Tutor Me (24 page)

Callum picked me up just before 10 on Sunday, to go to brunch with his dad and Sarah. I had put on a yellow sundress and wore my hair down and carefully straightened. The good girl look may have been a little overkill but the image of myself as the slutty cheerleader still galled me. I grabbed the bouquet of flowers I’d picked up earlier and then opened the door. Callum was wearing an Avenged Sevenfold t-shirt and jeans, making no concessions to the occasion. He smiled when I opened the door and leaned forward to kiss me.

“I missed you.” He grabbed my hand.

“I saw you like, two hours ago.” He’d been sneaking into my room and sleeping there most nights.

“I know. I’ve got it bad.” He didn’t look too upset about that, and I certainly wasn’t. “What are the flowers for?”

I rolled my eyes. “Remember? Your dad said the brunch was to celebrate Sarah’s birthday. So I take it you didn’t get her anything?”

By way of answer, Callum grimaced.

I smiled. “OK these can be from both of us.”

The restaurant was a popular place for brunch in Scottsdale that locals avoided during spring training but was chill the rest of the year. Bill and a woman who was presumably Sarah were already at a table. Callum had been holding my hand as we entered the restaurant and when we spotted them he gave it a squeeze, either to reassure himself or me. I squeezed back.

Both Bill and Sarah stood up as we approached. Sarah was petite with a pile of frizzy blond hair and warm eyes behind glasses. She had a friendly open face and I liked her immediately. I could tell she was nervous, which endeared her to me even more. I had thrust the flowers into Callum’s hand as we got out of the car, knowing they would mean a lot more coming from him, so he greeted her by giving them to her. It was an awkward hand-off but she looked really pleased. I sat between Callum and Sarah, while Bill was across from me. After introductions and a glance at the menus, an uncomfortable silence set in.

Bill cleared his throat. “Do you have to take that thing out to eat, or what?” He gestured toward Callum’s lip ring.

Callum shook his head in response, his eyes flinty. Not off to a good start.

When Bill spoke again after an excruciating pause, it was no better. “Well son, I haven’t seen much of you lately. What’s up?” He sounded accusatory and I flinched, because Callum wasn’t going to respond well to that either. Sarah glanced nervously at Bill, clearly realizing as I did that this was the wrong tone to take if he wanted to reconnect with his son.

Sure enough, Callum merely shrugged and looked stonily at the menu. I saw a look pass between Sarah and Bill and then Bill cleared his throat.

“That came out wrong. I meant to say I miss hearing your news, Cal, and would love to know how you’re doing. Please don’t shut me out.” His voice had softened, and the last part had a pleading tone to it.

I kicked Callum under the table and gave him a look probably not unlike the look Sarah had given Bill.

Callum smiled reluctantly, then seemed to warm up. “Things are pretty good, actually. I’m acing Calc, and doing OK in my other classes.” Both Bill and Sarah smiled at that.

“How’s the band doing?” Bill was clearly eager to ask his son as much as possible while they were on speaking terms. According to Callum, Bill thought the band was a waste of time so he was making an effort here to show interest.

“It’s good- we’re good.”

Since Callum didn’t seem prepared to elaborate, I decided to jump in for him. “Callum is being modest. They’ve had several paying gigs lately. They’re doing great.”

Sarah spoke up excitedly, “That’s terrific! Congratulations. Where did you play?”

Callum told them about the bars and the upcoming 50
th
birthday party, and they asked questions about his bandmates. Our food arrived and we were eating it when the topic came around to me.

“So, Jenny, you’re a cheerleader?” Bill kept his question studiously neutral, but I could tell he was curious about how Callum and I could have ended up together.

“Well, not anymore, actually. I just quit the squad.”

I could see them waiting for an explanation and was trying to think of a simple way of saying it without revealing too much when Callum piped up. “Some shit (sorry Sarah) went down with a couple football players and a cheerleader and Jenny stepped in and just took care of it. She and a friend. Pretty amazing.”

They looked surprised and interested but neither Callum nor I were going to go into detail so Bill tried another question.

“So, Jenny, are you a senior?” When I nodded yes, he continued.

“What are your plans after graduation?”

This question I could so handle after my upbringing. “I’m applying to a bunch of colleges in New England. Still waiting to hear, but my dream is MIT. I’ve applied early admission there and should hear back one way or another next month.”

