don't thank me

2

As it turned out, the lucky individual on the soccer team who I had agreed to tutor was none other than Zac Miller. 

It could have been anyone but to my lack of luck, I happened to be stuck with Zac Miller. 

Don't get me wrong—I don't know him well enough to judge him. I only knew the things I had seen and heard. I wasn't typically a judgemental person—at all but I really believed that nothing good could come out of me tutoring Zac Miller. 

Aside from him passing the class and being able to stay on the soccer team, of course. 

I just—he was the last person I'd want to get involved with. From the things I had heard, he wasn't a good person. 

"Miller," I mumbled, my eyes narrowing slightly. "What can I possibly do to assist you?"

He looked at me for a moment, a grin etching its way onto his face. He was amused by the frustration he could see hiding behind my eyes. "Well, that's just it—you're my new tutor, Bloom."

I gaped at him. I didn't even know how to react.

This was bad. 

"What?" I almost didn't believe him.  

Zac quirked an eyebrow. He didn't bother hiding his amusement, seeing the stunned look on my face. "What do you say we hit the books?" 

"Right now?" My eyebrows raised. I was—completely baffled. 

He nodded nonchalantly. "Yes." 

I blinked a few times, regaining a train of thought. "What? No—I'm busy." 

I turned to my car when he took hold of my arm and stopped me. "Don't walk away from me." His voice had grown cold and firm. 

I pulled my arm out of his grasp, turning to look at him again. I wanted to snap—to tell him I could do whatever I wanted. But this was Zac Miller and I was utterly afraid to snap at someone like him. 

I didn't like how intimidated he made me feel. 

My jaw clenched as I looked at him, waiting for him to speak. 

"My house—let's go." He nodded his head towards his car. 

My eyebrows drew together as I shook my head hectically. "I told you—I'm busy right now." 

Zac narrowed his eyes at me. "Really? With what?" 

My mouth clasped shut. I didn't have a response—I wasn't good at lying. 

His lip tugged upwards in a smirk. "That's what I thought." He turned to walk to his car. "Let's go, Bloom." 

"Wait! I have my car—I'll just—I'll meet you there." 

He wasn't taking no for an answer, I was too afraid to say no anyways—and I did have to tutor him. I may as well get it over with as soon as possible. 

And I did not actually have plans. 

Zac exhaled slowly when he looked at me again. His eyes were icy cold and stoic. "No need—let's go." The firmness of his voice made a shiver run down my spine. He didn't wait for an answer, already heading to his car. 

I was too afraid to argue with him—so I silently followed him to his car and got in. 

The car ride was silent and uncomfortable. He didn't speak to me once. His arrogant, cocky, constantly-smirking self had vanished—now he was cold and distant, emotionless and not seeping a single emotion. 

I wasn't sure which one I hated more.

When he pulled into his driveway, he silently shut the car and got out without saying a word. I had no better option but than to follow him inside. I didn't know what else to do. 

"You have a nice home." My voice as quiet as I glanced around, almost afraid he would yell at me for just—looking at his house. 

This all felt very awkward and uncomfortable. I had to say something to lighten the mood if I was going to be stuck with him. 

Zac nodded but didn't say anything in response. He started walking so I followed him into the kitchen. 

"Do you want anything—to eat or drink?" He didn't look at me as he asked. He opened the fridge, his eyes scanning the shelves. 

My mouth fell agape. He couldn't see my face right now—which I was thankful for. I couldn't help it. Who would think Zac Miller had the decency in him to ask me if I wanted some food or water? Wow.

It was basic human decency but I wouldn't have bet on Zac having that. 

I quickly cleared my throat. "No—I'm okay. Thanks."

"Suit yourself, Bloom." He grabbed himself a water bottle, then walked right past me. I felt like I was chasing after a pet. I quickly followed him as he led me up the staircase and opened a door, revealing his room. 

I wouldn't have known what to expect, but it wouldn't be this. 

His room was clean and organized. The walls were light grey, a large bed in the middle of the room. A flat screen tv laid on the wall across. A dressed against one wall, two recliners diagonally facing a large windowed door that led to a balcony. He even had a bookshelf against one wall. 

It just—wasn't what I would have imagined. It was mature and sleek—not dark and messy with posters of nude women on the walls. 

I hid the surprise on my face as I walked into his room. Zac closed the door behind me. 

"Take a seat—wherever." He muttered dryly as he walked over to his bed and sat down. "Let's just get this over with." 

Bipolar, much. 

I was confused by his switching personalities. One moment, in the parking lot—he's annoyingly arrogant and smirking, utterly amused. The next moment, he's cold and guarded and looks like he'd much rather be trapped in a sewer than be here with me. 

I inhaled sharply as I sat down on the end of his bed and pulled my books out of my backpack. "Okay—balancing equations." 

-

It was eight pm—I had been tutoring Zac for the past four hours. We studied the whole time—excluding the point where Zac started throwing chips at me while I was trying to explain things to him. He easily got bored or distracted—finding it more entertaining to throw food at me. We ended up laughing—which was more than I would have expected. 

