David's POV
After collecting my books I make my way towards Mrs. Banci's office, when I get there I notice that Joe is leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. I take the opportunity to examine the small boy. He has really curly sandy brown hair that hangs really low on his face, he isn't too bulky but I notice he has some muscles particularly around the leg area. His face has soft delicate features and long eyelashes that make him look adorable. Did I just call a guy adorable? He let's out a sigh which distracts me from my thoughts. He seems to be stressed but I bet it's just an act I mean what does he have to be stressed about, good grades?
"What, hard day? Difficult being a know it all?" I say without filtering out my thoughts he looks at me confused but I can't miss the look of offence that crossed his face. I didn't mean to sound so harsh but at the same time why should I care? I don't, right?
"Excuse me?" He asks clearly shocked I can't help but smirk at him and I dig my hands into my pockets. Mrs. Banci hurried up to us but I wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying, instead I kept glancing at Joe and the way he brushes his hair away from him eyes.
Once we reach the library I text my mum reminding her that I am working later tonight because of this tutoring session and that I'll be home late. I'm just about to put my phone away when Joe speaks up.
"If you need any help on the work sheets please let me know" I roll my eyes and get to work. These questions are harder than I expected, I scrunch my eyebrows as I think but I don't know how to answer the questions. I keep glancing at Joe subconsciously but I don't want to admit I need his help even after he offers it to me.
"Are you sure? I am here to help you" He says and I scowl at him because I know he's just saying that because he wants to show me how smart he is. I don't want to admit I need help but I can't exactly have blank answers if Mrs. Banci wants to check them. I shove my paper at him and he reads over the question, he explains it to me but I feel like he's mocking me by how slowly he asks me questions; like I'm a toddler or something. I do notice however that when I get something right he gives me a small smile and no matter how hard I try to ignore it every time he smiles something stirs inside of me. He continues to help me for the rest of the hour and when I check the time I notice that we have gone over time.
"Shit" I say if I don't hurry I am gonna miss my bus.
"Don't worry, we've only gone over five minutes" he has the nerve to say.
"Well maybe it doesn't matter to you but I have places to be" I inform him before I rush out of the library not bothering to say bye to Joe, I don't have time to worry about it I have a bus to catch. I sprint to the bus stop an make it just in time, I climb into the back panting and checking the time. I only have 20 minutes to get to my job, I work at Woolworths stacking shelves and produce. It's not much but it helps pay the bills. My mum has been struggling to keep a roof over our heads since our Dad up and left us 10 years ago.
I scramble off the bus and into the changing room and once I finished changing I have about five minutes to take a breath before my shift starts. I slump into a chair and rest my head in my hands, today was just too much.
"Woah kid, rough day?" Scott asks me and I huff in reply. Scott is my best friend at work, he's only 22 but he treats me like I'm a child sometimes I don't mind though, it's kind of nice.
"Yeah you could say that" I frown and he just chuckles.
"What happened buddy?" He asks while ruffling my hair.
"Oh you know, school. I have to stay on top of training for footy and my grades are still slipping and to top it all off my Italian teacher is making me do tutoring" I groan out and lightly tug at my hair, a subconscious act when I'm frustrated.
"Well what's wrong with that?" He asks and I frown again.
"My tutor is so annoying" I grumble again "He thinks he's so smart just because he's good at school" I reply dragging out the so.
"Mmm" he says and I scowl at him.
"What?" I snap and he raises his hands in surrender.
"Hey I didn't say anything. Now come on, your shift is starting" he claps me on the back and we make out way into the store.
____
Once I finish my sift and get the bus back home its already 10 o'clock. I throw my bag into my room and make my way to the kitchen.
"Mum, I'm home" as I enter the kitchen and she smiles up from the stove. Her hair is a mess and the bags under her eyes are only growing by the day, I wish I could do more to help her.
"Hey mi hijo" she greets me when I give her a hug.
"This smells so good" I reply glancing at her cooking and she gives me a tired smile.
"How was your day?" She asks me and I put on a smile.
"It was really good mum" I lie and she smiles again.
"That's good mi hijo" she said and stifles a yawn and I give her a frown.
"Mum you've been working all day, let me finish this and you get to bed" I tell her and she tries to refuses but after a few minutes she relents and goes to her room. I finish the cooking and as I'm packing it away into the fridge for dinner tomorrow night Esther comes in.
"Hey bro" she grabs a piece of food and popping it into her mouth.
"Why are you still up?" I ask and she rolls her eyes at me.
"You know you're only two minutes older than me, you don't get to big brother me around" she complains while she's hopping up onto the bench.
"Um I do have the right thank you very much." She rolls her eyes again but she's smiling at me.
"Well hermano, I was doing homework so that's why I'm awake. I have a business test tomorrow" She informs me swinging her legs. Esther is a good student unlike me, she works hard and it pays off. I try not to be jealous of her but sometimes I can't help it.
"Speaking of homework, how was that tutoring thing you had to do?" She asks and this time it's my time to roll my eyes.
"Excruciating" I reply dragging a stool and placing it in front of her and sitting down.
"Well that sounds dramatic, who was your tutor? Oh my God don't tell me it was Chiara?" She asks and I chuckle at her, Esther doesn't really like Chiara and she hates that he keeps trying to flirt with me.
"Honestly I think I would prefer Chiara and her constant flirting compared to Joe and his smugness" and she raises an eyebrow.
"Joe Moretti?" She asks and I frown, I didn't get his surname, it sounds kind of nice actually.
"I don't know Es, why do you know?" I ask her, hoping that Joe hasn't been trying to flirt with her. I am really protective of my sister and if I find out that he tried something, well let's just say he won't be able to tutor me for a while.
"I met his sister, Rosa, she's really nice. She actually helped me with business" she said absentmindedly swinging her legs around.
"Is she in our year too?" I ask since I haven't noticed any new girls in our year level however I have been spending extra time watching Joe, not on purpose of course.
"No, she's year 10 but she's in my business class" I roll my eyes.
"She's doing a year 11 subject, figures" I say with annoyance dripping from my voice.
"What are you taking about?" She asks while she stops swinging her legs mid swing.
"Nothing, it's just that it makes sense that she's a know it all too" I reply rather harshly and Esther frowns at me and brings her legs back down.
"Wow okay, you don't even know her. She was really nice, she saw I was struggling and just swooped in there." Making a swooping motion with her arm.
"Yeah I bet she was just rubbing it in your face that she's smart." I say with distain.
"What is it with you and people who are smart? You think they're all monsters that are trying to humiliate you." I scoff at that because I can't deny it.
"Well they are Esther" I try and argue and she chuckles.
"Please, you know it's the other way around. When is it ever the nerd bullying the jock?" She says and I just mumble knowing that she's right.
"Well whatever, he was annoying" I try and reason.
"Mhmm yep. I'm sure he was" She says sarcastically.
"You were not there" I say bluntly wagging my finger in her face and in response she rolls her eyes and hops off the bench.
"Whatever, I'm going to bed" She walks to her room after wishing me goodnight. I make my own way into my room and pull out my books. After 30 minutes of me yawning and not understanding my homework I close my books and get ready for bed.
Once I'm under the covers I close my eyes and drift off to an image of blue eyes and curly hair.