Chapter 3: Untold Truths
Connor could not take his eyes off her, it felt like a dream, but it was real.
He came closer, he said, "Are you ok?"
She shook her head a couple of times, she was thinking this could not be real but it was. He bent down and brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. The minute his hand touched her face, she felt like thousands of volts of energy go right through her entire being. It was the first time that she ever felt truly alive and it scared her to death. She jumped at his touch and shook it off. He backed up from her slowly looking slightly confused. He felt the same way she did but it did not scare him, she excited him beyond measure.
He said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you anymore."
As he turned to leave Dawn called out to him, "Wait don't go."
He turned back towards darn, he looked at the nurse.
Dawn followed his gaze; she turned towards the nurse and said, "Could you give us a few minutes alone please?"
The nurse just nodded her head and told them that she would be back with something for Dawn to eat. They were alone at last. Dawn was the first to say anything.
She said, "I'm sorry that I jumped when you touched me before. I am just not used to people touching me. Why did you bring me here?"
He said, "You fell and the teacher told me to. I caught you before you even hit the floor, did you know that?"
She shook her head no and then she said, "What's your name?"
He said, "It's Connor Angel, why? What is your name?"
She smiled at him, it made his heart beat faster, he did not know why. Dawn almost forgot what he asked her.
She said, "My name is Dawn sum-, I mean Snow. Dawn snow is my name."
She thought to herself, {God, I sounded like a moron; he probably thinks I'm in special education or something.}While she was lost in thought he was happy just staring at her. Until he realized it was considered rude to just stand there gawking at someone. He finally had the good sense to turn away. There was much about the world; that Connor still didn't know. They are partners in chem. class after that day. Even though they became lap partners, neither one of them told the other about the dream. They both thought they imagined the whole thing but they did not. Dawn was afraid of him and she did not know why. Therefore, she went out of her way to be rude and downright mean to him. She figured if she did not become friends with him then the dream had no chance of coming true.
Yet a part of her still wanted the dream to come true that is what scared her the most. Connor was not that new to girls and dating but he still could not figure her out. He knew she liked him but she always pushed him away. She was always being mean to him also. Is this common girl behavior? He did not know if it was or not. He had thought about asking Angel but he was not sure if he had the answers or not. He would ask spike but he always gave him the wrong answers.
He was very confused about girls; he didn't know what to do. It had been six months since Connor and Dawn had met. It had become obvious to everyone including their teachers that Connor would never catch up with the rest of their class, not without help anyways. One day after class, Dawn's teacher pulled her aside to speak with her.
She said, "Dawn, you've been doing very well this year, for being new you sure caught up real fast. I know your attendance has not been perfect but you have more than made up for it with your grades. I guess what I am trying to say is, I need your help with a student. I would not ask but he is your lab partner, if he fails my class then you will as well. I am sorry I know it is unfair of me to even ask; this of you but will you tutor him? Please I know he knows the work. He just needs someone to work with him one on one. I know you can do it. Well, what do you say?"
Dawn stood there for a moment, and then she said, "Ok, I will tutor him but on my terms, do you have it."
The teacher just shook her head. She told Dawn that she would talk to Connor after school. Dawn did not think he would go along with all her demands. The teacher called Connor in the office, after his last class. He walked there thinking, {Great, what I'd do now?} When he got there his chem. teacher was there waiting for him.
He walked over to the desk and said, "You called me?"
They directed him to another room, where his teacher was sitting there waiting for him.
She said, "Come in Connor and have a seat."
He came into the room and sat down. He was about to ask her what this was all about when she started to talk again.
She said, "Connor, I know you haven't been here that long but your failing at a rabidly alarming rate. If you don't get help now, you're going to fail; do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"
He just nodded his head, then he said, "I know, I'm behind but I'll catch up, I swear. Ok?"
The teacher said, "I don't want more excuses from you ok? I gave you more than enough time to catch up with the rest of the class and you did not. This is your last chance to pass this class. Here is what is going to happen, I've got you a tutor, you'll start today after school ok? You can meet either at your house or at the library of her choice, ok. We have a deal or what?"
He said, "Yes, but not at my house, I can only study till 8pm ok? What's my tutor's name?"
She just shook her head as if she was disappointed in him.
She said, "Only till 8pm? Why, you know never mind, fine whatever. Her name's Dawn Snow, I think you know her. Your lab partner; here's her number and don't make me regret this ok?"
He took the number and left school. He called on his cell phone while he was on his way home. He thought she would answer the phone; Dawn did not answer the phone.