The Tutor, Chapter 5
-

Rating, summary, pairing, and disclaimer the same.
Author's Note: The next chapter. Considering wrapping this up in about one or two more chapters plus a bonus, so we're going to fast-forward here. Enjoy.

-
SB

(Six months later...)

Life had been pretty damn good. My music theory grade had improved, and Rude and I had continued seeing each other outside of our Saturday tutoring sessions and getting down and dirty. It felt a little sudden, but I think I caught feelings for him. It was more than the great sex; I enjoyed his company, he made me laugh, he was a great listener, and I looked forward to seeing him whenever we could get together. However, I wasn't sure if he was on the same page. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but if there was even the slimmest chance of him rejecting me, I didn't wanna risk it. To throw away the relationship we had cultivated in a short span of time was out of the question for me, and hopefully for him too.

"You seem distracted, son," my mom said as she took clothes out of the dryer.
"Just have some things on my mind, that's all."
"Well spit it out. Talk to me, Reno."
"I've been seeing somebody, Ma. And I think I'm really starting to like him."
"That's natural," she shut the dryer door and started folding. "What's the problem?"
"It's just been a while since I've been in a real relationship with somebody. I don't know if he feels the same."
"Now Reno, you have not been one to hold your tongue about any-damn-thing since you learned how to speak," she looked at me skeptically. "What are you afraid of?"
"Rejection! What the hell else?"
"Rejection is not the end of the world. Sure, it sucks, and it can be scary and intimidating, but it's not the end all be all. Can you believe your father was afraid to ask me out?"
"Strict, military drone, incredibly blunt dad? Nah."
"It's true. He didn't tell me until after we were married, but he had been coming by the deli I worked at every day for months before he even spoke to me. He always sat in a booth in the back corner, never at the counter. It was the cutest thing. He choked on his roast beef sandwich when I said 'yes'."
"How romantic," I shook my head with a smile.
"Point is," she stopped folding a towel to look at me, "you'll never know how he feels unless you ask, and he won't know how you feel unless you tell him. Or if he asks first, but we don't know when that will be."
"You're right, Ma. I just don't wanna screw it up."
"It'll be fine, and I know he'll appreciate you being honest with him. You gotta bring him by for dinner one night so I can meet him."
"If you promise not to cook that horrible stir fry, then I'll see what I can do."
"What the hell is wrong with my stir fry?" Mom looked at me indignantly.
"The dried out beef and greasy noodles. I don't even know how that's scientifically possible, but somehow you do it."
"Would you rather your father cook?" she raised a brow.
"...point taken."

"Seeing your lover boy tonight?" Axel asked me over the phone.
"Yeah, probably."
"Gonna tell him you're madly in love with him?"
"Hey, 'madly' is an overstatement."
"But you do love him."
"...yeah."
"I'll be honest with you, bro, I've seen him a time or two since you guys started seeing each other. He's kinda glowing."
"Glowing describes pregnant women, Axel."
"You know what I mean," Axel laughed. "He just seems...I dunno, like he's in a really good place. And I've even noticed that you've been happier lately too. I think you should go for it."
"If you agree to ask out that cute waiter," I smirked. I knew Axel rolled his eyes.
"How do you know I didn't ask him already?"
"You would've told me. Shit, you tell me everything else and somehow you would forget to mention it?"
"Consider it done. I'll call you later, got patients coming in."
"Later."

