It’s early right now, but I pick up the phone and hit call anyway. It rings twice.
“Camden Athletic Tutoring Center, this is Karen.”
“Hi, Karen. This is Benson Reeve. I’m an athlete in the system. I’m currently being tutored by Lucy Moss for STAT 215, and I need to request a tutor change.”
“Mhm. I know who you are. What’s the reason for the change?”
I say smoothly, “Schedule conflicts.”
“Hold on, let me pull up the system.”
I listen to the computer keys clacking. I wait patiently, staring at the days I blocked out for Lucy. I thought we had much more time than we actually did.
“Benson, are you still there?” Karen says after a minute.
“Yeah.”
“I’m looking at our schedule, and we don’t currently have any other STAT 215 tutors with availability. Lucy’s actually our only senior-level Stats tutor right now. We had two others, but one graduated in May and the other is on a study abroad semester.”
My chest feels lighter. “Oh.”
“I can put you on a waitlist. If a new tutor comes online before your midterm, I can offer you a switch. But honestly, Benson, Lucy is your best option. She’s really good. I advise you to speak with her directly, come up with a better schedule and then we’ll go from there. We will approve it because we understand how busy you hockey players are.”
I’m barely listening because I have Gianna in my head right now, freaking out at me. “Right. Okay. Thanks.”
“Okay, so you’re scheduled tomorrow at four with her.”
My stomach flutters at the sound of that. “Yes. Got it.”
“Anything else I can help you with?”
“No, ma’am. Thanks for checking.”
“Mhm. Have a good day.”
She hangs up, and I set the phone on the desk. My shoulders drop, my chest unclenches, and I continue stretching my arms. I’m relieved like hell that the universe made the decision for us. I already know that I have to tell my sister, so I pick up the phone and text G.
Me:Called the tutoring center. They don’t have anyone else with availability. Lucy’s the only senior Stats tutor, and the others graduated or went abroad. They put me on a waitlist if anyone new comes on. I’m still scheduled with her.
I read it, hit send, and set the phone face down. Two minutes later, it buzzes. I flip it.
G:Bullshit.
That’s the whole text. I let out a tiny chuckle as I stare at it. I don’t bother texting back because there’s nothing to say. She’s right and wrong at the same time.
I look at the home opener. October 9. Friday. Two weeks and three days. Below it, in my own handwriting, is the smaller note I wrote three weeks ago:DINNER W/ M&D + GIANNA + LUCY (?).The question mark has been there since Gianna invited her at the apartment. I erase the question mark with the eraser end of Lucy’s pencil. Then I draw it back in, smaller.
After practice, I go to Econ, sit through it, and take notes that probably won’t be on the midterm.
Walsh and Blue meet me at the dining hall after History, and we eat at the same table we always eat at. The conversation is easy and light. It changes completely when Walsh’s girlfriend walks over. I notice they don’t kiss, which makes me feel less awkward. She holds the entire conversation while we eat.
After lunch, I walk across campus to the math building. I scheduled the Markham meeting last week, before any of this. I wanted to go in this afternoon and tell him I don’t need a tutor anymore, but I’m no longer going to tell him that. He’s in hisoffice reading something with the pen tapping against his lip. He waves me into the chair across from him without looking up.
“Reeve.”
“Sir.”
He clicks something on his computer. He stares at the screen. He clicks something else.
