Page 5
Eliana
I loved getting new tutoring clients. Learning their background, helping them tailor their study techniques, watching them grow from our first meeting to the last. As I sit in the library prepping for Jake, some of the tension in my shoulders starts to fade as I think back to all my previous tutoring experiences.
Even my more demanding clients, who had to bring several of their grades up, always ended up making my day as I watched their confidence and knowledge grow.
I imagined tutoring was a lot like co-captaining a ship— in the beginning you’re battling unruly waters, but with experience and a confident crew, things become smooth sailing.
He had responded to my email yesterday confirming he could make it so he definitely knew our appointment was coming up.
Maybe I should just leave and reschedule?
I don’t want to be late for my study session with Nicole…
Ugh, I can’t. This was a favor I was doing for Violet, someone I really cared about and respected.
And after putting off nannying, I really needed the money that came with a steady tutoring client.
So here I sat, anxiously checking the analog clock hung up on the library wall as all this precious time went by.
Wasted. Maybe I should start working on my own homework while I wait…
“Hey are you Eliana?”
My attention shifts from the clock to the sound of a deep male voice. I have to crane my neck to take in the 6’4 blonde rocking a Westchester U Men’s Ice Hockey hoodie.
“You’re late.” The words come out much harsher than my normal greeting, but Violet had warned me that he had an attitude and a bad habit of being disrespectful.
Which wasn’t in the least bit surprising.
Westchester’s hockey team all viewed themselves like God’s gift to Earth, or at least God’s gift to hockey.
As an avid hockey fan myself, I couldn’t say I blamed them for their massive egos.
Being born and raised in New England, rooting for the Boston Bruins was expected of me from birth.
And given the Bruins had a solid track record of signing players from local universities, I often found myself keeping tabs on the star players in the Hockey East conference.
Lack of punctuality and poor grades aside, Jake Keeley was incredible on the ice.
And if rumors were true, in a few years he’d be rocking a spoked B and playing for the Bruins.
Unfortunately for Jake, it appeared he had forgotten his future in hockey was tied to maintaining his GPA.
I won’t deny that there’s a part of me that’s geeking out over the fact that I’m tutoring one of the NHL’s biggest prospects, but I’d already told myself I wouldn’t treat him differently than any of my previous clients.
Despite my current snippiness, I had no issues with hockey or student athletes.
If anything, the previous athletes I had tutored had shown me how many of them got a bad rap for not caring enough about school.
My best friend Nicole fell into this category.
In addition to being the current captain of Westchester's D1 softball team, she was also premed.
“In the future could let me know if you’re running late? Just so I’m in the loop.” I try not to sound super annoyed. Just because I lived my life maximizing every second of every day didn’t mean he had to.
“Sorry I thought I gave myself enough time to get here but...let’s just say I didn’t account for the traffic.” Jake shrugs, taking a seat in the chair across from mine. “I came over as fast as I could.”
“I understand. Life happens. Let’s get started. I put together a study guide?—”
DING! His phone goes off in his pocket and pause. He waves me on to continue.
“That outlines the main concepts of the chapters. It looks like your midterm covered observational psych to?—”
DING! Jake sighs heavily, pulling his phone out. His eyebrows knit in concern as he rapidly texts.
My concern for whatever is happening is mixed with the slight irritation I feel bubbling up in my chest. “Everything alright?”
Jake’s eyebrows pinch together as he shakes his head. “No. Defusing a big disaster.”
“Sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to hel?—”
“Ollie is freaking out right now. He forgot to let the Tri Delts and most of the Sigma Kappa’s know about the party we’re throwing this Saturday so now we’re stuck trying to coordinate something with the Gamma Phi’s instead.”
I blink once. Then twice. “Excuse me? ”
He glances up at me and likely catches my annoyed expression. “Shit sorry, where are my manners? You’re totally welcome to come and bring any friends. Preferably girls since our guy-to-girl ratio is kinda off already. Feel free to drop by Hockey House after 10 p.m.”
Despite being a hockey fan, you wouldn’t catch me dead in the cesspool that was Hockey House.
I am almost certain if the CDC did a full swipe of that place, they’d probably discover three new STDs among other atrocities.
“Do you think we could get back to the reason why we’re both here?
” I shove the study guide back into his view.
“Shit sorry, yes.” He finally places his phone back into his pocket. “Go ahead.”
“Since you need to diffuse a…crisis…maybe it’s best that for our session today I show you the general schedule I came up with for our tutoring sessions and then next session we can dive into content.
