Monday morning I dragged myself into the school building, yawning widely. The weekend had sucked all the energy out of me. Training with Oliver at the bar exhausted me, but it turned out to be a lot more fun than I'd expected. Anthony was a really great guy, and there was a really cheerful atmosphere there. Even Oliver would get caught up in it and smile in a way I'd never expected him to be able to. He could be really handsome.

The almost empty hallways told me I had arrived to school earlier than I expected. Whistling to myself, I started towards my room, tapping my fingers against my leg in beat to the song I was whistling. My whistle suddenly stopped when I noticed my classroom light was on.

Maybe I could finally catch Tucker in action!

Staying as quiet as possible, I tiptoed down the rest of the hallway, holding my breath tightly. I stuck my head around the door and looked in. Tucker wasn't in the main part of the classroom. That could be used to my advantage. Slipping into the room, I quietly shut the door behind me. He wouldn't be able to avoid me this time.

Still keeping silent, I headed towards the supply room. I heard the clatter of a plate being put in the sink, and then the sound of a faucet being turned on. I stopped by the door, thinking hard. Should I step in and catch him in the act? Or wait until he comes out? My decision was abruptly made for me when Tucker stuck his head out of the supply room doorway.

His eyes shot open in surprise, and then narrowed, his face flushing red in anger.

I immediately took a step away, surprised by his hostility. "Tucker—"

"What are you doing here?" he demanded in a tight voice.

"It's my classroom," I shot back. "What are you doing?"

"None of your business!"

"Tucker, yes it is!"

"No it's not!" he nearly shouted, retreating back into the supply room. "Go away!"

I stared incredulously after him. "But it's my classroom!"

"I don't care!"

When I saw he was beginning to shut the supply room door I quickly moved forwards and stuck my foot in between the door and the doorway. Tucker scowled at me through the small gap and I scowled right back. Suddenly he brought his hand through the small gap and shoved me in the chest. I gasped in shock and pain, stumbling back a few steps. Tucker slammed the door.

"What are you doing in there?" I demanded, walking back up to it. "Open it!"

"Nothing and no!"

"You're doing something!"

"None of your business!"

I narrowed my eyes at the door. "Do you want me to involve the principal?"

The door swung open and Tucker sent me a harsh glare before stepping out of the way to let me in. I frowned at him, stepping into the room. My eyes swept around it and landed on a small plate of food on the counter. I stared at it curiously before turning to Tucker.

He looked angry, embarrassed, and hurt all at the same time. This made me frown deeper.

"Tucker..."

"What?" he snapped.

"Do you come in here to eat breakfast every day?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

He shook his head. "No."

"Then what?"

Tucker set his jaw before answering. "I make lunch using the supplies."

"Why?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Butt out."

I sighed softly. There were only a few possibilities for the reason Tucker was using the school's supplies to make food. Suddenly Tucker's skinny frame made a lot more sense. "Money problems?"

"Look, I don't expect a girl like you to understand," Tucker shot at me, his shoulders shaking in anger. "You probably still get spoiled by mommy and daddy."

"Actually, I don't," I said coldly. "You don't know me, so don't assume anything."

Tucker's hard face faltered. He didn't look as angry as before, in fact he looked a little empathetic. His fists were unclenched now, and he had stopped shaking. I took this opportunity to talk.

"I've been working since, um, tenth grade to make money to support my brother and myself," I told him quietly. "I know how hard it is... And I'm not going to tell you that you can't use the supplies."

"I don't need pity—" Tucker started, but I cut him off.

"I'm not pitying you! I want to help."

Tucker gave me a flat look. "Why?"

"Because I know the position you're in," I told him. "I know families have tough times with money. A lot of families do."

Tucker frowned at me. "You're not going to tell?"

"Of course not!" I responded, shaking my head. "There's so much stuff back there, I don't think anyone will notice." Not to mention I was doing something far worse to the school than stealing some supplies from the stock room.

Tucker stared at me curiously for a minute. I returned his look with a small smile, and then turned to look at what he was cooking. "What is this supposed to be?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

"Grilled cheese," Tucker muttered.

"Really?"

"Shut up," he snapped. "I can't cook."

The laugh escaped. "I can see that."

"I said shut up!"

Biting my cheek, I turned to him. "Tell you what, Tucker. If you can drop your attitude around me, I'll make you lunch every day."

Tucker narrowed his eyes. "Are you pitying me?"

"Nope," I responded with a shrug. "I just want you to stop being so mean."

"And you'll make me lunch every day?"

"I don't think you exactly can enjoy your lunch if it looks like that," I told him, pointing at the charcoaled bread.

"Why?" Tucker was furrowing his eyebrows at me, a frown on his face.

I returned his frown. "Why not?"

"I've been a—"

"Jerk."

Tucker rolled his eyes. "A jerk all year long. Why do you want to be nice and help me?"

"First, like I said, I've been in your position. And second, I want to help. You are my student after all, right?"

Suddenly Tucker looked embarrassed. He lowered his gaze, staring determinedly at the floor. "I'm not going to thank you."

I cracked a smile. "You don't have to. So I take it we have a deal?"

Tucker nodded briefly.

"Good," I said just as the warning bell sounded. "If you stop by before lunch, I'll have something ready for you for today."

He looked up at me in surprise. "Really?"

"Really."

"Okay," he mumbled, returning his attention to the floor.

I tried my best to hold in a laugh. He was just like Elliot when he wanted something! When Tucker wasn't being mean, he was actually kind of cute. It made a grin appear on my face once more.

"You should probably get going," I advised him. "I'll clean up."

Tucker nodded again, and quickly started towards the door. Just before he exited he paused, his hand on the door handle. "Sorry about that... I didn't mean to bring up unpleasant memories."

I smiled at him. "It's alright."

Tucker moved forward like he was going to leave, and then stopped again. He sighed. "Sorry again."

"Sorry again?"

"For pushing you earlier," he muttered.

I stared at him in surprise. "Um... no, it's fine... Thank you though."

Tucker nodded once before disappearing from my view. I stared after him for a few minutes, astonished. Who knew such a simple thing could change a person's personality? Unless Tucker was acting like that because he was embarrassed... I frowned slightly. I was definitely going to make him the best lunch ever today.

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Sorry this chapter is so short, while I was going over the last two I realized I didn't actually make a chapter fourteen and it went from 13 to 15 so I had to split it up so I wouldn't get confused between my word document and Wattpad haha....