’ve always gotten on well with Abigail’s family, especially her dad.
Having my dad die of cancer when I was six was difficult and left me without a male role model.
So, Abigail’s dad, who was also my dad’s best friend, took me under his wing like his own son.
He would say to me that we had to stick together since we were both outnumbered by women.
Heather will have her seventeenth birthday in a few months’ time but first it’s Abigail’s turn. Where we will celebrate with a barbeque on their back deck.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. How many of your screaming girlfriends do I have to put up with?”
“They’re not that bad.”
“They never shut up.”
“Six.”
Groan.
“Ok great well I guess I’ll see you Saturday.” A big smile still stretched across her perfect sun kissed face as she turns and gives me a small wave.
“Bye Abigail.”
I stand and watch her walk away until my brain snaps me out of my daze.