All of a sudden, a treasure trove of memories flooded into her mind.
There he was, standing in front of her, his hand reaching for the cup.
“Ross Manasse,” she said, meeting his gaze.Good lord.Ross Manasse was the owner of the sexy forearms? He had definitely grown since the last time she’d seen him and what he’d grown into was all man.
His dark eyes reflected surprise before one side of his mouth kicked up in a slight smile. “I see you made a full recovery from your tragic case of amnesia.”
And she had. She remembered…
*
The high schoolcounselor, Ms. Burgos, a scattered woman with wild, curly hair, visited Mia’s AP English class. “Hello. Hi, everyone,” she said, disrupting the small group discussions around the room. “We’re starting a new program of peer tutoring, which pairs an outstanding student with one who might need a little extra help. I know a lot of you are busy with extracurricular activities. But we’re only asking for a one or two day a week commitment after school. This would definitely be something that would look great on college applications. If you’re interested, please come up and put your name on the list.”
Mia joined a handful of students as she made her way to the sign-up clipboard. Ms. Burgos gave her arm a light squeeze. “Mia, I’m so glad you decided to sign up. Can you stop by my office real quick during lunch?”
“Okay,” she agreed.
It was then the counselor told her about Ross Manasse. While being in the same grade, Mia wasn’t sure they had ever shared a classroom together. They existed side-by-side, but on a different plane of academic experiences, separated by classroom walls.
“Ross is a nice kid, you see, but…” Ms. Burgos twisted a rubber band around her finger as she pondered the next words with careful consideration, “…well, he’s always struggled. He probably should have been tested way back to see if he was better suited for other…more specialized classes. From talking to his teachers, it’s amazing Ross got this far. He just barely manages to get through. He lives with his grandfather, so I’m not sure he’s getting the family support he needs at home. With all the students I have on my list, he’d probably be the most challenging one to take on, which is why I’d like him to go to you.”
“I don’t mind.” Mia’s chest had inflated at being singled out. Even if Ross still failed his classes, her own pristine record wouldn’t suffer. But maybe Ross could succeed more than Ms. Burgos thought possible. Mia could have even received some prestigious award if she was able to take a struggling student and transform him into an honor roll one. An educationalPygmalion. It could happen.
They were scheduled to meet in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Mia had jumped into her role as a brilliant peer tutor, ready to polish the piece of coal into a dazzling diamond. She had been taken aback to discover Ross had come into the program less than enthused. His dark eyes glinted with churlishness, and his mouth had been set in a straight line. Lanky, raven-haired Ross had been sullen, quiet, and not about to do his part in making Mia the star tutor the school would be referencing for decades. An uncooperative participant had not been part of her plan, but she had no doubt he would soon get with the program. Instead, Ross slumped in the library chair, crossing his arms as he stared at everything except her.
She pushed ahead, undeterred. “What do you want to work on? What book is your class reading? Or do you want to work on history? I’m really good with history and government type stuff.”
Ross shrugged, the image of teenage aloofness.
At this point, it became clear, tutoring Ross was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. After much encouragement, she was able to coax out his ragged copy ofThe Odysseyfrom his ripped, faded backpack. But Ross slid his long, spindly arms across the table, laying his head on top of them.
“Oh, you guys are still on this book? I read it last year. What do you think of it so far?”
Keeping his head down, a silent shrug was his only reply.
“Do you want to read some of it together?” she asked.
“How about you read it to me? I’m too tired today.”
This was how it went for the next few sessions. She was pulling teeth to get anything more than single-word responses from Ross. Mia considered returning to the counselor and telling her this wasn’t a challenge, it was impossible. She dreaded their tutoring sessions as much as Ross did. Instead of her enthusiasm rubbing off on him, his own gloominess had latched itself onto her.
One morning, Mia told her father that Ross graduating high school would be a miracle. Especially if he treated all his schoolwork in the same unmotivated manner. She had asked her father for his opinion, because he’d never steered her wrong before.
“You are the brightest, most tenacious kid I know. You don’t have to expect miracles, but if tutoring gives this kid a little bit of hope, that not everyone has given up on him, then that will still be an amazing accomplishment. Maybe that’s the real reason you’re there. Sometimes that’s all it takes.”
Mia had contemplated her father’s wise words. In the end, she decided to give it one final push.
“Hey, Rosso!” she exclaimed at their next meeting, pairing it with a good-natured grin.
“That’s not my name,” Ross said in his usual depressed tone before slumping into the plastic chair beside her and dropping his battered backpack on the floor.
“Yeah, but, see, my last name is Russo, and your name is Ross, so we could be like Russo and Rosso.”
His grave eyes held hers unimpressed.
“Hey, do you like cookies? My mom made some Mexican Italian wedding cookies for the holidays coming up, and I brought some to share.” She burrowed into her bag for the bundle of cookies she’d snagged from the counter that morning.
“You know you’re not supposed to eat in the library, right?”