"You seem distracted," Rude said, looking down at me. We were on the couch watching TV and I had stretched out with my head in his lap.
"Been hearing that a lot this week," I smirked. "Just thinking about some things."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"...dunno yet."
"I get the feeling that you're nervous about it."
"And you know that how?" I looked at him with a raised brow.
"I felt your body tense a little bit. You are laying on me, ya know..."
I bit my lip. Just say it, damn it. Go for broke.
As soon as I opened my mouth, Rude's phone rang.
"Hey Ma. What's going - what? When? Is she okay?"
I sat up. I could tell by his tone something had happened.
"I'll be there in 20 minutes," he sprang up and hung up the phone.
"What happened?" I asked as he threw some Chucks on and grabbed his keys.
"My sister's in the hospital. Can you make sure you lock up when you leave? I don't know when I'll be back."
"Yeah, go handle your business."
He gave me a quick kiss.
"I'll call you soon."
When he left, I exhaled a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding and ran a hand through my hair. Guess it wasn't the right time, or if it was, then I fuckin' blew it.

Almost a week later, I still hadn't heard from him. I honestly was worried that something really bad happened to his sister. Suddenly my phone rang, and I nearly busted my ass getting out of bed to grab it.
"Hello?"
"Yo Ren. What's up?"
"Oh, it's you Az," I sat back on the bed.
"Well shit, don't sound so disappointed. Thought it would be your lover boy?"
"Yeah..."
"...you okay?" he asked.
"I'm straight, yeah."
"Something didn't happen, did it?"
"Well yeah...and no. I was with Rude a couple days ago, and I was about to tell him how I felt when his mom suddenly called and said his sister was in the hospital. I haven't heard from him since."
"Damn...you don't think-"
"I don't wanna think that, but I don't know what to think. I know he loves his little sis like crazy so I know he'd be real torn up about it."
"Worst case scenario, I know you're gonna be down for him. And about what you wanted to say, you'll get another chance bro. Don't mull it over so much."
My call waiting beeped and I looked at the number. It was Rude.
"Az, I'll call you later. It's him."
"Later bro. Call if you need me."
I cleared my throat and switched over.
"Hey, is everything okay?"
"It's better," he said. "Sorry I took so long to call, but shit has been crazy. Can you come over?"
"Sure, lemme get dressed and I'll be there in 30 minutes."

Rude opened the door before I could knock.
"So what happened?" I asked, following him upstairs. I noted the low-riding towel around his waist, but kept my hormones in check.
"My sister has been dating this bum ass dude for a couple months, and she found out that he was cheating on her. When she confronted him about it, the motherfucker put hands on her."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, he busted her lip, dislocated her shoulder, busted her eardrum, and cracked a rib," he said as he got dressed in the bathroom. "I was ready to go to jail for fucking this dude up when I saw her."
He sat down on the end of the bed next to me and ran a hand through his dreads.
"Is she still in the hospital?"
"They're releasing her tomorrow. They kept her because she was in so much pain. She and my mom were gonna go back home this weekend, but my aunt wants them to stay here with her until my sis gets better."
"Damn," I shook my head. "I'm sorry to hear all that."
"You know something?" he looked at me. "Seeing you...like, you're having a calming effect on me right now."
"For real?"
"Yeah I mean, even with all this craziness going on, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about you. I can't really explain it."
I bit my lip. Now? Go for it?
"You wanted to say something the other night, didn't you?"
"Yeah but it can wait," I said without thinking, looking at the floor. Fuck.
Rude grabbed me by my chin.
"Talk to me, Reno," he said softly. "No need to be nervous."
Without thinking yet again, I pulled him in for a deep kiss. I guess my lips needed his to relax because afterwards, they collected themselves.
"I'm in love with you," I murmured against his lips. "I know this is a crazy time to tell you, but there it is. And if you're down, I wanna make it official."
Rude paused and exhaled deeply with a smile.
"You see what you did?" he asked, taking one of my hands and putting it on his chest. His heart was beating like crazy.
"Trust, you're not the only one."
"Once you're mine, you know I'm not letting go, right?" Rude looked me straight in the eyes.
"I don't want you to..."
He leaned forward and kissed me hard, pushing me back on the bed.
"I love you, Reno," he whispered.
I smiled and kissed him again.
"Love you too."

I think what I'll do is an epilogue to wrap everything up and that bonus chapter. Til next time.
-

SB