The next day went pretty well until my math teacher stopped me in the hallway for a little chat.

"Although you have good grades, I think you can score even better if you try hard."

I did what I do all the time. Nod with a tight smile.

Though I don't know how to try hard. I'm squeezing math in between the shifts, working on it when April's asleep and losing my sleep over it. I just don't have time.

So after mumbling a sure, I walked towards the cafeteria only to meet Tyler's creepy friend. The pervert who stopped us yesterday.

And when he blamed me for Tyler's bad mood, I was lost. If anything, it's him who puts me in a bad mood every day.

Even though I took advantage of the lunch bell and slipped away from the guy, I did think about Tyler.

Where was he?

But before I could think more about Tyler, I was startled by Sasha's voice.

"Hey, come with me. Samantha asked for us."

"Why?"

She was pretty impressed with our assignment.

"Who knows. By the way, I heard you had a date with my brother yesterday. How was it?" She wiggled her eyebrows with a smirk, making my step falter.

"No, no. I mean...it wasn't a date."

Her smirk grew wider as she narrowed her eyes on me and I was forced to look away.

"I was just kidding." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Jeez, you get flustered so easily."

I don't know what was so funny. But she had a triumphant smile on her face until our literature teacher asked for our help.

That wasn't unexpected.

"I heard that you tutor someone?" She looked at me and that was unexpected.

Who told her about Kate?

"Uh...yes. I tutor a sophomore in high school."

"That's great." She gave me a proud smile and it somehow made me emotional.

Someone's proud of me.

Sasha is right. I do get flustered easily.

"There are students who are slightly weak in academics. You people," She pointed at me, Sasha and another guy and a girl who were sitting there, just like us. "And there are many students who are struggling to tackle the interpretation area in literature."

Okay. She wants us to tutor other students...alright.

"You guys have done a pretty good job with the sonnets. And there are a few history majors who can't quite grasp the idea of a sonnet. So, it'd be great if you guys could help them out." She smiled. "And I wouldn't use the term tutoring because some of them might find it embarrassing to say a freshman tutors them. But that's just unwanted pride. Anyway, I'll humour them."

Wait a minute.

"These are the juniors that I've assigned to you guys." She murmured, pulling out a sheet of paper and I was not okay with the plan anymore.

"You mean, like the junior year students?" Sasha asked and Ms Reed smiled.

"Help can be given and taken by anyone, age is never a problem. And they know I'm asking freshmen to do this thing. Senior year students are too busy with their stuff and you guys just did the sonnets anyway."

Great. Because I know what's coming next.

Since my life is a bit dramatic and full of clichés, I'm almost sure that Tyler's on the list. And if that's the case, I'm one hundred percent sure his name is right next to mine.

So when she gave us the list, there wasn't even a trace of surprise to see his name near mine.

Sasha took one look at the list and looked at me with pity.

"I just hope the Xander guy I got, is not anyone who's associated with Tyler." She sighed as we got out of the room. "I'm willing to switch places with you, you know that, right? Sure, he annoys me but he doesn't intimidate me or boss me around like he does with you. Unlike in your case, he can't take advantage of my naivety because I lack that trait."

Though I don't know whether being called naive is a compliment or not, I smiled at her because she was ready to tolerate Tyler for me.

"Thanks, but that's okay." I don't want to put her in that misery.

And also, Tyler's a lot less annoying nowadays. Keeping aside the whole princess/sweetheart thing, I think I can handle it.

I know he was a total jerk to Marissa and that he got riled up for no reason at the park yesterday. And if that's the case, better me than her.

But in the evening when Sasha found out who Xander is, she lost her mind.

"Will you tell me who he is?" I finally asked after her ten-minute-long anger management session while driving and she sighed.

"It's the creepy pervert guy who messed with us the other day. The one I wanted Zack to punch?"

Oh. Oh, no. Not him.

Not that pervert. 

"Shit." I sighed. "What're you going to do now?"

Then, to my surprise, she smiled. "I've never heard you curse before,"

Seriously? That's what she's concerned about?

"I do, in my mind...a lot." I said with a shrug. Maybe she's noticing it the first time. "The offer you made at lunch today? That's still on the table, you know? We can switch if you want. I hate to say this, but I think Tyler's slightly better than that guy."

"I agree, slightly being the keyword." She mumbled. "But don't worry, I'll figure it out. Either this tutoring thing will work out or my heels will meet his eyes."

Huh. I hope the former happens.

                          ▪️▪️▪️

"Sometimes I feel like a fifty-year-old woman, taking care of her grandchildren." Marissa sighed when Jake threw a doughnut to my face.

"Well, to be fair, you are almost fifty." Jake mumbled and she gasped.

"Shut the fuck up. Thirty-seven is nowhere near fifty. You hear me? Nowhere." She smacked his head and sashayed into the kitchen.

