"William Campbell's been asking for your tutoring times again, Ashley. He's been quite pesky lately," Ms. Darian, the librarian, tells me as she takes off her glasses, later rubbing her eyes.

My blood runs cold as I blink rapidly a couple of times. William Campbell or known as Will to most people: The captain of the basketball team and probably one of the best players on it. An all-around CIF player and he's led the team to win two CIF's and he's going for a third this year as a junior. I've been avoiding him since I can remember after coming to Grandview High. And so far, I've been doing a terrible job at it. He's in five of my classes, which I have no idea how he's passing all of them right now.

"Tell him no. I'm busy," I finally reply as I turn around to pick up my backpack.

"Ashley, sweetie. Can you tell me why you keep refusing his request? William's not bad of a person. He has a very sweet personality and he's even willing to pay you money even though it's a free tutoring service," she persuades as I sling my backpack over my shoulder.

I gulp as I am bombarded by the same question again and I don't want to answer it. "I-I'm sorry, Ms. Darian. I don't think I can answer that question. I just have a preference for who I tutor and I am willing to tutor anybody else but him."

She sighs and closes her eyes in frustration. "He's willing to pay a lot of money and I think we need it for a new set of books for the seniors. Can you just do it for me? Just this once?" Ms. Darian is guilt-tripping me now. After all, she and I became pretty close after I came in as a new student earlier this year. She took me in and helped me get settled in this school.

I furrow my eyebrows in frustration. I must return the favor someway, somehow. She deserves it after she took me in and I had somewhere to stay, instead of sitting by myself every single day. Grinding my teeth, I finally utter out the words, "Fine, tell him I'll be free tomorrow."

Ms. Darian's frown turns upside down and grins as she heads toward the front desk. "Thank you, dear. You always know how to make me feel better."

I snort as I walk towards the library exit. "Anytime, Ms. Darian," I say sarcastically.

"I'll give Will your number and make sure to reply, Ashley. I don't know why you seem to hate him so much but just reply. He seemed desperate when he came here earlier this morning. Finals are coming and all he just needs is assistance. That's it."

I groan before I reach the doors. "Whatever. It doesn't matter at this point. I already said yes. Now send him my number before I change my mind." I hear her laugh and before I exit the doors, I laugh. Once the doors close behind me, I continue to walk down the hallway, towards my locker. As I take out my phone, I check the time and it says 4:31 pm.

I just finished my last tutoring session with this sophomore named Aaron Shriner. In my opinion, he's hopeless in AP Biology. He doesn't want to understand the things that the teacher is explaining to him and that's the hard part. I'm trying to explain everything to him, but he looks like he's about to fall asleep every time I do. I'm so ready to let this guy go before I lose my sanity.

As I am about to turn the corner toward my locker, my phone buzzes. I stop to take a look at my phone again and I see a notification.

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Unknown number: Hey Ashley, it's William Campbell from your Bio, Euro, Precalc...I think you get the point😂. Ms. Darian just told me that you were free tomorrow. So when would be a good time to meet?

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My blood runs cold once more as I approach my locker and put in my combination number into it. Once it opens, I set my phone to the side and contemplate my options: school gets off at 3:15 pm and after that, I have...nothing. Thursday's are usually the days that I'm free.

I close my eyes in frustration as I want to seem busy but in reality, I just picked the wrong day to meet him. Grabbing the binders I need and stuffing them in my backpack, I stand by my locker for a while as I stare at my phone and his message. I then grab my phone and reply hastily.

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Me: Anytime after school would be fine😊.

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I bite the insides of my cheeks. Did that sound too rude? I shake my head in frustration as I place my phone in my backpack, not wanting to see any more messages from him. Shutting my locker door, I head towards the entrance of the school. Why can't he just leave me alone? There are so many other tutors that are available and I'm getting jam-packed with my schedule.

But Will's willing to pay. But how much? Ms. Darian said that he would be paying a lot. And in her terms, a lot means a lot. After all, Will came from the U.K. and he was raised by rich but strict parents if that's what I heard correctly in the hallways. He's always the talk of the town and nobody can stop talking about him.

Though, why am I so wary of him? Ms. Darian was right. This is unfair to him if all he wants is some help with his classes. And he's even desperate to the point where he's willing to pay us. I shouldn't let him do that. It's all because of my selfish desires. A desire to not let anybody know who I truly am.