Tutor Me (11 page)

“Your tits are spectacular.” Cocky bastard.

“Thanks.” Geez, meek little Miss Mouse! But if I showed how much this had thrown me he’d realize this behavior was wait out of the ordinary for me, and then he’d know I was batshit crazy about him. Ugh.

Callum was cool and collected. “Thanks for letting me enjoy them.”

“You’re welcome.” Now the meekness was gone, and instead I sounded like I’d loaned him a ballpoint pen. That was the best I could manage, dammit.

There didn’t seem to be anything else to say and I was desperate to get away so I turned toward the door, about to leave.

“Jenny?” he called out as I turned the handle.

“What?” I looked over my shoulder at him.

His eyes had their old arrogant twinkle in them. “Your right tit got all the attention today. I’m happy to relieve the pressure on the left one anytime. Just let me know.” I rolled my eyes as I headed out the door.

After leaving Callum’s I had thought and overthought the scene in his living room to such a degree that by the time I got to school the next morning I was deeply regretting it. Tina had told me how hot it sounded when I described it but even she couldn’t claim that Callum had shown anything more than lust toward me. That was what I was hung up on now: though I hadn’t felt used at the time- not at all- in hindsight it sounded so tawdry. So I vowed once again to keep away from him. It hadn’t helped that at lunch Jessica was draped all over him, her arm around his shoulders in line for food, and then eating off his plate at lunch. Yeh I was kind of spying on him. Jessica pissed me off, though Bryce had his hand on my thigh throughout the same lunch.

In Calc I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me so that I was turned away when Callum went to his seat. At one point I dropped my pencil and it rolled behind me. As I leaned down to collect it I made the mistake of looking at him and was met by a hooded look that made my panties melt. I let my hair fall in my face to hide the flush, and swung around fast. After that I steeled myself not to look at him.

Despite my precautions the day ended in embarrassment. As I was leaving class Mr. Ferguson cornered the two of us to commend us on how much Callum’s grades had improved.

When he jovially said, “I don’t know how you’re doing it Jenny but clearly it is just what Callum needs,” I felt myself turn a dark shade of red.

Seeing my discomfort, Callum said, “It’s the personal touch that makes all the difference.”
Very funny
.

Mr. Ferguson nodded, “Evidently.”

Callum didn’t stop there. “She really knows how to arouse my interest in the topic.”
I’m going to kill him
.

“Oh yes?” Mr. Ferguson looked up. He was gathering up the papers on his desk. I moved towards the door, desperate to escape. Mr. F’s eyes were flicking between the two of us so I couldn’t respond other than with an innocent smile.

Callum wasn’t done. “Yeh I’m starting to realize Calc is something I can really sink my teeth into.”

My façade must have slipped because Ferguson glanced sharply at me but I quickly beamed a brittle smile at him.

“Bye!” I said sunnily, heading for the door without looking at Callum. He followed me out and as soon as the door was shut I turned and punched him, hard, in the arm.

“Ow,” he gripped his arm and made a mock grimace. “What was that for?”

“You know what that was for,” I hissed. “That was way uncool.”

“Aw come on, he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about,” Callum protested, laughing. “I just said it to get a rise out of you.”

I glared at him. “Well, it worked.” My platform heels prevented me from stomping away down the hall but I tottered off with as much dignity as I could muster.

The only thing that kept me from bailing on our tutoring session the next day was my sense of responsibility as a tutor. As it was, I kept the next day’s lesson all business and we got through the material pretty quickly. He seemed to realize I needed some space as he didn’t tease me even if we were stuck right next to each other peering down at the same textbook.

Towards the end of the lesson my phone rang and it was Lacey. I normally turned my phone off but I’d been waiting for this call. Katy Perry was playing at the US Airways Center on Saturday night and Lacey was at the box office getting us tickets.

Callum looked up and I apologized. “I’m sorry, I have to take this.”

“No problem.”

I answered, “Hey Lacey”. Callum rolled his eyes at the name but kept working on some practice equations.

Lacey dispensed with the niceties. “There’s only general admission left.”

