Sure Thing

"Amelia, what's going on?" Ashley asked as she walked beside her at school that day.

"What do you mean?" She looked over at Ashley, brought up to her height by her heels.

"I mean...I heard that you're not tutoring anymore."

"I never thought that would get around so soon."

"You can't do this!!!" Ashley hissed, drawing attention to them.

"Ashley, I have a sister to feed and myself. I was tutoring more than nine people—I have to plan the talent show as well as prepare for exams. I don't have the time for this...as well as a job." Then she lowered her voice, "If you need private sessions I can do that, free of charge even. But I can't do all of this."

Ashley nodded. Then smiled again, it baffled Amelia every time. "I was wondering when it would happen?"

Amelia looked up from her pencil case. "What?"

"When would you stop competing for Superman's role?" She reached to ruffle Amelia's hair that was simply pulled back today but a headband and slicked into a ponytail. She changed her mind before she saw Amelia's face. "Never mind. You'll have more free time now."

"Actually I thought I'd pick up some more shifts at work."

"Aren't the bills being paid at home?"

With the help of my grandmother.

Amelia nodded.

"And didn't you say you're done with tutoring?"

Amelia nodded again although this was harder to accept than she thought.

"So you'll have more free time—oh here he comes!" Ashley looked behind her, eyes wide and glittering.

"Here comes who?"

"This totally hot guy, he's in my class—you should hear his voice."

Amelia turned, her breath caught in her throat and her heartbeat stopped for a moment.

"Theo." She nodded to him, she could've sworn she heard Ashley's mouth drop to the floor.

"Amelia." He said warmly, he was hesitating. "May I have a word with you in private?" He looked squarely at Ashley who turned pink.

Amelia nodded. "Sure, across the hall." She opened the door to a classroom that was empty.

She turned around and sat down almost on the table for the teacher, looking at Theo who was adjusting his chequered sweater vest—today brown and mint green.

"What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"Sort of."

Her brow piqued.

He pulled his phone from his back pocket and opened it, apparently searching for something.

"'I regret to inform you that this week's sessions will be the last for the remainder of the school year. I'd like to get all my tutorees together for one final meeting so everyone in similar subjects can get acquainted, there will be someone for everyone in each subject. Library, our study table, Thursday at 3:00 pm. Please be punctual.'"

"Theo, I'm sorry. I know you're new here and was hoping to get a proper lay of the land but I..."

"That's not my issue." He shook his head, hair falling almost over his face. "What's your issue?"

"I wanted to ask you out."

Amelia blanched backwards, almost tipping over.

"Me? You wanted to ask me?"