The Hockey Player’s Secret Tutor

Let's wait a few days.

Lyra's POV

“Seb, before we announce our ‘relationship,’ I think we should wait a few days. I do not want anybody to say that we are only together because of Veronica and Nate. Everybody knew that I was in love with Nate, and everyone knows that you and Veronica used to date. I don’t want them to think that we are in this relationship because we are hurt by Veronica and Nate. Let’s just pretend that we are becoming friends so people can get used to us being together,” I say.

“Yes, all right. I agree that we should not move too fast, especially not with the wrong people around. Veronica is a mean girl, and she will think that I am just trying to spite her, and then she will bully you. I do not want that to happen. I do not want you to be bullied because of me. However, we can walk into class pretending that we are becoming friends, and we will keep our fake relationship a secret for a little longer. I will come with you to your house after school so we can start with my studies, and you can start with your training. I like you the way you are, but I want Nate to punch himself when he sees what he has lost. When your father suggested last night that I ask you to help me with my studies, I did not know about Nate and Veronica yet. I wanted to suggest that I help train you in return for your helping me study. I wanted to do it for you. I knew you were in love with Nate, and I thought that if you lost a little weight, he would see how beautiful you truly are. We will also have to do something about your wardrobe and those glasses. I don’t know why you always wear these baggy clothes, and you are hiding your beautiful eyes behind those awful glasses. Don’t worry, leave everything to me. We will change your appearance once you have lost a little weight. I want you to do it to show Nate and yourself how beautiful you truly are,” Seb says.

“You can stop pretending that I am beautiful. I know I’m not beautiful. I am not even above average,” I say.

“You have no self-esteem, and I am going to change all of that. I will show you how beautiful you truly are. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. I am not going to fight with you over this. Let’s go to class before we are late. And remember, if Nate wants to talk to you, don’t believe a word he says. Nate lies more than a lawyer,” Seb says.

We laugh as we walk into class. Nate looks up from his books with a frown on his face, while Veronica is sitting next to him, looking like a thunderstorm. I don’t know why Nate and Veronica don’t just date, because they have been fooling around behind everyone’s back, well, not everyone’s, only behind Seb’s back.

As I go to sit down, the person who was sitting next to my seat grabs his books and leaves. It always happens. Nobody wants to sit next to the fat girl. I look down at my books, trying to ignore it, but then someone moves into the seat next to me. I look up and see a smiling Sebastian.

“Hey, beautiful, don’t worry. I am not going to allow anybody to bully you anymore or make you feel bad about yourself. Besides, we have to let people get used to us being together,” Seb says.

“Sebastian, are you sure you want to sit there next to that fat cow? She might squash you,” Veronica says.

“I don’t see any fat cows. All I see is a jealous w***e who sleeps around with two brothers and plays them against each other,” Seb replies.

“Seb, it is not necessary to be rude to Veronica. If you are jealous of Veronica and me, you don’t have to be. There is nothing between Veronica and me. We can switch seats if you want. We were just fooling around. Come on, Seb. Besides, I don’t mind sitting next to Lyra,” Nate says as he winks at me.

I roll my eyes. I am not going to fall for his little games anymore.

“No thanks, I’m afraid of STDs. I like sitting here next to Lyra,” Seb says.

“Oh, you cannot be serious. If you think that you are going to make me jealous with that fat cow, then you can just forget about it. Stop pretending that I am a w***e. Besides, fat little Lyra is in love with Nate. You will just be wasting your time and energy on her,” Veronica says.

“If you call Lyra fat one more time, I am going to post all those photos you sent me on social media,” Seb says.

Veronica looks at him in disbelief, but before she can say anything, the professor walks into the class and starts the lesson. I can see that Sebastian is not even listening at first, and he is not taking notes, which explains why he does not know what is going on in class. He is sitting there drawing match plays in his notebook, and I grab it, frowning at him. He knows exactly why I am angry, and he finally starts listening to the professor and actually takes notes. That is my first lesson for him—pay attention in class.

He also needs to get his head out of hockey all the time. I know they are not having practice after school today because my father will not be there. He has to go to the doctor, although he always puts it off because he puts my brother and me before himself. He does not like to spend money on himself, but we told him that if he did not go, we would quit college.

I look at Seb, who is actually concentrating for once, and he smiles at me when he notices me watching him. I really have to be careful not to fall in love with him. I don’t want to go from one brother to the other.