A Thorn In A Game of Roses

Chapter Four: Long Night

(Evelynn’s POV)

The next day, Sam and I were already in school and in our own classes. I was in history and was taking notes. I wasn't excited for the day to end, knowing damn well where I was headed after school today, and it was to Noah’s house. It was embarrassing as I didn't want to see his face. It's bad enough that he looks at me time to time here at school. Although I couldn't say no to some extra cash coming in, I agreed, of course. Besides, I was put on the spot, and I hate that the most. It’s hard to say no when everyone is looking at you, and it feels like your only answer is to agree, which sadly I did.

Sam was playing with the radio while mixing her hair in the car. I side-eyed her, shaking my head.

“Crushing on him already? You barely know him.” I laughed, smirking as she gave me a simple huff in response.

“I’m not, I just wanna make sure I look nice and my hair isn't all over the place, I had gym last period and we were running the mile, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't all sweaty and stuff.” She groans at me for assuming, but I wasn't stupid when it came to her liking someone.

“Well, you seem happier to come along so, that's a bonus,” I said while driving to Noah’s home before I cleared my throat. “And well, I don’t wanna be alone with this ass hat, so I’m glad you're coming with me,” I whispered out as she smiled at me from her seat, nodding her head.

“Dad kind of put you in the spot, and I know he did, so of course I would agree and go with you even if you were the one who offered me to come.” She smirked, closing the mirror and sitting in her seat more.

“I did that because I did not wanna go alone to somewhere I have only been once, let alone with the head football player who creeps me out.” I sighed as we pulled up their driveway and parked the car. I sat there in silence before looking at her and shrugging. “Money is money, though when dad isn't around to get stuff we need or if we wanna order while he is never home.”

We both got out of the car and grabbed our bags, which mine contained some school things to tutor while my sister’s had her school and artwork in. We made our way up the long steps as I knocked on the door, sighing to myself. I moved my hair behind my ear as we waited for the door to open, revealing the butler as he moved out of the way, and Nate appeared at the door with a bright smile; he seemed like a sweet boy to be friends with.

“I made it before my brother. Come on in.” He said, moving out of the way as he walked inside his house. We followed him inside and to the kitchen area, where he was sitting and eating a snack. He offered us a chair as we both sat down, and a maid handed us a muffin and some milk to go with it. I nodded my head, thanking her, as I turned to look at my sister eating the muffin happily, and I smirked at the mess she was making. As I was going to move my hand to clean up her face some Nate beat me to it as his fingers brushed over her lips making her freeze and me as well as I looked shocked and made a face looking away giving them that little moment, it was like a movie where the two main character’s were having a moment and I was the extra sitting there as like a third wheel type deal.

“T-Thank you.” Sam stuttered out shyly as she cleared her throat, drinking some milk as Nate chuckled, nodding his head at her.

“You like muffins?” He asked, smiling at her as I mentally rolled my eyes, annoyed that I was stuck in the room with this happening before my eyes.

“I do..chocolate chip or blueberry are my favorites.” Sam smiles at him.

I clear my throat as he finally turns his attention to me, snapping out of his trance with my sister. “When will you’re brother be here?” I asked him, sighing some.

As if on cue, the front door slammed, and feet could be heard going up the stairs as I groaned as it sounded as if he was in a bad mood. Great.

“Now, it seems. Good luck.” He smiled and handed me a muffin to give to my brother as I rolled my eyes, took it, and left the kitchen and moving up the stairs slowly, as I wanted to prepare myself. This could go many ways. He could open the door and be friendly and let me i,n or her could open the door and be rude while slamming the door in my face. Both options were open at this moment. I made my way down the wall as I followed the loud music to a door, where I stood outside it and took a deep breath before knocking gently.

“Noah, it’s me, Evelynn from school… To tutor.” I said almost in a whisper as the music turned down, but no one approached the door as I rolled my eyes, standing there looking stupid as maids passed me, and I felt so embarrassed, standing outside someone’s door while the person on the other side was clearly ignoring me and having a tantrum about something.

“Listen, I know we both don’t want this, and trust me, I don't know what your deal is with the whole staring at me all the time. But I am doing this because your father asked me and I couldn't refuse…” I said more loudly as the door opened and revealed him standing there, shirtless and sweaty, as I held my breath, staring at his green, vibrant eyes.

“Right. Come in.” He said, moving from the door to let me inside his room as he moved to his dresser looking for a clean shirt.

I walked inside the room and looked around, oddly clean for a boy, I must say, even though it smelled of Axe Body Spray and sweat, his room was decent. His walls were black, and the carpet as well. It was like some type of goth room, but I didn't comment or judge his type of decor. Hell, mine wasn't any better. Everything was either baby pink or cherry blossom, as it was my favorite.

“Oh, you’re brother told me to bring this up for you… Put you in better..Spirtits.” I said, offering the muffing as he eyed it, then me as he smirked, taking it and sitting on his bed while I moved to sit at his desk, which was very nice, better than mine.

