Everything Lucia mentioned and more. “Oh my gosh,” I whisper to myself.
After approaching the table, I pick up a cherry jolly rancher and pop it into my mouth before opening the box. Inside it sits the same cherry pie that Carson brought me before offering to tutor me, and a bright red envelope.
I reach for the envelope and open it up to find a card with his handwriting.
Did you really think I would forget your birthday? Think again. You may not be able to celebrate with your mom this year but I hope this is close enough. Happy birthday, Just Diana. - Carson
My heart swells up at the card. Carson did all of this? It must have taken him forever to pick out the cherry-flavored candies.
I can feel the happy tears coming up, and it’s only then I realize: that maybe I am starting to fall for Carson. And not only does this excite me…
It terrifies me.
Lucia and I sit with bated breath at our desks as Professor Scott passes out the midterm. Sweet Apollo of the burning chariot, it’s starting to get hot here. Is it just me? I look around the classroom, at the students sitting at tables near and far. They’re nervous too, right?
My eyes wander to the table behind me, where Carson would normally sit. The chair has been vacant since I arrived. But that’s only because he’s not needed in class today.
Lucky son-of-a-bitch.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out a pencil and my calculator and wait patiently for Scott to hand me my doom—I mean test.
Athena, please give me strength.
Eventually, he places the test face down on my table and I flip it over so I can begin. I scan each question before diving right into the first one. Surprisingly, I know what to do, unlike the last time I took the midterm.
It still takes me a while to finish up but I manage and once I place the test on Professor Scott’s desk, my heart finally stops pounding in my head. I can breathe easier, knowing that I didn’t have as much difficulty as I did last time.
That’s a good sign, right?
I walk out of the classroom hurriedly because I’m running a little late for my shift. Even though Lottie knows about my re-do midterm, I don’t want to take advantage of it by being late.
Something touches my shoulder, startling me just for a minute before I turn around and come face to face with a tall figure in a faded yet dark leather jacket.
At first, I’m worried, but I then find that all-too-familiar smile and kind eyes, and just about every tense muscle in my body loosens up.
Wait, what? “What are you doing here?” I ask Carson, confusion lacing my face.
He shrugs. “Just wanted to check on how you did.”
“On your day off?”
He nods.
Wow. Okay. Not to downplay it, but did he not have anything better to do than check on his pupil?
“No other reason?”
“Well, how did you do?” He asks while walking alongside me.
I take a deep breath. “I think I did well. Definitely better than the last time.”
Carson pats my shoulder and rubs it gently. “There we go!”
“That doesn’t mean that I passed,” I remind him. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll see my work and fail me on the spot.” And then my scholarship will disappear. Poof. Gone.
He shakes his head at the thought of me failing. “Yeah, I don’t think that will happen. At all.”
“It could.”
