I looked at the digital watch on my wrist and swore loudly. I was late.
I almost laughed at the irony of the situation I was in.
Earlier today, Patch and I agreed to meet at the public library for his first of this week's tutoring sessions. I'd repeatedly told him that if he was late, I would go home and cease to tutor him further as I didn't have time to waste on someone who couldn't be punctual to arranged appointments.
Walking faster, I tried to get to the library as quickly as I could, which to be honest wasn't very fast.
I wasn't what you would call all that physically fit and even the most low intensity exercises would leave me sweaty and out of breath.
Finally arriving at the library, I checked my watch again, I was 15 minutes late. Inside, I was praying that Patch would be his normal, unpunctual self and arrive after me, but I was granted no such luck.
Sitting alone at the table furthest away from the entrance sat Patch. He was deeply engrossed in a book which looked extremely old and worn out. Without his trademark smirk, he actually looked approachable and non-threatening. Making my way over to him, I tried to catch my breath and reduce the redness and sweatiness of my face.
Noticing me approaching him, Patch looked up from his book and gave me an impish grin.
"Why Angel, I do believe you're late" He said, with an obvious smile in his voice
I placed my bag onto the floor and slumped into the seat opposite him. Patch closed his book and placed it in his bag, under the table.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry" I puffed out "I lost track of time with Vee and I literally ran here when I remembered that I had to meet you"
Patch clasped his hands together and placed them on the table with a contemplating expression on his face
"Thing is Angel, I could have easily decided to leave, but I didn't"
"I know, thank you for not leaving" Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I looked over at Patch who was texting something on his blackberry.
"Why do you call me that?" I asked
"Hmm?"
"Angel, you keep on calling me Angel" I said, looking through my bag for my textbook
"Don't you like it?" Patch asked, his lips showing the signs of a smirk wanting to appear
"To be honest, no" I answered truthfully
"Would you rather I called you something else?" Patch questioned leaning forward onto the table.
"Like what?" I inquired, dreading his answer.
"Carrot top, ginger nut, sex-on-legs"
"Oh God no!" I protested
"Then what would you like me to call you?"
"I would like you to call me by my first name, which is Nora"
"I'm aware of that" Path said with a mischievous smile
I frowned at him.
Changing the subject I asked "What were you reading earlier, when I came in?"
"Oh….that, well it's this thing called a book and a book is a collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper or parchment. Often you will find them in libraries like this" He said, gesturing to the area we were in with both his hands and with a huge amount of sarcasm in his voice.
"Oh ha ha, real mature" I said sarcastically
"Thank you; I am a rather mature young gentleman aren't I?"
"I know what a book is" I said, rolling my eyes "What I meant was, what was it about?"
"That" Path said, putting his blackberry away "Is none of your business"
"Why? Was it picture book? Learning your ABC's?"
Patch gave a deep laugh.
"You can be quite funny sometimes Angel, well a lot of the time actually. You don't even know it"
I pursed my lips together and refused to comment further. Instead, I opened my textbook and looked at the contents, searching for the page number I needed.
"What are we doing today?" Patch asked
"Reproduction" I said before I could stop myself, of all topics I had to say. Without even looking at him I could tell Patch was giving me a pirate smile.
"Sounds fun" He said "But I don't think I need a textbook to learn about that. I'm pretty sure you could teach me everything I need to know in the back seat of my jeep"
I threw him the dirtiest look I could muster. How could anyone talk to someone else in such a manner? Just when I thought I was creating some sort of positive relationship with Patch, he had to ruin it by being so vulgar and brash.
"Oh come on Angel, don't give me that look" He said "I was only kidding"
"Well I personally didn't find it all that funny" I said sternly
"And just when I thought you actually had a sense of humour"
"And just when I thought you weren't a raging nymphomaniac"
Patch laughed again and gave me a small smile. I didn't reciprocate his smile and instead gave him a stern look. Suddenly feeling very hot, I removed my coat and my cardigan forgetting that underneath, I was only wearing a thin camisole. Patch let out a low wolf whistle when I removed my outer wear. I had the sudden urge to put my cardigan back on, but I didn't wish to show that I was bothered by Patch's perversions.
"You have beautiful skin Angel, like a porcelain doll"
Taken aback by his sincere and rather flattering compliment, I muttered out a low "Thank you"
"Are you busy Friday evening?"
"Why?"
"Well, there's this new film out and I thought that you'd might like to see it"
I gave Patch a small frown. Was he asking me out? On a date?
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well, although it may not seem like it, I actually like you Nora and I know you like me just as much and I would just like to spend some time with you minus anything to do with biology"
"Oh" Was all I could say. Did I dare say yes to a date with Patch? It was hard to admit that I wasn't tempted to say yes. But for some reason I couldn't help but think that Path wouldn't take no as answer.
Meeting his gaze, I felt a blush begin to appear on my cheeks
"Ok then" I said in small voice.
Instead of behaving in the arrogant and cocky manner that I expected, all Patch said was a simple "Cool"
I couldn't help but give him little smile, maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought.
