Chapter 10 My new tutor

Chapter 10 My new tutor

Asher

When people say they love going to school, they usually meant they loved studying, or they loved the teachers, or other things.

I love school, but not for those reasons.

In my house, I was the black sheep, the son who disappointed his parents, got in trouble constantly, and lives in the shadow of his freakishly smart twin brother. I was the kid more likely to go to jail than be a hero.

I was the villian.

But in school, none of those things mattered. I was the most popular guy in school. I was the hottest and had girls lining up for me. I was the best player on the pitch. I could be rebellious all I wanted and no one would fault me for it.

I was free in the ways I couldn't be at my house. But now, everything was going to change.

Although, I anticipated a few things would change since I wasn't the starting quarterback anymore, I didn't expect how much the change would be or how deep it would run.

I had decided to skip assembly that morning. Normally, the entire football team sits together at the auditorium. But I wasn't part of the team anymore, no matter what Coach said. Not until I got healed enough to play anyway.

I tapped my pen on the table and watched as students filed out of the classroom for lunch break. My eyes were fixed on the particular red haired in the front seat.

I didn't understand why Harley rushed out of the car earlier this morning. She was finally talking to me after days of ghosting and then she suddenly just…stopped.

I could tell something was going on with her, something that was probably not related to her reason for rushing out of my car. She had seemed flustered then, but now, she seems upset. Very upset.

She didn't raise her hand once to answer a question during classes which was really unusual. Something wasn't right.

Maybe I should mind my business, but I couldn't just leave her alone. Especially since I knew how she was feeling about Henry's departure.

“What's up, Red?” I said when everyone had left the classroom.

“I'm not in the mood, Asher.” She said without looking at me. She scribbled something into her notebook a little quickly. It was obvious she didn't plan on having lunch in the cafeteria.

“What's wrong?” I asked and sat on her desk. She was forced to raise her head and look at me. Her make up seem a bit heavier than this morning, but I immediately spotted the oddness. Her eyes were red and puffy.

“Have you been crying?” I asked.

She didn't answer and simply looked away from me. Something tightened painfully in my chest. The feeling was so sudden and consuming, but I didn't care about it right now.

Someone had hurt her. Someone had made her cry. The overwhelming urge to find that person and make them pay suddenly grip me. I managed to calm down and hear her out first.

“Why were you crying? Did someone say something?” I asked.

It was an effort to refrain from growling. Harley didn't look at me, nor did she answer my question.

“Harley, tell me who hurt you and I'll—”

“You'll what?” She snapped. I blinked, surprise by the anger in her voice.

“What will you do, Asher? Go over and beat them up so you can feel good about yourself for saving a ‘damsel in distress’?”

When I didn't respond, she added, “Don't pretend to care about me. I'm not a charity case, and I will not let you use me to be a hero.”

I ignored the bite in her tone, I ignored the hurt that sliced through my chest. “Of course, I care about you.” I said softly.

She looked at me then, not with anger, but with something else. Something like confusion. I realized what I said then. It was the closest I've ever come to talking about the strange feelings I had for her.

I didn't know what they were, I couldn't explain them, but I knew damn well that it wasn't just ‘care’. But I wasn't going to dump those emotions on her. I had managed to keep them hidden all these years, I could manage a few more. Until we both went to college and they eventually fizzle out.

“Asher—”

“I meant as family. I've known you for years, and while we aren't really friends, I consider you part of my family. You're like…my little sister.”

I tried not to cringe as I said those words. I definitely wouldn't be having such strong feelings for someone I considered family.

Harley's eyes flashed with annoyance. “Family, of course. I definitely don't consider you a friend, I don't care about you that much.”

Well, ouch!

I did not expect her to spell it out so harshly. But at least, she didn't sound so sad anymore, even if her words felt like an arrow was shot into my heart.

“Why were you crying?” I asked again.

She seem hesitant at first, her eyes darting around.

“It's nothing that I can't handle.” There was no anger in her voice, no bitterness, just pure determination. She stood up and quickly shoved her notebook in her bag.

“I have to go. I'll see you later.” She slung her backpack on her shoulder and walked out of the classroom.

I was left staring at the empty space she sat. My first thought was to immediately go after her and figure out who hurt her, but I had a feeling she wouldn't react well to that.

I stood in the empty classroom and wondered what I should do next. I didn't want to go to the cafeteria. As much as I hated admitting, I was hiding. I didn't know just how much had changed and I wasn't willing to find out.

So instead, I did something the pre-injury-me would have probably smacked me in the face for. I headed to the counselor's office.

I told myself I was going to head up there anyway and that I wasn't avoiding my peers.
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I managed to get to the counselor's office without being cornered by why student. The few students that had been in the hallway had just stared at me from a distance, but no one approached me. I considered that a win.

I sat in Mrs Grubb's office and watch her type something into her computer. The woman had barely acknowledged me except to offer stiff pleasantries since I was walked in.

The students who were always afraid to meet her because she was so scary weren't wrong. I couldn't decide who was scarier between her and Coach Baker. They both frighten me.

“I'm glad you finally decided to come in, Mr Henderson.” Mrs Grubbs smiled.

“Me too. It only took you threatening me with detention for me to show up. How sweet.” I responded with an equally tight smile.

“I did say there was going to be consequences if you keep blowing off our meetings. You've been doing so for the past two weeks.”

“Because I know what the meeting is about. And I'm going to tell you again that I'm not ruining my future. Coach said I'll be able to play once I get clearance from the doctor. I already have offers from Stanford, USC, and UCLA full rides. I don't need to discuss my grades.”

“So you keep saying, but the doctors at aren't sure if you will be able to play again. You need to have alternatives. None of those schools will accept you with your current grades.” She said.

I stared at her blankly. I fucking hated that everyone kept talking about this. It was getting exhausting. And I was tired of having to tell them that I had it covered. I knew my body and I was certain that I would play again some day.

I was going to prove them all wrong. But I knew I couldn't do it with my words alone, which meant no more arguing.

“Okay, I'm going to work really hard on my grades this semester. Who knows, I might even graduate as the overall best student.” I chuckled. Mrs Grubbs pinned me with a smile that implied that she didn't find my joke funny.

“The school has decided to assign a student tutor for you. She's one of our best students. She will make sure you pass all your classes. You might know her. She's—”

A knock came on the door, interrupting the counselor. “Come in.” Mrs Grubbs said.

The door pushed opened and a familiar scent hit me. I didn't need to turn, I would recognize that scent of cherry anywhere and who it belonged to.

My fingers tightened into a fist as I forced myself to turn, only to see Harley standing by the door, a dirty smirk on her lips.