We didn't much about anything but chemistry. He complained and groaned nearly the whole time—about nothing making sense to him. 

I was impressed at myself for being able to stay so calm and patient, doing my best to explain in a way he would understand. 

I stood up and started putting my books back into my backpack. "This was—progress. Kind of. You still have a lot to learn before the semester ends." 

Zac laid on his side on the bed, his elbow propped up with his face leaning in the palm of his hand. 

He peered at me, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Then it's good that we have a lot of time, love." 

I refrained from rolling my eyes. He was like this with all girls, it didn't phase me. 

However, I was confused—he had gone back to his annoyingly arrogant, flirty self. I figured it would be a bad idea to question him on his personality switches. 

"Why are you leaving?" He asked nonchalantly, the question taking me by surprise. 

I looked at him. "What—we're done studying."

He shrugged as he sat up. "Right—but you haven't eaten a thing all day."

I blinked.

He noticed that?

"I—uh—" I sputtered. He surprised me, often. "I'm not hungry." 

Zac narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Right—sure. We could study more." 

I laughed softly as I zipped up my backpack. "My brain is tired of reading chemical compound names." I glanced at him quirking an eyebrow. "How are you suggesting we continue—you're the one who's been complaining this whole time."

Zac shrugged lightly, glancing elsewhere. "Like you said—we have a lot of work to do." Again, he tone shifted to become more impassive. He was impossible to read. 

"We can continue tomorrow." I suggested. "I have to be somewhere." I swung my bag over my shoulders.

"Where?" Zac stood up when I headed for the door.

I turned to look at him, narrowing my eyes. One second he couldn't spare me a second glance, the next he would be utterly interested. I couldn't understand him. 

"That's your business—how?"

Zac rolled his eyes at me. "It's a Monday night. I didn't think you were one to be out right now—nerd." He shifted on his feet, scoffed and looked away from me.

I raised my eyebrows, laughing humourlessly. Of course—like everyone, Zac saw me as nothing more than a know-it-all nerd. 

That bothered me. 

"Funny—apparently nerds can also have a life." I shook my head and turned, walking out of his room. Screw him.

Zac followed me down the staircase. "You do learn something new everyday." He joked. "Where are you going?"

"I told you—I have plans." I ignored him as I slipped my shoes on. He stood behind me, watching my every move.

"Where? With who?"

Nosey, much.

"With half the school." I sighed, turning to look at Zac tiredly. He was persistently annoying. "Tyler's party—I'm sure you know more about it than I do.: 

Zac's eyebrows pulled together.  "You're going?" 

I rolled my eyes. 

Of course—Zac thinking I'm nothing but a nerd, he probably assumed I would never go to a party. God forbid a nerd has a social life. "Yes, Zac. I am going—if you let me leave." 

I pushed past him and opened the front door, my heart beating frantically in my chest. Whenever I seemed too snippy with him, I would always feel panicked. I didn't know why why I was afraid of him. 

He looked down on people—surely also believing I was nowhere near his standards. 

He has a bad temper. I had seen it before—him snapping at someone who accidentally bumped into him, never being afraid to throw a punch. I didn't want to do anything that would get him angry. 

I glanced at him. He looked hesitant, like he wanted to say something but refrained from doing so. 

Zac took a moment before slipping on his shoes and following me out of his house. 

"Where are you going?" 

"To drive you home." He didn't look at me as he walked to his car. 

"I can walk." 

"Get in the car, Bloom." 

"No—really. You don't have to—" 

Zac turned to look at me, his expression impassive. "Shut up and get in the car, Jasmine." He stood by the driver's side door, his eyes flashing with exhaustion and agitation. 

Jasmine. 

This was the first time he had actually called me by my name. 

He had been calling me 'Bloom' all day—which I didn't understand. This was the first he was calling me Jasmine. 

I snapped my mouth shut and silently got into the car. He was evidently annoyed at me. I didn't want to make anything worse. 

"Just drive me back to the school." I stared at my hands, my voice quiet. "I can pick up my car." I didn't want to waste his time, having to drive me all the way home which was much further than the few minutes it would take to get to the school. 

"Give me your address." 

"No, really. The school is only a few minutes awa—" 

Zac cut me off again, sighing deeply. "Just give me your address, Bloom. It's late. You shouldn't be driving." 

I blinked. 

Was Zac—concerned? About me? 

No, he was just controlling. He's Zac Miller—he just wants everything to go his way. He wants the final say.

Sighing, I gave him my address. There was just no point arguing with him—I learnt that quickly. 

A twenty minute car ride filled with awkward discomfort later, Zac pulled up on my driveway. I grabbed my things and opened the door, pausing before I got out. "Thank you—for the ride." 

Zac looked out the window, the opposite way from me. "Don't thank me." 

I blinked, feeling unsure. "See you around—I guess." 

I stepped out of the car when Zac stopped me. "Bloom—uh—thanks. For tutoring me." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, evidently not good at saying thank you. 

A smile tugged on my lips.  "Don't thank me." 

I reiterated his words. As I closed his car door, I could have sworn I spotted a smile twitching on his lips.