Tutor [42]

"Cut it out Lucas." I snapped. "Do me a favor and focus on the class."

"I can do you favors better than this one--- if you allow me to!" He leaned back and turned to the chalkboard.

"I don't need any favors from you." I commented and immediately regretted what I did. I should have just ignored him. But no, I had to act smart and ruin it for myself. Now he's gonna come up with a cunning reply. I tried to act tough and sat straight with my gaze on Mr. McKnight.

"Sure you do." He tilted his head before finally turning it and leaning in towards me. I backed away as much as I could, without getting any unwanted attention from the students around us, especially Mr. McKnight. "You just don't realize that or could it be that you're doubting whether I'm capable of doing you a favor." He raised an eyebrow and then smirked. "I guarantee, you won't be disappointed." He said straight into my ear and his breath was on my neck. It sent a tickle all over my skin.

I realized being this close to him had made me nervous and I had again stopped breathing. When he finally shifted back. I sighed and inhaled as much air as I could to compensate for the loss earlier. I decided to not respond to him this time. No matter how much I try, I can never win over him in this word game. It was best to ignore and avoid him as much as I can. Ignoring and running away from problems doesn't always help but at least it will cut me some slack.

For the next thirty minutes, we sat side by side in silence. I concentrated on what Mr.McKnight was teaching and made my notes carefully and precisely. It was a lot easier to focus when Lucas was not badgering me. I felt like I have become some sort of amusement for him and he liked to provoke me for some reason. Even when I should be focusing on class, I was busy thinking about him. It made me question my wants. Being around him deprives me of all the logical thinking and I could not help but end up being dumbstruck all the time.

The class finally came to an end and everyone was headed out. Before leaving the class, Mr. McKnight called me and Lucas in his office.

I was taking slothful steps to his office. Unlike me, Lucas had a quick lope and he was already in front of his office when I had half a way left to cover. I doubted if he had any idea what this was about. I have had my thoughts and I was pretty sure he must have noticed me and him, talking when we should have paid attention to the class. I thought of using this opportunity to the fullest. I could just convince Mr. McKnight to redo the seating arrangement so I would get a new partner.

Lucas held the door open for me when I made it to his office. I was the first one to enter, he was behind me. Mr. McKnight was arranging a stack of papers when we entered.

"Come on in." He said.

We stood in front of his desk. He put a paperweight on the stack of papers he had arranged and then craned his head to look at us.

"How are your tutoring session going on Lucas?" He inquired and scrunched his chin, evaluating him and then me.

I wasn't expecting this from him. I had prepared myself to persuade him to change my partner, because the current one was trouble. No he was a lunatic. Amidst everything, it slipped my mind that I was assigned to give biology tuition to Lucas. This was the third time in a day, I felt like slapping myself. I never realized Mr. McKnight was serious about tutoring Lucas. Moreover, the reason I disapproved of the idea because I didn't longed to be anywhere near Lucas. He antagonize me on every chance he gets and I was growing exhausted by this regular torture. His motives were cryptic and dubious. And I always felt exposed around him. He knew how to read me and exactly what to say to leave my mouth open in confusion. I didn't like it. And I didn't liked him.

But right now, everything depends on his reply. I had denied to tutor him and he can either choose to rat me out or he can make some excuse as to why I was not tutoring him. I wasn't scared but it didn't wished to get in the bad books of Mr. McKnight either. So I prayed he would find an excuse.

"We have planned to start the tutoring from today." Lucas replied.

"You haven't started it yet?" He shifted his eyes from Lucas and fixed them on me.

"I ---" Lucas cut me off.

"I had been focusing on other subjects lately. So I informed her that we will start from next week which happens to be today." He lied and I sighed. I hope Coach won't bother us now.

Coach inclined on his desk, intertwining his fingers under his chin. "Hmm" He muttered and then delved into deep thinking.

"Well. . . I was only confirming it as you know exams are approaching and you need to work a lot on your studies Lucas." He suggested and then reclined in his chair. "Katherine I need you to clear his doubts regarding the subject."

"I'll try my best sir." I replied and nodded.

"Well then you two can go now. I'll be monitoring your progress Lucas." It wasn't a reminder. It was a warning. He must have seen through the excuse.

I felt a little embarrassed on being confronted by him like this. At the same time, I felt relieved, Lucas didn't complain about how I have straight away denied him. Tutoring someone was never the problem. The issue was far worse. I couldn't seem to handle myself around Lucas. He had the ability to wipe out all the logical thinking from my mind. I couldn't help but feel torn apart between confusion and doubts. Even though I wasn't planning on it, I still have to tutor him. So I decided I would just keep this session short and curt. The more replies he gets from me, the more power he will have over me and I definitely didn't want that.

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