“I was thinking we start with whatever class you're failing in more and go from there,” I said, taking my books and notebook from my bag and placing them on his desk.

“Math.” He responded while taking a bite of the muffin as he watched me. I nodded my head and moved the pages in my notebook to where I took notes in math class. I grabbed a pencil as he got up to throw his trash away, while I started speaking about what exactly he was having trouble with. What I wasn't expecting was for him to come from behind me and lean in to look over my shoulder at my notebook, making me freeze. He smelled like nice body spray and didn't reek of sweat.

He was looking at the notebook as his finger pointed to a certain part. I blinked from being frozen and calmed my pounding heart in my chest as I nodded my head and cleared my throat, and I began explaining what I did to make it simpler and understandable for him to get. He didn't move from his position behind me as he listened. I could feel him occasionally turn to look at me, and it made my heart beat faster, which made him smirk, seeing me flustered. I made a loud sighing noise, pushing him back.

“Pull up a chair and pay attention,” I said, looking at him as he nodded his head, grabbed another chair, and sat beside me. I calmed my heart and my annoyance and went back to explaining the formula on the paper. He watched me with interest and took his own notes in his notebook.

Occasionally, I gave him equations to solve that would make him understand better. I moved closer to correct him on his paper as he turned to look at my face. I looked at his eyes and immediately looked away.

“Focus,” I said, even though I smirked at him being an i***t.

“Sorry, it’s hard to when I have such a pretty teacher leaning over into my space.” He flirted, leaning his head on his hand.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Oh? Well, if you were looking at your paper and not my face, you wouldn't be so distracted, Noah.” I shot back with a smirk, pulling away to let him figure it out himself.

He chuckled, nodding as he went back to working on the problem in front of him, which he soon got, a nd I nodded my head in approval that he understood.

Before we could even continue, there was a loud talking coming up the stairs, and before I knew it came inside his room. I froze, seeing who it was, as I wanted to groan seeing her dumb face again. Camila stood there looking very pissed off at me, sitting in Noah’s room.

“What the hell is this, Noah? Are you cheating on me!” She screamed, storming inside the room with the butler left at the door looking worried. He let her inside, but knowing her, she busted herself inside the house to get in, even if he said no.

“Camilla, don’t be annoying. She is tutoring me.” He huffed, running his hand through his hair as he leaned back in his chair.

“I could tutor you! You don't need her.” She whines, crossing her arms. I laughed, covering my mouth with a fake cough as he eyes me, smirking and looking to her.

“Camilla, my father is paying her to tutor me. Chill. We can hang out later.” He assured her, standing up with another sigh, leaving his lips.

“Ooh, so that’s why she is doing this. She is poor and needs money. Makes sense, look at her outfit…” She giggles, flipping her hair.

I tightened my jaw, looking at him, annoyed. “Oh? I don't like fancy dresses and stupid skirts like some cheap w***e wanting attention.” I said, shrugging as I stood up, collecting my things, as I was not gonna sit here and let this witch badmouth me when I am supposed to be tutoring someone who clearly didn't want it and wanted a damn booty call from his girlfriend.

“Excuse me!” She screamed, pushing me as I fell back, hitting my hand on something sharp and cutting it. I winced, looking at my head as it bled.

“s**t, are you okay?” Noah asked, moving to offer me help, and I smacked his hand away, completely pissed off now.

“Do I look okay!” I screamed, gently standing and holding my bag as I ignored the throbbing pain in my hand while looking at him. “If you didn't want me to tutor you, you shouldn't have wasted my time when you just wanted to sit here and flirt with me. You're disgusting.” I huffed, pushing past him, annoyed that Camilla had a smirk on her lips as I passed them and exited the room.

“Sam!” I yelled, walking down the hall and down the steps as Sam and Nate came out of the living room, worried as if there was a fire, but it was just very pissed off me storming the halls yelling like a mad woman. “Grab you’re thing, we're leaving,” I said, annoyed.

Sam nodded her head and moved to collect her belongings. Nate rushed over to me and saw my bleeding hand as he grabbed it, exclaiming the wound on my hand. “You’re bleeding, what happened. Was it my brother… I’ll kill him,” he said, angry.

“No, I am fine,” I assured him, pulling my hand away from him as he frowned at that, and took my hand again as he ripped some of his shirt and wrapped my hand.

“So it doesn't get infected, you should keep something on it and maybe check if you need stitches.” He said gently as he let go of my hand. I gave a simple nod to his nice gesture as Sam rushed over with her things and looked at my hand, worried.

“What happened?” She asked as I shook my head and took her hand and left the Brooks house and moved to the car, where I got inside and started the car and zoomed out the damn driveway and down the path to the gates, then onto the street to get home.

I refused to tutor someone who was only going to flirt and act like an i***t, not to mention his little girlfriend coming and interrupting us for a booty call. It made my blood boil. Talk about a ruined night.