Mutual Relationships?
What a Silly Notion.
Jonathan took notes as the young woman explained math to three smooth-brained gorillas. He understood the subject rather well, having taken the same class in his first year of GU. Even so, she was doing an excellent job. Holly could have taught the subject if she applied herself. Having taught him a new trick that he could use with his studies. A shame her efforts were otherwise going to be wasted. If he did not know better, then he would have said at least she had the money. He still had a hard time wrapping his mind around the thought of her doing all this just to cozy up to the worst of the bunch.
When she paused to let them answer a practice question, he checked over the notes for accuracy; honestly, it did not matter to him if they passed their classes. He did it for the reputation alone. If his notes were not up to par then he'd have fewer buyers and would require going back to working as a convince store clerk for tuition. Jonathan would rather have crows pick at him than work in any form of customer service again.
"You going to finish that?" His eyes glanced from the notes, seeing her pointing at the breadsticks he'd hardly touched. They would just leave stain marks on the notes unless he wanted to be in constant use of a napkin. Without a word nor looking up at her he pushed the basket in her direction, "Thanks."
"You two can certainly have more than our cheapest salad and free breadsticks if you're hungry." Mario's voice cut next into the silence.
Then it was the one he did not wish to hear, "Yeah, live a little girl. Have a shot with me?" The man had been drinking from the moment they had arrived, getting free liquor from the more respectable man he leeched. A waitress was flagged down and ordered to bring more of the same thing he'd been downing, "Promise it's good... Or wait, do you even drink? Hey bet you she doesn't drin-"
Jonathan caught the motion too, looking over the paper as Holly snatched up the shot, knocking it back without so much as a sour face to the hard liquor, "Kind of weak shit with it being mostly pop." The way she said: 'pop' felt forced as if there had been another word on the tip of her tongue.
"Woah, nice. Stacey did say you'd be cool to party with. Had to check my sources with you being so fucking smart and all nerdy like Johnny here." Jonathan turned his gaze to James, hoping the man could feel his ill intentions as he thought of them. Too bad if he blackmailed Mister Russo any further or if he suddenly went missing his friends, with very real connections, would come searching at Jonathan's doorstep for him.
Mario finally looked up, "I didn't hire Holly to party with you, she's here to teach you math."
Without missing a beat James laughed heartily, "Ah man, you hear that Vinny, can't have lil'Hollywood suckin your sausage after all." Vulgarity was a ritual habit of the man. James made the motion with his hand and mouth as if to give a blow-job. Jonathan flicked his gaze to Holly watching red creep up her neck and burn in her face. She set the half-eaten breadstick down.
"Enough of that." Mario chided James.
Silence once again befell the table. Jonathan laid the notes down neatly, watching Holly. He saw the signs of something rather classic. Panic. It was interesting to witness her working through the stages. Her blank stare was followed by increased breathing which he could tell by the way her shoulders started to move with each breath. The way her hand shook just before she acted, speaking suddenly, "... The answer is seventy-two."
Reaching across the table to tap on George's paper the young woman was ready to bully Mario out of the spot if he did not move. He obliged.
"Hey, where you going?!" James got out of the booth, slamming his hand onto the back of it to stabilize himself.
Next was Vinny to get out of the booth as Jonathan looked to him silently telling him to move or he'd find himself at the end of very, very petty revenge. He casually gathered his belongings knowing this little tutoring session was at its end for certain. Leaving the notes unfinished on the table.
When Holly failed to answer James, putting her pack over her shoulder the man grabbed her, "I said, where ya goin' doll? Did it make you uncomfortable? Come on," he nearly whined, "you're hot. I'd totally fuck you more than once." James reminded Jonathan of a horny teenager who had never been rejected before. Which begged the question: if Holly had been doing all this for his affections, why was she trying to run away now?
"Let go." Holly spoke calmly. She maintained good control over her panic.
Mario was the one to push his friend's arm away, "James, you're drunk. Go sit back down." There was a fear in James that even while drunk he followed what Mario told him to do. It was the second reason Jonathan somewhat respected Mario, the first was simply due to a similar academic study. The second Holly was freed she fled.
Mario handed Jonathan an extra hundred, "You two take the same bus right?"
"We do, have a pleasant evening." Jonathan took the money and followed the woman out the door.
She'd not gone far. Likely still frightened by the prospect of that alley junkie. He paused behind her watching her breathe in and out in an attempt to calm herself. Jonathan tucked his things under his armpit so that he might shift out a pack of red slims and a lighter, placing one into his mouth he held another. A little voice of temptation called for him to jump-scare the woman. Curious if he could get her to scream. He flicked the folded hundred meant for her into her vision and was disappointed as she took it slowly without any other reaction.
A shame. He wondered what it was that had frightened her enough to flee – perhaps it was simply Russo? Might he have found a common ally in his hatred? If he could not do in Russo without raising suspicion; then perhaps Kingsley could. After a vulgar display like that from the man no one would suspect Jonathan of meddling.
Perhaps then, he'd help her ease her stress this evening rather than induce more of it.
Jonathan lit the cigarette in his mouth, offering out another one for her. He knew the addiction of nicotine on the nerves rather personally.
Holly took it. Putting it between her lips she held it steady and leaned towards him allowing him to give her a light as she inhaled, "Come by my dorms tomorrow at six fifteen pm, I want to show you something." He spoke without taking the cigarette from his lips. He'd be too tempted to grin maliciously otherwise.
