My best friend's rival

First tutoring session

Claire's POV

"I'm sorry, I have to get this." I pointed at my phone then broke from Zach's hug.

I had to walk far from where he was. I didn't need any drama.

I replied to Ethan's text. I'm here too. Where exactly in the park are you?

I'm at the exit.

I turned off my phone and headed there. Ethan was already standing there waiting.

"I thought you wouldn't come. You didn't keep the time — that's an extra $5 for wasting mine."

"Okay ma'am, I'll pay. Sorry. Now where exactly should we study that's quiet?"

"I don't know. I don't come to the park that often. Aren't you supposed to know?"

He pointed at an isolated area of the park and that's when I remembered. Zach was still somewhere in this park. Him seeing me with Ethan was going to destroy years of friendship.

"Isn't there a library around here?"

"Yes, there are a few but they're very strict with noise. You need to actually talk for me to understand."

"So where can we study? Be fast about it please. My stay here won't exceed an hour."

He looked around. Then his eyes lit up.

"Come to my house. It's not far from here and my parents aren't home until evening."

"Your house?" I shook my head. "I'm definitely not going to your house."

"Come on. Nothing except tutoring is going to happen. Or are you scared you'll fall in love with me?"

I hissed and clicked my fingers. "No. I'm protecting myself from any unseen circumstances."

"I thought you were the quiet kind."

I held my chest pretending to be hurt. "Ouch. Are you saying I'm a talkative?"

He laughed. "So you're book smart and funny. Did I hit the jackpot for a tutor or what?"

"That's enough talking for the day. Lead me to your house."

He started walking and I followed. His house wasn't far from the park at all.

"Alright. Here's my humble abode."

I burst out laughing. "Humble? Nothing about this house is humble. It could house our entire class and you're calling it humble."

"This is actually one of the smallest houses my dad owns."

I was too stunned to reply.

I stood at the entrance watching him scan his face at a small screen. The door beeped green and swung open on its own.

I flinched and he burst out laughing.

"I was just shocked," I said flatly.

He opened the door wider and gestured for me to walk in.

The house was magnificent. Not a house really — a mansion. The kind you saw in magazines and assumed nobody actually lived in.

I thought about our place back home. The small rooms. The narrow hallway. Our entire house was probably the size of whatever room was coming next.

We walked through and he pointed to different parts as we went. "My mom's study. My dad's. The maid's quarters. My room. Guest rooms. Kitchen."

"How many rooms does this house have?"

"Twenty four."

I didn't say anything to that.

"Okay tutor Claire. Here's the library."

"You have a library?"

"My parents are book worms."

I stepped inside and stopped.

Everything was arranged perfectly. Novels. History books. Different textbooks. And tucked between two thick hardcovers — poetry pieces. A whole collection of them, spines neat and unbroken.

Something moved in my chest.

I thought about my own poetry book. The torn pages scattered across my desk. Sarah's hands ripping through months of my words like they were nothing.

I stared at the poetry collection a second too long.

"You okay?"

I looked up. Ethan was watching me with an expression I couldn't read.

"I'm fine," I said and turned away from the shelf.

He looked at me for a moment longer then let it go.

"Ethan, with all these books at your fingertips you should be in first position."

"These are my parents' books. I have no real interest in reading. I just want to be a professional athlete but my parents don't want that."

"That's hard. Having your heart set on something and your parents pulling the other way."

"Yeah. What about you? Any big dreams?"

"I just want to major in literature. On a full scholarship."

He tapped my shoulder. "With this brain, if they don't give it to you they're at a loss."

I smiled and pulled out a seat for both of us.

I unzipped my backpack and stacked the textbooks on the table.

"You didn't have to pack this many."

"I didn't know what to expect. I thought you'd have zero textbooks."

I piled them on the table and started with the hardest class he was failing.

Calculus.

I wasn't a fan of it either but I couldn't afford to let one subject drag me down or kill my chances at a scholarship. So I learned it. And now I was going to teach it.

"Tell me what you already understand about the topic."

"I know the basics but I can't apply them to a problem."

I opened my textbook, picked a problem and solved it in front of him. Then I told him he was next.

He didn't argue. He focused.

He solved two problems without stopping and I felt something close to pride — not in him exactly, more in myself. It wasn't easy teaching someone I barely tolerated but I was doing it. And at the end of it the money would be worth every second.

I was walking him through another example when my phone rang loudly.

Mom.

I excused myself and stepped into the passage.

"Claire, where are you? You told me you were heading home but Zach saw you at the park waiting for some kid named Ethan. Explain that."

I closed my eyes briefly.

Zach. Of course.

"Ma, I made a quick stop to tutor someone for some extra money."

"Claire, don't do that. You're making me feel like I'm failing as a parent. I'm trying to give you the life you deserve."

"I know mom and I'm grateful. I just wanted some extra money for my college fund. I didn't want to bother you."

"I'm your parent. That's my responsibility. I would rather go into debt than watch you struggle."

I took a deep breath. "I'll be home in thirty minutes. I promise."

"I'm calling you on FaceTime to make sure."

The call ended.

I went back inside. Ethan had gotten the hang of the derivatives. I could see it in the way he was working through the last problem — slower than he needed to be but the logic was there.

I started packing up.

He raised his head. "Going so soon? We still have a few minutes."

"My mom needs me home. We'll continue tomorrow."

"I was just getting it."

"I know. And don't worry about the late fee. I didn't finish the section so it doesn't count."

I zipped my bag and headed for the door.

I tried to open it.

It beeped red.

"Ethan. I don't get this door."