Giana drops her heavy bag next to me.
I look up from my ham and cheese sandwich. “Hey, Gia.” I mumble with my mouth full.
She sighs, “Hey.” She all but plops down in the seat. Sammy offers her a condolence cookie, but she puts her hand up in refusal.
“What’s wrong, sweets?” Sammy asks, using her pet name for Giana.
“Ugh, I failed my third calc test.” she says frowning, “This week!” she throws her head in her hands. I reach over and pat her shoulder as Sammy moves next to her to braid her hair. Giana loves it when people play with her hair.
“Sorry G.” I say, looking at my hands. “I would offer to help but I'm in pre-calc.”
“I would help too but I suck at teaching and I barely understand it as is.” Sammy says tying off one of the two dutch braids.
“Well who has the highest grade in your class?” I ask.
“I think Finn.” Giana says tapping her chin then turning to Sammy for assurance.
Sammy looks up from her braiding to smirk and says, “Yeah It's Finn.”
“I'll go ask him then.” I say, putting down my sandwich to get up.
Giana holds out her hand in refusal, “No! I got it!” She says.
I get up anyway and gesture to Sammy still braiding her hair. “It's fine Gia. Relax. I'm sure Finn will say yes.”
I walk across the lunch room to where Finn sits. A few people give me odd looks for going to speak with him during lunch. Toxic.
“Hey Finn.” I say, standing over him. He gestures for me to sit.
“Whatcha need Peach.” He says, calling me by my last name as I sit. He puts down his pizza slice. He wipes his face as he turns.
“Can you tutor Gia in Calc?” I ask, getting to the point.
He rubs his chin in thought then frowns. “Cant. I'm completely booked as is.”
Crap. “You don't have any time?” I ask, not believing him as he shakes his head, “No study halls?” He shakes his head again. “Nothing?” His mouth pulls into a thin line.
“Sorry.” Then he looks at someone behind me. “Oh! But he can!” He says now smiling and gesturing towards the person behind me.
I turn around to see Damien standing behind me. My neck cranes to look at his face. Oh wow.
“Hey.” He says, “I’m Damien.” He smiles and waves as he sits across from Finn.
“Uh hey.” I stumble, with heat now rising to my cheeks in embarrassment. I can feel Finn looking at me. “I’m Murphy.” I smile back. Focus. “Um, do you think you could tutor my friend Giana in Calc?” I basically beg.
He furrows his brow and then a look of realization moves across his face. “Oh Gia!” He smiles, using her nickname. I snicker. Nice G. “Uh, yeah.” He says as I lift my head in excitement. He laughs at my reaction, “Sure, I can tutor her.”
I jump up, “Yes!” I stick out my hands in high five to both Finn and Damein. Damien laughs as they both return the high five. “She can talk to you about it tomorrow in class.” I say, starting to walk away, “Thanks!’ I call over my shoulder.
“Hey how’d it go? Can Finn tutor me?” Giana asks with two fresh braids, literally on the edge of her seat.
“Nope!” I say sitting down happily, she furrows her brow as Sammy frowns.
“But I can do you one better! Damien will be your tutor.” I say, satisfied with their reactions. I take a big bite of my sandwich with a smile. Giana is bouncing in her seat as Sammy gapes, open mouthed.
“Thanks a lot!” Giana says as I finish my sandwich. Then she shrinks a bit. “Though I would've liked having Finn be my tutor.”
I furrow my brow, “Why?” I say, starting to eat my chips,
“Well she likes Finn, duh.” Sammy says.
“Oh yeah,” I say as I laugh. Giana blushes and looks embarrassed. “Sorry. I mean he’s nice but that's kinda it.”
“You just don't get it.” She says, sad again.
“So make me get it.” I say, leaning forward. That was rude. Least I can do is hear her out.
“Well, for starters, he's really handsome.” She smiles.
“I guess.” I say looking towards Finn as he laughs at something someone said.
“He’s also really smart and funny in a cute way.'' I watch as Finn says something back to his friends and they laugh. I feel my lips pull into a small toothless smile.
“Mhmm.”
“And obviously he’s really sweet, but not in your normal way, it’s like he really cares.” she says, as Finn smiles at his friends, “But he also has this depth to him. Some kind of mystery that I have yet to understand.” She finishes as I see Finn’s smile fade a bit.
I frown a bit as I tear my eyes from Finn and look at Giana smiling. I smile at her, “Hm. Well sorry Gia, Finn was busy.” I gather my trash and go to throw it out.
I never thought of Finn that way. I pause at the trash can as Giana’s words echo in my head. I frown. Cause I don’t like him. I laugh to myself at the prospect of me liking Finn. I throw out my trash and go back to my friends.
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