Marissa

Mondays are one of the most busy days at the Grill.

Actually, everyday is a busy day with college students coming in and out of the place.

Relief took me over as I opened the door to my apartment, knowing that I can now relax.

Normally, I would take a shower, then relax while soaking my feet.

Today, however, I have an arrangement to tutor Jeremy in less than twenty minutes.

I stumbled upon my studious brother who's in the living room area doing his assignments on the couch.

"Hey Marcus, when Jeremy gets here could you please send him to my room?" I questioned.

"Yeah sure, and don't be too hard on him Marissa, we all know how hostile you can be," he said without looking up.

I folded my arms across my chest, "I'm not that bad?" I said but it sounded like I was asking him.

He looked up at me and stared blankly as if I was unbelievable.

I narrowed my eyes into slits, "Marcus, don't you start with me," I warned.

I am too tired to argue with him.

He grinned unapologetically, "Whatever. Don't you have to soak your bunions or something?" He teased.

I picked up the remote that's lying around, "I DO NOT have bunions... but what I do have are blisters from working hard to keep us afloat you dick," I threw it straight at his head after.

"Shit!" He hissed in pain holding his head before he straightened up.

"You're dead," he threatened me as he picked up the remote to throw it back at me.

I ran off Bolt style to my room as soon as he made his move and slammed the door shut.

"You're gonna have to come out for dinner stupid and I'll catch you then!" He yelled.

"Boy, what you said? I can't hear you behind this door," I taunted while laughing as I gathered my toiletries for my shower.

After my shower, I dressed in my casual attire.

I picked up my bag and started searching for my Sociology notes and a textbook they recommended we use for the course.

A knock seized my actions for a minute before I told Jeremy to come in.

I checked the time on my phone to see that it's exactly eight pm when Jeremy entered my room.

I gave him a once over, appreciating his toned arms that were on show.

"Look at that, eight o' clock sharp."

"Just like you wanted," he said sarcastically, before he stepped into my room like he owned it.

I never understood how Jeremy and my brother became friends.

While my brother was vibrant, Jeremy slips in and out of being moody and a charmer.

"Have a seat," I gestured to my bed.

When he walked pass me to get to the bed, my nose got a whiff of him and he smelled so damn good.

Like soap and a nice, manly cologne

I picked up the flash cards that I made and he seemed amused.

"Flash cards?"

"Yes, flash cards. Take them," I urged him.

He took them gingerly from my fingers and takes a look at them before looking up at me questioningly.

"Read at least one every night before you go to bed," I instructed him.

"That's if I remember," he grumbled and I glared intently.

"I'm just playing," he chuckled and I pressed my lips together hard deciding to move on.

"So, what are you having difficulties with?" I asked him.

His face scrunched in confusion, "What do you mean exactly?" he asked

"Like, is it the theories or the essay writing etcetera, that's been giving you trouble?" I rephrased differently.

"I don't have a clue. Maybe you can figure it out for me." He took the folded up quiz from his pocket and hands it to me.

I grasped the paper and started reading his answers while he laid back on my pillows waiting for my comments.

I casted an annoyed glance his way.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't lay down."

He looked taken a back by my comment but he sat up without arguing.

"I'm beginning to think that maybe you do have something against me."

I sighed, "I'm just trying to be professional and you lying down is not professional," I explained.

"You want me to make laying down professional?" he asked challenging me with his stormy grey eyes.

Did he really just ask that?

When I looked up to see his face, his eyes are crinkled at the sides as a big grin spreads across his face.

"You know what..." I trailed off before I started reading his answers deciding against my better judgement to continue my speech.

His answers were complete bullshit because what he wrote is not what the theories say.

"You've definitely got a problem with the theories."

He sat up straighter and his playfulness was gone, "You think so?"

"I know so."

He sighed.

"Do you even read?" I cringed at the garbage on the paper.

"No," he answered immediately.

"Aren't history minors supposed to like reading?" I asked knowingly.

"Mhm," he answered. "What?" He asked when realizing that I was staring at him.

"Nothing. I'm just wondering why you're failing when they're practically synonymous."

"Not really. History is more about facts and I can work with that, but Sociology is all about what the founding father's theories said and applying it to each topic and it's hard keeping up," he explained dragging a hand through his hair frustratedly.

"The basics of Sociology are simple foundation information that you should always remember. Marxists are always conflict, Functionalists believe society is balanced and everyone is equal, Interactionists believe in the interaction process occurring in small groups, Malthus focuses on the relationship between population growth and food supply and Neo Malthus justifies things such as impoverishment of the working class."

"Jeremy?"

He pretended to jolt from a deep sleep, but my pissed off face says don't you dare, "Wow, it's really gonna get more boring than this later down in the semester?" he asked.

"If it's such a pain for you, then why are you doing the course?"

"My advisor suggested it. She told me it would aid me with history. Who was I to not take advise from my advisor? Besides, I thought it would be easy," he shrugged.

"Who didn't? Anyways, get your textbook out," I commanded and he scratched the back of his neck.

Did he just nervously scratch the back of his neck like he doesn't know what I'm talking about?

"Please tell me you're joking. You came to be tutored without bringing your textbook? As a matter of fact, did you bring anything Jeremy?"

"What are you talking about? I don't have a textbook for this course," he defended.

I groaned and threw my head back in frustration, "We are a whole month into this semester and you don't have a textbook?"

"No, I really don't," he admitted.

"See, now I know why you're failing, it's because you're writing the shit you see on the internet."

His dark brows pulled together in confusion, then he smiled like the jackass he is, "I didn't know about the textbook, okay? If it makes you feel better I'll get it tomorrow bright and early."

I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop the migraine.

"Let me get this out there before I continue this tutoring thing. Rule one is that you get here on time, Rule two is that you have the tools needed to complete your work and Rule three is that you take these two hours that you have with me seriously because you are not only wasting my time, but yours. Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth Jeremy Manning?"

When I finally stopped rambling enough to realize, I noticed that he's not listening. Instead he's got my textbook on his lap already on the page that starts the chapter.

"Are you done?" He looked up.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten.

"You know what... just read the theories under population and development. Malthusian, Marxist, Neo Malthusian and the Demographic Transition theory. Then you're gonna tell me what you remember from each theory. Think you can do that?"

"I'm literate so I think I can manage," he answered condescendingly, then he lifted the book to his eyes and started reading.

Overly attractive and hard to deal with, how the hell do those girls keep up?

When he's finished reading and started explaining everything to me, I'm honestly impressed. He's hitting all the key points on the theory and explained it so thoroughly he could've gotten an A alone from just talking.

"That was good," I admitted.

"I know. I'm good at memorizing things but applying the theories... not so much," he grimaced.

"Well don't worry about that. Next week the real work starts. This is just warm up," I assured him and he nods.

"Well that's it for today," I announced and he thankfully slapped the textbook closed.

Now that I've figured out his strengths and weaknesses, I can decide what angle I want to take when tutoring him.

"So, when are we meeting again?" I asked, wanting him to refresh my memory of our schedule.

"Mondays and Fridays." He answered.

"If you don't have your textbook on Friday, then don't bother coming. I suggest you purchase it between today and our next session."

"I'll make sure to meet the requirements," he rolled his eyes playfully.

Marcus entered my room uninvited.

"Jay, we still going or what?" He asked.

Jeremy looked from me to Marcus.

"Yeah, I'm on my way," he mumbled. "Is that all?" He nodded his head my way.

"Yeah," I answered.

He's almost to the door then he looks back at me, "Cool, see you Friday."

"Imma get you later,'' Marcus whispered and I waved him off while smiling.

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