"Math homework….oooh look, a candle!"

This just isn't Rhea's night. There's nothing to do, no anime to watch, no sister to hassle and the last thing she wants to do is study for her math test. She climbed into her loft with her candle and a box of matches and made a mini bonfire.

"It would really suck if I burnt the house down," she said to herself carelessly. She added another match stick to her pile and laughs when it bursts into flame.

click

Rhea turns toward her window. The tree outside is swaying slightly from the wind, but it's too far away to hit her window. Curious of course, the skinny blonde teen gets off her rump and looks out the window into the cool evening night.

"I wonder what that was. I hope Adelina's not home," Rhea groans. The thought of her sister coming back was enough to make Rhea want to lock herself in her room until morning.

Turning around to get back to her bonfire she sees that it was blown out and someone was sitting at her desk with her math book. It was a guy, at least, Rhea thought it was a guy. He had long red hair that ended just past his shoulders and piercing green eyes. He wore a collared green shirt that amplified his body tone and jeans.

"Ahh! Who are you?!" Rhea cried. The guy's face dropped into a frown. Rhea was clutching her chest and pressed against her window as if to melt into it and away from the mystery man.

"Who the frog are you and what are you doing in my room? Why'd you blow out my bonfire? You are a….guy right?" Rhea spilled out these questions as if she had a limited time to speak. She looked him up and down with a quizzical look on her face.

"My name is Suiichi Minamino. You parents hired me as your tutor and I'm surprised they didn't tell you. They let me into the house before they left to get your sister and your 'bonfire' was smoking up the room and almost lit your lovely loft. And yes, I am of the male gender," he spoke with such grace that it wouldn't have mattered if he said he was here to kill her, she'd still stand there waiting for him to talk some more.

"Ok… that explains a lot. Except... why's your hair so long?"

"Let's get started with this math shall we Rhea?" Suiichi said, avoiding her question and leaving her horribly unsatisfied.

Rhea and Suiichi spent the week together. Every evening around 6, Suiichi would help Rhea with her math homework for an hour, explaining everything with so much patience that Rhea couldn't help but admire him. Her test would be the following day and it would put all her knowledge to the test.

"Do you feel prepared for your exam?" Suiichi asked Rhea the morning of her test.

"Not really, I hope I pass, I can't afford a bad grade. Are you coming over again today to see how I did?" She answered.

"I'm sorry Rhea, I'm busy today, but I want to know the results of your test as soon as you get it back," He smiled.

That smile. Rhea couldn't help but feel down when he said he wouldn't be going to her house that day. Now what was she going to do during that hour? Make more bonfires? Before she knew it, the bell had rung and her test began.

I wonder what he's going to do today…. He has really pretty hair…. I wonder what kind of things he likes to do…..He has REAAAALLY pretty hair…

Rhea looked down at her test. Looking at all the problems just reminded her of Suiichi and she got distracted again.

Honestly, how does he keep his hair so nice? I should ask him.

"Okay class, pass your tests up and don't forget to write your name on the top. Have a nice day, I'll see you tomorrow," Rhea's teacher announced.

OMG! THE TEST! No no noooo!! Rhea had completely drifted off and didn't do anything but write her name no the top of her paper. Turning in her test, she contemplated what she was going to say to Suiichi.

I can't face him now! Ugh!

At her locker, Rhea puts her math book in and slams it shut and puts her head on the cold metal. Closing her eyes for only a moment she dreads seeing Suiichi.

"How was the test Rhea?"

Rhea jumps, not expecting him to come find her so quickly. She didn't know what to say, or what to do for that matter. So she closes her eyes again, facing her locker.

Maybe if I just stay quiet he'll just go away…

To be Continued...