The Bad boy's Secret Tutor

Monday Morning

The first thing Mia heard on Monday was her name.

"Mia! Mia wait!"

"Girl, was that your boyfriend yesterday?"

She froze in the hallway. Her bag felt heavier than usual.

Three girls from her class were blocking her locker. Tasha, with the long braids and loud voice. Lena, who always had gossip. And Priya, who never talked unless she had something to say.

"Mia, we saw him," Tasha said, leaning against the lockers. "The guy in the black car. He was fine."

Mia’s cheeks burned. She pulled her books out slowly. "That was... my tutor."

"Tutor?" Lena raised an eyebrow. "Since when do tutors come to dinner?"

"Since my mom invited him," Mia said. She shut her locker and walked away before they could ask more.

Her heart was beating too fast. For the first time in a long time, people were talking about her. Not because she disappeared for weeks. Not because she was quiet. But because someone had picked her up. Because someone had met her mom.

She hated it. And... a small part of her didn’t.

---

First period was Math. Jake was already there.

He sat in the back, same seat as always. Hoodie on. Head down. Writing in his notebook like the world wasn’t watching.

Like nothing happened yesterday.

Mia slid into her seat two rows in front of him. She could feel it. The whispers. The looks.

"Psst."

A folded paper hit her desk.

She didn’t turn around. She just opened it under her desk.

_Tutoring. Library. 4PM. Don't be late._

_My dad is making it official. School hours._

_No excuses this time._

At the bottom, in smaller letters:

_Also. Scout misses you._

Mia pressed her lips together to stop from smiling. She crumpled the note and threw it in her bag.

When the teacher started talking about algebra, Mia didn’t hear a word.

She kept thinking about yesterday. About her mom smiling at Jake. About Jake saying "Thank you for raising her." About how her mom had looked at her after he left, like she was seeing Mia differently.

Like Mia wasn’t the girl who used to disappear anymore.

---

Lunch was worse.

"Mia, come sit with us."

Tasha waved from their usual table.

Mia hesitated. Then she walked over.

"So," Tasha started the moment she sat down. "We’re not dumb. That was not just a tutor."

"He helped me with English," Mia said honestly. "And my mom liked him."

"And?" Priya asked quietly.

"And nothing," Mia said. "He’s just... nice."

The table went quiet.

Lena finally spoke. "It’s good. You deserve nice."

Mia blinked. She didn’t know what to say to that. So she just ate her rice.

Across the cafeteria, Jake was sitting alone. As usual. But today, two guys from the basketball team kept looking over at him and then at Mia.

Jake didn’t look up. Not once.

---

4PM. Library.

The library was empty except for Mrs. Cole at the front desk and the smell of old books.

Jake was already at their table. Two textbooks open. A notebook. Two pens. And a small bag of dog treats.

"You’re late," he said without looking up.

"By two minutes," Mia said, sitting down.

"Two minutes is late."

Mia rolled her eyes but she was smiling. "My dad said you have good character," she teased. "10/10 night, remember?"

Jake finally looked up. His hair was messy. There were dark circles under his eyes.

"He said that?" Jake asked.

"He did."

Jake nodded slowly. Then he pushed one of the textbooks toward her. "Alright. Chapter 7. Essays. Because you said you have a test on Friday."

For the next hour, they didn’t talk about the car. Or dinner. Or parents.

They talked about thesis statements. About quotes. About how to make an introduction not sound boring.

Jake was patient. He explained things twice when she didn’t get it. He didn’t laugh when she made a mistake.

It felt... normal.

"Why are you doing this?" Mia asked suddenly.

Jake stopped writing. "Doing what?"

"Being my tutor. You don’t have to."

Jake leaned back in his chair. "My dad said I need volunteer hours for college. And..." He paused. "And you’re not bad at this. You just overthink."

"That’s not a reason."

"Fine." Jake looked at her. Really looked. "Because yesterday, your mom thanked me. And I realized nobody’s ever thanked me for anything before."

Mia didn’t know what to say to that.

---

"Walk you home?" Jake asked when they packed up.

Mia shook her head. "My mom’s picking me up. She said she wants to meet you again. Officially."

Jake choked on air. "What?"

"She said 'the tutor should come for tea on Saturday.' Her words."

"Your mom is terrifying."

"She’s just protective." Mia stood up. "You’ll come?"

Jake hesitated. Then nodded. "Yeah. I’ll come."

---

On the way out, Mrs. Cole stopped them.

"Jake. Mia. I heard about the tutoring program." She smiled. "It’s good to see students helping each other. Keep it up."

Outside, the air was cool. Jake’s car was parked across the street.

Mia pulled out her phone.

_He’s making me come for tea on Saturday_, she texted.

Jake’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He read it and groaned.

_We’re doomed_, he replied.

Mia laughed. The first real laugh she’d had all day.

"Scout better not eat all the treats before Saturday," she said.

"No promises," Jake said, echoing his text from last night.

They stood there for a second. Just two people at the school gate.

Then Mia’s mom’s car pulled up.

"That’s me," Mia said.

"See you tomorrow, Mia," Jake said.

"See you tomorrow, tutor."

She got in the car. As they drove away, she looked back. Jake was still standing there. Hands in his pockets. Watching.

Her mom glanced at her. "How was school?"

"It was..." Mia thought about it. "It was okay."

And for the first time in a long time, that was true.

Because somewhere between the rumors and the textbooks and the dog treats, the girl who used to disappear had people who were looking for her now.

Even if it was just for tutoring.