A LOST BEAR

Thursday October 15th

"So, what do you say Little Genius?"

Fuck.

I zoned out.

I wasn't listening.

Got lost in my memories.

"Say?"

There's that smile again.

The one that does weird things to my stomach.

"About coming to my game tomorrow night. You said you've never been to a hockey game before. Plus, it's Friday so I could treat you to dinner after, as a, ya know, thank you for the tutoring and stuff."

OH!

That's nice of him.

But weird.

Why would he spend his Friday night with his tutor and not his friends?

Or a girlfriend?

Why do I feel upset that he might have a girlfriend?

I shouldn't think about that.

I'm just his tutor.

I'm frowning now.

"What's wrong? What's going through that head right now little genius? Did I go to far again?"

"You want to spend Friday night with your tutor and not your friends or a girlfriend?"

We stop walking.

Well... he stops.

So I stop.

"Iago..."

He's upset.

He only calls me that when he is upset.

Fuck, I'm the worst.

His fingers are under my chin.

He's making me look up at him.

Right into his eyes.

This feels different.

Intimate.

My mouth is dry.

I feel like I have to swallow.

And my knees feel funny.

"Iago, you are so much more than just a tutor to me. You're very important to me."

"So...we're friends?"

He's smiling again.

Good.

That's better.

"Yeah Little Genius. We're friends."

We're walking again.

Friends.

I like that.

"What time?"

He looks confused by my question.

It takes him a moment to understand my question.

I can see the realization cross over his face when he gets it.

"The game starts at 6. So, you'll come then? For real?"

I just nod.

I can feel a smile forming.

And my checks are warm again.

We finally make it to the parking lot.

"Are ya gonna to bring Indy with you?"