Chapter 28

Stella picked up her bag and left the classroom. She climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked to the study room. Ian was standing in the middle of the room. He looked at her before walking up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I need your help," he said.

"What are you talking about?" Stella asked.

"I've got a D in my grade this semester. In order to graduate, I would need more than that. Could you give me and Chloe some private lessons?"

"I guess so," Stella stuttered. "We can start tomorrow."

"Thank you," Ian replied. "And I have another request," he added. "Don't tell Chloe I asked you, I don't want her to judge me. She would consider me playing out to the line to go and ask you about it. I don't want her to misjudge me."

"Why would she get upset, she's always been open about you and never kept anything from me."

"That's what you think, but I'm afraid she has a strong sense of commitment and I don't want to disappoint her."