by Tia Siren
I sympathized. Not that I had ever been in either position, but I could understand the frustration and pain; the pain of being the right girl at the wrong time.
“Wait, did Jane tell you about last night?” I asked.
Craig nodded with a smile.
“She even kissed me goodnight,” he said.
“See? Maybe she really does like you. You should ask her out soon,” I said.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I am pretty sure that asking someone out right after they were used, as she was, would make for a bad start to a relationship. I’m going to wait a little while,”
“You don’t think you’ve been waiting long enough?”
“Look who’s talking,” he replied while gesturing toward the field where the players continued to run plays. I wondered if John had ever made been used to make someone else jealous. He’s the right build for it, that’s for sure. I know I’d be jealous if I saw another girl with him.
“Good things come to those who wait?” I said with a shrug.
Craig laughed, and I let go of the stress I’d been carrying. It was nice having someone with whom I could joke around and be myself.
3.
It was almost a week before my blunder settled into the recesses of memory. I managed to realize how silly it was to dwell over an odd compliment.
My brain was kept busy by the extra work I was given; being a teacher’s aide and mid-terms coming up fast, I found myself spending more time in his back office than around campus. He was probably my favorite teacher, which is why I decided to become his aide in the first place. He welcomed my help, as I had already passed his first two courses over my last year of college.
“Hey Tess, can you finish grading this stack in the classroom? I need to meet with a student in the office and need privacy,” he said.
I sighed, as I had just become comfortable where I found myself nestled. But, nonetheless, I scooped up the stack of papers and trudged out to the adjoined classroom.
A few minutes went by, and I overheard his door open and slam shut. I might have been a bit too curious about what was going on, as he inviting students into his office was quite rare. He barely let me in half the time, so I couldn’t abate my need to understand why he’d let in someone else.
“John, you know we talked about this in class,” he started.
“Professor, I’m trying. But, the lessons you’re giving just aren’t making any sense. I’ve been studying really hard,” John said.
I stifled a surprised gasp; it was the same John from the weekend. I tried to peek through the smoked glass window that lead into the classroom, but it left everything a blur. So, I just pressed my ear against the door and listened.
“You know what I told your coach. If you don’t get your grade up by this mid-term, you’re going to be benched until further notice.”
“You can’t do that, this team is my life. If I’m benched, how will I be able to show off to the scouts? Just give me a passing grade,” John pleaded.
“I can’t do that, son. You need to understand that college is for education, not partying. Yes, I know what you and your friends do on the weekend. I doubt that between all the parties you’ve spent maybe twenty minutes studying. Just buckle down, do the work and you won’t have to worry about it,” replied the professor.
“I tried; this stuff just makes no sense. Can you give me some private lessons?”
“John, I’m here to teach a class. If you need a tutor, there are plenty out there.”
“Are you sure you can’t just give me a pass for this season at least? I could make it up next semester,” John asked again.
“I won’t give passes to students. If you want the grade, you’ll have to earn it.”
It was silent in the office. I could no longer help myself, I was too curious. I crept out of the classroom through the student entrance which led to a massive corridor.
The office door was still fogged glass, and difficult to see through, but it was much easier to make out what was happening. I heard a chair slide across the floor and footsteps coming my way.
I quickly ducked behind the door as it almost swung open on top of me. John strode confidently out, without noticing me.
“Most of the tutors are in the student resources building. Or at least you’ll have the best luck there. I have confidence in your intelligence, you just have to apply yourself more responsibly,” the professor said.
John just kept walking. When the professor closed his door, I saw this as my chance to speak up. If he needed a tutor, there was nobody better than me.
“John?” I said.
He looked around a second before finding me standing behind him in the hallway.
“Hey,” he replied.
“Fancy meeting you here, what brings you to this side of the campus?” I said, trying not to let him know that I was listening in.
“I take classes here. I had a meeting with the professor,” he said, pointing to the office he just left.
“What about?” I asked.
“He threatened to bench me if I didn’t get my grades up. Why can’t he just give me a pass on this one? I work hard,” he said.
“I’ve known the professor for a year or so now, he’s got a lot of integrity.”
“Yeah, well he can take that integrity and shove it up his a-”
“So, this means you need a tutor?” I asked, cutting him off.
John sighed, leaning against the nearby wall, and nodded to the affirmative.
“You know, I’m his teacher’s assistant. I could probably help you out,” I said.
“What are you going to get out of it?” he asked.
I wanted to say that just spending time together would be enough, or that maybe if he’d take me on a date, it would be great. But, the conversation I’d had with Craig the other day came back to the forefront of my brain. I started talking before I realized what I was saying.
“You could help me get back on my ex, I want to make him jealous,” I said.
I felt my cheeks become flush as I continued to talk. He smiled at me, and I was waiting for him to laugh off my ridiculous lie, but he didn’t.
