It kind of confused her, though. Whatever had happened to Kade had obviously affected his marks because the principal had made it sound as if Kade was falling behind. Plus, he was taking a victory lap, like her. It couldn’t be his normal performance by what his twin was implying. Kade had been the student to beat academically.
Ironically, he had encouraged her to tutor all of them. What was the need, if he could have done it himself?
“I’m here to get my credits and out. Kade can keep the valedictorian position,” Tess said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help him. Sounds like he had it rough last year,” she added, digging a little. Would they satisfy her curiosity?
“After school, Pumpkin,” Keir said, only half paying attention to her.
The teacher finished taking up the homework and was starting to move on to the lesson for the day. Keir was making some furious notes in his book, not quite as organized as earlier in calculus. Granted, there was more to write in physics, concepts and terminology as well as the equations, and the teacher set a rapid pace of new information in front of them. Although Tess had seen this unit before and she did quite well in it, she had better pay more attention.
War got down to business as well beside her. He didn't make half as many notes, but he listened better than any of them, seeming to pick out the important parts and concisely transcribe only what was relevant for his learning. It was the active type of listening that she wished she could improve upon.
Perhaps these boys wouldn’t be the only ones to gain something from their tutoring sessions. Tess felt brighter than she had for days, a sense of hope as she thought about her future. The victory lap didn't seem like such a loss anymore, not if she had friends like these by her side.
Chapter 8
TESS SPRUNG SNEAKERS from the pound before the little toe-biting bugger earned himself a different sentence. It was a good thing she had talked to the staff about putting him off the adoption list until she could bring in the funds for his release fee. A dog that went around biting everyone, even if he was small and they were nips, didn’t stay on the adoption list for long. The pound wanted to keep its reputation for providing family-friendly pets, not tiny but lovable monsters.
She would take the monster over cute puppies or lazy, old dogs any day. Sweet and simple were boring, and for a girl like Tess, that could be detrimental to her mind. She thrived on the challenge of trying to walk Sneakers on a leash past the park with squirrels and running kids and way too many balls, finding it was as stimulating as the kick of the caffeine in a red-eye.
One of those dog body-harnesses was silently added to her list of things that weren't quite essential but would make life so much easier. Sneakers was making an embarrassing huff huff sound as he darn near choked himself against the leash trying to dash off everywhere his beady eyes caught movement.
Her mother would have known what to do. She had a way with all animals, from big to small, the kind of thing you heard other people refer to as whisperers. Well, Tess didn't really know what whispering had to do with it but her mother could communicate with animals in a way that was special.
Tess figured it was more of a personality trait, something about a person that animals could perceive. Or maybe it was a willingness to take the time to think about how an animal would look at things, would feel, a kind of empathy that could be developed if one had the patience and time. Tess was empathetic but definitely lacked the other things, although now she had quite the motivation to learn her mother's gift.
Sneakers was going to leave his teeth marks on her otherwise.
She hadn't asked any of the guys if they were allergic to animals or had a fear of dogs but now she was hoping that neither was true. It was going to make having them over at her house difficult if they had a problem with Sneakers. She wasn't willing to lock him up when the poor doggy had just been sprung from jail already.
Stopping so Sneakers could water a tree, she fished her phone out of her pocket and decided to try out the group chat.
She could probably ask one of the twins to watch over Sneakers in one of their own rooms if she heard back that there would be an issue. Tess had made herself a bedroom in the basement, anyway. As long as Sneakers had someone to watch over him and keep him company upstairs, it should be fine.
Pumpkin: Do any of you have dog allergies? We have a small shih-tzu at my house.
Seriously? Keir had put her own contact in the group chat as Pumpkin? She was going to change that as soon as she had more than one hand free. Thumbing was really only meant for quick communication.
Bastard: Nope, I speak for all of us. War has a big shepherd-mix that gets hair everywhere but none of us have a problem with it.