I said, “That’s fine, I prefer that anyway. Then we can dance.” I asked if she needed my credit card and she said I could pay her back later.

“Give my worst to Caldwell.”

“Ha.”

After we hung up, Callum put his pencil down.

“Which concert are you seeing?”

I was dreading that question. “Katy Perry.”

He made an exaggerated gagging face. “Really? I’m sorry.”

“OK Mr. Music Snob, she has some really catchy hits.”

“Yeh, the best that money can buy.” He stretched his arms over his head, which always made my heart skip a beat. But his dismissive attitude was still pissing me off.

“So what if she doesn’t write her own songs? She’s super talented as a singer and performer.”

“Whatever. Enjoy. Where’s she performing?”

“US Airways Center. Saturday night. There are still General Admission tickets available if you’re interested.”

“Funny. I’ll be over in that part of town that night to see some friends of mine play at a bar. Enjoy living a teenage dream.”

“Shall I get you a t-shirt to add to your collection?”

He chuckled. “Uh no, that won’t be necessary.”

The night of the concert rolled around and I was looking forward to it. Bryce and I were double dating with Kai and Lacey. Bryce was driving. When he picked me up, I’d made sure he waited in his car rather than force another awkward conversation with my dad.

Lacey, who had a minuscule bladder, had to pee as soon as we were within sight of the Center, so Bryce dropped her and me off while he and Kai went to find parking. Lacey told me as we walked into the lobby that the boys wanted to do a couple shots at the car before coming in. I raised my eyebrows.

“Don’t give me that look, Jenny. Bryce’ll sober up by the end of the concert, and anyway you or I can always drive.” This was certainly true, and I was relieved about that.

After hitting the restroom we waited for the boys in the large white lobby. We were both wearing jeans and ballet slippers and I had on a black t-shirt while she was wearing a red tank top.  The boys finally showed up and they were slurring their words enough that clearly they’d done more than two shots each. Bryce threw his arms around me in a sloppy hug. Some girls were checking him out and I was happy he was with me.

We reached the floor of the arena after the opening act had finished. When Katy Perry finally came on the stage I was excited and ready to dance. Truthfully, although I’d defended her to Callum I didn’t love her music. I was happy to see a performer at the top of her game though. We got pushed around a bit as the crowd rushed toward the stage, and I got separated pretty quickly from the others. After trying to spot them in the dark and crowded space, I gave up and let myself get carried away by the music, figuring I’d find them after it ended. It was a good show and I sang along and danced my ass off. I kept my eye out for Lacey and the others when I thought about it but never did see them.

When the concert finally ended after her encore, I moved with the crowd to the lobby, looking around expectantly for my friends. There were loads of people but Kai and Bryce were tall enough that they would have stood out. I texted Lacey but got no response. Same with Bryce, and I didn’t actually know Kai’s number. Very frustrating indeed! It was close to 11 and I was really ready to go home now, and the extra wait was pissing me off. It was hot in the lobby with all the people pouring out and so I walked outside to get some fresh air. I remembered that I didn’t know where Bryce had parked so I was really and truly stuck.
Goddammit
.

I’d seen Kai and Bryce continue around the corner after they dropped us off before the concert so it occurred to me that the Suburban could be somewhere around the side of the building.
They should be there by now
. I strode down the street, turning right on 3
rd
Street. I glanced down the first cross street but couldn’t see Bryce’s Suburban in the distance, so kept walking down 3rd. Things got really quiet, and I was at the train tracks. This couldn’t be right. I tried Lacey and Bryce again, but got no answer. A beat up pick-up truck drove past, slowing right down as the driver and passenger, two sketchy looking guys, looked me over. I started to get creeped out. I did the only thing I could think of. I called Callum.

Please answer please answer
. After three rings he picked up. Relief flooded me. “Are your ears bleeding?” There was loud music in the background.

“Ha ha. Are you still near the Center?”

“I’m a couple blocks away. What’s up?” He sounded concerned, perhaps picking up on the panic in my voice. Now it was quiet on the phone, and I figured he must have stepped out of the bar.