“So, you’ll help me get my grades up, and I’ll help you win back your Ex? What’s his name?” he asked.
I couldn’t think for a second, and I panicked, saying the first name that came to me.
“Craig!” I squeaked out.
John half-cocked his eyebrow at me, and I did my best to stay level headed. I could tell he was thinking about it.
“How did you plan to make him jealous?” he asked.
I hadn’t thought of that at all. I thought maybe I could pretend to start a rumor, or maybe just take a photo with John and send it to Craig. However, I wanted to do something more dramatic.
“I thought we could go on a date, there’s a restaurant that he’s taking his new girlfriend to next week, and I thought we could surprise them,” I felt like an idiot.
“Okay, let’s do it,” he replied, “One date next week and you’ll tutor me in the meantime before mid-terms.”
“Great!” I shouted louder than I had intended. I coughed and held out my hand, “Great, sounds like a deal.”
He took it with his rough leathery hand and shook it gingerly. I could have jumped twenty feet in excitement, and almost did.
“Here’s my number, I’m free every night after 6 pm,” I said. I gave him a scrap of paper with my phone number.
“Talk to you soon,” he said as he walked off.
Then I heard the professor’s door open as John walked out of sight.
“Tess? Aren’t you supposed to be grading papers?”
I smacked my head and rushed back to the classroom. I tried my best to keep my elation to a minimum but was so overcome with excitement and anticipation that I could barely read.
Then I realized something that made me want to smack myself, Craig didn’t have a date.
4.
“You’re insane,” he s
aid, almost slamming the door in my face.
“How is it crazy to want to hook you and Jane up by next Friday?” I asked.
“Well, a lot of it has to do with the fact that she already felt used once. What am I supposed to tell her this time? Hey, Jane, Tess wants us to date so she can impress a guy?”
“You’re not wrong,” I said.
I pushed my way into his small apartment and sat on his bed. His room was still messy as always, and I resisted the urge to clean.
“Okay, what if I help you two. I’m sure she’d be more than willing to come if she does it for a friend.”
“If you want to try to explain it to her, be my guest,” he said.
I whipped out my phone and dialed her number. I would have just sent a text, but there was too much that needed to be said.
“Hello?” she said.
“Jane! Come to Craig’s, we need to chat,” I said.
“Tess, what’s goi-”
I had already hung up the call. Craig stared at me with a blank face and mouth agape.
“What? I had too much that needed to be said on the phone. Besides, people are more willing to help if they can see the need in your eyes, right?”
Craig continued to stare but shook it off after a minute.
“Why did you invite her here?” he asked.
Why did I invite her here, I wondered.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it,” I said.
“Then you better help me clean up,” he said.
The two of us started picking up anything and everything in order to put his place back together. I had never seen Craig move so fast in my life, and now I felt bad inviting Jane over.
Before we could finish, a knock echoed from the door.
“Just a second,” Craig shouted.
He shot me a scowl, and I hopped over the remaining mess to the door. I opened it just enough that I could go out and chat.
“What’s this all about,” Jane asked.
“It’s a long story; maybe we can go out for a bite instead of staying here?” I asked.
“That’s fine; I just want to know why you felt the need to cut me off on the phone. It sounded urgent.”
“I’ll explain soon, let me get my things.”
I pushed back into the apartment and Craig was walking around with a bundle of clothes in his arms.
“We’re going out to eat instead. Come if you want,” I said, grabbing my purse and shoving myself back out the door.
“Okay, what’s going on, you can explain while we walk,” she said.
“Well, it all started last Friday night.”
5.
“You want me to what?!” she asked raising her voice.
More than a few people looked over at the two of us sitting in a booth by the window. The small diner was popular with students, partially for the free refills on coffee, partially because the food was so cheap. I felt a little embarrassed that people were staring, and she didn’t seem to care.
“It’s only for one date. Seriously, you’d be helping me out a ton,” I said.
“Why did you tell John that, though? Isn’t this a little underhanded?”
“I was on the spot and just said the first thing that came to mind. I knew I’d be able to get Craig to help,” I said.
“You shouldn’t just assume I’d be interested in whatever scam you’re trying to pull,” she replied.
I didn’t know what to say to convince her. I’d known Jane just a little longer than I’d known Craig. She was a tall, lanky brunette with model features, and just about every guy I knew had asked her out at least once. I was always a little jealous of her effortless good looks.
“You know Craig likes you,” I said.
She almost spat out her drink. I was about to laugh, but I knew it would be in bad spirit, so I covered my mouth with my hand.
Jane rolled her eyes; I always had problems hiding things from her.
“I hope you didn’t tell him anything. He’s one of the good ones,” she said trailing off towards the end.
“Wait a minute, do you like Craig?” I asked.
She started blushing. Needless to say, I was shocked.
“This is perfect,” I said, “you guys can go on a first date this Friday, I’ll even pay for the whole thing. Just do me this one favor.”
