I immediately dropped my phone on the desk and turned around.
Fuck!
Of all the people, why the fuck should it be him?
I mentally groaned in frustration and squeezed my eyes shut. After a few seconds, I fluttered my eyes open as I realized that he doesn't know it is me yet. I picked up my phone and started to type him a message.
Me: 'This isn't going to work out. Sorry.'
I lifted my gaze to see his expression and his lips twitched into a smile as he looked down at his phone and then he started to type.
Unknown number: 'Drop the act and come over here, Adams.'
Fuck!
Was I that obvious?
I took a deep breath and walked over to his table while he kept staring at me with a sly look on his face. I just wanted to run for the hills rather than face him.
God! This was so humiliating.
"How did you find out it was me?" I hissed in anger and he raised his eyebrows.
"Well, this isn't rocket science, Adams. You were on your phone since the moment I stepped inside. I noticed your face go pale when I texted back what I was wearing and our eyes connected automatically," he smirked and continued, "Also, our entire class, including me know how good you are at math. I put two and two together," he shrugged casually and I let out a defeated sigh. I never thought he would know that about me.
"Man, this is going to be fucking lit." He stated, leaning back against his seat and I noticed his shirt roll up a bit, showing a hint of his abs. I quickly diverted my eyes no matter how tempting he looked.
"What makes you think I would agree to tutor you? You make me sick, Tristan. This is not going to happen." I sneered and was about to walk away.
"Look, just sit down, and let's talk like adults." He stopped me and I turned around to look at him in confusion but pulled the seat opposite to him to sit down instead of creating a scene at the library.
"I don't understand. I thought you hated me. We broke each other's phone. Why do you want me to tutor you? We both know this is going to be a disaster." I whisper yelled almost jumping from my seat in annoyance.
"Aren't you a feisty little thing?" He smirked, while I maintained a straight face, "Look, I need to score well in math to graduate and I'm failing miserably. Football can only get you so far. I really need this, Adams, and it needs to be a fucking secret. No one can know about this. It's embarrassing enough for me already." He gestured between us as if we were trying to have a secret relationship or something, and for some reason, it stung.
Was I that embarrassing to be seen with?
"What makes you think I'll keep this a secret if at all I'm willing to do this?" I asked, trying to act as if I wasn't offended.
"What if I say I won't annoy you anymore if you do this?" he asked almost immediately and I kept staring at him, trying to figure out if he really meant it or not, "I will not get back at you for breaking my phone." He added in a serious tone since I was eyeing him suspiciously.
"Pfft, tutoring you is going to be so much worse than that," I muttered under my breath.
"Look, I didn't expect you here, okay. I'm surprised too but I think you are what I need, Adams." He spoke, looking straight into my eyes and I almost stopped breathing for a second, "For teaching me." He cleared his throat and added, slowly. I was lost in that beautiful ocean green eyes and unconsciously, chewed on my bottom lip, his gaze flicked down to my lips and I immediately looked away. I know I'll be playing with fire if I agree to do this.
I can find someone else other than him, right?
"I don't know, Tristan. I'm sorry." I stood up from my seat immediately and started to walk away, feeling breathless and I could sense my heart racing wildly against my chest.
"What if I pay you double?" He yelled, making everyone stare at us. My eyes went wide in shock.
Wow! Double?
Was he that desperate for good grades?
It was a pretty good offer but my only problem was him. I was in mental turmoil. Finally, I took a deep breath and walked back to him.
"Shut up. It's not going to happen." I whispered and rushed to my desk, without looking back. I wanted to talk all about this with Lucy.
Me: 'Need to talk to you. ASAP!'
Lucy: 'Shit! I'm coming over right now to pick you up from the library, babe. Okay?'
Me: 'Yeah, okay :('
I texted her back and covered my face with my hands. My peace was interrupted by a loud thud on my desk and I already knew it was Tristan.
"What now?" I asked without looking at his face.
"I'm returning this book. Don't need it anymore because I have a tutor now." I jerked my head at his response to look at him, adorning a sexy smirk and he was about to walk away.
"I didn't agree to it, asshole," I called out but he paid me no mind. Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification sound. It was a message from him.
Unknown number: 'Yet ;)'
Well, not an unknown number anymore.
Oh dear God! What the fuck do I do?
***
"Are you fucking serious?" she asked with wide eyes as soon as I told her about the whole Tristan encounter.
"Yes, Lu and he said he would pay me double. I don't know what to do. I really need the money but I don't think I can teach that arrogant asshole," I kept whining, sitting inside her car. We were parked in the McDonald's driveway and kept munching on our burgers and fries.
"I mean, it's not like he is paying you for free right and he should pay you double for tormenting you all these years and he did say he would stop annoying you, right?" I nodded, taking a huge bite from my burger.
"I think this is a win-win situation for both of you. Why don't you give it a try for a week or so?" she suggested and I kept chewing on my bottom lip, pondering over that thought.
"I could give it a try but I'm scared, Lu." I stated honestly and she just smiled at me.
"He needs you to teach him, Ri. You have the upper hand now. Do not let him see that you scared and show him how strong you are." She tried to motivate me and I kept listening to her patiently.
"Fine. I'll text him and probably set some ground rules."
"Now, that's my girl." She hugged me sideways and after hanging out for a while, we drove back home.
***
At around 10 pm, I kept typing and erasing the text, contemplating what to reply.
Me: 'I'm willing to do this under certain conditions. Let me know when we can discuss them.'
It seemed decent and professional.
I hit send and threw my phone. God, why was I all flustered now? What if this was all a prank? I started thinking of all negative scenarios and made a note to sort it out clearly with him.
Asshole: 'About time, Adams. This is great tho, let's discuss it now.'
Yup, I saved his number as 'Asshole' in my phone. It seemed appropriate. I started to type my rules and conditions one by one.
Me: '1. You should stop bugging me at school and this includes your friends too.
2. You should pay me double.
3. When you said, this should be private that doesn't include my best friend, Lucy.
4. How do I know this is not a prank?
5. We keep it completely professional.
6. You do as I say when we are together.
7. I can tutor you after my working hours at the library, so after 8 pm on weekdays.'
I hit send and smirked internally, knowing he will definitely be taken off guard. I didn't receive any reply for a long time and wondered if he didn't want to do this anymore. I let out a huge sigh and decided to call it a night. Just when I was about to sleep, my phone buzzed with a response from him.
Asshole: '1. Agreed, Ma'am.
2. Yes, of course.
3. I hope your friend can keep her mouth shut or you will be in deep trouble, Adams.
4. Trust me, this isn't a prank no matter how much I love to prank you. I can show you my test grades if you wish.
5. What else did you expect Adams? ;)
6. Fuck, why does that sound dirty?
7. I'm okay with weekdays. We will discuss weekends tomorrow.'
My jaw was hanging open at his reply yet I couldn't wipe the stupid smile off my face.
Ew!
No, I can't be smiling at his dirty replies. I felt my insides tingling as I kept reading his text over and over again.
Fuck, he was cocky as hell.
Me: 'Stop being a pervert and meet me in the library with your grades tomorrow.'
I put my phone to charge and kept twisting and turning in my bed, trying to sleep but I was distracted by a certain arrogant jerk and his pretty green eyes.
Man, little did I know that my entire life was about to change by a simple decision that I took that day.