#mathew lillard

So for the third time, you're being ditched beside the fountain you agreed he insisted as a meetup place after school to drive to his house.

You didn't want to bring him home because Tatum's just gonna suck his balls off the moment he steps inside the house and it's gonna be on you if he flunks, then you'll fail the class and you're going to be stuck in this small town working on some diner.

And you also didn't wanna spend a dime for a drink that costs a leg and an arm just to sit in a cafe.

You sigh and sit on the edge of the fountain, tiny bits of water sprinkle on your bag.

5 minutes.

You'll wait 5 more and leave if he doesn't show up anytime soon.

He didn't.

You already grabbed your bike and headed for the street, you can never be too careful, so you strapped your helmet to your head and pedaled away.

As you slowed down to a stop behind another car, a honk startles you from the side.

"Tatum junior!"

Oh and what do we have here.

Stuart Macher.

Your eye twitches, he gives you a lanky wave in his convertible that's blaring music like there's no yesterday.

"Hop on in, Teach!"

You blink at him a few times, he's got to be kidding you—

Your bike sits uncomfortablely in the backseat, strapped in poorly with seatbelts and extension cables.

Everytime you pass a hump, your bike tries to lurch out of its confines.

You fiddle with your fingers in the passenger seat, opting to focus on the passing houses than your fellow passenger.

"So, hows you doing?"

You roll your eyes. "Look, I don't wanna fail this class okay? So if you're gonna be a dick and miss our sessions, don't. He's gonna fail me if I fall short and flop you and I'm not gonna be able to move up okay, get it? I'm gonna repeat a stupid grade and we only have I dont know before his long test and if you're not gonna pass that, I'm actually gonna disappear from the surface of earth and no one's gonna see me again because I'm gonna be lying in— in a ditch somewhere—"

"Woah woah woah! Hey—" Stu has his eyes furrowed and his eyes wide as saucers, debating on looking at the road or looking at you.

"Chill out, little tates!" He raises a hand at you as if that was gonna help you calm down. "My bad alright? My bad. I missed a session once—"

"Twice, and almost thrice If you didn't come today,"

"Buut, I did okay? You're sitting in my car ain't ya?"

"And that's so not coincidental am I right? That you just— what, happen drive by beside me, just in time that I left from the fountain where we were supposed to be meeting at?" You huff.

"I'm sure you we're on your way in whatever after school beer time you were supposed to be in then you saw me right in front of you and you didn't wanna be caught lacking so why not invite me in the guise of tutoring you so I would think you actually wanted to study."

You lifted an eyebrow at him, crossing your arms. He glances at you, a glint passes by his eyes but he wore a big smile on his face, then he snorts and ruffles your hair.

"Oh, tiny Riley! You got me there," you try to swat his hands away but he snatches it faster as he clutched his chest, pretending to be hurt.

"Aight, the thing is, I'm here aren't I? Big Stu is here!" He yells out the car, thumping his chest like a gorilla, laughing as he went back down.

"So, whats on our itinerary, teach?"

"Aside from introduction to accounting and analyzing business transactions which we should've covered during the last sessions," you grit your teeth and glare at him. "We now have a very easy basic accounting equations on our shoulders,"

"Oh, I think that's an easy peasy right, tate junior? We've basically got all the time in the world."

" 'All the time in the word' my butt," you grumble, crossing your arms and turning your back against him, looking about the houses once again.

A few trees passes by and Stu's mansion of a house comes into view. Stu parks like he doesn't have license, rattling your bike behind you.

"Up n up, baby Riley," you slung your bag and opened the door, you push it close as you stare at your bike, somehow Stu caught on immediately and gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Nothings gonna happen to your bike, tiny tate, we're out in the middle of nowhere, no one comes out here," he wiggles his eyebrows, "Except when there's a partaaaay!"

You mock his face as he turns around, hands in the air, you make your hand chatter.

He jogs ahead of you in lazy confidence, expecting you at his heels, you sigh your eyes for the nth time and stomped behind him.

He shuts the door behind him, letting you absorbed the house first.

"Check it out, got myself a little stray!" You frown and snap your head to him, who's he shouting out and about.

He struts ahead of you, checking the living room and the stairs, then he howls like a maniac startling you.

Is this what Tatum endures everyday?

You cannot fathom how he is with his girlfriend if this is how he is with strangers.

Then he boyishly sashays to where you are, hands in pockets.

"Scared ya? Pardon thee," he bows dramatically.

"You mean thy?"

"Anyways— C'mon, teach, lotsa room around, where do you wanna start?"

