Fake it Till You Love Me

7.

Vienne's POV

I stared at my phone. More like stared at the contact I was about to text.

‘Where are you?’ _ Vienne

Before I could think any further I sent the message to Damon. The reason why I was thinking so hard and long before texting the Calloway guy, I could not tell.

The message got sent and delivered. In less than a minute, the reply came.

‘What?’ _ Damon

Even if I could feel and almost sense his disapproval, I can't help the uncertain and indescribable feeling spreading through my chest. I wasn't used to quick responses from most people. My parents would text back after two days. Ryan would almost not even text back.

‘what do you mean what? School's over. Get over here and let me keep my end of the bargain. Let's meet for your tutoring session’ _ Vienne.

And with that, I shut my phone, done with texting and not expecting any reply. But lo and behold, my phone vibrated once more, lighting up with a notification.

I'm still at practice. Hang around or come over. Your choice’_ Damon.

And his reply got me staring at the screen for seconds in disbelief. Is it me ?, or Calloway is sounding rude?

Whatever. Hanging around would bore me out to death hence, I made my way to the basketball court. I don't watch the school's basketballers play; I have never. Over the years, I've only seen and cheerled for the soccer team, not that I'm a fan of these games. All for Ryan.

I plopped my ass down on one of the spectators’ seats. I'm not even surprised I'm the only one around to watch. It's just the players, me and the coach yelling out instructions and commands.

For a few seconds, his eyes found me and he paused mid throw, staring at me with a frown.

What?

“What on earth are you looking at, Calloway? Throw!” The coach suddenly yelled, causing even me to flinch a bit.

And there, the boy made his shot into the high net.

Smooth.

Clean.

Perfect.

And effortlessly.

“Oh!” I couldn't help the tiny exclamation that escaped my lips in astonishment. But I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself.

Students had whispered about how good he was; I never got to see but now I can say he deserves his accolades.

Wait

Wouldn't want to draw attention to myself?

What was I thinking?

Quickly, I pulled out my cellphone and turned away from the court. I held out my phone in front view camera and when Damon ran through the screen I took a clean shot. The picture captured us.

Perfect.

40 minutes went by.

6:20 pm, the time said.

I watched the team who had gathered around their coach, dispersed and he walked over to my seat. I raised my brows.

Why were his mates going the other way, obviously to shower and he was walking over?

He stood, towering over me and looking down at me

“What?”

“What do you mean what? Practice is over” he stole my line from earlier.

“Obviously, but you should be getting a shower like your mates. You're all sweaty” I gestured all over him.

“So?”

Are you kidding me?

“I can't have you seated with me for hours covered in sweat, Calloway.” I frowned

“Tough s**t, Reyes. I don't have all day. So please just overlook it. Or deal with it” he grumbled out while walking away.

I scoffed, grabbing my bag. “It's late; we can't go to your place anymore. Let's use the library instead”

He only let out an unbothered hum instead; it hinted at how he could care less about the location.

I frowned at the answer Damon had provided on the sheet. There's no way I would be hiding my surprise at his so-called answer. I tore my gaze from the sheet to his face. He sat there confidently and nonchalantly.

This was hopeless and clearing whatever doubt about his tanking gaze.

“You've got to be kidding me” I muttered to him.

“What?”

“It's probability Damon. And we aren't dealing with variables. I don't know and I don't want to know how you arrived at having ‘5a’ as an answer here” I looked over at the working and stopped immediately; it was about to cause me a headache. “Your answer should be 8/16” I muttered

Damon just raised a brow.

“You do this just like the first example. Look, it's not that hard. It_”

“Easy for you to say”

“wouldn't you love to pay attention then?” I sneered at him.

He sighed as his eyes fell on whatever I was beginning to scribble down in his note. As the time slowly ticked by, the rapt attention went undisturbed.

I carefully stuffed my books and pen into my bag. “Please, dedicate 40 minutes of your day to revising the jotter”

“I don't have time”

“Stop being so lazy. You gave over 45 minutes to basketball Damon. Balance it up and stop giving excuse”

What followed was a dark low chuckle.

“Careful. Watch your tone and don't make it start seeming like you're ordering me around”

I threw him a look. Isn't he some arrogant little thing?

“I could say the same to you. Next time, remind me to add please”

He threw me a steely gaze as he rose to his feet too, getting his bag and stuff together. We were done

“I'm leaving. See you tomorrow, Calloway. And make sure you have your shower before going to bed” I asked him before heading out. The driver was already waiting for me in the almost deserted and dark school premises. I hopped in.