TUTOR MY HEART

The D- and The deal

The chalk hit Cole's forehead with a thud that echoed in the empty lecture hall .

"Pay attention Mr. Student Union President," Adri snapped , dragging the duster across the whiteboard,like she was erasing him too. "Or find another tutor .My time isn't charity".

It was 7:13pm . The 3rd year class had ended an hour ago.The cleaners were already banging buckets outside.But Adri stayed back because 5 students paid $100 each for extra Calculus. Money for text books. Money for data. Money to keep her 4.9 CGPA scholarship alive .

She didn't plan on a sixth student, especially not Cole Daniels .

Cole Daniels. 4th year. Campus King. The guy whose posters were still on notice boards 3 months after elections. The guy who could walk into lecture halls and the girls would forget their notes.

He wasn't supposed to be in her tutorial. He was supposed to be at SUG meetings, clubbing at silver fox, or posting "soft life" on his insta.

Instead, he was sitting in the front row, tie loosened, one leg crossed over the other, looking like he owned the place. And her.

"See that's the problem, Adri," he said, catching the chalk she threw. He didn't even flinch. "I paid attention in SUG budget meetings. 47 slides. PowerPoints. No problem. But this?" He tapped her whiteboard full of integrals. "This is enemy language."

He slid his test script across her desk. The paper was crumpled, coffee - stained, disrespectful. Red ink screamed at her: D- 23%.

Adri's jaw tightened. She'd seen D's before. But never from someone whose face was on the faculty wall of fame for "Outstanding Student Leadership."

"You failed Maths 101 twice," she said flatly. "Third time is next week. If you fail again, Senate will remove you as president. Your dad will hear. Your allowance will hear."

Cole winced. She'd done her research. Of course she had. Adriana "Adri" waters was the girl lecturers used as example: Be like her." Scholarship student. No boyfriend. No scandals. No sleep, probably.

"I know," Cole admitted, and for 2 seconds the grin dropped. Real Cole peeked through. Tired Cole. Scared-of - disappointing his dad Cole.
"That's why I'm here. My dad said one more failure and I'm back to England to run his business. No SUG .No campus life .No me."

Adri should've felt pity. She didn't. Pity was a distraction.

"I don't tutor boys who think charm is a formula," she said , packing her books. " Try the remedial class."

"Remedial class is for boys who failed because they're lazy," Cole stood up, blocking her exit. He smelled like cologne and desperation. " I failed because I was busy trying to be everything for everyone. Except a student."

He pulled a pen from his blazer pocket. Designer. Of course. Then he flipped to the last page of her lecture notes and wrote fast before she could snatch it:

Terms Of Engagement:

1. I hour daily, 7 pm. Your hall,your rules.

2. $100/ hour. I'm not broke yet.

3.Plus... I owe you 1 favor. No limit. No questions.

He underlined " No limit "twice and pushed the notes back to her.

Adri stared at it. Her scholarship rules flashed in her head like warning lights:

1. Maintain 4.8+ CGPA.

2. No distractions. No boys. No relationships.

3. Graduate with First Class.

Rule 2 was laughing at her.

" Why me?" She asked quietly. " Half the girls on campus would tutor you for free if you smiled at them."

Cole's grin returned, but softer this time. Less president, more human. " Because you're the only girl who threw chalk at me and didn't ask for my number after."

Silence. The bucket banged outside again. Somewhere, a siren hummed to life. Campus at night always sounded like secrets.

" Fine" Adri said finally, snatching the notes. " One week. You pass the makeup or we're done. But if you're late once, if you flirt once ,if you waste my time once... I will make that D- look like a trophy compared to your next score. Clear?"

"Crystal, prof." Cole saluted her, mock- serious. Then he paused at the door "But fair warning,Adri. I'm very good at wasting time. Especially with beautiful distractions who write perfect integrals."

The chalk flew. He dodged, laughing as he ran into the dark corridor.

Adri stood alone with his D- script and his ridiculous " No limit" promise.

The war had started. And deep down, she was terrified she'd lose. Not the tutorial. Herself.

A/N: hey besties 👋 I'm avorrr and this is my first story❣️

If you loved the tension in this chapter, please tap the star 🌟 it helps so much.

Question for you: Should Adri keep her" no distractions " rule ,or give Cole a chance?

I read every comment and they're what keep me writing chapter 2.

Updates coming soon. Let's start this journey together 💞