Dark and Dreary: I always wanted a dog. What name? Should we bring some treats for the first meeting?
Bastard had to be Bastion. Who the hell had Keir set as Dark and Dreary? Kade was the grumpiest, so maybe his twin? The treats weren’t a bad idea because she wasn’t sure what they had at home. Now, she felt like a bad doggy mommy. She hadn’t even checked for dog food, presuming her mother had the supplies.
Add dog food to the essentials list, only after a quick check at home. Sneakers could eat Kraft Dinner for one night. It hadn’t killed her.
No, no. Bad mommy. Dogs could get sick with human food. They needed something formulated for them and she recalled that Sneakers had a bit of a sensitive tummy. They had learned to lock up all the garbage really good before they left the house when he was a puppy.
Pumpkin: His name is Sneakers. He’s a bit of a toe-biter. Treats would be good.
Pumpkin: Don’t tell Keir to bring treats. He deserves a good nip.
Pumpkin: I might need to stop at the grocery store to get him food. Give me another forty minutes before coming over.
She was about to put her phone away since Sneakers was yanking at the leash again, ready to go, when a bunch of messages popped up.
Jock Itch: I can bring Sneakers some dog food. My mom buys organic stuff for Rex and we always have extra.
Dark and Dreary: Bring treats too W. I want to pet Sneakers. Is he long-haired or do you have him groomed short?
Bright and Shiny: Go ahead and bite me ;)
Bright and Shiny: Did u buy coffee? Can get u some.
Bastard: Where are you? At your complex already, parked in visitor.
Keir’s nicknames made her laugh out loud. She was less tempted to change them now, except for hers. She wondered if the rest of them could see them, or if it was just her view in the group chat?
Pumpkin: I'm not home yet. Just sprung Sneaks from doggie jail.
Pumpkin: Pls dog food and treats. Thx.
Pumpkin: Go bite yrslf Korny. Changing chat nicks 2nite.
Pumpkin: Sneaks needs grooming. Sry. He still likes pets.
Sneakers wasn’t aware he was the star of their conversation, tugging and barking at her to get a move on. She sighed and shoved her phone back in her jacket pocket, ignoring the buzzing as more of them messaged her back. It would have to wait. She needed both of her hands.
“Okay already, we're going. It’s going to be a long walk,” she warned Sneakers.
They allowed pets on the bus but public transit insisted upon cages except for companion pets and working guide dogs for disabled travellers. Putting Sneakers on a bus with this inadequate leash was asking for trouble.
The harness leash was getting put up higher on the list of things she really, really wanted with every block they went. Sneakers made her attention problems look minor in comparison. A mild tremor instead of a full body convulsion. He was literally bouncing around everywhere like a ping-pong tied to the paddle. All the squirrels in their vicinity had decided they needed to run in front of their path.
Added to the chaos, the guys were either texting her still or her phone was sending her a friendly reminder that she hadn't checked it for the new messages. No wonder she hadn't noticed when a sleek, silver Mercedes pulled up to the curb beside her. The honk sent her
leaping into the air and her heart racing.
“Tess? Are you okay?”
She bent down and got Sneakers under control, giving the dog a few reassuring pets and tightening up her hold on the leash before she turned around and gave Bastion a look that was somewhere between relief and annoyance.
“I'm not okay but I'll be fine,” she answered him. “You gave my dog a scare. Coming up behind someone and honking your horn is rude,” she complained.
Sneakers barked his own complaint.
“Uh, sorry. I did call your name first. You weren't really paying attention,” Bastion said, squatting down and holding out his hands, palms out toward Sneakers. “Kind of dangerous to go walking around in a daze. Do you need more coffee?” he asked, looking up at her.
Sneakers stayed put instead of walking over to Bastion but he did stop growling, at least. The annoyance edged out of her glare. Bastion sounded like he cared, even if he had kept his tone more teasing, it was also worried.
“I’m not going to be able to sleep if you keep caffeinating me. I only drink coffee at school. Work and home, I have to manage off the drugs,” she told him.
