Page 40 of Don’t Forget Me

He looked back at me, confusion running wild across his expression, before returning his eyes to the professor.

I didn’t know why, but I felt nervous. More nervous than the previous day.

This whole experience was all new to me. Different to everything before. I had never had a real friend before. Well, a friend who was a boy.

I looked down at my book. I’d been rereading Jane Eyre, which was my all-time favorite. It was a book I opened whenever I needed solace. I didn’t have a mother or a father to provide consolation, but I had books, and that sufficed. Beside me, I had the uncensored version of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Staring back at me, mockingly.

I’d brought it with me since I mentioned it to Ezra the previous night. He had been kind enough to agree to tutor me and help me prep for my upcoming test, so I thought I could bring the book since he said he had been wanting to read it for the longest time. I questioned whether this was the most cordial gift I could give to someone. I wasn’t sure how this whole friend thing worked. But I was trying.

I guess the best rule I could follow was to think about what I would want others to do for me.

His figure appeared through the golden-lit hallway that led into the archives. His glasses were propped over the tip of his nose, his lips had been quirked down, and his brows had crinkled. There seemed to be a certain edge to his demeanor and not the usual brilliance I saw. It was gone.

He sat down before me, quietly setting his leather bag on the cedar bench.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, why?” he asked, concern spilling over his features.

“You just seem off,” I said.

“You said the same thing yesterday,” he said roughly, causing me to pull away from him, which he noticed. “But I’m okay. Just stuff with my dad, thanks for asking.”

I didn’t know how to reply. Would I come off as too nosey if I asked? Did he expect me to ask? I left him alone; if he wanted to talk about it, he would.

“Well, if you ever need to talk about anything, I’ll be here to listen.” That was the best I could offer.

“Thanks,” he said dryly.

I didn’t wish to burden him with my academic problems if he was going through a rough patch with his family. “Are you sure you’re up for tutoring right now? We don’t have to continue, I can see if my roommate knows someone else⁠—”

“Stop. It’s fine, plus this will help me forget about it all. So don’t worry,” he began.

“Oh, so I’m just a mere distraction to you?” I asked sarcastically, crossing my arms, leaning back against the cushioned wooden chair. The chair creaked as my weight shifted.

“Greatest distraction of all time. I can’t even think when I’m around you,” he replied with the same amount of sarcasm in his tone. I smiled, and he grinned in return. It was the best smile I had ever seen before, which made me squirm internally. These European men definitely had an enigmatic look to them.

“What?” he asked with a slight lift in his brow.

“Nothing, I just realized that we have wasted a good five minutes of study time, and my time is precious, sir.”

He chuckled. “You’re the one who asked me to come help you. If anything, my time is more precious since I am providing my services to you.”

“Services? What are you? A gigolo?” I laughed, covering my mouth and my eyes bulging when I realized it had been too loud for the library. Multiple hushes echoed through the bookshelves of the grand archives of Blackthorn.

“Haha, very funny.”

The harsh shushes and hisses that vibrated through the dim archives continued to be spewed sporadically. I tightened the grip around my face, unable to stop giggling. It was a good feeling. I hadn’t felt it before. Although it might sound pathetic that I had been laughing at my own joke. There were so many aspects about him that I could make fun of him for, and it was more hilarious because he was left astounded by my lack of humor.

“Fine, fine. I’m sorry.” I snorted in my hands.

“Why are you snorting, you animal?” he said in a hushed voice.

I breathed in through my nose, finding my ground and inner balance. My reputation was being cauterized, I had to get myself together. “Okay, let’s start with studying then. These are the assignments that I need to go over to prepare before my test this week.”

“Wait, so your professor is making you take a test before the actual test?” he asked.

“In other words, yes. That is what he’s doing. He said he wants to see where each of ‘stands’ on the subject.” I nodded.