Tutor Me (21 page)

Soon after, Callum drove me back to school. He hopped out and walked me the three feet to my car, then kept kissing me there in the now empty parking lot.

“So what’s tomorrow going to look like?”

He kissed me on the forehead. “What do you want it to look like? I’ll carry your books and shit, if that’s what you want, or we can keep it on the down low. I know you’re mine and I don’t give a shit about the rest of them.”

I snuggled into him, my arms wrapped around his waist. “Let’s just play it by ear, OK? I’ll call you later.”

An hour later I called Lacey, having just gotten back from an unpleasant if predictable scene at Bryce’s house. The only surprise was that Lacey hadn’t told him about my leaving with Callum earlier, so the breakup was entirely unexpected. He was seriously pissed about being dumped, especially when I had to admit, when pressed, that Callum was involved. But then he called me a cunt and accused me of ‘whoring around’. After that any lingering guilt I felt about my treatment of him disappeared. However painful the conversation was, I had no regrets about my decision and I realized I should have ended things with Bryce long ago. Lacey was another matter.

The call to Lacey went to voicemail. “Please call me. We need to talk.” I texted her with the same message.

I called Tina and poured it all out, but ended the conversation soon. “I have to try to reach Lacey. I’ll call you later.”

“You realize that your friendship with Lacey might have taken more than just a hit, right? It might be over.”

I sighed. “I know.”

It had been such an emotional day that I soon felt exhausted. Pushing through the exhaustion I did homework until my phone finally rang with Lacey’s ringtone.

“Hi.”

She got right to it. “What did you want to say to me?”

“I broke up with Bryce.”

“So I heard. From Kai.”

“I’m with Callum.”

“I figured, after what went down this afternoon. By the way, your boyfriend is very lucky: the football team isn’t going to beat the shit out of him, because the Dixon boys complained to the coach about the beating at Alex’s, and so the coach has Bryce and Kai and the others on a very short leash.”

I was very relieved to hear this. But there was more I wanted to say.

“I know you hate Callum but I want you to know that I really care about this guy.”

“Jenny I don’t give a shit about Callum. The problem here is that I’m supposed to be your friend and you didn’t tell me
anything
. It’s like you never trusted me.”

I sighed. “You’re right. You were so hostile toward Callum that I couldn’t open up to you. I wanted things to work out with Bryce, I really did. But the spark wasn’t there.”

I wanted you to go out with Bryce, sure, but if you’d been honest and said you weren’t interested in him I would have accepted that. You could have told me.”

“I did tell you, but you blew it off every time. You
always
defended him.”

“Fuck you, Jenny.”

I felt the tears come then, which hadn’t happened with Bryce.

Surprisingly, Lacey was still on the line. “If Callum was so important why did you never ask me about why I hate him so much?”

“I figured it was just you being judgmental.”

“Thanks for that. Have I ever said anything to cut you down? Have I?” It was true that she hadn’t. She was tough on other people and bossy as hell, but she never had made me feel bad about myself.

“OK you’re right, you gave me no reason not to trust you, but I just didn’t. And I’m sorry.” I paused, knowing the damage to the friendship was irreparable. “So now at least can you tell me your story with Callum?”

“You should just ask him yourself. But I’ll tell it so you hear my side, because I’m sure he’ll spin it in his favor.” I heard her take a deep breath. “It goes back to Freshman year. I was already moving in the popular crowd, hanging out with upper classmen. The social pressures really got to me then- I guess I was young and naïve in a way that I’m no longer. Anyway, I got detention after school once for some infraction and you know who was in there with me that afternoon?”

“Callum?”

Lacey snorted. “No, thank God. Matt.”

I was astonished. “Callum’s bandmate?”

“That’s the one. We got to talking, and he was so kind and funny, and yet with this underlying strength. He didn’t want anything from me, except just to be with me. I’d never encountered anyone like him. He was a junior then and couldn’t care less about any of the popularity bullshit that I was consumed by. I told him about how much I liked Drama but it wasn’t cool so I couldn’t do it and he gave me a pep talk about standing up to the dragons, as he called them. We talked for two straight hours and they had to ask us to leave when our detention time was up. Can you imagine? I think I was a little in love by the end of that day. I felt like he could save me, or at least make me strong enough to save myself.

