“You ready to go over your homework?”
“Yeah.”
I pull out my textbook and straighten out my notebook. Before I can nudge my notebook toward her, she switches gears by moving to the seat next to me.
The close proximity makes me let out a heavy exhale I hope she doesn’t hear. She’s wearing the same perfume from last time–a blend of fruity and floral scents, mixed with a subtle hint of musk. Her hair is hanging loose today, curtain bangs are styled perfectly for her delicate frame. She wears light makeup as her luscious lashes tie her whole appearance together, making her look absolutely stunning.
“Are you listening?”
I gulp and feel my cheeks heating up. “Sorry, can you repeat that?”
Serena’s mouth curves into a smile. “I need you to walk me through these problems so I can understand your thought process.”
The mood shifts since I remember why we’re here. She’s my tutor and I’m bad at trigonometry.
We go over the six problems from last night’s homework, with me voicing out how I worked out the problem to get this answer and my thought process. Serena gives me a solid C based on the six problems, and makes me rework two of them.
She sits back on her phone, and I can’t help but casually glance at her chest rising and falling with each breath, and small grins as she watches the screen. I finish working on one problem and move on to the next before Serena speaks up, “Hey, what’s this Coke or Crush thing?”
She shows me the student email displayed on her phone. I perk up my head, bringing my eyes to the small screen. “It’s astudent spirit thing the social committee likes to do the week of the first home game.”
Serena pulls her phone back to her, responding back with a quiet nod.
I go back to my homework. “You send a Coke to a friend or a Crush to a person you like or someone you’re dating. It’s to boost student morale and hype people up. I think you’ll get them at lunch next Friday.”
“I see,” Serena answers. “Have you ever gotten one before?”
“A couple of Crushes. I’m usually on the receiving end,” I shrug casually and wink at her.
Serena chuckles breathily as she sets her phone down, wringing her hands together under her chin. “You’re popular, aren’t you?”
“Popular is a stretch.” I spin my pencil between my fingers and narrow my eyes at her. “I’m just a friendly person.”
“So you say.”
I clear my throat, “Do you think you’ll get anything?”
Serena sighs and stares off to the side. “Maybe a Coke from Alli. Knowing her, she’ll try to make sure I have a good experience with this activity.”
I split my attention, half on my homework and half on her. “How do you know Alli?”
“We met at Cheer for Kiddos when we were little. Besties ever since.” Serena turns her head to me, eyes twinkling in amusement. “She cried as soon as her mom dragged her in.”
“So, what’s your love story with cheer?” I smile wide as I recall her asking me that last time.
Serena covers her face with one hand. “Oh, ask me anything but that.”
I set my pencil down and lean back in my chair, arms crossed. “Now I have to know.”
Serena uncovers her face, a sheepish smile greets me, and a hint of pink flushes her cheeks. “My dad signed me up so I could start being active. And with time, I fell in love.”
“What made you fall?”
Serena exhales a soft sigh. “I don’t know, I was decent, so I kept going with it for a while.”
“For a while?”
“Yeah. I stopped after a few years.” She answers quietly, her gaze falling down to her hands. She’s picking at her nails and then switches her attention to her hand tie on her wrist, flicking it off and on.
