Broke But Not Broken Chapter 4
"Okay, we're going to meet them at their house." Psiionic said, fixing Mituna's collar. Mituna brushed him off, putting it back the way it was.
"How long are we gonna be there?" Mituna asks
"Shouldn't be longer than an hour. Oh, and Sollux. There's meatloaf in the fridge if you get hungry."
Sollux frowns slightly. "You're both going?"
"Yes. It's a first meeting and I want to be certain Mituna and Ashe get along well." He shoots a look to said student. "I know he can be difficult when he wants to be"
Mituna sighs, a pout forming. "Am not."
Sollux chuckles, sitting down on the couch while the two put on their shoes.
"You know you can be when you get stubborn. Just remember he is your instructor and that we are paying him to tutor you. Maybe you won't need him for long if you can raise your grades."
Mituna shrugs, standing and looking back to the clock.
"You guys are gonna be late if you don't go soon." Sollux says, smile showing in his voice.
Psiionic nods, ushering the other out of the room with a quick goodbye and warning of "No friends over and don't burn down the house. Especially the last one, Sollux."
The two pile into the car, driving off to the tutor's house. It's silent in the car, Psiionic not liking to drive with distractions.
Mituna's gaze is focused outside of the window throughout the drive, noticing the nice neighborhood of two story homes. They stopped in front of a tan house, Ashe opening the door and greeting them.
Mituna got out of the car shortly after Psiionic, trailing behind as the two adults talked.
"Nice place you have, Mister Ashe." Psiionic stated with a smile.
"This ain't nothing, sir. Come on in, make yourself at home."
Mituna followed, quietly greeting his future instructor.
They seated themselves in the living room, Ashe taking a wooden chair while the two sat on an old grandma couch. The place was clean, no clutter in sight.
"So... Mituna, tell me about school." Ashe said, looking towards the small teen.
"It's okay..." He replied softly
"Okay? How's your new school so far? Anything giving you trouble?"
Mituna looked to Psiionic before responding, "Just math, I guess." He says kindof confused
"Math is like his weak point in school." Psiionic added.
"What exactly is giving you trouble in math? Numbers, formulas, anything specific?"
"Um, everything but shapes and numbers."
Ashe hummed in response. "Well, it could always be worse. At least you have those. would you mind going through times tables really quick? Just some basic math." He asked, leaning back in his seat.
Mituna nodded in response.
"Okay. Two times two?"
"Four" Mituna answered immediately.
"Five times five."
"Twenty five?" Mituna half asked himself.
"Yes, good. Twenty one divided by seven"
"Is it three?" Mituna asks after a moment of thought
"And twelve squared?" Ashe asks with a nod in response to the question
"Squared?" Mituna asks, unsure what that even meant.
"Twelve times twelve, Tuna." Psiionic responds for the other.
"Oh... I can't go that high without paper or something..." Mituna responds sheepishly.
"That's okay. how high can you go?" Ashe asks dismissively.
"I can do twos, fives, threes, sevens, elevens... Not anything over one hundred." Mituna responds thoughtfully.
"Good, so you have basic math ability." Ashe states with a smile. "What have you covered in your last few math classes?"
"We went over a lot, but I didn't get it..."
Ashe nods. "Well, guess that's why you're here. We just have to find another way to explain it. Maybe you just needed a better explanation."
Psiionic smiles, nodding before standing. "I suppose we should be leaving soon. When would you be available for sessions?"
"Any day except Tuesday is good"
"Well then, what days would you prefer, Mituna?" Psiionic asks, looking to his son
"Wednesdays?"
"Might need more time than that though. What about another day?"
"Um... Saturday?" Mituna asks, uncertain.
"So short Wednesday session and then Saturday?"
Psiionic nods back to the teacher. "That sounds appropriate, thank you for your time today."