I knew I was showing off but I was still anxious to correct the terrible impression of me Callum’s dad must have formed the week before. My words seemed to have worked as Bill and Sarah were looking at me with astonishment.

It was Sarah who spoke next. “How do you two know each other?”

Callum and I looked at each other. “She’s my Calc tutor,” he answered sheepishly.

Bill chuckled. “Now I understand why you’re getting an A in Calc.”

I blushed, but Callum laughed too and, slinging his arm around my shoulder, kissed me on the cheek.

“As Mr. Ferguson said, nothing like a little motivation.”

“He wasn’t thinking of this when he said that.” I gestured between us.

Callum gave me a funny look. “Didn’t I tell you? Actually, he was. He had noticed me watching you last year and purposefully paired us up.”

I rolled my eyes as Callum turned to Bill and Sarah. “I have had a crush on Jenny since last year.”

I spoke up. “I was apparently the only one who didn’t notice this. I wasted a lot of time…” I felt like an idiot for dating Bryce at all.

Callum looked at me tenderly, “It’s all good.”

Bill cleared his throat apologetically. “I hate to interrupt this, especially since Cal normally keeps his life under lock and key so I appreciate his openness today, but I have to ask this. Cal, what are your plans for next year?”

Sarah shot Bill a warning look.  He had done his best to say it in a conversational tone but I didn’t know how Callum would take to the question. I hoped he would tell them the truth. I gave Callum’s leg a supportive squeeze under the table. Callum was silent a moment. Sarah and I both seemed to be holding our breath. 

“I’m actually applying to music schools.”

If my answer to that same question had surprised them, Callum’s floored them. Their faces registered shock and then, unquestionably, joy.

“That’s wonderful news, son.” Both Bill’s and Sarah’s eyes misted over with tears. I felt my heart constrict. Callum’s rebellion had clearly been tough on them, and I guessed they had been worried sick. 

“Well, we’ll see if I get in anywhere.”

Sarah leaned forward, a fierce look in her eyes. “Callum, you’re the most talented student I’ve ever taught. You could do well at any program in the country.”

Callum looked embarrassed. He seemed to be debating something. Finally he spoke. “Thanks. Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with getting my application video ready? The schools all require it.”

Sarah beamed. “I would love to help you with that. Any time.”

I was thrilled for him but as he talked about his plans after graduation I felt a huge lump form in my throat. Ridiculous: he needed to follow his dreams, the same way I did. But the reality of it, what it would mean to be apart, was a kick in the teeth. I knew I wouldn’t be getting over this guy anytime soon. Maybe never.

As Callum drove me back to my house, he commented, “That wasn’t so bad.” His words were hardly effusive but I could tell he was pleased.

“They’re really nice and they both care a lot about you, Callum. Maybe they screwed up a bit for a while there but now they want to be a part of your life.”

I sank into silence, still hung up on what would happen with Callum and me next year.  There was nothing to say. I wasn’t paying attention to where we were going and so when the car pulled over in a park near Callum’s house I looked over at him in surprise.

“So, I didn’t tell my dad the truth about one thing, exactly.” He looked nervous, and gazed forward out the window, hands on the steering wheel.

“Oh?” I couldn’t imagine where this was going.

“I said I was applying to music schools as if I had a list of them, but I’ve decided to apply to just one school.” He looked over at me. “Berklee College of Music.” His eyes were intense, wary. He was putting himself out there.

My heart started beating like crazy, and my face broke into a huge grin. “In Boston? So, does that mean you and I will get to see each other occasionally next year, if it all works out?”

He was smiling now, relieved at my obvious joy. “I was hoping maybe more than occasionally.” He paused, the smile gone, and he swallowed before speaking again. “Jenny, I’m pretty sure you’re it for me.”

Elation coursed through me. “Good, cuz I think you’re kind of stuck with me.” I paused. “Wherever you go, I'll be with you. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you.” I unclicked my seatbelt and leaned forward to pull him toward me, not waiting for him to tell me the song or the artist. We’d be writing our own love song now.

