But then again, I was the one saying the same stuff not that long ago, just as hopeful as Logan that a scout would keep me in mind for the upcoming season. It’s more likely we’d have to play for a farm team for a few years before getting recruited to the big leagues, but it’s always been the dream to get drafted right out of college. And with this being our senior year, now’s the time to shine.
Except not for me anymore. I’ll have to find some regular job starting in May upon graduation. Dad made it clear he won’t be paying for my apartment or expenses after then. I’ll be on my own.
I know I’m lucky to have gotten a free ride for as long as I have, but the thought of entering the real world, no baseball dreams to keep me buoyant, is incredibly depressing. Working in some office, sitting behind a desk eight hours a day... God, kill me now. My life has been baseball, baseball, baseball for as far back as I can remember, and it’s taking some adjusting to rid myself of that mindset.
“How did you do on the first Sociology assignment?” Rachel asks, bringing me back to the apparent change in topic. “You stowed your paper away before I could see.”
Yeah, because I got a C minus on that one. I’m bombing things left and right. The only class I’m not failing is American Studies, and that’s because the professor honestly couldn’t seem to care less. He’s my kind of guy.
I sigh, half regretting agreeing to take Sociology with the two of them. Rachel’s always poking her head in everything, regardless of if it’s her business. “I could have done better,” I admit. Maybe this tutor thing is a wake-up call. I need outside help. “Maybe all three of us can work on the next one together?”
Logan frowns. “You want to do schoolwork?”
Yeah, I know it’s out of character. “I don’t have a choice. My GPA is shit. This semester needs to be straight A’s.”
“Aren’t you retaking Bio?”
“Yes,” I growl, wadding up my burger wrapper and stuffing it in the McDonald’s bag. “And I’m getting a tutor for it.”
“Who?”
“Some girl.” Assuming she’ll actually agree to it. And if Samantha’s right and she truly doesn’t want money, what can I offer her? And if not her, who else? I can’t think of a single person I know with any kind of science major.
“A girl?” Rachel perks up, suddenly interested.
“Don’t get yourself all worked up. I haven’t even met her yet.”
She purses her lips, annoyed, but backs off. “Fine. And yes, let’s work on the next assignment together. It’s something about researching different cultures. He’s going to assign them next class.”
“Good.” Now I’ve got game plans for two classes.
I just pray Samantha’s friend will help me out.
2
Eden
“Did you see the school paper today?” Natalie asks, taking a bite of her sandwich. The buzz of voices in the student center nearly drowns out her words, so I scoot my chair closer.
“I only did the crossword in it. I didn’t read any of the articles.”
“There was one about-“
“Eden,” Samantha says gleefully, approaching our table. Her blonde hair shines under the fluorescent lights, more than one head turning her way at her beauty. As usual, she’s oblivious to it, though. “I’ve got something for you.” She waves a paper in her hand, a broad smile on her face, blue eyes shining. My suspicion alert immediately sounds, knowing her excitement can only mean something embarrassing for me.
“What is it?” I ask warily, setting down my sandwich.
“An opportunity,” she replies enigmatically.
Natalie raises an eyebrow, looking back and forth between the two of us, green eyes widened in interest. “Well, are you going to tell us?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked about it, Eden,” she says pointedly, laying the paper face up on the table.
Scribbled on the center of the page is the name Jake, along with a phone number. I stare at her blankly, incredibly confused.
“A guy in my Biology class wants you to tutor him.”
What now? “Um-“
“I know, I know,” she interrupts me, holding up a hand, her ever-present bracelets jangling. “I tried to put him off, but he was insistent. Not pushy, but kind of desperate. I guess he’s failing.”
I tuck a strand of hair back behind my ear, looking longingly first at Samantha’s gorgeous curls, then Natalie’s thick, chocolate brown hair, up in a high ponytail, her bangs framing her face. I’d give anything for either of their hair, cursing my own lackluster locks, all mousy and flat. “I don’t want to tutor some random guy,” I whisper, the idea alone making my heart race.
“He said he’d pay you, or, and here’s the best part,” she says as an aside to Natalie, “you could make an exchange. He would tutor you in something else.”
The gears in my mind begin turning, already catching on to what Samantha is leading up to.
“Now, he mentioned baseball,” she continues, “but what if you used him to practice talking to a guy, getting comfortable enough so you could ask Michael out?”
Yep, that’s where I was pretty sure she was headed. Since the first time I told her about the guy I’ve had a crush on for the last two years, she’s always encouraged me to go for it and ask him out. She’s so beautiful, though, I’m sure she’s never had to worry about a boy rejecting her.
But Michael’s never even noticed me. We’re in the same Biomedical Sciences program at Suncoast, but we’ve never actually spoken to one another, despite having several classes together over the years. I finally edged him out last semester as the top-performing student for our year, but that probably makes him dislike me more, if he’s even aware of my existence to begin with.
He seems like a kind person with modest good looks, while also being incredibly brilliant. Quiet and unassuming, just like myself. Basically, he’s my dream guy. But just the thought of talking to him has me tongue-tied. I’m content with my active imagination about him. It’s served me well so far.
“So it would be like relationship tutoring?” Natalie pipes up, trying to be helpful when I only stay silent at Samantha’s suggestion.
“Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. You don’t have to,” she adds, seeing my face. “I just thought you might be interested.”
“I- I’ll think about it,” I tell the two of them, grabbing the sheet of notebook paper and stuffing it into my backpack.
“What’s the guy like?” Natalie asks, taking another bite of her lunch.
“Seems decent.” Samantha finally settles down in her seat and pulls a turkey wrap out of her bag. “Keeps to himself during class. Doesn’t hit on any of the girls, but you can tell he’d be well received if he did. Now, you know I love Levi to death, but Jake is hot. No other way to say it.”
My brows raise. If Samantha, the most beautiful person I’ve met in real life, who’s dating another insanely attractive person, says someone is hot, I believe it.
I snort, just imagining the exchange if I actually did contact him. Yeah, I heard you were really hot, so I definitely want to tutor you now. Please teach me everything you know about men.