“How about some tea instead? I really like chai tea,” Bastion said. He hadn’t moved yet, still patiently waiting, his hand outstretched for Sneakers to approach.
That was it right there. The whispering thing. He didn't force anything between himself and Sneakers. He made an offering, then he squatted and waited for her dog to make a choice. It seemed like Bastion had a little of her mother's touch with animals.
She had to wonder if he was doing the same thing with her? Was there such a thing as a girl whisperer? He certainly was able to be tempting enough. Affection, Starbucks and the beautiful twinkle in his eyes were all appropriate girl bribes.
She definitely wanted to go to his side.
“I have to get Sneakers home first. Maybe we can pick up something to go, or...” Tess trailed off and looked at his really nice car.
Sneakers smelled like a dirty dog, which probably had a lot to do with where he had been kept. He wasn't on the adoption list at the pound, so she doubted they had bathed him. Most of their kennels were simple concrete and wire fencing, and she doubted they did daily sweeps because the dogs were always going back and forth from inside and outside for exercise and to be relieved.
Sometimes horses in a barn had cleaner stalls than what they provided for animals in a pound. Of course, horses could be expensive and the pounds had to deal with overcrowding. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“Can Sneaks and I meet you at the house? He needs a walk,” she said, not mentioning that she was embarrassed to get in his car.
Bastion had been looking over at Sneakers, still squatting, although now he was making a soothing sound. He kept his voice low and soft as he replied to her. “It will be faster if I drive, and there's a park right by your house that you can take Sneakers to for a walk if he still needs to do his thing.”
“His thing?” she said with a laugh.
“What do you call it?”
Sneakers finally approached Bastion. The dog didn't inch over slowly, suddenly giving his tail a couple of wags and walking up to Bastion’s hands like they were old friends. She watched as Bastion gingerly brushed his fingers against Sneakers’ ear on the left side and let him lick and sniff at his other hand. A smile came across Bastion’s face that was awe and happiness. Tess remembered that he wasn't one of the guys that had a dog.
“I usually say that I'm taking Sneaks out for a walk do his business. I guess that's kind of the same thing. Dog’s gotta do what a dog has gotta do.” She moved a little closer, squatting down behind Sneakers. “Did you ever have a pet?”
Bastion got braver and brought his other hand under Sneaker’s right ear so he could give both of them a good scratch. Her dog loved it. “Dad rented a dog once,” he told her.
What? Who did that and why? She was going to ask but Bastion started talking again, clearly addressing Sneakers this time by using a goofy voice.
“Aren’t you such a good boy, protecting our Pumpkin? You have to watch out for her, or else, she’s liable to walk herself into a light-post and get a concussion.”
His estimation of her clumsiness was embarrassingly an under-estimate. Been there, got three stitches to the back of the head, didn’t break the light-post despite her head’s best effort. She still wasn't going to admit it.
“Hey,” she protested. “Believe it or not, I managed to get myself to school this morning without a guide dog or even coffee, so stop trying to praise my dog for pulling on his leash to go everywhere except for home. The only thing he's protecting me from out here are any rabid squirrels.”
“I know she’s grumpy without her caffeinated beverage,” Bastion told Sneakers. The dog lapped it up, giving Bastion’s wrist a sloppy lick.
She gave up. Sneakers was getting to know her again and he already turned traitor, welcoming Bastion’s disparaging comments as long as he kept getting his floppy ears scratched.
“Are sure you don't mind having me and Sneaks in your car? I just took him from the pound and I don't think he's had a bath.”
Bastion gave Sneakers one last scratch and stood up. Sneakers shook, ears flapping everywhere. He looked like he'd felt really good getting a scratch. Bastion had a magic touch, noted.
“Of course I don’t mind. Why was your dog in the pound?” Bastion asked.
He reached over and started to pull her backpack strap off her left arm that wasn't holding the leash. She let him, feeling the weight finally lift off from all of the textbooks she had decided to take home with her tonight.
