Page 16 of Expressionate
"Will you tutor Ally?" he asks, not missing abeat.
I stop to blink at him. I had not been expecting that. He sees the look on my face and starts to explain. "I just...I'm kind of new to this whole guardian thing and she was out of school for a while – well, she was enrolled online and did those classes, so she wouldn't fall behind. This will be her first experience with high school and I was...well, I was shit in high school, and Beverly mentioned that you go to Jamestown University, and I know that's a pretty difficult school to get into. So, I figure you’d know what you're doing and I'mkinda–"
"What does she need help with?" I ask, stopping his over-explanation, and resume the short trek to myvehicle.
"You'll doit?"
"I didn't say that," I reply. "I need to know what she needs help with. If it's math or science, you'll be better off with someone else. If it's anything else, I should be able tohelp."
"She needs some help with her advanced English classes," he says. "I know web design doesn't have anything to do with it, but editing works with English right? No one in our family was a big reader." He glances back at the BookWorm, and we stop next to mycar.
"It'll be fine. When does she startschool?"
"She's actually already started," he replies. "They're starting the school year earlier and earlier. She started thisweek."
I nod. "Okay, no problem. You have my phone number now." I glare at him and he doesn't even have the grace to look embarrassed. Instead, his signature smirk makes a miraculous reappearance. I let my face go expressionless, not showing a hint of the fire raging in my abdomen. Just one smirk, and I feel a wave of heat crash through me. Maybe I need to go see a doctor. "Just give it to her and have her message me when she needs help. She and I can make arrangements to meet." Hopefully, I won't have to see or speak to him atall.
"Great," he says, "I really appreciateit."
"Next time, if you need a favor, maybe you should rethink acting like a stalker to ask," I snap, turning to my car. I stop in my tracks, gaping at the deflating tire on the back leftside.
He looks down and laughs. I resist the urge to throw my purse at his face, or maybe my keys. Why does he make me so violent? I've never been a violentperson.
"You should probably cash in that IOU beforehand," he says. "This looks like as good a time as any. Unless you have a spare tire and know how to changeit?"
No and No. Fuckme.
6
Tax
Ilike working with my hands; something about feeling cool metal – or really any kind of material – under my fingers. Flesh would work just as well. I glance at Love as I finish loosening a bolt on her flat tire. She refused to ride with me to get her a new tire. I don’t mind paying for it myself. I know a guy at the local mechanic shop and he probably would have sent someone with me if I hadn't told him I wanted to handle it myself. I think of this as payment for her agreeing to tutorAlly.
I hadn't known what I was going to do when I’d showed up at Love's work, but she intrigues me. Even though I know for damn sure Ally won't need a whole lot of help, I know it’ll be a good excuse to have Love around, and make sure if Allydoesend up needing more tutoring, she has someone like Love to help her. To be honest, though, I just want to know what makes Love tick. She makes me curious – the kind of curiosity that is a constant tugging inside. Maybe it was the way she looked at me lastnight.
"If you're going to just sit there while I work," I begin, turning my head fully to Love as she perches on top of one of the concrete parking blocks, "why don't you talk to me? Tell me aboutyourself?"
She sighs. "Youlike to talk a lot, don'tyou?"
I chuckle. So snarky. "Yeah," I reply. "Talking. It's a thing we humansdo."
"There's not much to tell," she says. Her eyes shift to the left and thendown.
"Hmmhmm, I call bullshit," I say, loosening another bolt. "There has to be something." It's like pulling teeth trying to get her to answer me. I imagine what it will feel like when she's open. Curiosity has me spellbound. I want to know how to get under her fucking skin. I'm not sure if she's trying to ignore me or if she's just obsessed with something I can't see on the ground in front ofher.
"Where are you from?" I ask. She shakes her head and I try a different tactic. "It seems unfair that you know about me and I know nothing aboutyou."
She looks up. "I don't knowyou."
I set the bolts I’ve removed to the side. "You know I've lived in Charlotte before," I reply. "Are you from here?" She's quiet for a moment and then she shakes her head. "Where are you fromthen?"
She shrugs. "Nowhere important." Her expression is plain and emotionless. I hate it. The ice there freaks me out and I want to shatterit.
"Come on, Lovely," I say, "give me something to work withhere."
Her head snaps up and her eyes narrow. "My name is Love," she says between clenched teeth. "NotLovely. Since you're so keen on talking, at least get my nameright."
"You don't like the nickname?" I ask, laughter in my tone. She sighs hard and looks away. "Okay, why don't you tell me about your name then? Since that's such a hottopic."