You tilt your head, is he expecting you to lead with the venue which is HIS house?

"Oh, um, ok," you awkwardly shuffled and approached what you assumed was the living room.

"So," he starts, hands still in pockets, he stands at the foot of the table as you kneeled down and began pulling out notes and books, "Why accounting?"

"What kinda question is that?"

"What do yew mean? It's an icebreaker, zuh," he playfully rolls his eyes and waves you off.

A beat goes and no one says anything.

Finally, you clear your throat and pat the floor beside you, you can see him visibly pause and tilt his head at you.

"We need to start? Like asap please?" You raise your eyebrows, his mouth makes an o before he bounces and lands beside you.

You flip through the table of contents, you sigh, landing on the first page of intro to accounting.

"Okay... What do we have here." you mumble, "You know Luca?"

"The racer? Why?"

You grind you teeth and shot him the best are you serious face.

After a few seconds you sigh in defeat.

"Luca Pacioli,"

"Sounds Italian," he wiggles his eyebrows.

You might as well stab yourself, but no, you inhale, 123.

"It's okay, Luca Pacioli was—"

"Pfftt, gosh I know who Paciole is, everyone and their mom does, I'm just messing with you, you douche," you stare ahead at the wall, gripping your pencil, you stutter in irritation as you finally spoke up.

"O-okay.. I'll assume you must know the branches of accounting right?"

You asked, not sparing him a glance, you check off Luca Paciole out of the list oh father of accounting.

"Yuh-huh, okay— can we actually pause. All these notebooks are giving me the heebie jeebies," he shudders, "When's your sister finishing her prac?"

"7:00. Give me the branches of accounting and their uses,"

"C'moooon, gimme a break, baby tatum puhlease," you give him a pointed look.

"I don't really get why there's 5 fucking ways to say money problems, it's all numbers and stress and making people feel important," he playfully waves his hands around, his head dramatically falling unto the sofa behind the both of you. "Like, one is watching other peoples money, one's figuring out why everything costs so much, one is taxes, which is basically robbery in plain sight! And the rest is just peoole double checking on each other so no one gets yelled at. Ugh this is making me dizzy, I'm gonna skedaddle."

"That's.."

He sighs and abruptly stands up, headed for the kitchen, "You need anything? Water, beer, Apple juice?"

"Yeah.That makes sense." You nod, skimming over the book, his head whips out of the refrigerator. "That's pretty much financial, management, cost, tax, and auditing."

Okay, you actually think you can get through this in a breeze. You felt like the rocks on your shoulders being lifted up.

"Now can you tell me what ALCIE stands for?" You asked, flipping a page.

📞🩸🔪

You yawn as you check your watch.

9:00 pm

You have a 10 pm curfew because apparently no one cares that the age gap between you and Tatum was close with each other so they treat you like your 10.

You glance at scooby doo beside you, his head rested on the coffee table, turned away from you and snoring.

You suppose it was you reading, droning on and on and on, but thank goodness, at least he fell asleep during an unimportant part.

You rub your eyes, it was about time you fix up and go home.

But you needed to pee so bad, all the juice you drank went straight down. You groan and stood up, choosing not to wake him up, you stood at the center of the hallway and looking around for any signs of bathroom.

Then you heard keys jingling at the front door.

You didn't even realize Stu was awake till you heard the clanking of your bag behind you, he pulls you with him up the stairs in the hurry.

"Stu what—"

"No time, hurry up," you shut your mouth when you saw his worried face. He didn't speak till you arrived in what you assume was his room. He nudges you in first before locking the door behind him.

"Coming in a minute, mom!"

"Your parents are here?"

"Yeah. Fuck," the last word was supposed to be mumbled, his eyes snap to yours, "Don't tell Tatum,"

You lift an eyebrow, a puzzled look on your face.

"What?" He says, albiet almost defensively but still having that playful tone of his. "I'm not a kid idiot,"

"Really? Won't your ears burst if I curse in front of ya?"

You roll your eyes.

"Why'd you bring me up here anyway?"

"Yeahhhh, about that," he scratches his head. "So basically, parents = tutor, is a big no-no."

"What?"

"They can't, CAN'T know I have me a tutor, they're gonna hang me by the balls!" He whisper-shouts, holding his hands around his neck trying to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

He slowly brings his hands together in front of you. When you don't answer, he starts to kneel and shake his hands.

"Please, mademoiselle."

"Urgh, alright alright just— fricking stand up please,"

A wide grin graces his face as he slowly ascends from his position, he towers over you in a slow motion kinda way.

"Fricking? You're such a kid, tate junior,"

You roll your eyes.

"What am I supposed to do now?" You glance around his room, okay, typical teenage hormonal boy room.

"Hmmm," he makes a thinking face, then puts his hand below his chin, scratching it. "You can climb down the window."

"Absolutely not!" You gasp.

"Well why not!"

"I could die!" you gesture to yourself.

"Well, I'm gonna die!"

"Stuart!"

"Stu, sweets,"

"I can't climb down a window!"

"Look— believe me—"

"I'm not gonna believe you!"

"SHHH," he covers your mouth abruptly.

"Stu? Is there someone with you?" You hear his mom from downstairs.

"I'm on the phone, mom!" You can feel him deflate when he hears no reply from his mom.

"Junior, look at me, hey," your eyes sting as you glance at the window. This was not how your day was supposed to end. "Why can't you just tell your parents that I'm like- someone not like-"

You exhale, trying to fan yourself. "Hey- look at me, junior," Stu holds your head in between his huge hands, he squats in front of you as he momentarily shakes your focus on him.

"Listen to me. I've went down my window before and trust me when I say this, you're not gonna die, sweet cheeks. It's just like a little jump in the pool but no pool just jump— hey, it's okay,"

You rub your forehead and then your eyes.

"Stu, we're on the second floor of your house, how is this a jump in the pool. I'm gonna die if I jump out that window."

You huff and puff out carbon dioxide rapidly, the plants can thank you for that.

"Don't you have a ladder somewhere—"

"Wait. Stay here. DO NOT make a noise."

"Stu—"

"Shosh." He quickly exits his room, leaving you and yourself.

You glance around for your bag, you see it hapazardly discarded on the floor, but everything inside is complete, you completely zip it close and strapped it to yourself.

"C'mon, where are you, Stu." you whisper, walking around his room trying to calm yourself.

A beat goes and you hear pebbles tapping on the window, you glanced down and see Stu, he waves with his whole body as you slide it open.

"C'mon! I'll catch you!" He whisper-shouts.

Your eyes widen.

"We're both gonna die!"

"Hurry! Or you'll be seeing my corpse on that fence!"

You bite your lip, your mind trying to scramble for other possible solutions.

"Are you sure this is safe?"

"Perfectly!"

You back up the window, worse comes to worst, you'll break an ankle or an arm.

"1!" You hear him whisper-shout.

"2!"

"3!"

You hop on the ledge and jump, closing your eyes and hoping for everything but death.

You hit Stu hard, as in he almost falls to the ground hard, or at least that's what it felt like to you. You felt an arm circle around your torso and and the other beneath your legs, your arms automatically clutched around his neck.

Your eyes are still shut tight, arms still hugging his head in a headlock.

"J-junior- you can- let go- now-" your eyes snap open, you look around and breathe a huge sigh of relief when you see the ground, your arms loosen around Stu as you huff and puff in joy.

"Told gya, I'd catch you. Big Stu in the house!" You almost laughed if not for the fact he almost killed you.

You jumped down from his arms and dusted your clothes, you catch him already looking at you, raising an eyebrow you held you chin and stared at him, his smile grows wider.

"Thank you, Stu," You bite the inside of your cheeks.

He frowns, tilting his head as his hands cover his ears tryna hear you. "Huh? Wha? What did you say?"

"Thank you, you douchebag!" you yell.

"Hey— shush. your. mouth!"

You look behind you, Stu's parents' both on a call, you look back to Stu who was approaching his convertible.

You jog quietly after him. He opens the backseat door and begins untangling your bike.

"Shit. Damnit." He mumbles, pulling on the extension cords.

"I'd offer to drive you, junior- but the motherlode is back at the spaceship." He says, not paying you a glance, too busy with pulling and untangling.

"Come on, come on," he whispers, tugging on the ropes.

You check your watch again.

9:20 pm

"Shoot. My curfew's at 10, Stu!" You whisper.

"What? What time is it?"

"9:27!"

"That's like a long way to go, there's still time,"

"Uhh, your house is like seperated from any living civilization?! They're all gonna kill me if I come home late!"

"You have a bike, kid. Bike it?"

"Ughhhhh!" You knash your teeth together, crossing your arms. "Your house is so fricking far from anywhere!"

You groan and help Stu free your bike, the faster you finish the faster you get home.

You swear you could feel your heart beating out of your ribcage.

Finally, you managed to pull the bike out after a much needed cardio.

You fastened the helmet to your head and threw your bag in the basket, without another glance you hop on your bike.

"Thank you for tonight, douchebag,"

"Oh— Come on, junior," he shakes his head.

You clicked the stopper away and pedaled because your life depended on it.

📞🩸🔪

"Why aren't you freaking out?!"

You roll your eyes, taping another poster on the bulletin.

"What is there to worry about, Ruby?" You huff, climbing down the ladder. You grin at your masterpiece, the board filled with the event poster, now no one will miss it if its as big as this.

"Besides, you're freaking out enough for the both of us." You laugh. She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"You're not helping," she groans. "It's been days since we put these posters up, and ever since, it's either been ripped down or used as toilet paper."

"I'll find a way—"

"Boogah!" You shriek and turn around.

Stu stands in a crouched dracula position, his hands curls in front of him and you, his left leg lifted up.

"Idiot!" You whisper, eyes darting around as people gave you a weird glance.

Ruby behind you was long gone, not wanting to bear the second hand embarrassment.

"You coming to buff Stu's party yeah?"

You snort and move unto another board. "No."

"Your sister's coming though!"

"Unlike her, I have this coming," you lift up the poster to his face, he snatches it from your hands.

"Now what do we have here," his eyebrow lifts up.

"Car wash?" He laughs, like maniacally laughs, you jump as he claps his hand as he snorts. People passing by not paying him any attention except for the occasional glance.

"Fundraising for the school's maintenance support."

"Pfft, the school's maintenance?" He slaps his thigh, laughing yet again.

"Piss off if you're not going to help."

"Alright, alright. I'm ouuut," he salutes you, turning his back to you cartoonishly and skips across the hallway.

📞🩸🔪

"Okay, alright, your sister's calling us, see ya tomorrow!"

"Bye, dont break a leg, Ruby." You hear her laugh before hanging up. You park your bike outside the corner store, clicking the stand on, you don't bother taking your helmet off because it's an in and out mission.

The bell of the doors ring open as you enter, the smell of days old cigarette swirls around the air.

Right.

In and out.

You grab a pack of beer and a juice box for yourself. Setting then down the cashier, she makes it quick as you give a perfect amount.

She recites the usual grocery conversation and you leave.

Finally, you cough a bit when you exit the store, bad ventilation.

A meow catches your attention, a cat loafs just beside the store's entrance.

You smile and approached slowly. "Hello."

It blinks and yawns as your hand hovers near its nose. Without any rejection from him, you pet his head, then slowly scratch his chin up to his side belly.

"Aren't you a little too small to be a guard dog?" You laugh when he meows back.

"I'm sorry, I don't have anything on me right now."

A noise from the alley behind you, just beside the store surprises the both of you, the cat quickly scurries away to wherever pocket hide out he has.

The noise sounded like a trashcan getting trashed, but then you hear someone cursing and squeaks of shoes then another punch.

After a beat, you see two people leave the alley in a hurry, their noses bloodied and bruised.

"Fuck 'im. I'm gonna get him next time."

The first one bumps your shoulder in a hurry.

The second guy narrowly avoids you but curses you anyway for blocking the path.

You frown as you watch their backs disappear from your line of sight. Your head snaps back to the alley you don't see when you hear a kick of the garbage bin and a thus of the wall.

"Rule number one: Don't check the noise."

Or whatever Randy says when he picks Tatum up at home.

A groan catches your focus.

Cautiously, you take small steps till you reach the corner before the alley, you hide behind the corner as you try to peek into the semi-dark space.

The person is hunched against the wall, head hung low as his elbow rests heavily on his knees.

His shoulders shudder when he exhales out a shaky breath. You're already out in the open, right at the center if the alley.

"Billy," you whisper, waiting for him to see you. But he doesn't move, his eyes still trained on the ground.

Your lips form a tight line, without giving it much thought, you approach him quietly, stopping infront of him, you squat down and took a good look at him.

His fists are bloody and burst open, you don't see much of his face, only that his nose is bleeding down to the ground, a second passes but he still doesn't pay you any mind.

You tilt your head up and sigh, reaching into the plastic, you grab the juice box because Dewey forbid you give his beer a dent.

You place it in front of him, a breeze passes by in between you and nothing makes a move.

You bite the inside of your cheek.

"Ohh-kay." You tut and stood back up, quickly walking back to your bike, you walk your bike just far enough from the store but near enough to check on Billy once again.

Your eyebrows lift when you see him in the the same position.

Sheesh, okay, bad day.

You pedal away as the sky turns orange. He's pretty intimidating without Sidney, wait no, he's intimidaung any day. You wonder how Sidney landed him on the boyfriend lottery, he's the definition of heebie jeebies.

No. Don't judge people by its cover.