CHAPTER 96: PRIVATE LESSONS

Chapter NINETY SIX

**OLIVER WEST**

Xander looked politely interested in what Amanda was saying but not particularly impressed, at least this was what I read from his tone as he said "That sounds nice."

"There’ll be a pool, and my parents won’t be home."

I turned away from their discussion, could I wait until he was done to talk to him?

I was studying my test sheet again. Question twelve stared back at me mockingly.

I’d written "The answer is friendship" where I was supposed to solve for X.

No wonder I got a D.

"Oliver!"

I looked up to see William jogging toward me, and I sighed once again. "You look pale, what was the teacher meeting about? Are you okay?" He asked the last question when I didn’t respond.

Instead, I folded my test into my pocket and launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around him tightly like he was a life preserver and I was drowning in academic failure.

"William, save me!" I wailed into his chest while he staggered backwards struggling to hold me.

"How do I become smarter? Why am I bad at everything? Why do numbers hate me? Why does the Revolutionary War exist?"

"Oliver, calm down," He patted my back while I remained slumped against him.

"How can I be calm? My brain is broken! I’m destined to live under a bridge!"

"You’re not bad at everything," William said, still trying to pry me off him.

"You’re really good at art. And you’re funny."

I pulled back to look at him with a disbelieving look. "None of those things will get me into college! I won’t have a stable future! I’m going to be a professional failure!"

"Oliver, you’re being dramatic, you still have one option left," William said, wrapping his arms around my shoulder endearingly.

"I can get richer for the both of us, or..." A mischievous smile was playing across his lips. I stared at him expectantly waiting for a response that would get me out of this academic crisis.

"You could always get a sugar daddy to sponsor your lifestyle, thinking about it, you should probably hold on to Kieran tighter, who knows, he may be the future that you need."

I stared at William with an expression sunken with dismay. "Are you really my friend?! Who needs enemies when I have you!" I scoffed and then grabbed his shoulders again, shaking him slightly.

"Please! I’m dying here. If my mom learns about this, I will die for real! Can’t you just share half your brain with me? Just half! I’m not being greedy!"

"That’s not how brains work..."

"Okay, fine, a quarter!" I held up my fingers to show a tiny space. "Just this much! Please!"

William burst out laughing as he wrapped his arm around my neck and started to drag me towards our lockers.

"You can’t have my brain, but I can help you study."

"The teacher already assigned me a partner," I mumbled into his shoulder.

"Who?"

My heart sank to my stomach all over again.

"Xander," I mumbled.

"Oh. Even the universe is not taking you seriously, you know he’s interested in you right?" William’s eyes glinted with excitement, " Can I study with you both? I really want to experience the drama firsthand!"

"William, my life is not entertainment!" I glared at him but he only waved me off dismissively.

"Where are you supposed to study? His place or yours?"

I felt my heart drop to my feet. I hadn’t even thought about that part. There was no way I could bring Xander to Kieran’s place. That would be like throwing gasoline on a fire. But going to Xander’s house...

"I’m doomed," I whispered, burying my face in my palms.

"It’ll be fine, we can figure it out" William said, but he sounded like he was only invested in the drama that was possibly going to happen.

That’s when we heard raised voices from the direction of the lockers.

"Find someone else, Mandy," Hailey was saying, her voice sharp with irritation. "Your ex-boyfriend is long gone. I saw how he carried Oliver off the field. They’re practically married now."

NO. I FUCKING DIDN’T NEED THIS NOW!!!

I was going to crash out for real if anyone talked about me one more time.

I snapped my head in their direction, Amanda was no longer talking to Xander. She and Hailey seemed to be locked in a conversation, which was clearly about me.

Amanda’s face flushed an angry red. "Mind your own business, Hailey. Didn’t your boyfriend break up with you too? Don’t act like you’re any better than me"

"At least my relationship didn’t end because my boyfriend was secretly gay. Heath broke up with me properly," Hailey shot back, tossing her hair. "Instead of just pretending I didn’t exist while he ran off with some guy." She giggled at the last part which seemed to make Amanda more furious.

"Xander is also not interested in you, he turned down your invitation. I think maybe he likes Oliver too, didn’t you hear that he offered to tutor him? So sad for you, every guy you want likes Oliver, do no one enjoy boobs these days?"

WHAT?

Xander asked to teach me?

William shared my look of disbelief at Hailey’s words.

And I certainly didn’t need rumours that Xander is interested in me.

Why did it feel as though I’d been transmigrated into a novel where all the male leads want me??!

Where did my boring life go?!!

I sure as hell need it back!

As if summoned by the universe’s cruel sense of timing, I saw a familiar figure approaching from the other end of the hallway.

Xander was walking toward us and I suddenly almost had the urge to flee. Hailey and Amanda were watching, other students who had heard their little fight had also stopped to stare at in my direction. Most of the conversation stopped, I really hated the way I gave everyone free entertainment these days. If only I got paid for every time my life becomes a movie for them...

"Oliver."

I looked up at Xander as he nodded at William in acknowledgement.

"The teacher told me about our study sessions, I think it’ll be fun working together."

FUN??

Is that what they called terrorism these days?

Maybe for him, certainly not me.

I wanted to ask him about what Hailey had just said, if he had offered to tutor me but my stupid mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Um..."

"We should probably figure out where to meet. Your place or mine?"

I was still trying to form words when I felt the temperature in the hallway drop about ten degrees.

I didn’t even need to turn to confirm the presence behind me.

"What lessons?"