“I’m really sorry to bug you but I lost my friends and I’m standing on 3
rd
Street and feeling a little freaked out right now. It’s really dead around here.” My voice cracked.

“Jesus. OK stay put. I’m coming to get you. You’re on 3rd south of Jackson?”

“Yeh right by the tracks.”

I hung up, feeling better, when I saw headlights coming towards me down the street. I knew somehow it was that truck again. I started to walk back up 3rd toward the Center but had only taken a few steps when the truck pulled up next to me. I glanced over as the passenger, a thin reedy guy with long hair and lots of tats, climbed out. The driver had turned the engine off.
Oh shit
.

“Hey darlin’, where you goin’?” He was moving toward me on my left as he talked, slowly but steadily.

I edged away, not wanting to turn my back on him. “Leave me the fuck alone,” I said firmly. I read somewhere you shouldn’t show fear in such a situation.

Then the driver got out and started coming toward my right side. He was taller and meatier than his buddy, with a shaved head and a determined look on his face. That’s when I got really panicked.

“Comin’ for a ride with us?” Skinny guy’s voice was coaxing but had undertones of something more sinister.

He had been moving slowly but he suddenly rushed me and grabbed my arm, hard, yanking me in the direction of the truck. I struggled to shake him loose and tried to take a swing at him with my free right arm, but he dodged me, holding on with a punishingly tight grip. His big buddy was just about to grab my right arm when headlights appeared in front of us and a car pulled up fast right behind the truck.
Callum’s car
. A spark of hope shot through me.

The guys swung around to look at the car and I kneed Skinny Guy in the balls. He doubled over groaning and let go. I scurried out of reach. Callum meanwhile had sprung out of the car with a crowbar which he immediately whacked hard against a metal telephone pole, causing a loud banging sound that made me and Skinny Guy jump, though big guy was unfazed.

Callum strode forward with the crowbar and shouted, “Get the fuck away from her and get the fuck out of here! NOW.” He didn’t pause, striding toward them and raising the crowbar over his head, clearly with no qualms about using it on them. The guys saw the same thing I did and scurried to their truck, clambered in, and, after stalling out once, drove off.

I was shaking uncontrollably. Callum dropped the crowbar on the sidewalk with a clatter and took me in his arms, holding me tight. I buried my head in his chest, and the tears started pouring.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his head in my hair.

“Why are you sorry? You saved me!” It came out muffled as I was still burrowed in his chest.

“I should have gotten here sooner. I shouldn’t have told you to stay put. I should have said walk back to the Center.” His voice sounded distraught.

I had to reassure him. “Those guys had already scoped me out before I called you. I never would have made it back to the Center before they stopped. Please, I mean it, you saved me, maybe even saved my life.” I’d put myself in this ridiculous situation, and dragged him away from his friends’ show. I realized I was pathetic after all.

I started crying again, and he hugged me tight. We stayed like that for a few minutes, until the shaking stopped and I was no longer crying like an idiot.

“We’ve got to go to the police.” His voice was muffled by my hair.

I pulled away to look at him. “I really just want to go home.”

He took my shoulders, the look in his eyes steady and his voice firm. “Jenny, we have to report this.”

He was right and I knew it. I had to man up and do this. I had been lucky: those guys might find some girl to prey on who couldn’t get away.

“OK, but I didn’t even notice the license plate.”

“The truck didn’t have one. But at least we can describe it- and them.”

I followed Callum to his car. He opened the door and I climbed in. I was staring at my lap when he got into his seat. He looked over at me.

“Can I just ask, where in fuck’s name are your friends?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. We got separated as soon as the concert started and I couldn’t find them after. I haven’t been able to reach them.”

“Unfuckingbelievable,” he muttered as he started the engine.

Just then my phone rang. Lacey.

“Jenny oh thank God we’ve been worried sick. Where are you?” She sounded genuinely upset.

“Its OK. I’m fine now. What happened to you guys?  I’ve been trying to reach you ever since the concert ended.”