F4F where her tutor's helping her with memorization?
It was so unfair. Chelsea had to pass this test, or she wouldn’t be allowed on her girls trip in the summer! It wasn’t even for her degree, it was a mandatory course just to get the points up, and now her parents were saying they’d ground her if she didn’t pass it – which was stupid, considering she was an adult.
So, begrudgingly, she hired a tutor. Some woman who was a substitute teacher part-time, a tutor the other part. Chelsea literally could not care less… unless somehow she’d be able to use this knowledge to squeeze another pair of heels into her suitcase.
Don’t get it wrong, Chelsea was determined and studious when it came to her BioChem degree, but sticking something like English Lit onto that was just a slog. She dealt in observable reactions, and science, not symbolism and subtext. Eugh.
Laura walked in, hips swaying, and big binder in her arms. “Chelsea, right?” She smiled brightly and sat down.
The library was quiet today, and Chelsea hoped that Laura was as good a tutor as all her reviews said.
“I’m Laura, and I hear you’re having some trouble with your coursework?” She flipped the binder open, and Chelsea rolled her eyes a little.
“I’m just not really a subtext kinda gal, so whenever they’re asking me to dissect stuff I keep being told I’m too surface level.”
Laura’s earrings swung side to side as gave a chuckle, eyes twinkling. “Oh, I totally get it. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what it is exactly we’re meant to be seeing. How about we start with memorising some key points you can check whenever you read a new piece?” Her long nails pointed to the binder. She looked at Chelsea expectantly, who began to read aloud.
“What is the mood of this scene.”
“Great, so let’s try it out in real life. So, how would you describe the mood right now?”
Awkward, Chelsea thought. Laura was a little in her personal space, and she wouldn’t break eye contact. They were the only two in this section of the library.
It was also comfortable, though. Laura seemed nice enough, and the library was warm with cozy lighting, and it was nice to actually have someone spell these things out instead of expecting her to already know this stuff.
“It’s nice, right? Relaxing. It’s calm, peaceful, and safe. You need reasons for this, like the lighting and colours and how characters act. Your shoulders have dropped since I first sat down, and you’re looking at me more now,” Laura smiled.
Huh, Chelsea thought. I guess I am.
“Okay, next one. What sort of characters are they, and what does that mean?”
“You seem… nice,” Chelsea flushed slightly. “Your nails are cute, and your hair is curled, and your makeup isn’t as messy as mine.”
Laura tucked her hair behind her ear, “so what does that say about me as a person?”
“You’re, uh, probably organised, and trustworthy? If you follow your… your… ar…”
“Archetype,” Laura added. “That’s a great word to use! And yes, I’d say you could trust me.” Her eyelids lowered and Chelsea felt her mind start to spin. “You seem lost… your posture, the way you talk. You need someone to guide you…”
Chelsea tried to look away, she should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. She could trust Laura.
“Yeah… uh. That’s why you’re here, right?”
“Exactly,” Laura put her hand on Chelsea’s thigh. “You trust me to guide you, don’t you?”
Chelsea’s lips parted, and she nodded slowly.
Laura packed up her bag, gesturing for Chelsea to do the same.
“Let’s head to the back of the library… just to make sure no one interrupts us.”