“The next day at lunch I was sitting with my so-called friends and Matt walked up. He leaned over and- I’ll never forget this- he said, ‘come on, Princess, I’m rescuing you from the dragons.’ And he took my hand and led me to a different table. We sat together, just like that. From the looks on their faces my friends were completely floored, and so were Matt’s friends, including Callum. At the end of lunch Matt said he would skip his band practice to hang out with me that afternoon. But guess what happened? After school he bailed on me. Said he couldn’t let down his band like that. I found out later that Callum had torn Matt a new one for trying to choose me over the band, so Matt caved and chose the band of course. I give Callum points for strategy: coming down hard before things got deeper with us, because how could I, after 24 hours, compete with his childhood friends? Matt let me down gently but I could tell he was bailing on more than hanging out after school that one day. It was the end of us. The dragons let me back in after my momentary lapse in sanity, though it took me a good week to regain my position. For a while after that Matt would say hi if we ran into each other but then I got sick of waiting for it so I began ignoring him. I don’t think we exchanged one word the year before he graduated.”

“Are you still hung up on him?”

“NO. God no. I’m six boyfriends on from him. It never would have worked out anyway. But I’m pissed that whatever there was between us didn’t run its course, and that your fucktard boyfriend interfered.” I remembered now how she’d asked about Matt in a roundabout way. I had to admit that Callum had been kind of a shit, but there were two sides to every story.

“I’m sorry I hurt you with Callum of all people.”

“I’ll survive. Have a nice life.” She hung up abruptly.

The next morning at school I kept to myself between classes, successfully avoiding any fall-out from the break-up. Lunch would be another matter. I dreaded that moment of decision, tray in hand: I knew I was no longer welcome at Lacey’s table, but I wasn’t thrilled to sit with Callum’s groupies either. So I acted preemptively. I went straight to lunch after third period, rather than depositing my books in my locker. That way I would be one of the first people there and I would sit alone, and people could join me or not. In the near-empty cafeteria, I was heading to a table with my tray when someone called my name. It was Sandy Steampunk from the drama club party, aka Jamie. He was holding a tray too.

“So the shit with Bryce and Callum finally hit the fan, and now you’re a table orphan. Want to sit with me?” Either news traveled fast or he was ridiculously astute. 

I was about to tell him to mind his own business when I realized that I actually did want some company. So I just nodded and we walked to a distant table. As we ate Jamie was funny and cool and although he did pry, he didn’t take offense when I refused to answer his nosy questions about my personal life. He told me about the improv club, which shared a lot of members with the Drama club, and urged me to check it out, “now that you’re at loose ends socially.”

The cafeteria was filling up now but I didn’t glance around, as there was nothing to be gained from doing that. I didn’t expect a visit from any of the dragons (Lacey’s nickname had stuck) but I wondered like hell what Callum would do. I soon felt the electricity before I saw him and turned around to find him standing there next to me, holding his tray. He leaned down swiftly and kissed me on the cheek, and all at once I felt like I was going to melt. His gaze was intense and affectionate.

He asked simply, “Can I join you?”

Without waiting for a reply, he plopped down next to me, giving Jamie a quick smile.

“What about your friends?” I said, gesturing toward his usual table, where several girls were shooting daggers at us and Theo was watching with amusement.

Callum shrugged. “Where you go, I go. When you want to sit at that table, I’ll sit there with you, but if not, I won’t.” I squeezed his hand under the table, tears in my eyes at this sweet boy.

Jamie interrupted our gaze. “One table you two won’t be sitting at if this sentimental crap continues is mine.” Callum and I laughed and then talked more with Jamie, as his friends began to join us. Our table had another visitor that day, briefly: Charlotte. She came over to say hi and give me a hug.

“Let’s hang out, Jenny. Text me sometime.” I hugged her back, knowing that what she was doing was brave.

Callum and I had already agreed it was better to keep things on the DL in Calc so that Ferguson didn’t question the whole tutoring thing. So we stayed in our regular seats and ignored each other, or pretended to.

Drew leaned over at one point and whispered, “So I hear Caldwell is hot for teacher.” I smacked him on the arm and he retreated goodnaturedly.

Callum texted me after class:
See you for tutoring as usual?

I wrote back:
I was kind of hoping for an unusual session

When Callum opened the door to his house I flushed, my mind leaping ahead to what we could do in his empty house, and it didn’t involve math.

