THE TROUBLE I FELL FOR

3- Four Days A Week

They really expected me to sit through this four days a week? With a girl who looked like she had her whole life color-coded and alphabetized? Yeah, no thanks.

I slouched lower in my chair, letting my head tilt back slightly so I could stare at the ceiling instead of Mrs. Miller's forced smile. I'd heard this speech before-too many times.

"This is about helping you grow, Cole." "We want to give you support." Yeah, sure. What they meant was we're hoping someone else can deal with you long enough to stop you from blowing up again.

Then she walked in.

Alyssa. The moment I saw her, I knew she wasn't like the others. Her expression was calm but unreadable, her posture straight, her eyes sharp. She looked like someone who didn't flinch easily. The kind of girl who carried color-coded notebooks, probably had a schedule for her water intake, and didn't tolerate nonsense.

She didn't seem like the type to back down, which was... annoying. And oddly interesting. Most people either ignored me or tried too hard to fix me. She, on the other hand, looked like she'd punch me in the face and proofread my essay in the same breath.

I expected her to smile politely and keep her distance. But no. She sat there like she belonged there and looked at me like she already had me figured out.

And for the first time in a while, someone got under my skin.

She didn't try to play nice. Didn't glance away when I looked at her. When Mrs. Miller started explaining the mentorship program, I tossed out a sarcastic line, something about her giving off an upright energy, simply because I wanted to test the waters.

Most people would've laughed nervously or ignored me completely. Not her.

Alyssa turned toward me with that calm, clipped tone, eyes narrowed just enough to tell me I'd hit a nerve. "If you're done performing, maybe we can focus on why we're actually here."

And damn. That shut me up.

For a second.

I didn't say anything, but inside, I felt something flicker-something that wasn't quite irritation. She wasn't just another tutor sent in to check a box and give up on me after a week. She had bite. And the brains, and a presence that didn't let mine swallow her up.

I couldn't decide if that made her interesting or stupid.

So, yeah-I smirked. Of course I did. Partly to get under her skin, partly to see if she'd bite back again, and partly because, for the first time in a long time, I wasn't bored out of my mind.

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Mrs. Miller had barely finished her sentence, explaining us to meet four days a week, when the words slipped out of my mouth.

"Four days a week? Damn, that's like a whole relationship."

I said it casually, with just enough edge to get under someone's skin, and I didn't even have to look to know it worked.

Alyssa didn't say anything, but I caught the shift in her posture, jaw tight, eyes sharper. Her fingers twitched like she wanted to cross her arms but was too composed for that kind of display. And that silence? That told me more than any comeback could have.

She was irritated. And I liked that she didn't hide it.

I leaned back in my chair, smirk tugging at my mouth-not because I thought I was clever, but because I'd gotten a reaction out of her. She wasn't just brushing me off. She felt it and that meant something.

And I was starting to wonder just how far I could push her before she finally snapped.

But there was something else too, beneath the irritation in her eyes, there was control. Like she was used to keeping herself in check, used to people trying to get a rise out of her. That made it more interesting. Most people either shut down or exploded.

She did neither. She absorbed it, held it in, and hit back with precision when she was ready. I could respect that. Hell, I was even curious about it.

Still, I couldn't help the lazy grin stretching across my face as I glanced her way. She sat there, spine straight, lips pressed into a thin line like she was holding herself back from throwing her pen at my head. Maybe she thought ignoring me would make me lose interest. It wouldn't.

If anything, the way she refused to crumble made me want to unravel her more.

"So, Alyssa," I said, letting her name roll off my tongue slowly, like I was tasting it, "do we start this whole soul-nurturing mentor-mentee thing now, or is there an official ceremony where you hand me a welcome kit?" I leaned a little towards her, arms crossed casually, like this was the most entertaining thing I'd sat through all week.

"You know-something with a leash, maybe? A shock collar if I get too unruly?" I glanced at Mrs. Miller, feigning innocence. "Or does she just wing it and hope I don't bite?" I could see the tick in Alyssa's jaw, the way her fingers curled just slightly in her lap like she was fighting the urge to throw something at me.

The tension rolling off her was addictive. She was so tightly wound, it made me want to keep poking just to see what it would take to unravel her.

Mrs. Miller let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose like she already regretted every decision that led to this pairing. "Cole, I'm going to need you to take this seriously," she said firmly, giving me the look. "This is a mentorship program, not a stand-up comedy routine."

I gave her my most innocent smile, hands raised like I'd just been falsely accused. "I'm serious, ma'am, dead serious infact. Alyssa and I are going to be the dream team. Aren't we?"

I turned back to her, expecting another icy glare or maybe a sarcastic quip, but she surprised me.

