Chapter 4 - Help Is Needed

Asher

Another 3 failed tests and I was ready to murder anyone in my way. Fallon sensed the anger rippling off me, and stayed clear for the rest of the day. Everyone did this until I ran into my asshole team, picking on Liam yet again. Normally I would ignore them and walk away, but I was feeling particularly bloodthirsty today.

They picked up on my mood during practice. Coach was loving my enthusiasm and asked me to keep it up. Fuck him. I was playing well because I was angry and ready to rip his head off. This was all his fault; threatening me before school even started and placing this enormous responsibility on me.

Not only that, but I had to deal with this shit from my dad at home as well. Constantly reminding me that if I fuck up, it would be tickets for me and my career.

Fuck.

“Hit the showers!” Coach bellows, signalling the end of practice and thank fucking God. I rip off my helmet and for some reason, my eyes flit towards the bleachers.

Liam was sitting there again with the beginnings of a hell of a shiner forming under his left eye. I seriously need to talk to these assholes about laying off the poor guy. Wait, why the fuck was I saying that? They would have my guts for breakfast if I had to become soft now. I pull my eyes away from Liam and I swear I could feel his eyes on me.

The cold water hits my hot skin and I could literally feel myself calming down. Why the hell was I so scared of losing my social standing in this school? Everyone here worshipped me. Surely they wouldn’t freak out if I had to let Liam tutor me, would they?

I hate to admit it, but I was going to fail this semester if I did not get help soon and Liam seemed to be the only viable option. The guy was a genius, and I heard today that he got accepted into three fucking Ivy League schools. What the fuck.

Making up my mind, I hurried out of the shower after realising that I had been stewing in my own self-pity for too long. The locker room was empty when I reached it and I threw a pair of jeans and a t-shirt on before slamming my locker shut.

Hopefully, Liam would still be on the bleachers, but when I go outside, I see him heading for the parking lot and I race to his Audi, the only one parked in the lot beside my SUV. I lean casually against his car and wait for him to arrive.

When I feel him near, I look up and I notice his face screwed up in a frown and his mouth open in a silent o. I couldn’t help but think of this as cute, but then as soon as that thought reared its head, I pushed it down.

Not again, Asher, fuck you.

“Asher?” he asks with narrowed eyes as he looks around the parking lot in fear. Oh, hell. Did he think I was there to beat him up? I held up my hands in palms up, a sign of surrender.

“Chill, Liam, no one else is here, just me,” I say, trying to sound reassuring, but I could see I was failing. He squared his shoulders and sighs, holding his books up to his chest as a defense mechanism.

“What do you want, Asher?” he asks in a defeated tone and I give him a proper once over. What happened to the genius who got three full-ride scholarships? The guy who was out of the closet and didn’t give a fuck what people thought about him?

I clear my throat, “I need your help,” I blurt out and see his eyes widen at this. Well, might as well get it out there.

“Uh, I’m not quite sure that I follow?” He says with a frown and I cross my arms in front of my chest.

“I need a tutor, well someone who can help me to not fuck up my grades any further, and the only person that came to mind was you.” I say honestly. I was originally only going to ask him to help me with that extra credit, but I soon realised that I need more than that. A lot more.

Liam’s face screwed up in mistrust. Obviously, it would - I was the head jock who did nothing while his dickhead friends made his life miserable.

“Why me specifically?” He asks, pushing his glasses up and wincing as they scraped against his tender nose.

“Well, why not you? You’re a genius who just got accepted into three fucking Ivy League schools. I would say you’re the obvious choice.” I say with a shrug and see a blush forming over the perfectly clear skin on his cheeks.

My mouth goes dry. He looked so fucking cute right now, and once again I had to kick myself at the thoughts forming in my head. What the fuck, Asher.

“Uh… thanks? I’m flattered, but you know I am a magnet for your friends, Asher.” He says pointing to his face. “What would they say?”

“No one would have to know, I’ll pay you even,” I say, realising what I had just implied.

“Why should I help you? You and your friends do nothing but make my life difficult when I’m just over here worrying about my own life.” He says, and I sigh. I knew this would come because it’s all true. I’m an asshole, but it’s not because I want to be. If I don’t show them my Alpha side, I would be the one in Liam’s place.

“I understand if you don’t want to help me, but I wouldn’t come to you if I didn’t need your help.” I say, then I add something I didn’t expect to, “Please, Liam.” Fuck, I was begging the gay guy to help me. Who the fuck was this person?

Liam’s mouth formed into a thin line. But then I saw a home run - he nodded! “Fine, but as long as I get to tutor you at my place. My mom is at the hospital most of the time and I can’t concentrate in busy places, especially not while tutoring someone. Which subjects are you struggling with?” He says in rapid succession that I get whiplash. I was still reeling over the fact that he said yes, but now he was already setting down rules.

“Okay, deal. Your place from tomorrow. It’s mostly Chemistry, History, Calculus, and Accounting that I struggle with.” I say and see him mentally taking notes of what I had just. He nods.

“Lucky for you chemistry is my major. Yes, tomorrow would be perfect as this is quite short notice and I have plans this evening.” He then takes out a pen and rips off a piece of paper before scribbling on it and handing it to me.

“My number, just in case we need to keep in touch or have any questions,” He says before walking towards the driver’s side of his car and getting in. He speeds away without so much as a backward glance. But for some reason, I am feeling extremely giddy. Finally! At least there was one worry off of my shoulders for now.

For now.