SAVANNAH
I couldn't believe my ears.
Blake Armstrong, King of Jerks, Lord of Sarcasm, Chief Bully of Westlake High, was standing in front of me, asking me, of all people, to tutor him in Physics. My brain couldn't even process the words fast enough. For a second, I thought maybe I’d bumped my head too hard last night and was now hallucinating.
Me. His tutor.
Was this some kind of elaborate prank? Hidden cameras? Was he recording this to post later and laugh with his friends?
I blinked a few times, trying to read the look in his eyes. There was no sign of a smirk, no mocking glint—only something that looked eerily close to... sincerity?
I shook my head quickly. "You're joking, right?"
He stepped closer, closing the already too-small gap between us. "You should tutor me, really, Savvy. You're good at Physics. Everyone knows it. I need to ace it this term or forget engineering school."
There it was again. That nickname. Savvy. The same name he used to hurl at me in the hallway when he’d laugh with his friends. Only this time, it didn’t sound mocking. It sounded... softer.
Still, I crossed my arms. "And what makes you think I’d want to help you after the way you treat me?"
"Because," he said with a half-grin, "I saved your butt last night."
My mouth dropped open. "And then told me I wasn’t needed."
He laughed. That low and cocky type of smile, like he owned the world. I hated how much it affected me.
"Did that hurt you?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
I stared at him, unsure whether to smack him or cry again. "Yes, Blake. I cried."
His smile faltered. Just for a second. "Ouch," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry."
I didn’t know if he meant it or not. Maybe I didn’t want to believe he could.
He looked at me for a long second, then asked again, "So? Will you tutor me?"
I inhaled sharply. "Only if you promise to stop bullying me."
He laughed again, shaking his head. "You know I can’t stop that. It’s a part of who I am."
I frowned. "Seriously? That’s your excuse?"
"Teasing you gives me joy, Savannah. But I don't let anyone else do it. That’s different."
I scoffed. "Why did you even save me last night then? You should’ve let me take it off. Maybe then you'd finally get your laugh."
He stepped even closer. Too close. My heart pounded against my ribs like it was trying to escape. "I don’t enjoy watching others bully you. That’s my thing. Only I get to mess with you."
My breath hitched.
Was that... supposed to make me feel better?
His gaze didn’t waver. "Will you tutor me or not? Ask for something in return if that makes you feel better. Money? I can pay."
I shook my head quickly, words caught in my throat. I wasn’t sure if it was his nearness or the sudden weird twist my feelings were taking, but I felt like I’d combust.
I had a crush on Blake once. A stupid, wide-eyed, childish crush that died a cruel death the moment he’d thrown his first insult at me the first month of my arrival here. Now, I didn’t know what I felt.
"Savannah," he said, looking at his watch. "Class starts in five. Are you going to give me a reply or not?"
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
"What do you want in return?" he asked.
"Maths," I blurted.
His brows furrowed. "What?"
"I suck at Math. I’ll tutor you in Physics if you tutor me in Math."
A slow smirk curled on his lips. "Interesting.” Then, with an annoyingly amused twinkle in his eyes, he added, "What about swimming? Heard you’re hopeless at that too."
I stiffened, wondering how he knew that. Just hearing the word made my skin crawl.
It wasn’t always like that. I used to want to learn. Until the swimming tryouts freshman year, when everyone laughed when I slipped and fell into the pool with my tracksuit still on. Since then, I avoided pools like the plague.
But now...
I looked up at him. "You’re the captain. Can you teach me?"
He shrugged like it was nothing. "Sure. I’ve got time."
I stared at him for a long second. "Why are you doing this?"
He didn’t answer immediately. His eyes searched mine like he was trying to find the answer himself. "Because... maybe I owe you. Are we doing this or not?"
"Deal," I said quietly, unsure if I’d just made a huge mistake.
He grinned. "Perfect. We start after school today. Meet me at the pool after school. Don’t be late, Savvy."
Then he turned and walked off, just like that. Like he didn’t just turn my world upside down.