I’ve added some practice worksheets you should try to complete before we meet.
” I pull out the color-coded document detailing the remaining weeks of the semester and slide it over to him, while annotating my own copy.
“I already have all your games, home and away, accounted for but if there are other events or conflicts I missed?—”
“Yeah this all looks great.” Jake barely even skims it over before haphazardly folding the schedule into his bag and pulling out a crumpled paper to show me. “So, I have some questions on the homework that I’m struggling to wrap my brain around.”
Through the crinkles I recognize this week's homework assignment, which he’s half completed.
“Sure, I can take a look at the answers you have so far. And then we can go over the rest next week when we meet again….” I trail off taking a second to actually look at the worksheet in front of me. “This is due tonight. ”
He winces in response, “I know. I’m sorry. I tried my best to finish it, but I just couldn’t figure out the answers. My notes and the textbook were no help.”
My heart tugs. So many of my past tutoring clients had said the same. Shared that defeated look on their faces. My sympathy dissolves a moment later when he opens his mouth.
“Given the tight deadline, I was hoping you could help me out. Just this once. Then next week you can walk me through how you got all the answers.” He worries his bottom lip between his teeth, looking like a child that got caught sneaking a cookie before dinner.
I grit my teeth, then let out a deep breath and manage to say, “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to give you the answers without you first trying.”
“I understand. But I promise I’ll go back and review my notes later.” Jake bats his eyelashes at me, and for some reason that sets me off the edge.
Did he really think he could flirt his way into getting these answers out of me?
Sure I may be a people pleaser, but I’m not a complete pushover.
I glance at the time on my laptop, mentally calculating how far behind I would fall on my work if I continued to entertain this.
“You know what? Unfortunately, I don’t think this is going to work out.
” I pack up my bag and stand up from the table.
“But I will be sure to get you connected with another tutor ASAP.”
A pit in my stomach starts to form. As much as I wanted to quit right now, I definitely needed the money from tutoring especially since I’d stopped my nannying job. It’s fine, I’d figure something else out.
That seems to catch Jake’s attention as he collects his things and follows me out of the library. “Wait what?”
I don’t make it far before he cuts in front of me and blocks me from going any further. “I feel like my schedule and my tutoring style just aren’t aligned with your needs. So I think it’s best if I help you find someone else?—”
He shakes his head vehemently. “You can’t quit, you're my tutor.”
I think back to my conversation with Violet.
Jake had already had several tutors quit on him, one more quitting would put him on probation.
As annoyed as I was in this moment I didn’t want to leave him hanging.
“Don’t worry I’ll tell the tutoring center that I couldn’t make things work with my schedule.
You won’t be penalized, so they’ll be able to get a new tutor lined up by tomorrow.
There’s usually a lot of tutors who have extra availability in their calendar?—”
“I don’t want someone else. I want you.”
My stupid heart skips at his words, because yes, even though I’m enraged who wouldn’t have at least some reaction to a declaration like that?
“I’m really not that special.”
“That’s not true.” He shakes his head vehemently. “You’re the best tutor in the psychology department. Maybe even in the whole school. And that’s what I need.”
“I just don’t think this is going to work out.”
“It will. I need it to. Please.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, takes a deep breath, and then continues.
“Listen, I made a lot of mistakes recently. Including showing up late today. My coach gave me an ultimatum about my grade in this class. Either I take tutoring seriously or I can expect to ride the bench for the rest of the season. I can’t do that. I can’t lose hockey. I won’t.”
“I get that. I just don’t see why I have to be your tutor.”
“If my coach finds out I chased off another tutor after the first session, I’ll be screwed.
He’s already mad at me for how I’ve handled this whole situation.
This is basically my fourth chance. You quitting would be a surefire sign that I blew it.
” A look of shame and self-doubt spreads over his face.
“I can’t mess up again. I’m out of chances. ”
Flirty comments and smoldering looks did not affect me.
Begging for my help however… ”Fine.” I watch as his face perks up, back to its normal cocky state.
“But we do things my way. On my schedule. And you promise to never ask me for answers to your homework again.” He gives me a small nod.
“Great. I’ll email you a new time to meet, and what to have prepared ahead of time. ”
“Yes, Sergeant.” Jake gives me a mock salute, that I roll my eyes at.
I walk away wondering if I just made a colossal mistake agreeing to be his tutor.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5 (Reading here)
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52