“Wait, you need a tutor?” Nina asks. “Why?”
“I’ve been pretty much just barely passing classes since I started here. And last year, I failed a few. Coach says that if I fail any classes this semester, I’m off the team.”
“What!” Nina’s gasps. “No! We need you, and this is your last year. You can’t be kicked off the team.”
“Not much I can do, really. I can’t afford to hire a tutor, and all the volunteers are booked up until the new year. My best bet is to spend every free moment studying and join a study group.” It’s not the end of the world. If I work hard, I can do it.
“What classes do you need the most help with?” Nina asks.
“Ah, I think my worst ones are calculus and finance. I’m shit with numbers.”
“Feel that,” Rain mutters, picking up a fry and eating it.
Nina chews on her bottom lip, staring at me like she’s thinking.
“Uh-oh.” Rain snickers. “I know that look.”
“What look?” Nina’s brows furrow.
“The look you get when you come up with an idea and you’re not sure if it’s going to go the way you want it to.” Ellie laughs. “What’s that wonderful brain of yours cooking up?”
Nina looks at me. “What if I told you I knew someone who could tutor you?”
Hope that I know I shouldn’t have sparks to life. “You do? Who?”
“My older brother. He’s part of the volunteer tutor program.”
“But I thought they were all booked up?” I question her.
“Technically, the volunteer tutors can have up to three students to work with, and Blake only has one.”
“Do you think he’ll take me on?” I hate the eagerness in my voice, but I’m kind of desperate.
She looks hesitant, and the spark of hope begins to dim. “I’ll ask him. He normally doesn’t like to take more than one student because of his own workload. But this is his last year, and he has fewer classes than normal, so I don’t think it would betoomuch of a problem.”
“I don’t want to put him out.”
“No, no. It’s probably no big deal. Let me talk to him, okay?”
“Okay.” I nod. “Thanks. This means a lot.”
“Of course! Can’t lose one of our best players. Also, what are friends for?”
I won’t allow myself to get my hopes up, Nina’s brother could say no. If this is his last year as well, I’m sure he doesn’t want to spend all his free time helping someone out for free.
There’s still a small flicker of hope I’m holding on to.
“It’s not the end of the world, Cooper,” I mutter to myself, trekking to the coffee shop to grab a coffee before I head home to knock out some schoolwork, and then hit the gym after. “You’re alive. Healthy. Thriving in most parts of life. Things could be worse.”
The shop is pretty busy for a Tuesday. Today is the only day of the week that I have morning classes. It’s nice because I get the rest of the day to relax before heading to the gym with some buddies from the team. It also sucks because I hate mornings. The biggest downside to playing football is that most of our practices are in the morning before classes. On the days I have afternoon classes, I head home and go back to bed for a few hours.
I move with the line as each customer gives their order and pays. Looking up at the menu board, I consider what new drink I’m going to try today.
“Can I get a medium chocolate mint latte?” the guy in front of me asks, pulling my attention away from the menu.
Oh, that sounds good. I look back at the board, but I don’t see it up there. Huh.
Still, the girl behind the counter rings him up, so I guess it is an option.
