Overworked and Underwhelmed
(Chapter two: Odd Dynamic)
Hours fly by as you two study together. Slowly you feel like it's not hopeless, as if you're starting to get the gist. But you refuse to get your hopes up. You know exactly what will happen once you do. You'll flunk out and lose all the progress you thought you had! Still, it's like a breath of fresh air studying with this guy.
You may not know much about Wally, but it feels like you guys are already good acquaintances. You find yourself quietly chuckling at his jokes, smiling at his silly expressions, and his attempts to act cool. He fails miserably but it's kinda cute once you get past the slight cringe and awkward tension. He'd be adorable if he just learned to be himself.
However, he's dead set on this stiff caricature of what he deems is "suave". He tries his best to be charming but you just recoil and look away. Despite that, he does come up with a few funny and endearing one-liners, and when he does you allow him to lean closer. Occasionally you get lost in the moment and let him whisper explanations into your ear, whilst giggling.
However, you do pull back when you need to ask a question. Creating this odd back and fourth with him. Over time your shoulders sag and you stop hunching over your notebook. Enabling him to see what you're doing and write in his own notes. He hands the pen back to you and points to an empty part of the page.
He informs you what to write and how to write it. You follow his instructions, lightly scribbling in some words. He rambles on, his airy voice in your ear the entire time. As he rests his elbows on the table, smiling. "-And that's the basics! Got it?" You rest your chin on your hand and think for a moment. "Uhh, I think so." You murmur, each word sounding uncertain. Wally notices and pats your shoulder.
"You'll get it eventually, I'm sure of it." You nod and turn your chair to face him. You jolt slightly once you realize how close you two. Wally's face flushes for a movement, and he pulls back. Awkwardly chuckling, as he tugs on his shirt's collar. You push your chair back, as your eyes dart to your notebook. You gaze over your notes, feeling that awful emotion like before.
"You sound so confident.. Are you sure it'll click for me? We've been studying for hours and I can barely understand the questions." Wally quietly laughs and places a hand on yours, before hastily pulling it away with another flushed expression "I know it will! With me by your side, I know you'll accomplish anything."
You smile and perk up again at his cheesy reply. Just as you're about to reply, your phone gets a notification. You grab it, checking over your pop-ups and the time. The first thing you see is the text from your roommate, saying that they'll get to the apartment late tonight; and that you're on dinner duty since they did it last time. Then you see the time, five-thirty. You quickly turn to a visibly confused Wally.
"What's going on?" he asks, trying to peak over your screen. You shut off your phone and grab your stuff. "My roommate is just telling me to get some food. Nothing too interesting, but I do have to get going. It's getting late." Wally stands as he watches you get up. Quickly he seizes the opportunity to secure another study session. Working his "charm", as he calls it.
You have no clue how he managed to "convince" you, but you agree to meet him again at a nearby cafe that you frequent. The proposal seems a bit fast-paced for you, but you two seem to enjoy each other's company and get on well. So it can't be all bad, at least he's entertaining— Maybe awkward at times, but that doesn't really matter if your having fun.
The day comes and you get ready. Oddly enough, you take a little extra time and care picking out an outfit. It's strange but you shove the strange bubbly feeling away. Can't someone want to look good for the hell of it? You grab your things and head to the cafe. Since it's only a few blocks away you figure that walking is the best way to get there.
You're also too broke to Uber. You blast music as you walk, texting your roommate about your departure. Somehow, you find yourself texting Wally, you can barely process what you're doing until you're giggling. You snap out of it, quickly shutting off your phone as you look left and right on the sidewalk. Ashamed to be laughing in public.
That was weird, your weird. Oh God, what if people think you're weird? That'd be uncomfortable and just humiliating if they looked at you. Their probably thinking something among the lines of "Oh my God, look at that weirdo giggling to themself. What a loser!" Just as your curl into a ball and die, your train of thought is cut off as you see the cafe.
You pause your music and mentally prepare to be academically tortured by your tutor. With a deep breath, you step into the cafe and see Wally sitting near the back. Drinking a cup of coffee as he speaks to someone at the counter, joking with them. The person scoffs and flicks Wally in the forehead. He gasps and slaps a hand over his heart in dramatic shock. His mouth agape.
The person laughs and goes to say something again, but they spot **you**. They pause and point at you, causing Wally to pause himself and look over. He shoos the person away and beckons you over. "There you are! I ordered a coffee for you, I don't you don't mind. I don't know what you drink, so I got you a basic frappuccino. I hope you like it."
You smile and continue your way over, taking the cup from the counter with Wally's name on it. You sit with him and take out your notebook and laptop, along with your pencils, pens, erasers, and books. Wally snickers and points at your items. "Did you take a whole library with you in that bag of yours? How do you even fit all of that in there?"
You roll your eyes. "You can never be too prepared, and what if we miss something? You'll be thanking me later." Wally chuckles and shakes his head. "Sure, I will."
