Counting Down with You(11)

“I’ll choose then,” I say, moving along. “Let’s start with The Scarlet Letter.”

Ace gestures for me to go ahead with a flick of his fingers. He hasn’t stopped staring at me, and his intense gaze is making me increasingly restless.

“Okay,” I murmur, taking The Scarlet Letter from my bag and flipping it open. “I thought we could begin with chapter analyses. Since we already read this book in the fall, we’re familiar with the themes and underlying messages, which means we can be more analytical with foresight. Why don’t you tell me your overall thoughts on the book so we can figure out which angle we want to tackle first?”

Ace furrows his thick eyebrows. “What angle do you want to tackle first? I’ve seriously never read it. I only know it by name.”

I clench my hands but somehow withhold a sigh.

“Okay. Well, I prefer looking at Hester’s character in a feminist light and how, despite feminism not existing within the time period this was written, Hawthorne wrote her as being resilient, rebellious, and free to think in ways that stood apart from the rest of society,” I say, pointing to the book. My words are rushing into each other, as I actively try not to ramble. “I know some people think Hester’s choice to continue wearing the A at the end of the book is her conforming to misogynistic ideals, but I think by choosing to wear it instead of being forced to wear it, she’s claiming back her agency.”

Ace leans forward, and his combat boots knock into my worn-in Converse. His eyes are too pretty and too disconcerting. “You like English.”

I stare at him blankly, mostly because my expression is threatening to twist with incredulity. What is he talking about? Why would I be here if I didn’t enjoy English? I sure as hell wouldn’t be a math tutor. “Yes.”

“How strange,” he murmurs, flipping my pencil between his fingers. His mouth pulls up a little higher in the corner, but it’s still not a smile. “Do you enjoy anything else, Ahmed?”

On the tip of my tongue is: when people actually listen to me. I’d sooner die than actually say it.

Instead I set my shoulders and say, “Listen, Ace. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. If you don’t want to study, tell Miss Cannon. I’m sure she can figure something else out.”

And then it won’t be my fault.

“I didn’t say this was a waste of time,” Ace says. “I’m simply curious about my illustrious tutor.”

“I promise the book is much more interesting than me,” I say. “Come on, just read the first few chapters. They’re only ten pages each.”

Ace taps my pencil against his bottom lip in consideration. “Okay.” He holds his hand out for the book, and I pass it over easily.

He starts to read, and I take the opportunity to write some discussion questions. After thinking of two, I look up to see how much progress he’s made and find him staring at me again.

“What?” I look down at my outfit, another crop top paired with ripped jeans, and wonder if my mom was right to warn me off them. “Is something wrong?”

“This is boring, Ahmed,” he says, drawing my attention back to him.

“English isn’t boring,” I say, exasperated. “The Scarlet Letter is one of the better books in our curriculum.”

Ace shakes his head. “I think we need to liven it up.”

I pause. What does that mean? “What are you thinking?”

“There’s a sweet shop down the block,” Ace says. The look on his face is challenging, which is unfortunate. I generally like to go with the flow, and Ace seems like the person who determines the flow. “Let’s study there instead.”

“I don’t know,” I say and my voice wavers. “I have Pre-Med Society at 4:00.”

I’m not actually going to go, but that’s none of his business.

“Just this one time,” Ace says. His gaze is almost titillating. “It’ll help me focus, and I’ll pay for whatever you want.”

In my head I hear Cora yell, OH MY GOD, HE’S ASKING YOU OUT ON A DATE! even though I’m almost positive this is just his attempt to get out of studying.

Speaking of Cora...

“I need to use the bathroom,” I say. Without waiting for his response, I stand and head for the exit.

I stop in the hallway and take out my phone. There’s an unanswered text from my mom, and I click on it first. She must be jet-lagged if she’s sending messages at this ungodly hour.

Myra, call us when you get home. Your Nanu and Nana want to say hi.
I grimace. That conversation is going to be...fun.

Okay, I text back and move on, shifting to the NCK group chat.

Me:
I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU LEFT ME ALONE?? now ace wants to go study in some bakery and it’s ALL YOUR FAULT
Cora Zhang-Agreste:
HE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP BITCH WHAT WERE WE GONNA DO??? STAY THERE??? in this house we do NOT cockblock our friends
Nandini Kaur:
back up a sec did you say BAKERY... ARE YOU JOKING WTF
Me:
NO I’M SERIOUS PLS HELP ME INSTEAD OF YELLING
Cora Zhang-Agreste:
oh my god oh my god oh mY GOD KARINA
Me:
H E L P
Nandini Kaur:
SAY YES GIRLIE WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR OMG
Cora Zhang-Agreste:
OK BUT THIS IS BASICALLY A DATE GO SAY YES OMG GO GO GO
Nandini Kaur: