The Hockey Player’s Secret Tutor

Can we talk?

Lyra's POV

It is between classes, and as I walk around the corner, I hear Nate’s friends laughing and joking with him. They are messing around, and then I hear my name being mentioned, which makes me stop and listen to what they have to say. Why would they mention my name, and why is Nate taking part in this conversation? Does Nate actually care about me?

“It seems like your brother is going to get that little virgin before you can. We all know Lyra is the last virgin in the school, and we bet that you would get her into bed. I don’t believe that you are going to be able to do that now that she doesn’t want anything to do with you. She is with Sebastian all the time. Maybe Sebastian will get her into bed before you can,” Mark says.

“It is because she’s fat that nobody wants to sleep with her. Why would you bet on Nate sleeping with her? Sebastian would not even touch her with a broomstick. He is just trying to make me jealous,” Veronica says.

“Who are you all talking about? If you are talking about Lyra, I am warning you, stay away from her. Nate, you are not taking anyone to bed, especially not Lyra. She is too good for you,” I hear Sebastian’s voice.

“Oh, come on, bro, are you afraid that I am going to get her into bed before you can? Do you want to bet?” Nate says.

“Lyra is not a bet, and you stay away from her. I am warning you one last time. I promise you, if you try to touch Lyra, I will come after you. You don’t know me, Nate. You don’t know what I can do to you. Lyra is special. She is not someone you play with. You keep your hands off her. I promise you, if you don’t, you are going to regret it,” Sebastian says, standing up for me.

I know Sebastian cannot see me, so why would he try to impress me? I don’t believe that he knows I am standing behind the corner, listening to everything they are saying. Nate is a bastard. I can’t believe that I thought I was in love with him. I feel the pain in my heart because I really thought that he cared about me all this time. He flirted with me, and I thought he was sincere.

I am so used to being hurt by people that I don’t even cry anymore. I cry on the inside because I don’t want them to see my tears or how much they hurt me every time they call me fat, or a pig, or a hippo. People can be really rude, and they don’t care if they hurt your feelings. They don’t see you as a human being just because I am a little overweight, and I am not even that fat.

This makes me more determined to change. I am going to get fit, and I will fight for it, and I will do it with Sebastian, the only one who is standing up for me in that group. And f**k Veronica. She is going to regret every word she said, because when I change, I am going to go after her position as head cheerleader. Not only will I be smart, but I will also become the most popular girl in this school. I may not be wealthy, but I don’t care. Seb believes in me, and I will show him that I will not let him down.

I walk away.

In the next class, I sit on my own again, but Sebastian comes and sits next to me. This time, he does not take out his notebook to scribble hockey plays. Instead, he actually listens and takes notes. He smiles at me while the professor is talking, and then he shows me his notebook. I smile back and give him a thumbs-up.

I do not trust Nate. He has been pretending to like me for a long time, and if he can do that to me, what is he doing to Sebastian? I believe Nate is an evil person.

Soon, it is break time. I walk out of class and go to the cafeteria, where I see Nate waiting for me. He is holding a big slice of chocolate cake, and he knows that I love chocolate cake, but today I am going to watch what I eat.

“Lyra, can we talk? You and Sebastian have the wrong idea. I think you are teaming up against Veronica and me because you think we are in a relationship. We were just fooling around the other night. I was drunk, and she took advantage of me. You know you are my one and only. You are beautiful and cute, and I would love to have you over at my house tonight. We can hang out and watch a movie, something romantic. How about Twilight? It is romantic, don’t you think?” Nate says.

He is giving me that smile that used to make my heart melt. Before, I would have said yes, and he would have tried to get into my pants all night, while I reminded him that I am saving myself for my husband one day. He would kiss me and tell me that he was going to marry me one day, and that we did not have to worry about anything. I always said no, and now I am glad I did. I am glad I never gave in to him.

“I don’t like Twilight. You don’t know me. Besides, I have other plans tonight. I am busy, so enjoy your night. Maybe you should ask Veronica over. To be honest, I don’t give a damn what you do tonight. I don’t believe your lies anymore. Go away and leave me alone,” I say.

“Who are you seeing tonight? Is it Seb? Lyra, I have to warn you. Seb is my brother, and I love him, but he is an asshole. He made a bet with his friends to see if he could get you into bed and take your virginity. Please don’t fall for his tricks. I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Nate lies.

I laugh and shake my head.

“Unbelievable. You know what? You are unbelievable,” I say as I walk away.

“Hey, what does that mean? I only care about you, and I only wanted to warn you about my brother. Well, go ahead and get hurt if you want to. Don’t come crying to me,” Nate says.

I know he is pissed off because his plans are not working. He is the one who made the bet, and now he is trying to blame Sebastian. He is truly unbelievable.

“You know what, Nate? I will not come crying to you. You don’t have to warn me about your brother. You should have warned me about yourself. Leave me alone from now on. I want nothing to do with you,” I say as I walk away.

I see Nate’s friends laughing in the background, but they can laugh all they want. I don’t care. They may think I am a fool, but I am not.

I walk out of the cafeteria. I was going to get a salad, but I have lost my appetite.