Disclaimer: I don't own The Covenant.
Co-Author: SkyyRyder
A/N: Okay, so we actually make a little progress in this chapter. It's one of the things you've all been waiting for! Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Keep them coming!
Fallen Now is Babylon the Great
Chapter 16: Peer Tutoring
-Reid's POV-
This sucks. It's almost Thanksgiving and I've only seen Babylon like four times in the past two weeks, and that's only because she cancelled two meetings and got let out of work early one night. Between all her bullshit schedule and state coming up, we never see each other outside of school. How am I supposed to work on her when I hardly ever fucking see her?
Fear not. I have a foolproof plan.
There's this after school peer tutoring program Spenser provides. Of course, B's like the brains of Spenser, so she's head of the stupid program. And since I could use the extra help in Chem and Calc and Tyler's still kind of mad, so I can't bully him into doing my homework...
I went to the second story of the library and found her at one of the study desks, a few other brains working with some of the idiots and stoners. B was available apparently. Perfect.
I sat down across from her and smirked, leaning back into my seat. Her head snapped up from the Trig book she was staring at and she looked pretty damn shocked to see me there. "Reid? What are you doing here?"
"This is peer tutoring, isn't it?" I asked, being a smart ass and kicking my feet up on the long desk. She gave me the dreaded look that told me she wasn't here to fool around and I slid my feet off the smooth surface, putting them back on the floor.
"Reid, you know it is." A stern look crossed her pretty face. "I'm not sneaking out of here with you. I have to stay in case we get some walk-ins."
"Consider yourself occupied then." I pulled my Chem book from the floor where I'd dropped it and let it fall loudly onto the tabletop. I got a few 'shh's' but just ignored them and leaned forward towards B. She's looking mighty fine right now with her hair a little tousled and her uniform half undone. "I'm desperate. I need to pass Chem or no swimming for me."
She raised those nicely shaped eyebrows at me, looking even more surprised then when I'd sat down. "Gosh Reid. We sit right near each other. Why didn't you ever say anything in class?" I just shrugged and ran my hand through my hair mindlessly. It was the only other class we had together apart from European Lit., and Babylon sat right in front of me.
"Because I don't care. When the hell am I ever gonna need this crap?" Baby rolled her eyes and shook her head. Ouch. Did I say something stupid?
"Well, you clearly need to know this 'crap' now, don't you?" She used air quotes and everything. But I have to say, she's got me there.
"Did you just curse babe?" I smirked. She fought a small smile and pushed my shoulder lightly.
"Come on Reid, really. Do you want help or am I wasting my time? Because if you want me to tutor you, I will. But only if you actually benefit from it. This isn't some scam to spend time with me, is it?"
I gave her a sly look. She's catching on quickly. Maybe a little too quickly...
As long as she doesn't find out about the bet.
"Maybe... but, I really do need help. No lie there." I pulled a few of the quizzes we'd had out of the front of my book and handed them to her, proving that my C- and D level grades aren't all just part of the plan to get a little extra time with her.
That seemed to be good enough for her as her eyes scanned the papers, wincing and making pained faces as she looked them over. "All right. We had that worksheet for tomorrow, right? Compound formulas I think."
"That's the one," I confirmed, opening my book and pulling out the folded worksheet. She glanced over the first few that I'd done in class and made another face. Wow, way to make me feel retarded B.
"Wow Reid... um..." She stood up and came around the desk, dragging her chair with her and sitting right beside
me. "Okay, first of all, you have to actually have the right elements." She giggled a little and I glared at her. Is she calling me stupid?
"You're a mean tutor, you know." She put her fingertips over her sexy, full lips and looked at me seriously.
"I'm sorry. That was horrible. I didn't mean to." I flinched back a little, not realizing I was going to make her upset like that. I was just kidding. She looked like she felt awful.
"Relax, I'm just messing. I seriously have no idea what I'm doing in that fucking class though." I placed my hand discretely on her upper thigh, a little closer to the danger zone than usual and I was pretty fucking shocked she didn't pull her leg away. So I started to stroke my thumb over the fabric of her uniform skirt. Again, no jerking away.
Awesome.
