Charlie

Today is supposed to be mine and Olivia's second to last job hunting job, and for some reason that fills me with dread. I don't want our time together to be over. I know that once we find a job for her she won't want anything to do with me. This was all only temporary, and I got attached.

I sigh and bring my attention back to the math lesson my teacher is teaching. Somehow math seems better than thinking about my time with Olivia. But as I try to pay attention the numbers slip past me. I just don't have the energy to focus.

My leg starts to bounce as I read the clock that hangs above the board. Fifteen more minutes. I can do this. I just need to focus, and once the lesson is done I can ask Naomi to be my tutor and then she'll help me and I'll be back to a passing grade for math. She might even be able to help me with Olivia. She could tell me how Olivia feels about me.

My heart flutters at the idea. Maybe there's a tiny chance of Olivia liking me back. And even if she doesn't I know she won't hurt me like Eva did. She's better than her. Right?

"Charlie?"

I jump in my chair as my teacher's gaze settles on me.

"Yes?"

"What's the answer?"

I didn't even have my hand up. My gaze shifts to the board behind her. 3x-5=15. "Uh... 7?"

She sighs. "Not quite. But close. It's 6.7."

I roll my eyes. It's not my fault I rounded. At least I was kind of close.

But apparently I wasn't close at all. Or even on the correct question because when I look back up the question I answered is buried throughout the bigger equation. My eyes roll out of my head as I try and comprehend what she's doing, but none of it makes any sense.

My savior comes a few minutes after when the bell rings. I slam my book closed and stuff it into my bag before getting up and almost sprinting over to Naomi's desk where she's just now standing.

"Hey Naomi!"

Her black braids swing around her as she turns in my direction. I dodge so I don't get hit by one of them.

"Charlie?" She furrows her brows. "What's up?" Her tone isn't mocking or rude, just plain curious. Which is fair since I've never really spoken to her.

I look down at my feet and shift my weight between them. God, this is the part I hate. "So, um. I haven't been doing too great in math lately and I need a tutor so I was wondering if-"

"If I could tutor you? Since I'm sure your first idea was Olivia but your parents didn't like that idea?"

I look at her with my mouth wide open.

Her gaze softens. "Was that not right? Was it too mean?"

I shake my head. "No. That was spot on. How did you know?"

She snorts, her meaner but not bully mean facade back on. "You're not hard to read, Charlie. I can tell you've fallen head over heels for her."

I look around to make sure no one is listening. "Shit. Really? I didn't realize it was so obvious. I didn't want the same thing to happen that happened with-"

She places her hands on my shoulders. Her brown eyes shut me up. "No. It's not as obvious as it was with Eva. No one knows or realizes."

"Then how do you know?" I raise an eyebrow.

She smirks. "Because I'm observant and like to keep tabs on my girls' love life. She's gotten three guys but only one of them has fallen super hard for her."

"Me?"

She rolls her eyes and nods.

"Is that a good thing?" I don't know why waiting for the answer makes me feel so anxious.

She quirks her mouth to the side as she seems to think about it. The longer she takes the faster my leg starts to bounce.

"I'm not sure," she says at last.

My hopes deflate. "How do you not know?"

Naomi shrugs. "I don't know everything she likes. But against the other guy she's currently into? I'm betting on you."

"Thanks? I think."

She grins, her teeth flashing as she does. "You're welcome." Then she gets a confused look on her face. "Sorry, you came over to ask me something. Right?"

I nod. "Yeah, I was asking if you could tutor me in math."

Recognition falls on her face. "Right!" She punches my arm. "Of course I can. When did you want to start?"

"Does tomorrow work?"

Namoi nods. "Yep! Do you want to study at the bakery?" She wiggles her eyebrows. "I know that Olivia is working tomorrow."

My face flushes. "That works." I just hope I won't get too distracted by her being there.

Naomi grins. "Great! I love being a wingwoman. I'll see you tomorrow then?" She flings her bag over her shoulder.

I nod. "Sounds good."

She grins and leaves the room.

After realizing where I still am I follow after her, looking forward to both tonight and tomorrow.

***

It is so tempting to take a nap right now. I've found the best position to sit in my car. It's the perfect temperature and I'm extremely tired. Plus, I have no idea when Olivia will show up and I have time to kill. But I'm not sure it's a great idea. Our 'appointment' is in less than half an hour. Which doesn't give me much time to sleep, and I don't want to wake up groggy.

So instead I just spend the time on my phone or keeping an eye out for Olivia.

When she does finally appear she isn't wearing her regular outfit of a cardigan, a white shirt and jeans. Instead she's wearing leggings, a little cropped sweater and sneakers. Her fiery hair in a high ponytail behind her head. I had no idea that she was a runner, and now that I do all I can picture is us going for jogs together.

I shake the image from my head and get out of the car. I cannot be fantasizing about her right now.

Not when this will all be over soon.

I wave to try and get her attention. When she spots me she grins and jogs over to me. She pulls earbuds out as she does and pops them into a case that was hiding in her hoodie pockets. "Hey," she says.

"Hey. How you doing?" I cringe at myself. I sound like a playboy.

Olivia shrugs. "Could be better. Had a test today that I don't think went well."

"That sucks." I lean against my car. Why do I do that whenever she's around?

"Hey." She looks between me and my car. "Mind if I stow my jacket in there? I don't want to go in looking like this." She gestures down at herself.

"What do you mean? You look pretty," I say before I can stop myself. But it's true. Why would she even want to take her sweater off? Sure she's got a jogging look going on but she looks cute.

Her face grows red and she ducks her head. Her foot kicks the ground. "Thanks but um... I don't think I look very professional right now."

"It's not like you need to be a professional. It's just a pet store."

She shrugs. "I want to look presentable though."

I nod. "Yeah, okay." I'm not disappointed. I'm not.

I unlock my car. I turn and look away as she takes her sweater off. The door clicks as it opens and bangs when she closes it. When I look at her again she's wearing a simple blue-ish green v-neck.

"Ready?" she asks, a grin back on her face.

I chuckle. "Of course I am. Are you?"