Chapter Text
The paper on my desk was disappointing to say the least. Career ending to say the most, but we didn’t need to go there. Nope. It was just stupid Professor Noggle (and what a stupid name) that was plummeting my GPA. Philosophy was supposed to be easy, dammit, not the class that brought my solid 3.4 to a 2.8. At least it used to be easy before Noggle took over. The other, easier professor, Professor Val-Moren, dropped dead of a heart attack a couple months before the term started up. His unfortunate passing has butterfly effected all the way to my GPA, which has now dropped below the required 3.0 to play hockey.
Cursing, I rubbed at my nose. This was really bad. The next grade check would roll around and I’d be screwed. I’d be benched until I got the thing up, but how could I when I had this class constantly dragging it down?
“If anyone is unhappy with their final grade, I am offering a retake a week from now. I recommend signing up for the study group beforehand.” Noggle announced as we all leached out of the lecture hall.
I already did that. I rolled my eyes.
Seriously, who hurt this guy? Why was this class so damn hard despite the study group, the self studying, the practice tests?
It wasn’t until I was through the door that I heard the squealing voice of a girl.
“I can’t believe you got an A!” A girl with long tawny girl, dressed in a flowy pink skirt and a tank top exclaimed, clutching another girl’s shoulders.
The other girl had a soft, not particularly excited smile on her face. It took a second for me to place her. I recognized her, and clearly she was in Noggle’s class with me, but I couldn’t put a name to the face.
She was pretty, though, with pink, plush lips, sharp brown eyes, and tawny hair like the squealing girl, just cut a bit shorter and tied back in an elegant braid. Her skin was deliciously tan and the natural blush of her cheeks was hard to turn away from.
Scratch pretty, this girl was gorgeous, and I had just now noticed her.
When the squealing girl turned away, heading off to her next class she told gorgeous girl, I realized that they had to be siblings, if not twins. Squealing girl looked nearly identical to gorgeous girl, just with less…something. There was something there that would always differentiate them, I thought.
When gorgeous girl turned to zip up her bag, that was when I pounced.
“How the hell did you get an A? You have to teach me your ways, sensei.” I said before cringing. Sensei?
Gorgeous girl turned around to face me and she startled. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry. I was just wondering…”
The girl’s neutral look dropped into an annoyed frown. “Jude.” She supplied.
Jude.
“Jude. Would you be able to tutor me?” When her frown deepened, I panicked. “Look, I play hockey for the school and need to keep my GPA above a 3.0 or I get benched and this midterm just dropped mine to a 2.8.”
She huffed. “That doesn’t sound like my responsibility, now does it? Maybe you should have joined the study group.”
“I did.” I said earnestly.
“Then go talk to Noggle.” She nodded toward the door.
“And do what? Beg for his lectures to make a lick of sense?” I scoffed. “He’s no help.”
She didn’t argue that.
“Find a tutor.”
I growled. “What do you think I’m trying to do here, Baby?”
She snarled at that. “Don’t call me baby. And as much as I’d love to spend my time tutoring a fuck boy hockey player like you, Cardan Greenbriar, I have actual important shit to do. Drop the class if it’s such a hassle.”
“I can’t.” I muttered. “It’s a required credit for my major.”
“Which is what? Sports management? Comms?” She rolled her eyes. “Like every other student athlete who expects to make it big?”
“English.” I said, and that seemed to shock her. I smirk. “What, didn’t think I had the brain capacity for a bit of Tolstoy?”
She looked flustered now. “No. I just didn’t expect that. Sorry for assuming.”
“All is forgiven if you tutor me.” I shot her my best cute-guy grin. He had never failed me.
Until that very moment when Jude’s face dropped back in a frown. “Nope. I’m serious, Greenbriar, I just don’t have the time.”
“What if I work with your schedule? I will be subject to your planning. I will make myself available. Plus, it’s only for a week, bab- Judy.”
“Judy?” Jude sighed. “Really?”
“Look, I respect women. You said don’t call you baby, so Judy was the next best thing. But…” I raised my brow. “I like my nicknames.”
“Well, I don’t.” Jude heaved her huge backpack onto her shoulders. She turned away from me, and for a few seconds I truly thought it was all over until she stopped and pivoted back towards me.
With a huge, totally over dramatic sigh, she said, “Fine. I will tutor you. But I have conditions.”
“Name ‘em, Judy.” I internally high fived myself.
“First, we need to do this at your house. Which I know you have considering there is a party there every other night-”
“Untrue. I only host on Fridays or Saturdays. All of those other nights are for practice and maintaining my impeccable build.” I gestured to myself.
Her eyes must have been on an axis, because they kept rolling. “Whatever you say. Either way, I live on campus in a double with my twin and I don’t think she’d appreciate having a third person in an already small space.”
I nodded. “Understood.”
“Second, if I cancel, it’s cancelled. I am not prioritizing you over my own shit. Okay?”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“Third, I want something in return.” She tilted her head.
“Ah. I see. Sure, Judy. You can fuck me. But only if I pass.” I was irresistable, it was bound to happen.
She gaped in astonishment. “What? No, I just mean you could pay me or something. I don’t want to have sex with you.”
Wow, she was straight forward. Though, I wasn’t mad. I liked straight forward.
“All right then. What do you want in return?” I asked.
She thought about it for a moment before deciding on, “I want to be paid hourly. And I want a favor.”
“What?”
“I want a favor. I want you to owe me a favor that I can use whenever it suits me.” She said.
I nod. “Fine then. A favor.” Then I held out my hand.
She took it into her hard, calloused one and gave it a strong shake. “Deal, Cardan Greenbriar.”
“Deal, Jude…”
“Duarte.” She supplied once again.
“Right. Deal, Jude Duarte.”
When she dropped my hand, I smiled. “And, by the way, my offer still stands. No favor necessary if you want a good fuck.”
She scoffed and walked away from me, flipping me her middle finger as she retreated.
I just grinned.