"Do you see what I'm saying?" Shit. Totally wasn't listening.
"Uh..." She huffed and gaped at me, putting her fists on the tabletop to show her frustration and glaring at me.
Oh, she looks sexy!
"Reid! Pay attention or leave." She moved her leg away from my hand and shook her head, not in the cute 'oh Reid' way. In the angry 'you're pissing me off' way. Damn.
"I'm sorry Baby." I nuzzled her cheek lightly and wrapped my arm around her waist. "I just haven't seen you much. I got distracted. I'll listen."
It's getting way too easy to crack her.
A soft smile crept onto her lips and she sighed, meeting my eyes with her smoky ones. "It's okay. I've been missing you too." She shied away as she said it, a flush burning her cheeks. She was so easy to fluster.
I smirked and kissed her neck lightly, stroking my hand through her silky, soft hair. "Just give me a kiss and I'll be able to pay attention more." She pursed her lips and glanced at me from the corner of her eye before turning to face me and leaning in a little.
I stole her lips for longer than I know she's comfortable with in public, but she'll get over it.
I walked her out to her car after peer tutoring was over, my arm securely around her waist, letting everyone within a mile radius know that Babylon is mine. I kinda like the sound of that.
I smirked and she tilted her head up slightly to look at me, those hazy blue eyes staring up at me slightly amused. "What's so funny?" she wondered.
I pressed my lips to her forehead and grinned. "Nothing, I was just thinking." She furrowed her brow at me, that questioning look in her eyes. "Well it was only a month or so ago that you wouldn't even be in the same room with me excluding class, let alone within a touching distance."
She laughed and pursed her lips together. "Maybe if you would have been nicer to me." She arched that perfect eyebrow up at me.
I rolled my eyes. "You were like an Ice Queen to everyone," I retorted.
"I was not," she pouted looking up at me jilted.
My eyes grew wide and I laughed. "You're kidding, right?" She made a face and I couldn't stop from laughing harder. "Seriously, B... you were cryptic babe."
"Was I really thatbad?" I watched her lick her lips unhappily, and I shrugged.
"I believe 'bitch' was the term most often used to describe you." I tilted my head to the side seeing her face fall and I squeezed her hip, those eyes looking back up at me. "But not anymore." I stopped behind her beat up Toyota and smirked, resting my hip against the trunk.
"I guess I wasn't exactly the nicest person in the world." She chewed her bottom lip and gave me an apologetic look. "I've had a lot going on the last couple of years; I guess I just let it get to me."
I slid my index finger under her chin and lifted her face up to meet mine. "Don't apologize, that bitchy attitude of yours is what made me want to go after you." I smirked; it was half-true anyway.
She turned scarlet and I laughed, leaning down to meet her lips with mine. It was an innocent kiss and she shied away pulling back slightly. "I was wondering," She changed the subject on me. "What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?"
I lifted my shoulder lazily, my hands resting on her hips now. "My parents will still be out of town, so I'll probably hang out at Caleb's." I pursed my lips and she stared up at me a perplexed look on her face. "Usually all of the families have dinner over at Caleb's house." I paused, and she gave me a ghost of a smile that made my insides do things that they normally didn't do. "I was gonna ask you. Um… if maybe you'd wanna go… with me? Y'know… for dinner."
Was I nervous? I've never really asked a girl to go to one of the Covenant families events before. I don't bring girls around the adults in my life, including my own parents. But that's the only way I'll get anywhere with this chick. Clearly, family is important to her. I cleared my throat and she smiled. "I'd love to Reid, I really would… but I can't."
Wow… I wasn't really expecting her to say no.
"It's not that I don't want to!" she quickly covered up. "It's just that I'mmaking Thanksgiving dinner at my house, you know for mom, the girls and Amma." She tilted her head, leaving a featherlike kiss on my cheek. "You're more than welcome to come... if you find the time."
I pulled her chin in to my grasp and kissed her softly. "I'll make you a deal."
She tilted her head back a bit, her eyes meeting mine. "And that would be?"
"I'll come eat dinner at your house on Thanksgiving day, but you have to come with me to Caleb's for seconds later that night?"
