His Tutor

Chapter Eighteen

I woke up to a whole lot of screaming this morning. I groaned and lazily checked the digital clock on my nightstand, 9:15 am. Who has the energy to be screaming at this time of the morning? I rolled out of bed and landed on the floor. The screaming stopped for what felt like two minutes and in the complete silence I started to mumble to myself, "Maybe sleeping on the floor isn't half bad." I curled into a ball and began to doze off again when they started shouting again. I sighed and sat up straight as I glared at the closed door. I need new friends. I got up and scratched my head. I grabbed my toothpaste and toothbrush then opened the door. 

They had stopped screaming by now but I'm not even tired anymore. After freshening up I went downstairs and looked at my friends with a blank stare, "Look who's awake!" Dylan smiled brightly and I groaned again, "You guys are worse than my brother," I mumbled as I shuffled towards the kitchen. I heard them laugh and some shuffling behind me but I ignored it. Right now, I need to eat and maybe go outside to enjoy the scenery. "Good morning," I heard a deep groggy voice say from behind me. My stomach flipped as I looked over my shoulder. There stood a shirtless Christian with a lazy smile on his face. Jesus Christ this dude was hot. I averted my eyes and mumbled good morning as I grabbed the remaining food on the stove. 

I sat down and ate my breakfast in silence. Chris sat across from me, never looking at me so I sort of stared at him like a creep. I felt drawn to him now for some reason, maybe it was because he was giving me some attention, some positive attention. I don't know what it was but after accepting his apology and 'starting over' with him ... the energy around us felt different. More pleasant. He stood up and took his plate to the sink then opened the fridge. I raised my brows as his back muscles flexed when he reached to grab something from inside the fridge.

The large tattoo piece that wrapped around his arm didn't go unnoticed, Maybe that's why I couldn't stop looking at him. Maybe I have a thing for tattoos. 

Bullshit, I hate needles.

"Water or Apple Juice?" He asked and I reverted my gaze back to my now empty plate, "I'll take water please." I said. He looked over at me before fishing for bottled water in the fridge. He placed the water on the table and took my empty plate then placed it in the sink and started to wash it. "Wait Woah!" I said standing up abruptly. "What?" He asked never stopping his actions. I grabbed the bottled water and walked towards the sink. I looked at the plate in his hand then the side of his face with a confused look on my face. Did he really just do that? "I could've done it on my own, you know," I told him.

He shrugged and turned off the water then dried the plate before placing them where they belonged. "Any plans for today?" He asked leaning against the counter. I just stared at him, I didn't know what to say. He washed my plate for me. "Is anyone in there?" He asked with a slight chuckle. I blinked and shrugged, "I sort of want to enjoy the scenery." I answered honestly. He nodded and left the kitchen. I looked at the empty sink for a moment before leaving the kitchen myself and walking into the mess my friends have created in the living room.

Mercedes had Dylan by his locks and he was looking over at me with pleading eyes. "What is going on?" I asked as I sat next to Jaden who seemed completely unfazed by this as if there was not a WWE match barely three feet away from the both of us. "This man thought it would be funny to throw my make-up products away so I'm whooping his ass right now," Mercedes said pulling on Dylan's hair a bit harder.

He yelped and argued his case, "I only did it because I wanted to surprise you with the new products I got you!" He exclaimed and I raised my brows. Dylan bought her make up. I glanced over at Jaden who wore a bored look on his face as the pair argued. He looked at me and raised his brows before something clicked for him. "Oh! You don't know?" He said and I swear my brows were pretty much at the ceiling I was raising them so much. I was confused, what was he on about? What didn't I know? He looked back at the pair who were still caught up in their bickering before leaning towards me and whispering, "They like each other. Mercedes shows her affection this way ... physically and Dylan does it materially." He said. My eyes nearly popped out of my head before I recomposed myself.

Mercedes and Dylan like each other? I leaned towards Jaden and whispered curiously, "Well why haven't you tried to get them to date each other?" He rolled his eyes and shook his head, "I don't like forcing people to do things because I wouldn't want to in that position. I just let them do what they want. Sometimes it leads to them getting physical, it's never serious so I let them be." He whispered back. "What are you two whispering about?" Chris asked as he sat down on the far side of the sofa away from Jaden and me. He didn't even look at us, He just grabbed the remote on the coffee table, ignored the wrestlers on the floor, and turned on the tv. His hair was damp and a few droplets fell onto his white shirt.