She stared at me, it was obvious that she was mulling over the details in the back of her head. I stared back with hopeful eyes, she rarely said no when I asked for anything.
“Okay fine,” she said, “but I’m ordering something expensive.”
I let out a sigh of relief and excitement. This Friday was coming together. Then my phone started ringing.
“Hey,” I said.
“It’s John. I was hoping we could get together and do some studying tonight? I had to cancel on a party tonight, too.”
“Sure, let’s meet in the library later,” I replied.
“Alright, see you there,” he said before clicking off the phone.
“That was him, wasn’t it,” Jane said monotonously.
I nodded.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” she said.
I already had.
6.
We spent most of the week studying. He was a slow learner, but when he figured things out, he was able to retain it pretty well. Being so close to him, I wanted to reach out and tackle him to his bed. It was good we spent more time in the library, though. Even so, I couldn’t stop having dirty thoughts. I’m not incredibly sure if he felt the same way.
When I wasn’t tutoring John, I was hastily making plans with Jane and Craig. The two of them still acted like close friends, which I thought was odd, considering that Jane knew Craig liked her. I suppose Craig was just too shy to ask her out.
The restaurant was very classy. The exposed brick walls and rich wood brought out the warm atmosphere. It was probably the nicest place in the city. The menu wasn’t even too expensive either.
I told John to meet me there at eight, so we could catch my “ex” in the middle of his date. Craig and Jane still giggled at my silly plan, but I didn’t care.
Jane took me out early to pick out some decent attire for the evening. She knew it was hard for me to buy things that were my size. I was curvy and short, which is a terrible combination when it comes to picking out flattering clothing. I didn’t think the date would go much further past drinks and food, but Jane told me to wear my sexiest underwear just in case.
When she saw my sexiest underwear, we immediately drove to the mall. I didn’t see anything wrong with it but leave it to Jane to know what looks good and what doesn’t.
Thankfully my short hair wasn’t too much of an issue, I just straightened it, and it looked amazing. I was ready for this night to start.
The three of us left for the restaurant, meeting there at half past seven. I was nervous and anxious the entire ride, and now being here things went from bad to worse. Once I was sat at my reserved table, I felt incredibly thirsty. I drank my water quickly and even drank the glass that was set out for John. I felt even more embarrassed when I set the glass down, and John had appeared, standing beside the table.
He was an Adonis, shimmering in the dim light. He wore a tailored suit that accentuated every masculine curve I had admired.
“Evening, Tess,” he said.
I forgot what I was supposed to say. He laughed and eased into the chair across from me.
“So, where are the people we’re making jealous?” he asked.
I wanted to gesture to the entire restaurant. The place was already full, nearly all the tables occupied by couples. It took me a moment to remember where Craig and Jane were seated. When I saw them, I pointed.
John took a quick glance and chuckled.
“What’s Jane doing with that guy?” he asked.
“How do you know Jane?” I wondered.
“She’s probably one of the most gorgeous girls on campus. Plus, she was at the party last Friday and my buddy introduced m
e.”
“Oh,” I said disappointedly.
“It’s going to be hard to make that guy jealous,” John said.
I smirked; if only he knew.
“Then I guess you’re going to have to try extra hard,” I said with a smile.
I must have said something he liked. A bottle of wine landed on the table, which the waiter promptly uncorked and poured out two glasses. I sipped on mine, and John didn’t seem to know what to do with it.
“I’m not much of a wine drinker,” he said as he raised the glass to his lips. He quickly downed the entire draft, to my surprise.
“This isn’t that bad,” he added.
I laughed at the goofy smile on his face; he grabbed the bottle and poured himself another drink.
“Okay, I think they’re looking at us,” I said, “just act like we’re on a date, and I said something funny.”
He thought for a second, followed by a laugh. I chuckled along and gave a thumb’s up under the table to Craig. Craig wasn’t really paying attention to me, though.
I’d never seen Craig so distracted. He and Jane were talking and laughing like an old married couple. John turned to look as well.
“They seem to be getting along well, do you think this is going to work?” he asked.
“We won’t know unless we try,” I replied.
I didn’t know what to talk about with John. Sure, we had spent several hours in study sessions, but we didn’t spend much time talking about each other. It was looking like I hadn’t planned this out as well as I thought I had.
“So,” I started, “What do you do for fun?”
“I play football,” he replied.
“You must do more than that,” I said.
“I like to exercise a lot, it helps me play better,” he added.
“Oh,” I said.
“What do you do?” he asked.
“I study, read, sometimes I’ll go for a walk,” I said.
“Reading? Really? Sounds boring,” he replied.
The silence that followed became a heavy burden that neither of us wanted to bear. I didn’t know what to talk about in the slightest. I realized that the guy I had spent so much time idolizing was about as interesting as a cucumber.