A lesson with Miss Nora Grey
I looked over at the clock above the door and gave an annoyed sigh. He was late.
I'd been waiting alone for almost 15 minutes in the classroom, which our daily biology lessons were held.
The only reason I had agreed to tutor Patch in the first place, was solely for the prospect of having the seating plan reversed and being able to sit back next to Vee again.
I was aware that Coach had refused my earlier pleas, but I was hoping by tutoring Patch I would get onto his good side and thus have the seating plan back to its original format.
I absent-mindedly tapped my pencil against my notebook and glanced up at the clock again; I was going to give him 5 more minutes before I packed up and went home, I'd wasted enough time on him already. I could also use this as another reason to have the seating plan reversed. Unpunctual and uncooperative I mentally noted in my mind.
Another 3 minutes went past, I sighed again in defeat; he wasn't going to turn up. I unzipped my backpack and proceeded to angrily shove my textbook and notebook inside. As I began to zip up the contents in my bag, a voice from the near the door startled me.
"Going somewhere Nora?"
Patch was in the doorway, slouched, leaning on the door frame, hands in his pockets and dressed in black as always. At the sight of him, I began to feel anger bubbling up inside of me.
"Yes" I said curtly, getting up from my seat and slugging my backpack over my shoulder "Home".
I made my way to exit the classroom only to be stopped by Patch, who had stuck his arm out across the door blocking my exit. I stepped back and narrowed my eyes at him.
"Do you mind?" I asked folding my arms, the anger bubbling inside of me increasing "I'm trying to leave"
Patch cocked his head to the side and gave me a smile, no, he gave me a smirk.
"I can see that" he said "But I thought we had a little meeting going on, you know were you're meant to tutor me?"
I ignored the suggestive tone in his voice as I adjusted the bag on my shoulder.
"We did, but you're late" I said, frowning at him "So I'm going home"
I attempted to leave again, but Patch continued to block my path with his arm. I pushed against it, but it refused to budge.
"Look" I said, trying to control the resentment in my voice "I told you to be here at 4, it is now 4:25. I have been waiting for you for almost 20 minutes and now that you've finally decided to turn up, I am going home"
I made my third attempt to exit the room, but Patch stepped inside. Closing the door behind him he swiftly sealed us both inside.
"Coach says I need to be tutored and lucky for me, I've been assigned you" He gave me a playful smile, but then his face turned serious "Look Nora, I'm sorry I was late. I got kind of…held up"
Held up with what, I didn't want to know. He genuinely looked and seemed sorry but maybe he was good at acting, I didn't know. I tilted my head up and looked at him squarely in the eye.
"If you're late again that's it, I'm done. Do you understand?"
Patch laughed at my assertiveness "Yeah, I completely understand" He said, nodding.
I made my way back to the desk that I was originally sitting at and pulled out my textbook, notebook as well my pencil case from my bag. As I placed the latter item on the table, I looked up to see Patch still standing in front of the door, staring at me. I shot him a quizzical look.
"Aren't you going to sit down?" I asked him sternly
Patch strode over and dragged the empty chair that was beside me around to the front of the desk. He sat down and drew the chair closer to the desk, creating very little space between us. In the close proximity we were in, I could smell him. Rich, dark earth, strong mint and the faint smell of cigars entered my nostrils.
Ignoring the last smell, I couldn't help but find the first two oddly soothing and appealing.
"So Miss Nora, where are we starting?" Patch asked, cracking his knuckles. I flipped to the back of my notebook. I'd already devised a lesson plan for the term.
"Well, we're first going to start off with genetics, and after that we're going to move on to Immunology and after that we should start work on evolution and maybe Ecology"
Patch began to stroke his chin with his right hand, as though he was repressing a smile
"Sounds interesting, I can't wait" he managed to say. I could tell he was making fun of me, but I couldn't be bothered to call him on it.
"Do you have your textbook?" I asked. Patch raised his eyebrow at me in a manner which silently but blatantly told me he hadn't. Rolling my eyes at him, I turned the book towards him so he was able to see.
"Genetics is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms" I said, reading from the textbook "The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding…" As I read, I watched Patch from the corner of my eye. He was staring at the book with such intensity it was though he was trying to burn a hole through the page. Catching my eye, Patch gave me a smile which was so dazzling; I felt my voice get stuck in my throat.
"And…and…um-"
"And although genetics plays a large role in the appearance and behaviour of organisms, it is the combination of genetics with what an organism experiences that determines the ultimate outcome?" Patch finished, looking at me with another smile etched onto his face.
"Yes" I said clearing my throat. I was unable to look at him. Doing so, I knew would result in my palms becoming slick with sweat and my cheeks showing the tell-tale signs of a vivid blush.
Reaching into the front pocket of my backpack, I took out my bottle of iron pills. Swallowing two, I followed them down with a sip of water. From across the desk, I saw Patch's right eyebrow raise and slow grin appear on his face.
"Well, well, well, Nora grey is a pill popper. Who would've known?"
"I am not a pill popper, they're iron pills" I said, through clenched teeth.
"Iron pills?"
"For those who are anaemic"
"Anaemic?"
"A deficiency in red blood cells or haemoglobin, which is the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues throughout the body"
"Why must you always answer a question like your reciting from a textbook?"
"You asked me the question, I was merely answering"
"Or showing off" I heard him mutter under his breath.
I threw him a dirty look but remained silent. I was starting to regret the decision I'd made.
