Page 12 of Scars of Anatomy

Tutor

I walk into the anatomy lecture hall to find just Delilah in her seat.

There’s about ten minutes until class starts, and I’m sort of relieved that Olivia isn’t here yet.

After she noticed Adrianna’s lipstick on my neck, I could sense the lingering, awkward tension between us. I’ve been mortified ever since.

I almost didn’t show up to class today, but I figured that was the cowardly thing to do, and it could potentially worsen the situation.

“Hey, Dee,” I greet Delilah, who has her nose shoved in a textbook.

“Hey,” she says, peeling her eyes away from her book to greet me properly. “How are you?”

I give her a shrug of indifference. “All right.”

She frowns. “You didn’t do so hot on the test, did you?”

I’m taken aback by her blunt question. “Uhh,” I stall awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck. “Not the best, I guess.”

She nods. “Quinton was pretty insistent about it, and you quickly shoving your test in your backpack was kind of a giveaway,” she says with a wry smile.

At the mention of Rat Boy my fists involuntarily clench. I knew he would be an asshole about it.

“So, how bad was it?” Delilah asks cautiously, surprisingly not in a condescending way. She asks out of genuine concern, like a friend would.

I let out a groan of agony and contemplate if I should tell her or not.

Sensing that I must be on the fence, she speaks up. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but just know I won’t tell anyone,” she says sincerely. “Especially not Quinton. I can tell you two don’t exactly get along.”

“You got that right,” I mumble. After a few beats, I let out a sigh. “It wasn’t necessarily a complete crash and burn, but let’s just say there were some major damages,” I confess, willing to trust her.

She purses her lips together and nods. “Well, you know who’s a great tutor? Olivia.” A small, knowing smile spreads across her face. “Just ask and she’ll be more than willing to help you.”

I try my best to suppress a smile. While that does seem tempting, a part of my ego is telling me not to ask Olivia. But then again, it would be a good excuse to spend more time with her . . .

“I’ll think about it,” I tell Delilah, and she flashes me another knowing smile, one that says she knows I’ll eventually cave and ask Olivia to tutor me.

We sit in silence for a few moments, more students filing in. I know I only have moments left, and something inside me can’t bite back my curiosity, so I just come right out and say it. “Can I ask you something?”

She carelessly shrugs a shoulder. “Go for it.”

I twist in my seat to face her directly, one elbow resting on the back of my chair while the other is planted on the desk. “What’s up with Ra—Quinton?” I quickly correct myself.

Delilah doesn’t even flinch at my question; it’s almost as if she’s been expecting it.

With a sigh, she looks over both shoulders before leaning in to whisper to me.

Instinctively, I lean in to hear her and give her my undivided attention.

Her lips twist to the side as she contemplates how to begin.

“Quinton has a pretty big crush on Olivia.”

“I’ve gathered that much,” I mutter, and she shoots me a look that tells me to shut up and listen.

“He’s had a crush on her since freshman year, but Olivia has never reciprocated those feelings.

” She pauses, looking contemplative. “When Olivia told him she couldn’t be with him, he took it really hard.

At one point I honestly thought Olivia was going to cave and just date him because she felt so bad, but I told her that would only make the situation worse. Not to mention make her miserable.”

My fists involuntarily clench. From what Olivia told me that day in the cafeteria, I already knew Rat Boy hadn’t taken her rejection well and that she felt guilty about it, but I didn’t know how bad the situation really was.

Delilah opens her mouth as if to say more but quickly snaps it shut as her eyes dart to the door.

I look over my shoulder to spot Olivia walking into the classroom.

Her hair tie is trapped between her teeth as her hands work to quickly scoop up her hair to redo her ponytail.

Once her hair is secured, her eyes travel up to meet mine.

I take in a sharp breath, staring into those sweet, warm brown eyes that have imprints around them from lab goggles.

A small blush makes its way to her cheeks, and she slowly walks up the stairs to her seat.

“Hey, Finch,” I say softly, treading lightly after yesterday.

“Hey.” She gives me a small smile as I pull out her chair for her.

After the information I just found out, I can’t help but stare at her, my heart hurting for her.

I can’t say I completely understand her situation—I don’t feel guilty for constantly rejecting Adrianna.

It’s her fault that she can’t accept the fact that I’ll never be with her in the way that she wants.

But Olivia is too sweet to have someone treat her that way and make her feel so guilty.

That’s why I have to seriously restrain myself when Rat Boy walks in.

The lecture goes by with a breeze, but I can tell something is wrong with Olivia. I can sense her gloomy mood. And it’s not just the lingering tension from yesterday.

When our professor dismisses class and we all begin to pack up, Delilah speaks up. “Hey, Liv, you’re still willing to tutor people, right?” she asks, shooting me a secretive glance.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Who needs help?” Olivia asks, looking up from shoving her binder into her backpack.

“Oh, just someone I know. I’m not totally sure if they’re set on a tutor yet, but I’ll let you know,” Delilah says, flashing me another discreet look.

“Yeah, just let me know,” Olivia says, slinging her backpack on. I can see it in her eyes that something is bugging her; her voice is a bit dejected as well.

We all walk out of the lecture hall together, and eventually Delilah and Rat Boy have to veer off to their next class. Olivia and I walk together in silence, and I glance at her frequently, able to tell she’s mulling over something in that pretty little head of hers.