I loved Marissa so much. She's somewhat an inspiration for me.

Dave, her husband had a job in their family business. When family drama left him jobless, they were shattered. Dave didn't have enough qualifications for any high-paying jobs, so he restarted his life by being a bartender and Marissa, who loved to be a housewife, stepped up and did waitressing to support him. They repaid their bank loan and bought a new small house.

If they did it, maybe I could too.
I could pay for Noel's college and Theo's school and let them choose whatever career they want.

"Hello?" Jake snapped his fingers and brought my attention to him. "Where'd you go?"

"Daydreaming, Eve?" Marissa smiled widely and when that smile flickered I knew Jones was here.

Either the spooky elder one or the annoying younger one. And to my nuisance, it was the younger one, Tyler Gavin Jones.

"Hey, princess. Aren't you supposed to teach me or something?" He asked me with a smirk and I nodded.

"Tomorrow?"

"Cool." He tapped his fingers on the counter. "You coming to my place or...?"

Nope. Never in my life will I invite him to my place. I'll never let him anywhere near my brother's, not if I can help it.

"Here." I said, pointing around me, letting him know that I mean to do this here. "After my shift?"

"In the cafe?" He raised his eyebrows and I nodded. Hoping he won't insist on doing this somewhere else.

"I can't wait around here for you to be free. I have a life." He muttered.

I took a deep breath and looked down.

What was it that Zack said?

Collect those broken pieces and scoot away from that ruthless foot. Start by defending yourself and your decisions.

"Ms Reed asked me to only give you a detailed explanation, not to make you understand." I mumbled, swallowing a lump in my throat. "So I'll do what she said and I'll try to give you some notes too, if you want. But...but I can only meet you here."

A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes and he smirked. "It wasn't easy to convince the teacher that a certain student was a better option for me. So, prove it." He smirked.

Oh. So this wasn't god adding a cliche part to my story. It was Tyler's plan.

Great.
.
.
.
.

"I didn't say today!" I justified myself the moment I was bombarded with questions.

Noel was okay, Theo wasn't. He had his arms crossed and a glare on his face that wavered whenever he nibbled on the chocolate bar that I just bought him.

"You could've asked him today." Noel reminded and I sighed.

"I couldn't. I barely saw him today. He was busy."

"Tomorrow then,"

"Tomorrow." I nodded, shuffling plates.

I turned to see both of them look at me with suspicion.

I groaned. "Promise."

I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm the youngest one here.

                            ▪️▪️▪️

I tried to listen to what the woman was saying about tissues. But what my tissues were engaged in, was to formulate a plan to ask Zack out.

That sounded wrong.

I'm not sure how I'm going to convince him to go out with me instead of spending time with his friends.

I just need to walk up to him, ask him if he's free this Saturday and then if he says yes, I'll ask him to hang out with us. As simple as that.

I'll ask Sasha too, we could have fun.

Free this saturday?

I sent her a text and got rid of the thoughts, trying to take notes.

As soon as the bell rang, I walked out of the classroom and pulled out my phone to check if she had replied. And in the process, bumped into someone so hard that I did a full spin on my heels.

"Sorry," I mumbled as the blonde guy looked back with a frown to see who I was.

I mumbled a sorry again, taking a backward step, only to bump into someone else.

This time, I lost my balance and was about to fall flat on my face when an arm snaked around my waist and pulled me back. But with enough strength that my back crashed into his chest.

And weirdly, I knew who it was.

"Always falling, aren't you?"

I heard the familiar deep voice and felt his cold breath on the back of my neck.

"Uh sorry," I murmured with an embarrassed grin and turned to face him.

"Apology accepted."

Good.  Now I didn't have to wait till evening to ask about Noel and Theo's stupid plan.

"Uh...Zack?"

"Yes. Zack."

"Um, are you free this Saturday?"

"Zack?" Another voice interrupted and we tilted our heads to see a guy with an amused look and a raised eyebrow.

And that's when I realised that we were standing close to each other. And that his arm was still wrapped around me.

I stepped back at the same time he pulled his arm back and joined his friend for a quick chat.

That's when I looked down at my phone screen.

Sasha: nope. Zack's friend Natalie's birthday party. You know her, she's the one I told you about.

Sasha: Why though? Anything that we need to do on Sunday?

Well, that went great.

******

There goes Eve's first move. Is it the right one or wrong? Who knows?
Maybe Zack isn't for her, maybe he is.

Thanks again, my awesome readers!😘
I just can't thank you enough for how supportive you've been.

As usual, forgive mistakes, and point out them. I'm a baby trying to walk. Help out🤗

I'm thinking about winding this story up fast.

And finally, a big thank you and a virtual bear hug for 2k !!!!❤️❤️

I remember the moment I saw the very first 2 reads. Special thanks to those two people who found my work and read them, when I had 0 following and followers.

Thank you and stay safe💕