"I don't care what kind of show you think you're putting on," Alyssa said, her tone calm but steely. "But if you think I'm just going to sit back and let you treat this like a joke, you've got another thing coming. I'm not your babysitter, I am your mentor, your guidance for the next six months and I take that seriously."

Her voice didn't rise. She didn't flinch. And that was somehow worse. She was calm, cool, and absolutely not playing. And for the first time, I felt something shift in my chest-interest, maybe even respect.

This was going to be so much fun.

Mrs. Miller cleared her throat, clearly trying to bring things back on track. "Alright, now that we've all established... whatever this is," she said, waving a hand between the two of us, "let me wrap this up. As mentors, your job is to help your assigned student adjust to campus life, preparing them for college, exams, academics, social stuff, schedules, whatever they need support with."

"Reports on their progress are to be submitted biweekly to his teachers and your professor as well. And, please, let's try not to traumatize anyone in the process." Her eyes flicked between Cole and me pointedly before she closed the file in front of her with finality.

"Alright, you all may take your leave now," Mrs. Miller said, closing her file. "Cole, Meera, please show your seniors around the campus and make sure they know the way to the library. And Alyssa, I'd like you to stay back for a moment. There's something I'd like to discuss with you in private."

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Mrs. Miller folded her hands on the desk, her expression softening as she looked at Alyssa. "Now, I know Cole can come off as a lot to handle and believe me, you won't be the first to judge him by his outer layers. But he's not all trouble. When he puts his mind to something, he's sharper than most. He just needs the right push... and someone who doesn't back down when he pushes back."

She paused, then offered Alyssa a small, encouraging smile. "You were one of our most consistent students, Alyssa. You are disciplined, focused, and had a straight-A record throughout your senior year. We haven't forgotten that. We'd be incredibly grateful if you could show him the path you followed. Help him see what he's capable of."

Alyssa offered a small, understanding smile, nodding gently. "I understand where you're coming from, Mrs. Miller," she said, her voice calm but sincere. "And I'll do my best. I can't promise he'll make it easy, but I'll try to guide him in the right direction... however stubborn he might be."

Alyssa shook Mrs. Miller's hand with a small nod and stepped out of the office. Outside, the three of them were waiting for her to step out, Cole leaning casually against the wall, Meera standing politely nearby, and Bianca mid-rant about something completely unrelated. Alyssa took a breath, squared her shoulders, and walked toward them.

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She walked out of the principal's office like she hadn't just been handed the worst assignment of her life. Calm. Straight-backed. Too composed for someone who'd be stuck with me four days a week.

"Welcome back to the outside world," I said, straightening from the wall. "How was the pep talk? Get a gold star for effort?"

Alyssa didn't even blink and started walking, "No. But I did get a new headache, so thanks for that."

"Oof," I winced dramatically. "We've barely been alone two minutes. That has to be a record."

She gave me a side glance. "Well, you do talk like a walking migraine."

I grinned, shoving my face a little into her personal space. "And yet, here you are, stuck with me. Destiny's cruel."

"Cruel would've been giving me two of you."

We turned down the hallway, shoes clicking against the polished floor.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked. "You gonna start with flashcards? A PowerPoint, maybe? Or jump straight to threats and crying in the supply closet?"

She snorted. "Please. You're not that important. I'll do my job, you try not to get expelled again, and maybe we both survive this without bloodshed."

"No promises," I muttered, and groaned, pretending to stretch my neck like I was preparing for a fight. "But if there's bloodshed, I vote we blame your friend."

Alyssa gave me a look. "You're unbelievable."

"And yet," I smirked, "completely real."

She sighed, picked up the pace, and muttered, "This is going to be the longest semester of my life."

We made it halfway across the quad, the sun warm overhead and the breeze tossing her hair just enough to catch my attention more times than I cared to admit.

"So," she said, glancing at me, "are you going to give me the silent tour now? Or are you planning to narrate everything with that charming sarcasm of yours?"

I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Didn't think you'd care either way. Figured you already decided what kind of person I am."

She looked up at me and raised her brow. She had to stretch her neck upwards a little bit as her head only reached my shoulder, "And what kind is that?"

"The kind who doesn't take anything seriously, who's probably just going to waste your time and drag his feet through the mentorship thing. Right?" I looked at her, no smirk this time. "You wouldn't be wrong. That's what most people think."

A pause. She blinked, just once, like she hadn't expected that.

But before she could respond, I smirked again.

"But don't worry," I added quickly, "I'll try really hard not to ruin your schedule of perfection."

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the flicker of curiosity behind them. She wasn't sure what to make of me now. Good. Let her wonder.

We reached the library steps, and I pulled open the door for her, giving a mock bow. "After you, miss."

She walked past without a word, but I swear I saw the corner of her mouth twitch.

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