Callum gave me a wolfish grin and touched my cheek. “You’re blushing and all I did was open the door. What are you thinking about, my dirty girl?” Instead of stepping aside to let me in as usual he leaned down and kissed me. “This is what I’ve wanted to do every time you’ve come to my door.”

When we finally got inside I said. “I have to tell you I didn’t even bring the textbook.”

Callum was nuzzling my neck. He raised his head long enough to say, “That’s OK, I have mine.”

“What? You never have your textbook.”

“In fact I always had it, but sharing yours gave me an excuse to sit close to you. Anyway we’re not going to need a textbook today.” He took my hand and led me toward his bedroom.

As we lay spooning on his bed a little while later, his arms around mine, I brought up Lacey. He stiffened as I gave an abbreviated version of her story.

“Is that true, Callum?”

“Yes, it’s true, and I’d do it again. She failed to mention that she had
demanded
that first day that Matt skip practice to hang out with her. The first fucking day she was with him. If she was pulling that shit when all they’d had was a lunch, I knew once they fucked she would pussy whip him so bad he’d lose all his friends. That girl is toxic.”

“May I remind you that you skipped band practice yesterday to come find me?”

“If you’re toxic baby it’s too late for me, I’m already addicted.”

He began biting on my ear, and I could feel his hardness on my back, making me achy again. But I needed to finish my thought.

“I think she really cared for Matt for a time though. I would say give her a chance, but its moot since she and I are no longer friends.”

“I’m sorry but I’m not going to shed tears over that.”

I didn’t get to hang out with Callum except at lunch on Thursday, because that night he had a gig and I had homework. I survived the very uncomfortable football game on Friday when the only girl who spoke to me was Charlotte, and even the football players ignored me. I knew there were parties planned for after but no way in hell was I going. The odd thing was I didn’t care about being ostracized. Except for maybe Lacey, these people had never been true friends, and had ignored me all last year, so this felt almost normal. All the same, I couldn’t face the locker rooms after the game so I had kept my duffel bag on one of the benches at the edge of the field, and hurried to my car still in my cheerleading uniform. I drove straight to Callum’s house, deciding to shower there.

Callum had told me he’d be chilling at home after the late gig the night before. When I arrived I saw his bandmates’ cars there and suddenly felt self-conscious in my cheerleading uniform, which consisted of a halter top and a short flared skirt in the blue and gold stripes of our school, bobby socks and keds. To finish it off my hair was in two pigtails on either side of my head with ribbons in them. What a freaking cliché. I left the pompoms in the car. That was something.

I rang the doorbell but no one answered, and there was so much whooping from inside I doubted they’d heard it. I let myself in. In the living room Matt and Arjun were splayed out on the couch while Callum was in the recliner and Theo was in an armchair. Empty beer cans were strewn around, and there were several open bags of chips. All eyes were on the TV, watching a baseball game. The D-Backs were in the play-offs so it was a big game. Callum looked up and saw me first and froze, his eyes going white hot instantly. Then the other boys turned and looked at me, and I could have sworn they collectively held their breath for a moment. Somebody let out a low whistle. I felt myself flush.

Callum sprang up, his eyes locked on mine. “Game over. Everybody out. Except Jenny.” He was watching me with that predatory hooded look that made me want to sink to my knees in front of him.

There was a collective moan from the boys. “It’s the seventh inning and they’re tied for chrissake,” said Arjun.

Callum paid no heed. “Listen on your car radios. I’ll get the door for you.” He walked toward me and the door.

But no one moved from their seats, their eyes back on the game. The last thing I wanted was for these guys to resent me.

I touched Callum’s arm lightly, “Come on, let them stay till the end of the game.”

“See? Jenny wants us to stay,” said Matt.

“And you know what they say, ‘waiting makes the dick grow”-

“Shut up Theo.” Callum said sharply, but then relented. “You guys can stay for the next two innings but if it goes into extra innings be prepared to get booted out of here.”

Callum had walked over to stand by me. Now he took my hand and led me to the recliner where he’d been sitting, and I climbed on his lap. I was in heaven snuggled up against his chest, watching the game with his arms around me, one hand playing with my pigtails. He buried his nose in my neck, sniffing. I pulled away, shy. “I need to shower.”

“And change out of this uniform? No way. Besides, you smell fucking amazing,” he whispered. I sank back against him.

