"I'm hopeless."

"Don't be like that."

"I'm a disgrace."

"C'mon, you're not."

"I'm an idiot."

"Yes, you are."

Parker lifted his head off the table and looked at me in confusion. "What?"

"Yes, you're an idiot," I repeated.

His eyebrows knitted together. "But I thought-"

I snorted. "Hey. You're the one who said you're an idiot. I'm just agreeing with you."

He sniffled. "You don't have to be so blunt about it," Parker muttered.

"You've been calling yourself names and all I've been doing is denying it," I told him. "I finally had enough and just agreed with you."

"Sorry," he said. "But the question is so hard."

"Parker," I said slowly. "This is only the first question."

There was a long silence. Then he began to hit his head repeatedly on the table. The books and pencils shook as he did this.

"I."

Thud.

"Am."

Thud.

"Stupid."

Thud.

I was finally getting tired to this. I sat up from the chair and smack him from behind the head. Parker stopped hitting himself mid-way and slowly turned his head to me. He stared at me with a look of disbelief. And I don't blame him. I can't believe I just smacked Parker O'Neil at the back of his head. But what's done is done, and he finally got my attention. Might as well put it to good use and give him the talk. 

"Get a hold of yourself! You think you're stupid, right?" I asked with him nodding in reply. "Then you better get to studying and let me tutor you so you won't stay stupid. Last time I checked, the coach won't allow guys to be in the team if they having failing grades. You wouldn't want to get kicked off the team, will you?"

He shook his head.

"Then let's get to studying." 

Parker nodded, his confidence returning. He sat up correctly in his chair, his pencil ready in his hand. I nodded in approval and turned both of our textbooks at the beginning of the first chapter. After handing out a blank piece of paper in front of him, I tapped at the title of the chapter.

"We're going to review what we learned for the first few weeks, starting from the beginning. Just so I can get a good idea of where you're at," I explained to him. "Today, we'll be learning about functions. How good are you at solving these?"

He pouted. "My brain doesn't function with functions."

"Parker..."

Parker smiled at me. "Okay, honestly, I remember a little of it. But let's just say I never heard of it before."

I let out a sigh. "Fine, we'll take it from the top..."

A few minutes turned in an hour that turned to another. Time seemed to past by in the library of after school. I've told the guys that I would stay after school to tutor Parker for calculus. Obviously, they offered to stay and wait for me. But I told them I would be fine and they could go ahead. I could walk home from school, they didn't have to wait for me. Reluctantly, they gave in and left, but not before whispering something in Parker's ear which I suspect as a threat.

For a jock, Parker was smarter than he looks. He just needed a little guidance, that's all. His mind is filled with so much of sports, it doesn't have enough space for school. He tells me he usually forgets what he learns before tests or even after the lesson. He always tries in class, but he just doesn't get it. And like many kids, he's to embarrassed to ask questions. So instead of participating class, he just sticks with procrastinating it.

The first few minutes of the tutoring session, he always kept on making funny jokes like he always did in Mr. Roberts class. But unlike the teacher, I catch on pretty quickly and ignore his jokes to have him focus on the lesson. Soon he gave up, knowing I'm not going to be like Mr. Roberts and began actually listening. I tried to explain it simply to him, comparing the lessons and making up problems with everyday things like the speed of a car or the maximum height of a thrown football, those types of questions got his attention.

"A limit is the best prediction of a point we don't see," I explained to Parker as I drew a diagram. "Think about it like watching a football game on the TV.  But the connection sucks and you missed a few seconds of the game, just as the quarterback throws the ball it skips a few seconds until it shows the ball getting caught by another-" I paused from my explanation and looked at him.

He wasn't looking at the diagram as he was doing a few seconds ago, he was looking at me with his blue eyes.  His chin rested on his hand that was propped up by his elbow on the table. Instead of studying the diagram, he was studying me.

"Parker? Are you listening?"

