Hanna sat in her English class, staring down at the red “D+” scrawled across her paper, her heart sinking. She’d been distracted for weeks, caught up in the whirlwind of emotions between Marco, Finn, and the sudden rift in her friendships. Her schoolwork had fallen to the wayside, but she’d tried to ignore it, convincing herself she’d bounce back eventually. But the grades on her last few assignments told a different story, and now, with finals looming, the reality was unavoidable.
After class, her teacher, Mrs. Whitaker, called her to the front of the room, her expression both gentle and concerned. “Hanna, you’re capable of much more than this,” Mrs. Whitaker said, tapping the paper gently. “I know there’s a lot going on, but you can’t let your grades slip like this. I think some tutoring could help get you back on track.”
Hanna swallowed, nodding. She knew Mrs. Whitaker was right, but as soon as she heard the name of her assigned tutor, her heart skipped a beat.
“Finn has been doing exceptionally well,” Mrs. Whitaker continued, her tone encouraging. “He could be a great help to you, Hanna. And I’ve already arranged for him to meet with you twice a week.”
The news filled her with a mixture of relief and unease. She needed the help, but Finn? With everything between them left unresolved, she wasn’t sure if she could handle the proximity without stirring up the lingering feelings she’d tried so hard to bury. But Hanna agreed, hoping she could keep things professional.
When she told Marco after school, his reaction was immediate and cold.
“Finn?” His tone was sharp, the anger clear in his eyes. “Out of everyone, FinnHanna held up her hands, trying to calm him. “It’s not like I chose him, Marco. Mrs. Whitaker set it up. And I can’t afford to mess up my grades even more.”
“Still.” Marco crossed his arms, his gaze hard. “He’s the last person you need to be spending more time with. Don’t you see how this looks?”
Hanna bit back her frustration, trying to keep her voice steady. “This isn’t about him. This is about my grades. I’m not going to mess around with him—this is just tutoring, nothing else.”
But Marco’s eyes held a wary, possessive glint that made her stomach twist. “Fine,” he muttered, not looking at her. “But don’t expect me to be okay with it.”
The first tutoring session arrived sooner than she expected. She sat in the library, her books and notes spread out before her, feeling a familiar anxiety gnawing at her. When Finn walked in, she gave him a small nod, and he offered a polite, almost guarded smile. There was a tension between them that hadn’t been there before—an invisible wall Hanna felt she’d put up to protect herself.
“So,” Finn said, sitting down and pulling out a notebook. “Let’s start with last week’s material and go from there?”
She nodded, grateful that he kept things professional. As they reviewed the texts, he pointed out themes and quotes with an ease that reminded her of how well he knew her mind. She couldn’t deny that he was an excellent tutor—his insights were clear, and his patience made her feel comfortable enough to ask questions without hesitation.
But despite her efforts to stay focused, her mind occasionally drifted back to the warmth in his voice, the familiarity in the way he spoke to her, and the ease with which they’d once connected. She’d catch herself watching his hands as he gestured to a passage, or noticing the way his brow furrowed slightly when he concentrated. Every little detail felt both comforting and excruciating, stirring up memories she’d tried to forget.
After their second session, as they packed up their books, Finn looked at her for a long moment, his gaze softening. “Hanna, I just… I want you to know I’m really proud of you.”
She glanced away, feeling a sudden surge of emotion she hadn’t anticipated. “Thank you. I… I guess I’ve just been distracted lately.”
He nodded, his voice gentle. “I know there’s a lot going on. But you’ll get through this. You’re stronger than you think.”
His words lingered with her as she walked back to the parking lot, and the pull between them felt undeniable. But she knew she couldn’t go down that road again—not with Marco waiting for her and not after everything that had happened.
Yet, even as she told herself this, she could feel her resolve weakening.
Marco noticed the change almost immediately. When she met up with him after the next tutoring session, she could see the suspicion simmering in his gaze, his usual warmth replaced by something colder, harder. She tried to brush it off, but every time she mentioned the tutoring, his responses grew shorter, his eyes darkening.
One afternoon, she finally confronted him. “Marco, what’s going on? You’re acting like you don’t trust me.”
He crossed his arms, his jaw clenched. “Maybe because I don’t know if I do,” he replied, his voice low but edged with anger. “You spend two hours a week with the guy you used to be in love with. What am I supposed to think?”
Hanna felt her own frustration bubble over, her patience fraying. “You’re supposed to trust me. This is about my grades, Marco. I’ve told you a thousand times—it’s nothing more than that.”
But Marco just shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping him. “You think I can’t see the way you look at him? You’re telling me nothing’s going on, but I see it, Hanna. Every time you come back from those sessions, you’re different. Like he’s in your head.”
Her throat tightened, a mixture of anger and guilt rising in her chest. “That’s not fair,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m with you, Marco. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“But for how long?” he shot back, his tone cutting. “If Finn so much as snaps his fingers, would you leave me for him?”
The accusation struck a nerve, and she felt her own anger rise. “That’s not true, and you know it! I’m not just going to run back to Finn because of a few tutoring sessions.”
He scoffed, his face twisted in frustration. “Maybe not now. But don’t pretend he doesn’t have a hold on you, Hanna. You think I don’t notice the way you defend him? Like he can do no wrong?”
Hanna’s voice trembled as she spoke, trying to keep her composure. “This isn’t about him, Marco. This is about you not trusting me, and that’s not something I can fix. You have to believe in us, or this won’t work.”
They stood in silence, the distance between them growing, and for the first time, Hanna felt the fragile cracks in their relationship deepen. Marco’s gaze softened slightly, but the hurt in his eyes remained, a reminder that the shadow of Finn was still there, lingering between them. And as she walked away, she wondered if she could ever truly put those feelings behind her—or if she even wanted to.