“Hey.” I gently grab her elbow, stopping my stride. She spins around to face me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she states, giving me an unconvincing smile.

“Finch,” I begin.

“No, really, I’m fine,” she says all too quickly, refusing to meet my gaze.

I sigh and silence floats between us.

A warm breeze passes, causing the tendrils of hair framing her face to wisp across her cheek. Without thinking, I reach up to tuck them behind her ear. It’s then those big, vulnerable eyes peer up at me, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs.

“I wish you would tell me what’s wrong,” I whisper honestly, swiping my thumb across her cheek.

Surprisingly, she leans into my touch. Her eyes flutter closed for a moment as she slowly exhales through her nose. Those warm honey eyes open, the sun hitting them just right.

“It’s just been a really rough day,” she admits, voice tired.

“The lab assistants didn’t wash the test tubes so I couldn’t do the original lesson I’d planned for today, leaving me to scramble to come up with a new plan.

Then I’m teaching all freshmen who are still so immature.

One kid started playing with the Bunsen burner and nearly set the lab on fire,” she says, getting more and more worked up with every word that passes her lips.

She presses her fingers to her eyes, clearly overwhelmed.

“Hey,” I coo, immediately wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my chest. I run my hand up and down her back in a soothing manner, wishing there was something I could do, something I could say, to make her feel better.

I rest my chin on top of her head, just holding her close, loving the feel of her in my arms.

“Want me to beat that kid’s ass?” I ask in all seriousness, and I feel her shoulders shake.

I immediately think she’s crying, and pull away to assess her. When I finally see her face, I realize she’s laughing.

“No,” she says, through a string of silent giggles, her eyes sad but shining with appreciation and hilarity. “Thank you, though.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, running my hands up and down her arms. “I have a whole football team behind me to take care of the little shit for you.”

She holds back a laugh. “If I ever need your assistance, I’ll let you know,” she assures me, and I can’t help but smile at the light coming back to her eyes.

“Come with me,” I say, grabbing her hand and linking our fingers together.

Her footsteps are hesitant at first, but eventually her stride matches mine. “Bronx, where are we going?” she asks, slightly gawking down at our joined hands.

“You’ll see,” I say, leading her across campus.

My hand tingles, and I’m mesmerized by how good it feels to have her hand fit in mine so perfectly.

We finally reach the coffee shop, and I hold the door open for her, making it a point to not let go of her hand just yet. The strong scent of coffee hangs in the air, and thankfully it’s not too busy in here.

I lead us to the end of the line and look down at her quizzical face.

“Pick out whatever you want. It’s my treat,” I say, giving her hand a small squeeze.

Her eyes soften, looking at me for a few beats before darting to the menu. She cringes, her expression flooding with guilt. “I’m not really a coffee drinker,” she timidly admits.

“That’s okay. The pastry selection here is amazing. Girls love sweets when they’re having a bad day, don’t they?”

Her bottom lip pokes out in an adorable pout. “Bronx, really, you don’t have to do this,” she insists.

“Hey.” I give her hand another squeeze. “You had a bad day. I want to make you feel better. Now what would you like?” I ask as we get closer to the counter and stand in front of a display case, which showcases numerous pastries.

“Bronx,” she protests again.

“Sorry, I’m not on the menu, sweetheart, but if you really want a taste of me—ow!” I feign hurt, rubbing the center of my chest where she playfully hits me with her free hand.

“Hi, what can I get you?” the barista behind the cash register greets us as soon as the person in front of us moves.

I look down at Olivia expectantly, and she shoots me a glare despite the grin trying to break across her face.

“I’ll take a blueberry muffin,” she tells the cashier.

“And I’ll take a small cold brew with a double chocolate brownie,” I say, knowing I’ll need the coffee to get through practice later.

The cashier rambles off the total and I’m a bit bummed when I have to let go of Olivia’s hand to take my card out of my wallet. Once I’m finished paying, I have Olivia go find a table while I wait for our orders.

“You don’t like coffee?” I ask as soon as we get settled, taking a drink from my cup.

She shakes her head. “Not really. Plus, I’ve seen how wired it can make Delilah, so I don’t know if my heart would be able to handle all the caffeine if I drank it frequently,” she laughs.

I nod, pinching off a piece of my brownie as she nibbles on her blueberry muffin.

“Speaking of Delilah,” I mention casually. “Were you serious when you said you’d tutor one of her friends?”

“Yeah.”

I nod, suddenly finding interest in a chocolate chip that falls out of my brownie.

Come on, Bronx. Do it. Ask her!

I bite the inside of my cheek, my pride clawing at me to keep quiet.

Just do it, you pussy!

How is it I can ask any girl to sleep with me, but the one girl I actually like I can’t even ask to tutor me?

Just think of all the extra time you’d get to spend with her , I try to persuade myself.

“Finch?” I ask.

“Hmm?”

“Would you tutor me? In anatomy.”

God, I sound so pathetic.

“Sure,” she says, taking the final bite of her muffin.

Sure?

Really? It was that easy?

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah.” She shrugs. “It’ll be nice to have someone to study with.”

I lean back in my chair, nodding. “All right, then. We’re officially study buddies. Put it there, partner,” I say, extending my hand to her across the table.

She lets out a small laugh, her hand fitting in mine once more to give me a firm handshake.