We didn’t stay in that position for long though. I could feel Callum getting harder against my ass and after a few minutes he whispered in my ear, “I’m sorry baby but this is torture. Let’s go to the kitchen.”

I hopped off him regretfully. In the kitchen I wondered what Callum had in mind as there was no door separating us from the living room. He turned to me. “You came straight from the game? You must be hungry.” I nodded, surprised.

“Do you like beef stew?”

“I love it. Did you make it?”

He looked sheepish. “No, my grandma dropped it off earlier: she knew the guys would be over for the game. We already ate but there’s plenty left over.”

He got a bowl out from the cupboard and scooped out a serving from the pot that was still simmering on the stove. He placed it on the table and grabbed a fork from the dish drying rack, and a paper towel. While I started eating he poured me a glass of unsweetened iced tea from a pitcher in the fridge, with extra ice.

“Callum this stew is delicious. Thank you.” I took another bite as Callum sat down in the chair across from me. I had automatically taken the seat I always sat in for our lessons.

I looked up to find him staring at me avidly. I wiped my mouth with the paper towel, suddenly self-conscious. “Don’t you want to watch the game?”

He shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “When you’re done we can go back out there, but watching you eat that stew is entertainment enough for me.”

I scoffed. “You must be seriously crushing on me to think me stuffing my face is attractive.”

“Baby I am crushing on you so hard I can’t even see straight.”

I gulped, suddenly out of breath. That game couldn’t be over soon enough.

The game ended finally and the boys filed out. As Theo left he said, “Man Jenny you are delectable in that get-up.”

Callum growled a warning at him. He chuckled. “I’m just calling it like I see it, no offense.”

“None taken,” I giggled.

As soon as the door shut, Callum pounced, lifting me up over his shoulder so my ass was in the air. I was expecting him to head to the bedroom but he carried me to the kitchen.

“Wait what are we doing in the kitchen?”

“You know what we’re doing.”

“But in the
kitchen
?”

“I’ve wanted to take you on this table since our first tutoring session.” He plopped me down on the table with instructions not to move and disappeared to the living room, returning with two cushions from the couch. He moved two of the chairs next to each other, a foot apart, along one side of the table, and placed a cushion on each. I watched his actions with my heart beating.

“You have this all worked out huh?”

“I planned this scene that first day. I have to say the cheerleading uniform is a nice addition to the fantasy.”

“So should I get undressed?”

“No the uniform stays on for the moment. Except for the briefs and panties.” He leaned forward to where I was sitting on the table and lifting the skirt, he tugged at the briefs to remove them. I put my hands down on the table to brace myself as I lifted my hips so that he could pull them off completely. His eyes raked over me where I sat with my pleated skirt pushed up. “I’m tempted to take you in this position, all ready for me, but we’ll try that another time. Can you kneel on the chairs for me baby?” His voice was low and sexy.

I did as he’d asked and he watched every move. I put first one knee then the other on each chair, supporting my weight with my chest lying on the table.

“You look so perfect there, waiting for me. Are you comfortable?”

I said “yes” in a small voice, so turned on I could barely speak. I looked over my shoulder to watch Callum stripping off his clothes, his eyes scanning my body. When he was fully naked, the sight of his muscular lean body giving me shivers, he came up right behind me to where my ass was in the air, and after flipping the hem of the skirt up so that my bottom was exposed, he began stroking me between my legs.

“You are dripping,” he announced with satisfaction.

I jerked toward his hand and the chairs shifted out, spreading my legs wider. “Callum I feel like I’m going to fall.”

“Don’t worry baby, I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.” He braced his feet on the outer leg of each chair to keep it in place. He kept rubbing me and soon I was keening under his touch, his other hand holding my left butt cheek firmly. Then he let go and I felt the absence. Looking back I saw him tear open a condom wrapper and quickly sheath himself. Then he was back, resuming his stroking while gliding his hard cock to my entrance.

“I’m not going to be gentle this time, Jenny.” He said through gritted teeth.

I was pushing my ass toward him now, desperate to feel him inside me. “Take me as hard as you want. I’m yours.” I said it huskily.