He blinked and looked back at the paper. "Y-yeah, sorry. Continue."

"Okay..." I said awkwardly before going back to the explanation. "-by another quarterback before he scores a touchdown, getting six points, winning the game-" He smiled at my knowledge on football, I couldn't help but smile too "-Even though you missed what happened in those few seconds, you can predict where the ball went between those few seconds. This is because things don't just teleport-"

"-unless you're a teleporter," Parker pointed out.

I laughed. "Yes, unless you're a teleporter. But in this case you're not. They don't teleport because they go through a path of point A to point B. Knowing this, you can..."

Topic after topic, lesson after lesson, he began to slowly get the answers correctly. I never seen someone get so excited or so worried about solving a math problem.

"So if I plug in the formula with this problem here, I'm going to get..." He paused and wrote down the new problem in the paper, a look of concentration in his face. Then he began to solve the problem, when he got the answer he said, "this." Parker then handed me his paper.

I looked at his paper and compared it to mine which I answered the problem beforehand. Of course, I didn't give him the answer, he has to solve it for himself. I took agonizingly long, carefully studying the two graphs together. Time to time I would take off my glasses and squint at the paper. Sometimes making making "hmm" sounds, muttering stuff incoherently to myself. Parker was getting tortured as I did this.

"Right? Please tell me it's right." He pleaded. "Oh no, it's wrong, isn't it? I knew it! I did something wrong, didn't I?"

He tried to grab back his paper and see what he did wrong. But I pushed him away and continued studying it. Finally, I figured he's suffered enough.

I gave him a huge smile as I handed back his paper. "I was just messing with you, Parker. You got it right. Again."

He fist pumped the air. "Yes!"

The librarian, a petite lady with huge spectacles, came out of nowhere and hushed Parker harshly. He reddened and mumbled out an apology. Parker sat back down and began writing down the answer. When he was finished, he set his pencil down and looked at me proudly.

"Parker O'Neil," I declared. "You have officially caught up to me." I held out my hand.

He took it and gave it a good shake.

"You're ahead of the class so you can keep on doing football practice and keep your procrastinating ways," I told him. "But if you want it to stay it like that, you're going to have to keep on studying. Got it?"

He saluted to me. "Yes, ma'am."

We began packing up our things. I put away my past homework, classwork, and notes into my binder that I used to help Parker review the past few weeks of calculus. He put away his notes and worksheets, promising that he'll review them when he gets home. I went to grab my calculus textbook, and Parker went to do the same thing, only we accidentally reached for the same textbook having our hands touch. 

"Sorry," I said, quickly taking my hand away then grabbing the other textbook.

He cleared his throat. "No, it's my fault. This book is yours," he said, looking inside the first page that had my name written on it. 

We both exchanged books, wearing the same smiles. Parker awkwardly ran his fingers through his blonde hair, having it fall back into place.

"Thanks for tutoring me, Naomi," Parker told me. "You're a really great tutor."

I let out a chuckle, doing my best not to blush at the compliment. "Well, will you believe me if I told you that I never tutored anyone before?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

I nodded my head. "I am. People usually steal my homework or... I do it... for them..." My voice faltered, and I was left staring at the ground in embarrassment.

"Oh." Was all Parker said. 

"Yeah." Was all I said.

My canvas bag was on the floor. And after having to use extra brain power than I usually use because of Parker's tutoring, the brain power also got some of my physical power. Being lazy and all, I didn't want to bend down and pick up my bag. So I did the resourceful thing and hooked the strap around my foot. Then I wound the strap around my ankle and foot. Being so good at soccer and all, I lifted both my foot and bag along with me at ease. I unraveled the strap off my foot and hung my bag around my shoulder. I looked at Parker who stared at me in disbelief.

"Did you just-?"

I shrugged pathetically. "I got lazy."

"That's so cool!" He exclaimed.

"Shh!" The librarian hushed Parker again, having him say sorry again.