Epilogue: Three weeks later

“Suck everything in or the zipper’s gonna stick. Jenny come on, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

Lacey was back to her endearingly bossy ways. It was the night of the Homecoming dance and we had about 10 minutes until Callum picked us up. Lacey had declared she would go stag but I’d convinced Callum to take us both. We were dressed to kill, Lacey in a short two piece gold lace dress that she rocked, and me in a short strapless red number with a sweetheart bodice. We were at my house, but Lacey had brought a suitcase’s worth of beauty products to get us ready, since she knew my supplies were limited. We were putting the finishing touches on our outfits when the doorbell rang. Callum. I descended the stairs slowly, because of my teetering heels.

Lacey hung back, letting us have a moment together. Even though after the Charlotte thing he and Lacey had a new respect for each other, they weren’t BFFs. She and I on the other hand were doing well, even better than before thanks to our newfound honesty. Charlotte was back at school and she and Lacey sat with us at lunch. Theo moved back and forth between the roadie table and ours. Lacey and Jamie had struck up a surprising friendship and Lacey was planning to take Drama in the spring. Bryce and Kai were keeping very low profiles. We half expected to have charges pressed against us but Lacey’s lawyer had helped us script our speech so well they didn’t have anything that could stick, while we could incriminate them in a heartbeat. The popular crowd still thought of themselves as popular, but they were the only ones who did. Mostly they were pariahs. I didn’t doubt that they would rise again, but for now they were dormant. The Homecoming Dance committee had even nixed having a Court this year. I’d heard Bryce and Kai were skipping the dance to go to Mexico for the weekend. Theo was taking Charlotte to the dance- just as friends- and we were meeting them for dinner beforehand.

I opened the door and my breath caught. Callum in an all black suit was out of control hot. “You clean up pretty nice.”

He was looking me up and down appreciatively. “Same goes for you. Have I told you how gorgeous you are?”

“Once, but you were kind of pissed at me when you said it.”

“Well I’m not pissed now, not in the least. Hypnotized, more like.”

He stepped forward and leaned his forehead on mine. “I don’t want to mess up your lipstick.”

“I can reapply.” 

We were kissing when I heard Lacey’s footsteps behind me. “Let’s roll. Charlotte’s already at the restaurant.”

We pulled apart but held hands on the porch. Lacey was looking down at her phone, texting, when she glanced up toward the street. I watched as her face blanched. I swung around quickly to see what had caused her reaction. There was Matt, leaning against the limo, in a charcoal gray suit, his arms crossed and a crooked grin on his face. His dark blond hair was smoothed down and tucked behind his ears and the beard was gone. His eyes were locked on Lacey. I shot a confused look at Callum.

“Escorting you two was too much for me to handle on my own so I enlisted a friend. Hope that’s OK.” He was smirking.

“It most certainly is not OK.” Lacey’s voice was acid. She rounded on me. “Did you know about this Jenny?” Her face registered fury and alarm.

“No I swear- I would have told you if I’d known he was planning this.” We both cast an accusatory look at Callum.

Callum didn’t look guilty. “I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you. Just relax. It’ll be fun.”

Lacey’s eyes were sparking and I could tell she was livid. “First I’m going to send him away, and then I’m going to tear you a new one,” she snapped at Callum.

She stalked down the steps, her hands in tight fists. Matt stepped forward. I started to follow right behind but Callum grabbed my arm to hold me back.

“Give them a minute.”

“Are you crazy? This is going to be a train wreck.”

“Matt thought this might happen, and he told me he could handle this, so I’m going to let him. He’s the one who came up with this idea.”

This was going to be so bad. I couldn’t believe Callum had gone along with it.

We watched with apprehension as Lacey came to a stop in front of Matt. She started speaking, and though I couldn’t hear the words, I could feel the anger pouring off her from here. She pointed down the street and stamped her foot. Matt had his head tilted to the side, a smile on his face, watching her. Then he did something surprising. He leaned his head back and laughed long and hard.  Still chuckling, he grabbed her hand and, dipping his head, brought it to his mouth and kissed it, not just once but covering it with many small kisses. She stayed still as a statue, her head tilted down, apparently watching him. I couldn’t see her face, but she didn’t take her hand away.

He straightened and took a step closer, saying something to her soft and low. Then he tugged her gently toward the limo and opened the door. She hesitated a moment, then climbed in.

Matt looked back at us before stepping into the limo behind her. “Whenever you’re ready.” His voice was triumphant.