She had some catching up to do, not so much in the actual course content, but to orient herself to where the classes each were at in the curriculum. Teachers all had their particular slant to the material, so she was hoping she could convince the guys to let her look through their notes to get a better idea of how each teacher liked to do things.
“Thanks, Bastion,” she said, switching hands for the leash so he could get her other side and take her backpack. “I’ll put Sneaks on my lap so we don't get your car too dirty.”
He swung her bag over one shoulder, not bothering to put the straps on. “Sure. You can hang his head outside the window too if he wants.”
That really wasn't safe for Sneakers, but she was sure Bastion was trying to be nice, and he had probably seen it on like a million tv shows and movies. Also, Sneakers would have loved it. Maybe when they got into the parking lot for her townhouse complex and they were going slow enough, she would roll down the window, let her dog live the dream.
The car was a dream itself, super luxurious compared to the cheap public transit seats she was used to sitting on. Soft, buttery leather cushioned her bottom. She reached out with a hand to feel for the seat-belt buckle and brushed against the leather. So that was what it was supposed to feel like, something she read about but never felt for herself. Their couches at home had always been worn fabric patterns and sagging cushions. Even her dorm room had been furnished with utilitarian focus. Stiff mattress meant to hold up student after student, like the kind you would find in a strip motel.
The student mattresses were probably used as hard as the ones rented by the hour. She told herself that putting her own sheets on top of the mattress helped to keep her apart from whatever else the student before her had done. It was a thin barrier but an important one.
Sneakers had no appreciation for the luxury. He started barking at the passenger window as soon as Bastion closed the door, slobbering all over it, his sharp eyes catching sight of another squirrel.
“Do you want the window down?” Bastion asked her.
“No, not yet. I don't want him to jump out,” she said. Sneakers was making a mess of her lap, dirty paws leaving their mark everywhere on her kilt.
“Let him go so he can run around in the back. He can goober up the windows there and chase squirrels on both sides,” Bastion suggested.
“He’s going to ma
ke a mess,” she warned him as Sneakers barked practically in her ear, making her wince. Some dog training lessons were a must, although she probably would be the one doing most of the learning.
“Just let go, Pumpkin,” Bastion said. He had put her backpack in the rear as well. The car was already started, idling with the keys in the ignition the whole time he had been talking outside with her. He buckled up.
She let go and Sneakers bounded into the back, doing exactly as Bastion had predicted. She quickly buckled up herself, noting that Bastion was waiting for her. He hadn't put his hand on the gear shifter or turned on the radio; both things were what she would have expected of a guy his age.
“Are you ready?” he asked. That sounded a bit more cocky, as expected.
“Ready. Is this a standard?” she said, curious.
It was the middle of the day and they were on a street with plenty of people. Bastion wasn't going to start drag racing. She had to admit, being in a car like this made her wonder how fast it could go.
Bastion chuckled. “Yeah, it's standard. Can you drive a standard?”
“I don't have a full driver's license yet.”
He took off the parking brake and started getting them going, moving the gear shift as well as his feet. She had heard driving standard was more complicated, especially the stop-and-go instead of the smooth driving on the highways.
“I could teach you,” Bastion offered.
“I don't really need to drive. No car,” she said. “But I appreciate the offer. Clearly, you have a defective sense of self-preservation.”
“I call it a sense of adventure,” Bastion retorted. “I’m sure you'll get the hang of it quickly. You’re a smart cookie.”
He threw that compliment out there without a thought.
“Uh, thanks.”
“Do you want the chai tea or something else?” he asked her as they pulled up to a Starbucks.
She never got coffee here. All the fancy drinks were a nice splurge she really couldn’t afford, especially with the way she gulped down her coffee. Chai tea was something that she hadn’t tried before, but she did like spiced drinks so it was worth a try.
Impetuous (Victory Lap Book 1) Page 12