Then he turned back to me and said in a stage whisper. "That's so cool!"

I giggled at him being so childish. We walked out of the school library that was practically empty with only a few kids here with tutoring, or by themselves to check out books or last-minute studying. I checked my phone and saw it was four o'clock, I was in the library with Parker for at least two hours. Times seemed to fly by when you were tutoring, I guess.

The two of us left the school and headed towards the parking lot. When we arrived to his car, a Mitsubishi Lancer, only it's one of those older models. The painting was old, a bit faded red. You could see a few dents in the car, and a cracked side mirror.

"Wow, a Lancer," I observed as I looked at the car.

Parker smiled at me. "You know your cars."

I shrugged modestly. "I know a thing or two."

"Guess what model this is." He told me.

"I'd say a 2003, given the classic design unlike the newer models, including it's-" I caught myself and looked at Parker in embarrassment. But instead of him being mad at me for not being that honest, his smile just got wider.

"Okay," I admitted honestly now. "Maybe I do know a few things about cars."

"Yes, you do," Parker agreed. He patted the car. "It was my dad's before he gave it to my older brother's before he handed it down to me. She might not look like much, but she's been there for me through thick or thin."

I smiled. "That's admirable. A family car that you treasure."

Parker smiled down at the car said wistfully, "Yeah." Then he turned to me. "I just want to thank you again for tutoring me. Mr. Roberts never teaches the class like this, having me end up failing his. If it weren't for you, I might not have graduate this year."

"Don't thank me," I said. "All I did was guide you, you did most of the work. But I'm glad to do it."

With a wave goodbye, I turned to leave. But something grabbed my wrist, I turned and looked down at it to see Parker holding it. I looked back at him and he awkwardly letting go of my wrist.

"Naomi I-" His Adam's apple bobbed and he looked at the ground. He looked torn, not knowing what to say, looking embarrassed for some reason. "I just want to tell you, I'm sorry."

I opened my mouth but no words came out. He had such a pained look on his face, not knowing how to say any of this. Parker took a deep breath and continued.

"I'm sorry for all of those years of bullying you, Naomi." He lowered his head in shame, not daring to look at me in the eye. "I-I can't believe I ever did those things without ever really getting to know you. So let me say sorry for not only myself, but for the whole team. Even if they don't mean it, I do. I'm sorry."

A long silence hung in the air. I didn't know what to say, I didn't know how to reply to this. I didn't know this tutoring would turn into a heart-felt apology. Suddenly, the last of the doubts I had on Parker seemed to melt away. I took a tentative step forward, then another. Slowly, I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him. I could feel his body tense at this, but slowly relaxed and I felt him hug me back. I awkwardly let go and looked down at the ground, playing with the hem of my shirt.

"It's okay, Parker. I-" I paused, knowing this is a huge thing, but I'm going to do it. "I forgive you."

The sadness in his face washed away and was replaced my a huge smile. "Thank you, Naomi."

"I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked him.

He nodded eagerly.

I smiled at this. "Bye Parker. See you." I turned once more to walk back home.

"Wait." Parker called out to me, stopping me again.

"Yeah?" 

"You're going to walk home?" He asked me in confusion.

I nodded. "Yeah, I was going to-"

"Let me drive you home," he offered, opening the passenger door.

"You don't have to," I assured him. "My house is pretty far, I was planning to take the bus or something."

Parker shooked his head. "No, it isn't that far. I know from the times I went with Raymond... and the others... to egg your... house." He stopped and cursed something under his breath.

"Oh," I simple replied. "So you guys were the ones who did it. My mom thought it was some of the kids on our block."

"Yeah... it... wasn't." He said slowly, frowning at himself.

"It was pretty funny."I lied. "Once you get used to the smell."

"Naomi, I'm so-"

"Save it," I said, walking towards the car and taking a seat in the passenger seat. "To make up for that prank, you can drive me home." But to show I wasn't mad, I smiled at him.

