The Reasons I Hate You

21 | Never Have I Ever

When I enter downstairs, Zane is the one who looks up immediately. "Done already?"

"I wish." I look over at Cal but he's not looking at me. "Cal." I have to call out.

He looks up but doesn't say anything.

"I need your help."

"With?"

"Math."

He shakes his head. "I am not here as your tutor right now."

"No shit but it wouldn't kill you to help."

"It might."

Heath looks over at us, overhearing "Don't be an ass, man. Go help her."

"Yeah Cal don't be an ass." I tease.

He sighs, annoyed before getting up and I smile relishing having played a part in it.

I walk out and up to my room several paces ahead of him.

After a couple of seconds, he enters while I'm sitting down in front of my desk. "What do you need help with?"

I look up at him from my chair while he stands to the right, hovering over me. "Um, everything."

He mutters something incoherent but by his frustrated expression, I can guess what it was. He rests his hand on the right side of my desk and leans in, examining my paper. I can feel the warmth radiating off him and it unnerves me; us being this close. I stare at the paper in front of me as he does, trying to ignore his huge towering figure.

It's not long until he starts explaining the problem to me. For some reason, I can't maintain eye contact. Looking up at him felt almost intimate and that feeling alone unnerved me. And since I couldn't focus I didn't understand a single thing he was explaining.

"Are you even fucking listening to me?" He growls and I do the thing I told myself not to. I stare up at him. It felt too close. His jaw clenches

"Yes. It's just confusing, okay?" I felt so small under him.

I wish I could make him sit so whatever tension I was imagining would disappear. He'd probably laugh at me if he could read my thoughts right now. Oh god, what if he can?

Blink if you can hear my thoughts.

He blinks.

Holy shit. Holy shi-

"What are you still confused about?"

I look back at the paper not knowing how to tell him I am confused about everything.

Luckily, in my favor, the door swings open revealing a shirtless Finn. Cal moves away and we both stare at him while he's in his swim trunks.

"Are you guys done here?"

"No-" Cal goes to say but I speak over him.

"-Yes! Why?"

Finn throws a pair of trunks at Cal and he catches it effortlessly. "We're going swimming."

I get up almost immediately, relieved to give up on my homework. "Thank god. I could use a swim."

Finn leaves after telling that us everyone is already in the pool.

Is now the time to mention I had a pool in my house? It still catches me by surprise that we have an indoor pool. I only really use it a lot during summer break.

Cal watches me as I look for my bikini in one of my drawers. "We weren't finished."

I find it and pull it out. It is just a simple low-waisted black bikini. "I don't wanna finish." I walk over to him and place my hands on his chest pushing him out the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to change." And then I shut the door in his face.