At my words he thrust hard into me, deep, and then, pulling back slow, thrust in hard again. When he pulled back I pushed back shamelessly onto him, trying to get him to come back in. He picked up the pace and, with one hand still working me over, and the other on my waist, he started pounding. My arousal built and built and I could hear myself moaning under him until I exploded in a strong orgasm, slamming my body back against him. The chairs had bounced and slipped around but through it all Callum never let me fall. After-on I came Callum grabbed my pigtails, one in each hand, and used those to guide his thrusting. It hurt a little but was a major turn This made me arch my back, pushing my head back and up. As he built toward his own release I felt another orgasm coming, so that a few moments later when Callum’s thrusts were at their most urgent, I exploded just as he did, our harsh cries filling the air.

The chairs had moved enough that I was practically doing the splits when we had finished, and I gingerly took my legs one at a time off the chairs and onto the floor. Callum’s arms were wrapped around me tight from behind, and we leaned together onto the table, my stomach on it while he lay across my back, panting.

Callum pulled himself up after a moment and deftly removed the condom, tossing it deep into the kitchen trash, while I stood up shakily, my legs sore. He took my hand. “Let’s go lie down on the bed.” 

“Let’s tidy up this kitchen first,” I suggested.

“I don’t expect my dad home but OK, I guess you’re right.”

We wiped down the table, put the chairs in their proper places, picked up stray articles of clothing and returned the cushions to the couch.

“OK NOW we’re going to the bedroom” Callum said impatiently.

I winked and raced past him. “Slow poke!”

He was on my heels and truth be told, could easily have tackled me in the hall, but let me make it to the bed before springing on top of me.

“What was that about poking?” His lean body was poised above me. He slowly removed the rest of the cheerleading uniform. “I’m keeping the pigtails in though.”

“What is up with this uniform? I thought you all hated cheerleaders but when I walked into your living room the guys looked at me like I’d come in a black lace teddy and crotchless panties.”

“Do you have those? Because if so, wear them soon. But yeh, we may hate the idea of cheerleaders but the uniform is sexy. And you in particular look spectacular in it, the way the top hugs your breasts and the peekaboo skirt reveals your athletic thighs. Yum. Didn’t you notice I rarely missed class on Fridays when there were home games?”

For a moment we lay in each other’s arms, quietly, him on his back and me with my chin resting on his chest. I looked up at him, feeling so much love for this boy that it was bursting out of me, and I just had to tell him. My heart beat fast. I was nervous because I didn’t know if he felt the same way, but I wanted him to know everything. I sat up, pulling back from him slightly.

He looked concerned. “What’s up?” He must have read the look on my face, scared but determined.

“I have something to tell you that may freak you out but I have to say it anyway.” I looked into his eyes and was encouraged by the warmth I saw there, but still felt like a bundle of nerves. I twisted my hands in my lap.

“What is it, Jenny?” he asked gently.

“I’m in love with you.” I looked away as I said it and followed up quickly with, “that might make you uncomfortable and don’t feel you have to reciprocate… I just had to get that off my chest.” Callum grabbed my hand and pulled me back down next to him. I hid my face on his chest.

“Jenny look at me.” His voice was soft. I pulled my head up, my heart soaring at his tone. “You sweet beautiful girl, I love you too. I wanted you all last year, and then since that first kiss I have been deeply and irrevocably in love.”

I was thrilled, but a little skeptical too. “You’ve been in love with me since the kiss? What about Noelle, Jessica, Melanie…?”

He shrugged. “I was just killing time till you came to your senses and realized how perfect we are for each other.” His face flickered concern. “You know they mean nothing to me, right?”

I did, but it was still good to hear. Our lips met and we began kissing, and it was even better than before as our love flowed freely between us. It was like we were trying to show each other how we felt.

“Are you ready for me?” His eyes were hooded and I could feel him hardening underneath me.

I showed that I was.

This time there was only him and me: we lost ourselves to the world, our eyes locked together, crying out each other’s names as we came.  I collapsed on top of him, both of us panting. In that quiet moment while our hearts beat fast and our breathing calmed, I heard the TV go on in the living room.

We looked at each other, on my face an expression of horror, on Callum’s, embarrassment. He mouthed the words “My dad.”
Could a person actually die of mortification?

We lay in silence for a moment, trying to regroup. Jesus we’d even left the bedroom door open. There was no way his dad hadn’t heard us. Unless he was deaf. Callum had never mentioned a hearing impairment but I could only hope.