Page 6

Luka

I already regret the agreement I made with my sister. She made me promise to at least try tutoring with Lily. If it didn’t help within a few weeks, she would drop it.

I’d prefer to do this shit on my own, but too much is riding on my grades. I only have this year to make my dream happen, and that’s only if I can keep my grades up. Give me a stick and skates, and my body instinctively knows what to do. But give me a damn pencil and paper, and it’s like my brain’s never seen the two before.

All the studying and preparation go out the window when the teacher puts the test down in front of me. It’s like I freeze up or something. My entire body breaks out in a cold sweat, and all the information I thought I knew is suddenly gone from my brain.

It’s the most frustrating feeling in the world. I don’t trust myself anymore, which is exactly why Stella thinks I need outside help. Any tutor I’ve ever worked with made me feel dumb. They would say things like, “You should have at least passed it, Luka. How am I supposed to help you when you don’t even help yourself?”

That’s the thing though. I was putting in the damn work. So much so that I stopped going out with my friends on the weekends and after games. I stopped dating and doing any socializing to cut out any unnecessary distractions. I was willing to do it, too, if that meant I could keep playing.

Hell, I haven’t been on a date in almost a year .

The problem is that it’s barely working. I feel like I’m floundering, barely holding my head above water, and the next powerful wave that comes along is going to sweep me under.

I don’t know why I am opposed to working with Lily. If Stella thinks Lily can help, and if she will help me, I should be jumping for joy. But it’s the way she looked at me, the intensity in her stare, that was unsettling.

I also don’t like the pull I feel toward her. She feels like a distraction I can’t afford, and that’s exactly why I pull up her contact number and start typing.

Me: Hey, this is Luka. I don’t think I can make it on Friday.

It only takes her a moment to respond.

Lily McKenna: Why?

Why? Because I don’t want you to tutor me. You make me uncomfortable with how damn intense you seem , but I can’t say all that. I just need to find someone else to tutor me. Stella will understand.

Me: I’m busy.

Lily McKenna: What about now?

What the hell? I’m trying in the nicest way possible to say that I don’t want her to tutor me, and she just wants to move up the time.

Me: I can’t

Lily McKenna: Can’t or won’t?

Me: …can’t

Lily McKenna: Sure, sure, Luka Russo. This doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you don’t want my help?

Where does this girl get off?

Me: No. What would make you say that?

Lily McKenna: Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that it looked like you’d rather go to your third cousin’s, twice removed, funeral than let me tutor you.

Me: That’s not true. I just have a lot on my plate right now, and I can’t make it work.

Lily McKenna: Is that what you’re going to tell Stella? Cause I, for one, would rather say we tried, and it didn’t work than you pussied out before I could even help you.

I don’t know who this girl thinks she is. Me a pussy? No fucking way.

Lily McKenna: We both know that won’t go over well.

Me: Not if we don’t tell her.

Lily McKenna: I’m not lying for you. Now meet me in an hour at the library and at least let me see if I can help you.

I sigh, frustrated. She’s even worse than my sister, and that’s freaking saying something.

Me: Fine.

Lily McKenna: Don’t sound so excited. It’s unbecoming.

I laugh out loud at this chick. She may be intense, and she may cause my heart rate to react in ways that I can’t afford right now, but damn if I’m not intrigued.

Me: What me? I’m so damn excited I can barely stand it. You’ll see, Lily McKenna.

Lily McKenna: Just remember what I said, and we’ll be all good.

I have to stop and think about what she’s referring to, but when I finally remember, I laugh.

Me: You’re safe with me, McKenna. Friends, it is.

Lily McKenna: Good. Acquaintances it is. Friends are just one step away from lovers.

I bark out another laugh. This chick might be insane, but I find myself excited to go meet her. Which is a stark contrast from when we started this conversation. It feels like I’m on a roller coaster, and my body is craving the next drop.

Me: Do all your male friends turn into lovers, McKenna?

Lily McKenna: That would be outside the scope of what is acceptable for an acquaintance to ask, Mr. Russo.

The smile on my face is wide. I’m enjoying the push-and-pull game with her a little too much.

Me: Fair. I’m sure I’ll get the answer out of you soon enough.

Lily McKenna: Tsk, tsk, Mr. Russo. Already trying to bump up to the next level, I see.

Me: What are the levels so I can fully understand what I need to follow and avoid here?

Lily McKenna: Well, first, there are acquaintances (where we are). Then there’s a Tier One friend: a person that you might see in passing, hang out with a couple of times, and likely have lots of mutual friends.

Lily McKenna: Tier Two is a little more involved. You hang out more than occasionally, but you don’t trust them with any of your secrets. Tier Three is a person who has your trust, and you could call in an “Oh, shit” moment, but it’s not your ride or die.

Lily McKenna: Top Tier is your ride-or-die person, the one who knows all your secrets and still loves you, anyway. There’s no judgment, and only unconditional love. Those are the ones who turn into more.

Me: Has a man ever made it to Top-Tier status in your book?

Lily McKenna: Stella is the only person to ever reach that level for me, and last time I checked, she wasn’t into chicks.

I laugh because that is one hundred percent true, but it also raises a question. As I type it out, Lily sends another text.

Lily McKenna: And before you even ask, I’m not into chicks either. Boys are so predictable.

I catch another laugh leaving my lips. I haven’t smiled this much talking to someone in a long ass time. Maybe hanging out with the super nerdy, intense, and a little wacky Lily McKenna won’t be so bad.

Me: You said it, not me, and I might have surprised you.

Lily McKenna: Let’s not pretend that you weren’t about to.

Me: I’ll never admit to such a thing. As acquaintances only, I would never ask such a personal question.

Lily McKenna: Sure, sure, Mr. Russo, and Australia isn’t wider than the moon.

Me: I have no idea if that’s true or not, but since Stella tells me you’re the smartest person she knows, I’ll take your word for it.

Lily McKenna: You should look it up, but do it after our meeting. See you in thirty.

Shit! I look up at the clock and see she’s right. If I don’t hurry, I’ll be late, and something tells me that Lily McKenna wouldn’t appreciate me wasting her time. I throw on some clean clothes, brush my teeth, and grab my school bookbag.

I’m out the door in less than ten minutes, and it will take me the full twenty to walk to the library on the other side of campus.