Chapter 12

"let's go somewhere more private. We can use the staff room, my dad allow me to use it whenever I visit"

He walked slightly ahead of me and finally we reached a small lunch area. I noticed it was unoccupied and soon felt nervous to be alone with him. Growing up in unstable housing and basically raised in the streets makes it difficult to trust people especially a man in a confined space. I carefully watched him open one of the cabinets taking out two giant size Reeses' chocolate bars.

"Please have a seat. Want one?" Just like that, all my previous concern flew out the window as I accepted my favorite candy, without hesitation biting into the peanut butter heaven. Rye cleared his throat diverting my attention away from my heaven to him.

"First, I want to properly apologize about breaking your glasses the other day. Secondly, I feel immensely ashamed for bursting in my dad's office. This is his workplace and I should respect that no matter who I am to him."

You damn right, have you heard of patient privacy? is what I wanted to say but instead stayed quiet chewing on the chocolate bar.

"We keep meeting in awkward circumstances that probably gave you a bad impression of me." He played with the chocolate wrapping, not opening it yet.

"I appreciate you apologizing about my glasses, but it wasn't your fault that I ran into you. You were right, I should've been more careful. Let's just move forward from all of this" I said, showing a wide teeth smile causing Rye to burst in a loud laughter.

"Did I miss the joke?" I drew my eyebrows together, confused at his hysterical laugh.

"Sorry that you got .. ummm ...chocolate on your teeth" He said pointing at my teeth.

"Oh." I wiped it clean using my tongue. Seeing him laughing, he didn't look intimidated anymore unlike his stern self in school. Even his crystal eyes were gleaming while his dimples adorned both cheeks making him look child-like, almost adorable. Did I just think he's adorable? Gross Alexa snapped out of it.

"thanks for the chocolate, I have to head home..."

"Right. I have to go too, I hope we can be friends" he stood up opening the door for me.

"I don't see why not. Bye" I started walking away when I remembered he saw my scar. I turned around, finding him in the same spot.

"Rye, I know you saw the scar on my chest. Please, don't tell anyone about my surgery. I would like to keep that a secret"

He took a step forward, almost closing the gap between us. Looking down into my eyes, I held his gaze without blinking.

"I would never speak of it. You have my word." Unable to explain why, but my sense or guts told me I could rely on his word.

***

I didn't get to ask Dr. Hemsworth any of my questions about the possible hallucination from the medication thanks to Rye sudden burst. Oh my gosh, he saw my boobs, thinking of that moment replaying in my head over again. I flip and turn on the bed, my hands covering my boiling hot face. Why do embarrassing things keep happening to me in front of him! Whatever, at least we decided to be friends. Trying to put yesterday aside, I jumped out of bed and went to get ready for another hell in school.

"Hello anyone there? Jaye?" Camila called over the loud music playing on the radio. Dee and Camila offered to pick me up again. We stopped for coffee on our way to school. After sipping on the coffee, I felt better from the caffeine rush. I joined them singing Queen songs.

"I'm gonna take you home tonight..." We sang together from the top of our lungs. Pulling up to the school parking blasting music.

"fat bottom girls you make the whole world go around" at this part both Dee and Camila sang while pointing at me because my ass is fat. "fat bottom girls you make this world go round"

I sang the chorus with them while swaying my hips to the beat. To my surprise the parking lot was full of arriving students and parents. Geralt's bike rumbled loudly in the lot, parking close to us. I stopped dancing, shyly brushing some curls out of my face.

"work it girl" someone shouted from the distance. I turned around trying to find who just said that but couldn’t find the person. My eyes then landed on Rye who just arrived, getting out of his car. Again yesterday's event replayed in my mind. I felt heat rise up to my face.

"I'm goin' head to class, see y'all later" I said giggling from our silly singing and rushing inside. I was first in class waiting for the teacher, so I can give her my late homework. After a short moment, I saw the thin lady approaching the classroom heels clicking that echoed across the hall.

"Good morning Ms.Oliver, here's the assignment. Thank you for the second chance."

"Morning, Ms. Lee, I appreciate the punctuality-" A nearby couple were arguing loudly about a picture on Instagram. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I have to go prevent another early morning teen drama" She said smiling politely to me then turned to the couple. I smiled back at her, enjoying the stupid teen drama unfold about the boyfriend liking another’s girl picture.

***

I arrived at the tutoring center earlier than the appointment. Today, I'm on top of my game, motivated and ready to beat calculus ass. While waiting for the tutor to arrive, as I pulled out my notes my phone buzz displayed a text message.

//Hey. I forgot to ask for your number last saturday// an unknown number. There were only three people who I met that day.

//who this?// I replied back.

//Geralt. I got your number from your friend Camila. I hope that's fine with u//

Right about when I was about to reply my tutor arrived.

"When I saw your name on my list I couldn't believe it. I presumed math was your expertise based on how you got placed in advance."

And there goes my peaceful day, something had to ruin it. My tutor had to be Rebecca Harrison, the girl who hates my guts without a valid reason.

"I guess I'm not as good as others presume. As you already know, I'm struggling with math. I need help" I pleaded with my eyes focusing my mind on getting better grades and setting aside any partial feelings. I couldn't care how much she loathes me if these tutoring sessions would improve my grades.

"Listen to me very carefully, if I find that you're not taking our sessions seriously or doing the assignments, it will be the end of tutoring. Also, I don't give second chances, so do not mess this up. Are we clear?" A cold chill ran through my spine. Her words were cold and her eyes were firm that held power. Rebecca wanted to intimidate, for me to quiver at her feet. But, I will not prevail or bow to her like the others do.

"We are clear," I said gritting my teeth.

Beside her intimidating aura, she was a decent teacher. I understood the topic better from her than in class.

"That is all for today. Review chapter 17. I will see you tomorrow" She said packing her stuff. Once she was gone, I drew a deep breath exhaling through my nose feeling like I could breathe again. Pulling out my phone noticing I forgot to reply to Geralt's message.

//Sorry for the late response! I was with my tutor. Yeah is cool :)// within seconds he responded as if he was waiting by his phone for my message.

//that's a relief. I thought u would be mad or somethin//

//Nah// I typed, scrolling for a gif to send when Camila walked in.

//Do you wanna go to the arcade after tutoring? Nic will be joining// He texted back.

"Jaye how did it go?" Camila and Dee offered to drop me home which I gladly accepted because lately mom was usually late.

"Better than expected. Guess who's my tutor?" I packed my stuff and shoved the notes into my yellow backpack.

"Geralt?" Camila winked.

"No. Rebecca." I said dryly.

"Ice queen? no way" Camila gasped. I sadly nodded telling them about the session.

"By the way, Geralt said he got my number from one of my friends and I only have two so, why didn't you ask me before giving him my number ...Camila?" We walked out of the building getting inside Dee's car.

"oops. I forgot. Funny story of how that happened." Camila cleared her throat. Oh boy, I have an uneasy feeling about this story.