"Do you get it? X will be replaced by 3 here."
"It's up 3 hours already. Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"Not until you solve this problem." It was another boring afternoon with Nolan tutoring me.
3 days have passer after the date with Grace. We have been chatting and talking over the phone for a while now.
"Where are you lost at?" "Huh?" "I told you to solve it."
"I'm too tired.... Can we just leave this now? I will give you hot wheels."
"Hot wheels?"
"You have a collection right?"
"And how do you know that?"
Oh shit! I just dug my own grave.
"Every guys has hot wheels!"
I ignored me. "Never mind. I will leave today. Don't forget to do your homework."
Thanks god.
I hopped on the bed as I took out my phone. 8 text messages. 4 of them are from Grace.
Hey
Text me back when you get this.
Are you alive?
Mr. Carter?
Haha.
Hey, sorry. I was studying. Took me a while to text back.
3 minutes later I got a reply.
You're studying? In summer vacation? You're a bigger nerd than you call me.
Lol
You wanna go out?
Are you asking me out on a date?
Precisely.
Sure, why not.
If this was from 3 months from now I wouldn't have went out with her like this. Why was I getting so worked up. She came in my life like a storm. No that so many things happened, but it did change my routine for that summer. Studying with Nolan was never fun.
And by chance this rain had brought them two encountering at my place.
They had introduced each other.
Nolan seemed to get impatient as he wanted to go out without an umbrella. But I had to stop him somehow. Things really do change in times. I might have gotten nicer towards him by then.
I could hear the rain drops splash on the glass making a soft sound. The living room was so quiet that I couldn't tell people were there...so peaceful.
But some formalities got me there. Where did I get that I wonder. Thinking if coffee were enough for them. I left them at the living to get some doughnuts and coffee. I might have not expected anything awkward between us as the atmosphere was too low.
Nolan left with an umbrella as the rain calmed down a bit. I called a taxi for Grace.
Hugging a pillow, I wondered if I had enough stuffs to do that makes sense. It was a boring evening. Things were getting normal with Nolan now. I came to find, he was understanding, dissing a little chit-chat while studying. He might have dragged stuffs about him as well while trying to get me talk about myself. I was insecure. What if he gets bored. He won't like me talking all about myself. I didn't want that. I had to act like a listener around him and prepare my lessons.
Sometimes he would run late with some peaches or apples wearing the same T-shirt or jacket. Someday he might forget to bring his wallet. I would hold my chin and look at him getting short panic attacks. It was interesting.
The encounter between them might have been a great coincidence for meeting all the three days Grace had came to my place. They were talking in the living, laughing sometimes. Grace would talk about her problems or his difficulties of living alone. I got them some coffee and stayed silent. Nolan put a sharp gaze at me. What was that? Bringing some fries for them from the kitchen I understood the meaning behind it.
I felt nothing for a couple of moments from the door as I saw both of them on couch, over each other.....was it? I walked in, put the plate on the table. They had sat properly already, awkwardly. Why are you sweating?
Grace had run out the house saying nothing.
Nolan was there, looking downwards, holding his knees then looking up at me, finding my gaze right at him.
"Have some fries." I pushed the plate towards him. Was he startled?
"Do you get it?" "What?" "I didn't do a thing."
"What is the reason behind you convincing me?" He left a surprised look. He looked like he was going to say something but stopped.
"You did what you wanted to."
"Do I get to explain?"
"I hate explanations."
It was all quiet again. I found myself looking at the ceiling. I'm not sure whom to blame for what just happened. The tension between Nolan and I was getting away until something barged in. I had finally found an excuse to get rid of him.
Nolan didn't come the next day. Guessing he was too embarrassed to show his face. But that didn't last long. He was back again. Talking with my mom, laughing and looking at me from the couch, calling my name. He was already a taunt to me. Things went as they were at first. I didn't call Grace for a week and never felt like to. Talking over that matter and listening to her explanation seemed really boring.
Nolan would try to act normal but not getting the support from me, he would stop. I would watch his face then, lifting up my chin and putting a hand under it, the face at front of me looked nervous. I was bored to cope up with him. Hearing he would tutor me even after summer vacation didn't make me worked up. By then, dad would be home and I will be able to resume my plan. I was disgusted.
The end of the summer vacation was right in the corner. I contacted Grace a couple of times assuring her to meet at school after vacation. She didn't try to explain things even for once. Brian was already back from UK. Guessing it was hectic for both him and I.