Chapter 10 Day One in Hell...I Mean Tutoring.

Raelynn

This has to be a nightmare or some stupid prank. Or maybe karma is finally catching up with me after all my running.

I can feel Grayson's gaze boring into the side of my head but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him.

"Please tell me he's not the person you've assigned as my tutor." I focus on Mr. noble my voice dangerously close to an embarrassing whine.

But it's either he doesn't notice or he has zero care in the world because he just ignores me and turns to Grayson.

"Grayson, you'll be tutoring Raelynn here in chemistry from today." He proceeds to tell the person beside me.

I finally glance at Grayson and wish I didn't. if looks could kill I'd be six feet under. His hands are stuffed in his pockets and there's practically fire blazing from his eyes.

"Yeah, no."

I scoff irritated. It's not like I want this either. "I don't want him either."

Mr. noble shares a bored glance between us before leaning back in his seat his arms crossed. "It's been decided. Raelynn, Grayson is the best student in all subjects not just in his grade but in the whole school."

My mouth nearly drops open. He...he has a brain?

A smug smirk tugs at his lips.

Mr. noble continues. "You don't really have much choice to be choosing."

I scowl. Thanks for the reminder that beggars can't be choosers you annoying, infuriating, downgrading...

"Well either way it doesn't matter," Grayson groans his voice curt. "I'm not tutoring her or doing anything at with her."

I don't forget to catch the last part of his statement and bite my tongue so I don't blurt back something stupid like. "Please I'd rather kiss a frog than do anything with you. Besides you were the one over me last night."

"Grayson." Mr. noble calls out, but Grayson doesn't respond he just keeps walking. "There will be extra credits."

I almost laugh why would Mr. noble think that will make him come back? But it actually does. Before I even realize what's happening Grayson is back to my side.

"How many?" he asks his voice gruff.

"Wha...what? are you serious right now?"

He scowls at me like the idea of me speaking to him vexes him. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Aren't you like the best student already?"

He grins but there's nothing friendly in it. "Yes sunshine, but I'm greedy. There. Now shut up."

Before I can respond Mr. noble interjects. "Depends on how much her grades improve."

Gray exhales sharply through his nose, he turns to me like I'm not worth his time, "meet me in the detention room in five minutes" I scowl at the command.

"Why not the library."

"Because, sunshine," He smirks. "Considering your grades, we're gonna have to be loud."

Without that he walks out. I glance at Mr. noble but he's already back to what he's doing. With a frustrated groan I hurry after Grayson.

***

I barely drop my book on the desk before Grayson's already glaring at me. he has his chair turned to face an empty desk with a chair in front of it.

"Took you long enough,"

I glance at the clock taking the seat opposite him. "It's been two minutes."

"Two minutes too long." He stretches his hand in front of him. "Note."

I scowl at the command but hand it over regardless.

"F*ck," he groans like he's actually in pain. "Did you write this? With like your hands?"

I shoot him a glare. I know my handwriting's messy but the way he says it you'd think it has no direction or something.

It doesn't really.

"You talk like yours could be any better." I snatch his notebook from the desk causing the hand he was resting on it to drop to the desk and from his groan it must have hurt.

Good.

I flip open his book and let out a bitter laugh. This is so unfair; unlike me his handwriting is a perfect cursive you'd think it's typed.

Flinging back his book to him I cross my arms. "Well at least I have a better..." I trail off not knowing what to say.

"Better what?" He leans back in his seat, giving me a once over his eyes stop at my neck and disgust creeps into his expression. "Is whatever you're 'better' at the reason why you're parading around with that."

My breath catches in my throat realizing he's talking about the hickey on my neck. I square my shoulders refusing to give him the reaction of covering it up even though my fingers twitch in embarrassment.

"Guess that's just a family trait, huh?" His voice is low, lethal. "Your mom spread her legs for an upgrade, and here you are-" He gestures vaguely at my throat.

My blood boils and I see red.

I slam my book shut. How dare him? he gave me this stupid mark and even though I didn't push him away, which I regret now, he's still the reason it's on me, yet he has the audacity to act like it's all me.

"Takes one to know one. Or do you think your mom got where she is by virtue of her personality?"

The moment the words leave my mouth I instantly regret it. truth is I have no idea what happened to Grayson's mum, all I know is she's not around and that's because no one talks about her like their scared to.

Grayson stills in his sit.

The tension in the room thickens. His jaw clenches so tight, I fear its going to crack. A muscle in his cheek ticks, his fingers curling into fists on the desk, the veins on his hands and forehead pops.

Then he slowly stands.

He looks like he's going to kill me. he has every reason to and no reason not to.

He takes a step towards me, then another, his body rigid like he's seconds away from exploding. The only reason I stay in my seat is because I can't actually bring myself to move.

His hands grab my chair with one hand and turns me to him. His lips part, but the words don't come immediately. His chest rises and falls in heavy breaths.

My heart kicks into my throat as he leans in just slightly, just enough that I feel the heat radiating off him, just enough that I swear I can hear his heartbeat pounding as hard as mine.

Then with his free hand he grabs my chin tilting my head up to look at him, in a quiet deadly voice he asks. "What did you just say?"

I part my lips, but words don't come out.

His grip on my chin tightens but not hard enough to hurt me just hard enough to know I shouldn't test.

And maybe I'm an idiot. Maybe I don't know when to stop. Or maybe I just hate the way he looks at me like I'm beneath him.

But I slap him.

His head jerks to the side slightly, and for a second, everything is dead silent.

I wait for him to say something else. To insult me again. To double down. But he doesn't.

Instead, he straightens, shoves his hands into his pockets, shaking his head. "You're not even worth it."

He turns and starts to walk away.

I exhale shakily.

"Wait," I say softer now, but he doesn't slow down.

"Grayson."

He keeps walking.

I scramble out of my chair. "I didn't mean-"

The door slams behind him.

I really did it this time didn't i? I run a hair, and settle back down in my seat.

Five minutes. Ten minutes. I just seat there. But then I hear it. a sharp sound like someone's stepped on something, it shouldn't bug me, but it does. Because my hands trembling, just the way it did two years ago.

"Hello?" I call out. Zero response and suddenly my whole nerves are alert. I can hear the way the wind blows through the window and even that frightens me.

Snap out of it Raelynn. You're imagining things.

I shake my head but start to gather my things quickly.

My trembling hands causing my pencase to fall, causing pens and pencils to scatter everywhere on the floor.

"Sh*t."

I bend to pick them up but a shadow behind me causes me to freeze. A hand grabs my shoulder.

I scream.