Parker forced out a smile and closed the door. Then he went around the car and sat in the driver's seat. Both of us put on our seat belts in unison, then laughing at this. He started the ignition, and after a couple of tries, the engine started. He drove out of the parking lot and away from the school. I looked out the window, watching trees and cars zip by. I turned back to Parker and I couldn't help but hide a chuckle when I saw he was trying to look cool. With one hand on the steering wheel, the other had its elbow propped up the back of the seat. It looked awkward and uncomfortable rather than cool.

"Hey, do you want to go grab something to eat?" Parker asked me, his eyes glancing me before looking back at the road.

"It's okay, I'm not that-" My stomach cut me off with a loud grumble "-hungry," I finished.

Parker burst out laughing. "It's alright, Naomi."

"But I don't want to-"

"No, I insist," he pressed. "It'll be my treat."

"Parker, I really don't-"

"Naomi," he said in sing-song. "Don't make me force you."

I snorted and narrowed my eyes at him. "And how are you going to do that, O'Neil?"

He quirked an eyebrow, a smirk spreading across his face. His eyes sparkled at the challenge. Then he turned towards the road, his knuckles turning white from gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Like this."

His foot hit the throttle and the car began to speed up faster and faster, accelerating more and more. We flew past the other cars. Parker easily swerved around the cars at ease. He laughed while I was too busy screaming. We were going fast, way, way too fast. (Oh, ha ha, going fast, like in a relationship, very funny) We were going to make an accident. Then I looked in front of us and all the color in my face drained away.

The streetlight just ahead of us that was just green just turned yellow. A few seconds more and it will turn red. If Parker doesn't slow down, we won't be able to stop in time.

"Parker," I warned. 

"Yeah, Naomi?"

"The light, Parker. The light."

"What about it? Are you seeing the light? Don't go into the light Naomi, what ever you do, don't go into the light!"

"Parker!"

He laughed again. "Say yes, Naomi."

"No!"

"Say yes, Naomi," he repeated again.

"I said no!"

My eyes looked at the speedometer as it passed 100 then 120 then 140. I looked at Parker as if he was crazy. Oh wait, it's because he is! He's actually willing to beat the red light, maybe causing a car accident just for me to say yes to his offer. We were getting closer and closer to the light. In a few seconds, we really are going to see the light. And it sure isn't going to be red.

"I'm going to ask one more time," he told me. "Will you go to dinner with me?"

I shut my eyes, holding my arms up to shield me. "Yes, yes I will go to dinner with you!"

The car halted to a sudden stop. I jerked forward, but since I was wearing my seat belt, it snapped me backwards to my seat. My heart was pounding, my pulse was accelerating, I was hyperventilating. I slowly lowered my arms, opening my eyes. I looked at Parker who was now whistling a tune, watching as the cars pass by in front of us. Then he paused and looked at me, our eyes meeting.

"Are we dead?" I asked quietly.

He looked around us, studying our surroundings. "No, I don't think so."

I closed my eyes, slumping in my seat as I let out a sigh of relief. Then I turned my head to Parker and asked him something that made him burst out laughing, having me join him.

"Like a date?"

And guess what? My little brother just joined Wattpad, he's RubixSphere10298. Notice the similarities of out usernames? But shh, don't tell anyone he's not 14 yet. Shh. He'll be 14... in a couple of years. He's reading my book, even though he's a guy. He keeps on pointing out mistakes, I'm embarrassed but thankful. So I'm dedicating this chapter to him because he's into math and he'd like this chapter for its (pushes glasses up nose) nerdiness. Hope you enjoy it brother from the same mother.

At the right is a gif (I have no clue what that means either) of what Naomi did with her bag. I did it once, so cool. That's why I love canvas bags. I saw that many years ago and had to search everywhere for it. I high-five myself when I did find it, tagged with ninja. I know, ninja. 

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoy the double chapter that comes with it.

RubixCube89201