Hakeem.

"What do you want?" I ask, looking up into his dark eyes.

"To be anywhere but here. However, I'm forced to help you with trig." Hakeem sighs, taking out his supplies and sitting down across from me.

Out of all of Mr. Smith's trig students, the best option to tutor me is Hakeem? This must be some major karma for breaking a year long Snapchat streak.

"Okay cool." I nod.

"What do you need help with?" He asks, tapping his fingers on table.

"Everything?" I say honestly. "But, we can start with what's going to be on the test on Tuesday."

"Do you even go to class?" He asks.

"Yes. I go to all of my classes." I say, slightly offended. "I can't let down my classmates." I tease.

"I'm sure they look forward to seeing you." He rolls his eyes. "Anyway, let's get started." He says, opening his notebook.

He starts to explain a problem by solving it in his notebook. I can't see it well so I lean over the table towards him. He looks up at me but let's his eyes flicker down to my shirt. Confused, I look down to check for a stain. I quickly realize that he has a clear view of my cleavage.

"Sorry." I say, sitting back down. If I were white I would be bright red with embarrassment. "But, can you sit on this side so I can see the paper."

"Or you could come sit on this side." He smirks.

"Aren't you supposed to be anti-immaturity?" I ask, crossing my arms.

He glances down at my chest again and says, "Fine. But only because the able go out of their way to help the needy." He slides his book, pencil, and calculator over before coming around to sit beside me.

I uncross my arms and pull up my shirt a bit. "Shut up and teach me trig." I say, rolling my eyes.

Thankfully, he returns to his explanation and I begin to understand.

---

After about a half an hour of going over review problems I start to distantly see the light. But, the lights remains very dim and I still have a long way to go.

I remember my homework this time and ask Hakeem to help me with the one that was due today and the one that is due tomorrow.

"This is so light. How come you don't get it?" He asks, looking over the assignments.

"ThIs iS sO lIghT. hOw cOmE yOu dOn'T gEt iT?" I mock him. "I'm bad at math! What don't you understand?" I yell at him. I receive a glare from the librarian, reminding us to keep it down.

"Oh I can tell that you're bad at math..." He mutters to himself.

I decide to ignore it and simply wait for him to begin his explanation. He gets the hint and starts to explain the assignments.

By the time our scheduled hour had elapsed, my homework was complete and I understand more of it than I usually do.

I am so excited about my progress that when Hakeem gets up to leave I wrap my arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you so much. I know you hate me but you still took the time to explain everything really clearly. I appreciate it." I grin into his chest. I pull away and look up at him.

"I helped you because I had to. This doesn't mean I like you." He says coldly. I watch as he throws on his bookbag and leaves.

Whatever. He's just playing hard to get. I think to myself, putting my hoodie back on. However, I can't help but feel hurt. I also throw on my coat and scarf before leaving the building.

I make the cold and lonely walk to my car. Upon getting in I turn on the heat; while the car warms I check my phone. I notice a series of text messages from Ruby.

Ruby 💃🏽❤️: Rhondel is so annoying 😡 Why won't he shut up! I'm never doing this again

I quickly text back: I'm sorry :( But you WON'T believe who my tutor was. I'll call you when I get home.

I put my phone down then start driving.

---

At home, I change into some cozy pajamas. I hop onto my warm purple sheets and call Ruby.

Once she picks up I say, "Girl, I have to put you on! Guess who my tutor is."

"Um... some smart kid?" Ruby guesses. "I don't know. Just tell me."

"It's so easy. Think of the most ironic person it could be." I say, giving her a hint.

"It can't possibly be Hakeem... Was it?" She asks, anticipation clear in her voice.

"Yup." I tell her, popping the p. I then take the opportunity to tell her everything that happened.

"He didn't hug you back? He's probably just faking so he can look tough. He'll crack eventually." Ruby declares confidently.

"I'm sure that's totally why." I laugh. We talk until I hear my parents come home. I quickly make myself look productive by grabbing my laptop and pretending to type an essay—although it is finished and two months old.

"Hey Roxie," my mom peeks in.

"Hi mom." I respond, trying to look deep in thought. She's about to leave when my dad appears behind her.

"Hi Rox, how was tutoring?" He asks, before kissing my mother on the forehead.

"It was very helpful." I say simply, pressing on random keys.

"That's good. I see you're busy so goodnight." He says, pulling out and taking my mother with him.

I wait until I hear them go into their room down the hall before I put my laptop away. I wrap myself up in my blankets and grab my phone. After 15 minutes of pointless scrolling before noticing my name in a comment. The post is of a couple cuddling—g r o s s—and it was shared by Damien, who captioned it 'How I'm tryna be.'

I turn my attention back to the comment, 'Too bad Roxanne don't want you' by Rhondel.

My mouth falls open in shock. This can't be true.

But, if it is true. Eww. I mentally cringe.

I can barely tolerate Damien as a "friend;" I can't imagine him as anything more.

I decide to do what I do with all my problems – ignore it until it either goes away or comes back to bite me. Hopefully it's the former of the two. With that decision in mind I put my phone on my nightstand. I wrap up my hair and sink further into the warmth of my bed.

I drift off to sleep with the image of a laughing, dimpled, and overall hot guy lingering in my mind.