Though his white shirt and black sweatpants look was pretty much plain, it looked good on him. Really good. "We were talking about my girlfriend, Ari," Jaden said smoothly and I nearly choked on my own spit as I slowly turned my head in his direction. This time he wore a cheeky grin on his face and winked at me. He clearly expected me to react this way. He had a f*****g girlfriend?! "Oh! I miss Ariana, Is her forehead still as big as ever?" Chris asked with a grin that mirrored Jaden. 

I sat in between them both in silence as they talked about Jaden's girlfriend. I don't know why I felt this way, I've only known Jaden for a few months but I can almost confidently say that I can trust him with my life. Of the four of them, I felt more closer to him than anyone else, and knowing that he has a girlfriend kind of, I don't know ... Pinched a little. I never romantically thought of him, I don't think I even do now. Did he not trust me enough to tell me that he had a girlfriend? 

I felt someone poke my side and I turned my head. Chris's face looked relax as he spoke to me and to be quite honest, It took me a second to realize that he was actually talking to me. "I'm going to go out for a little walk, want to tag along?" He asked. I chewed my bottom lip and nodded "Sure." I replied as I stood up. He walked ahead of me and I followed behind him. "We'll be back!" He announced to the rest of our friends, "Don't kill Brooke!" Mercedes said to him.

"No promises," Chris replied earning a smack from me. I glared at him and he chuckled before walking out the door. The sun was somewhat brighter today than it was yesterday. The skies were clearer and it felt somewhat reminiscent of the motorcycle ride to the Arcade with Mercedes that one day we ditched school.

I caught up to Chris and walked at his pace with my arms crossed over my chest and for while we said nothing. We didn't need to say anything. The silence was a comfortable one. The wind blew soothingly and the rustling of the trees was almost like music to my ears as we walked. We came to stop a huge rock, Chris climbed the rock and sat on top of it. He pats the empty spot next to him and looked at me. He didn't say anything, He didn't need to. I climbed the rock and sat next to him. I looked at the side of his face before looking ahead. My jaw went slack as I took in the view. 

Trees were to my left and my right but ahead of me was the most beautiful view of the lake below us. I didn't even realize we were so high up until now. The clear skies and the bright sun made the view look like something that belongs in a museum or an art gallery. 

"Every time we come out here for the weekend, I come over here. To be alone." He said. I looked at him and he was still staring ahead with a small smile on his face. I didn't say anything, I don't think he expected me to say anything. "It's a nice view, isn't it? I found this place by accident." He chuckled, "Yeah," I replied quietly. We sat in silence for a bit before he tore his gaze from the beautiful view in front of us and looked at me. "You know I meant what I said right?" He asked. Confused, I looked at him "What do you mean?" I asked "I like you, Brooklyn," He said to me and I smiled, "Yeah I know, That's why we made up. Because you don't hate me." I said to him still a bit confused as to why he even bought that up.

He squinted at me before laughing, "No Brooklyn, I mean I like you. I want to be involved with you romantically someday." He said. I stared at him in shock.

He likes me. He like likes me. Like that. Oh, dear.

He turned his attention back to the view in front of us with a small smile on his face but I didn't. I couldn't. All I could do is stare at him. "The feeling doesn't have to be reciprocated princess. Don't beat yourself up about it. I just want to be direct and let you know." He said with the nickname that almost seemed foreign to my ears.

I don't know how I even feel about him. Yes, we're friends but did I like him in that way? It's not like I can force feelings that are not there. "I can wait." He mumbled more to himself than to me. I slowly turned to the view before us as my mind raced with crazy thoughts.

I like him as a friend, but how do I know if I like him in that way. "Look, A swan is chasing that man down the bank," Chris laughed as he pointed at the man getting chased by the angry bird. I laughed softly as I listened to him laugh. I like that sound. I want to hear more of it.

His phone vibrated and when he looked at it; his laugh, his smile dropped immediately and was replaced with a scowl. I looked on curiously as he typed rapidly on his phone before sighing and locking his phone, "We should probably head back, Something came up." He said to me as he jumped down from the rock. "Yeah sure," I replied as I looked at the view one last time. The sun looked like it was getting ready to set. Have we been out that long? We weren't keeping track of time.

He held his hand out for me and I grabbed onto it as I climbed down the rock. We walked back to the cabin in silence again. This time the silence wasn't as comfortable but we made no effort to fill it. My mind went back to my thoughts earlier. Maybe the universe will test my feelings soon. Everything happens for a reason after all.