A large smile broke out on to her gorgeous face and she nodded. "That would be great." She wrapped her arms around my neck, her body pulled nice and close against mine.
"I'll even come over early to help you cook," I offered, leaning my forehead against hers and wrapping my arms around her waist just a little tighter. This is so comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable.
She giggled, pressed her lips against mine and pulled away. "Then maybe I should call in some takeout for a backup plan." Her teeth bit down on her lower lip the way I liked, a playful glint in those alluring eyes.
God, does she have any idea what she does to me? Ugh, I'm going to have to take a cold shower after this…
"Are you making fun of me?" I tried to act hurt, and she gave my shoulder a small shove.
Laughing again, she made a face and answered me. I don't think I've ever seen her laugh as much as she does with me in all the years I've known her. "It's okay Reid, you have a cooking disability. We'll work around it." I could listen to her laugh all day, flashing her a playful pout in response to her ribbing. "I should get going, or I'm going to be late."
Sighing I nodded my head. "Call me when you get home, okay?" I told her.
Smiling she nodded, leaning in to me. I wrapped my arms around her tightly again, hugging her close to my body. I didn't really want her to go. If her family didn't need the money so bad, I'd try to talk her out of going.
I placed a chaste kiss in her hair before opening her door and letting her slide in. She gave me a small little wave of her fingers before taking off. I watched her carefully and as soon as she disappeared from sight I headed to the dorms.
Entering my room, I noticed Tyler sitting on his bed, chin propped in his hand as he read through what looked like a psychology book. Boring. He glanced up hearing me come in and smirked at me.
"Where have you been?"
I rolled my eyes; as if he reallyneeded to ask. "With Babylon, what'd you think?"
"With you, who knows. Figured you might be sick of staying abstinent for the last month or however long it's been." His blue eyes flickered with annoyance and I grinned at him.
"My hand has been keeping me company for the time being." Tyler turned his nose up at me and I laughed. "But no, Mr. Know-it-all. I was talking to my girlfriendabout Thanksgiving." He flinched at the word and I couldn't help but smile wider, falling back onto my bed. "We're having dinner at her house and then we're gonna come to Caleb's for seconds."
I got comfortable, lacing my fingers behind my head.
"You did what?" Tyler slammed his pen down on to his book.
I flinched at his tone. Sitting up, I looked at him oddly. "I invited her to come for seconds at Caleb's house…" I really didn't see the big deal about it; it wasn't like it was some huge secret that our families all celebrated the holidays together.
"I can't believe you." He sounded really annoyed. What the hell is his problem?
"What?" I asked innocently. Well I wasinnocent, for once. I don't have a clue why he's so ticked about this.
"You!" Tyler pointed a finger at me. "You're actually going to introduce Babylon to everyone? All of our familieseven though you're going to end up hurting her, embarrassing her by doing what you're planning to do?"
I swallowed hard. I hadn't even thought about that. It didn't even cross my mind at all when I was talking to Babylon outside.
Tyler narrowed his eyes at me and I sulked back into my pillows. I had been concentrating so much on just hanging out with her and spending more time with her that I hadn't even thought about the bet with Aaron.
At least, not really.
God, could I really take her to dinner at Caleb's house, introduce her to all of the families? Show her at least one thing that wasn't a lie?
I bit my bottom lip and met Tyler's penetrating gaze. Why hadn't I thought of this before? I was busy just having a good time with her. Enjoying her company.
Tyler looked back at his book shaking his head. I pulled a pillow into my lap and scrunched up my face in thought. I couldn't… no. I didn't.
That strange feeling I had earlier with Baby, what did that mean? Could I? Does it mean what I think it means?
God, I hate thinking. It makes my head hurt.
I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts, but it was difficult. They were plagued with thoughts of her; thoughts of us together. How shocked everyone's going to be when I actually bring a date for once. How everyone's going to love her because she's so smart and pretty. How she's going to sip some sparkling cider with Kate and Sarah while we all sit in the lounge after desert and I'll stand with Caleb and Pogue near the mantle, watching her with that stupid... look on my face.
Jesus, I haveto, with the way I'm thinking.
I like her.
I mean, really like her.