And to get there, I’ll have to make some changes, as scary as that may be. I’m tired of waiting around for things to happen to me. I want to take control of my life.
Maybe this Jake guy can help me to build my self-confidence, become bold. It’s bold people who get what they want. And though it seems crazy to put my faith in a stranger, what other options do I have? Who else would agree to do something like this? At least my end of the deal tutoring him in Biology will be easy.
I wish I knew more about him. The info Samantha provided was fine, but how can I really trust him? Who do I know who might-
Darla. If anyone were to have details about a hot guy on campus, it’s her. Though we have absolutely nothing in common, we somehow end up having a class together every semester, always electives since she isn’t pursuing a major in Biomedical Sciences like me.
This semester is actually the first time we haven’t shared a class, but that’s because all my courses right now are science-based. I’ve still seen her around campus, though. She’s hard to miss with her flock of followers trailing after her.
I’ll find her tomorrow and ask her before the proposed study session with Samantha and Jake. Then based on what she says, I’ll make my final decision.
I bounce off the bed and head toward the kitchen, better now that I have a goal.
Now to just see what tomorrow holds.
3
Jake
What am I getting myself into?
I sit at a table near the front entrance of the campus library, keeping an eye on the doors, waiting for Samantha and her friend, unsure what’ll happen.
She texted me some story last night about how her friend is willing to tutor me if she can pick my brain about how to get a guy she likes to notice her and go on a date with her.
I said yes automatically, just grateful to finally have help in Bio, but now that I think about it more, what do I know about dating? I’ve never had a serious girlfriend. Baseball took up way too much of my life.
When it’s off-season, plenty of guys on the team date and have girlfriends because there’s only light practice to deal with, but once the season ramps up in the spring, there’s no time between training, games, traveling, and then school on top of all that. Only the truly committed, like Logan and Rachel, survive that every year.
Personally, I’ve never bothered with it. If I want to hook up with a girl then I do, but I can’t give her the attention she deserves with all the other demands on my time, so I make it clear up front I’m not looking for anything more. So how am I supposed to advise this girl who’s specifically wanting that more I’ve always shied from? It’s the opposite of how I’ve lived my life up till now.
I catch sight of Samantha and the brunette I suspected was the tutor entering the library, and I stand so they’ll see me. Samantha waves but the other girl simply stares at me, studying, and as she gets closer, I notice her eyes are a dark brown behind her black-framed glasses, more intense than I would have expected. Her full upper lip and pert nose soften the effect some, but those eyes... it brings back that word from last time. Arresting.
Her gaze shifts and she finally seems to realize I’m watching her too, her head immediately tipping down, light brown hair falling forward to partially curtain her face.
“Hey, Jake,” Samantha chirps, much friendlier than she was yesterday initially. “This is my friend, Eden. She’ll help us go over the stuff Dr. Brinson assigned.”
“Hi,” Eden murmurs, so faint I can barely hear it, solemn as she meets my eye again briefly.
“Hi.” I’m tempted to stick my hand out for a handshake, almost feeling like this is a job interview with how serious she is. Not that I’ve ever been on one. “I really appreciate you agreeing to do this.”
“It’s no trouble,” she replies, her voice soft and sweet, at odds with her demeanor. “I’m always happy to help.”
We sit down and Samantha pulls out her Bio textbook, flipping to our chapter and slides it over to Eden, who quickly skims through the pages.
“Okay,” she finally says, handing the book back. “Let’s get started.” And suddenly it’s like she transforms, going from shy, serious girl to Biology teacher, clear authority and confidence in the way she speaks to us as she goes through the section methodically.
I scramble to open my notebook, writing down her interpretation of the material, her voice soft enough that I really have to pay attention to hear it. But other than that, there’s something about how she’s explaining it that’s so much easier to understand than when Dr. Brinson does it.
When we get to the first part I had trouble with during lecture yesterday, Samantha interrupts her, apparently as clueless as I am, to ask questions. She patiently answers each one and asks Samantha to repeat it back to her. Weird, but whatever.
At the end of the section, she backtracks to the beginning, requesting for Samantha to now be the teacher and explain everything she just covered to her.
She must notice the confusion on my face because she tells me, “Samantha is an auditory learner. She learns best by hearing the information. That’s why she doesn’t take any notes and I have her repeat stuff back to me.” She pauses, looking down at my notebook. “But I see you prefer to take notes. Are you a visual learner, like me?”
“Uh...” It’s the first time since we started that she’s directly addressed me and I find myself suddenly nervous under those sharp eyes. “I thought everyone was supposed to take notes. That’s what you do.”
“And what do you do with the notes later?”
“Um, nothing?”
“So why do you take them?” she asks calmly, no censure behind the question. But I still feel slightly like an idiot being put on the spot. And I’m fairly sure cocky swagger won’t get me very far with her.
“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice smaller than I’d like.
“That’s okay,” she says easily, giving me a slight smile. “We’ll find what style of learning works best for you. For now, Samantha will teach the section to us.”
I raise my hand tentatively, unsure about interrupting her to ask something. I was taught never to interrupt a teacher. Maybe that’s why I suck so much at school, though.
“You don’t have to raise your hand,” she says kindly. “If something is unclear, please always ask.”
“Why is Samantha teaching it to you? You already understand it.” It’s actually incredible how she’s barely had to refer to the book at all when explaining this stuff to us.
“Studies show that one of the best ways to master a subject and truly comprehend it is to be able to teach it to others. So we’re simulating that here. We can try it with you later too.”
“Me?” I clear my throat, not liking how high my voice got just then.
“We’ll wait till another session if that makes you more comfortable.”
“Yeah, that.” I shut up then, slumping down in my seat as Samantha goes through the chapter from the beginning. But my eyes aren’t on her. They’re on Eden.
I’m aware I should be drawn to the classic beauty with the model figure, but there’s something about Eden that keeps drawing my gaze back. Her initial reticence is gone, encouraging Samantha as she continues, filling in a word or phrase for her every so often if she stumbles. She’s the kind of girl who doesn’t enjoy the spotlight, but happy to support those who do.