Chapter 12: Guess

I give him a pleading look, because being angry at him doesn't seem to be extremely effective. He smirks a little, letting his hand come to rest on my forearm instead, where he gently draws two and a half small circles with his thumb, then walks past my desk like nothing happened, to the back of the class where the signature clunk of his backpack is heard moments later as it hits the floor.

I have no idea what to make of anything that just happened.

So I focus on the lecture to the best of my ability, furiously scribbling notes to try and catch up but always seeming to stay just a few sentences behind. Finally, Dr. Love assigns homework for the night and dismisses us just as the lunch bell rings. I start to leave, keeping my eyes on the ground (a symptom of the leftover shame of being late). However, a hand grabs my arm and pulls me in the other direction, towards Dr. Love's desk. What a complete shocker: it's him. (What is he doing? Why? What the heck does he want from me?)

He knocks on the desk when he reaches it (with me still in tow) and gives Dr. Love a half smile. "Hi, Dr. Love. I just figured that I should tell you that Todd was only late because of me."

Is he actually going to confess to trying to get me to skip? I look up at him, blinking.

"We were talking when we left English first period, and since we have this class together too, we kind of started on our way over here. But I wasn't really planning on going to two classes in a row, so I started to leave. But Todd tried to convince me to come to this class, too."

Uh, no. He tried to convince me to skip, and then proceeded to grab my arm and hold me back to accomplish that, and only let go when- I don't even know what happened, there, to be honest (I don't know what happens a lot of the time when he's involved).

"Alright. And he succeeded?"

"Well, when he heard the bell ring, he freaked out and practically ran across the school to get to class. And then I felt guilty, so I figured I'd come to class to please him, and so I could explain to you why he was late."

"I see." Dr. Love looks a little unconvinced of the part where he felt guilty. Which is fair. I also doubt that (though I don't actually know why he came to class, or why he's doing this right now. To prove something to me? Why? What does he want from me?)

"Todd's a really good student, you know? And he has a perfect record, I assume. I didn't want his good intentions to end up ruining that. And I know it probably seems uncharacteristic of me to care that much, but I'm more impulsive than I am apathetic."

Dr. Love nods. "Alright. I'll excuse his tardy, not yours. You may leave." We both start to go. "Not you, Todd."

My heart drops. I swallow and look at him, but he just walks right out of the classroom without even a glance in my direction. What the heck? He just came to get my tardy excused, plus whatever the heck that was with touching my forearm earlier, and now he can't even give me a sympathetic glance before ditching me in the situation he put me in?

"Is that story true, Todd?"

I look at Dr. Love and nod, my eyes feeling huge.

"Don't worry, this is nothing bad. I simply wanted to commend you, for trying to convince him to come to class. Even if he skips the rest of his classes for the day, which he most likely will, I'm glad that you tried. And you succeeded- he came to class almost on time! Whether for the reasons he gave or something else, he came to class. So I'd like you to be proud of yourself for even just trying, because I really believe that had a very positive influence on him. Of course, you don't need to feel responsible for his behavior at all, but I appreciate what you did."

I'm kind of stunned now, for another reason. I nod a little and smile. "Thank you, Dr. Love."

"Of course. That's all."

I leave the calculus classroom feeling like I just got a reprieve. I got the late excused, and I've regained Dr. Love's favour- though, really only because of his story. Maybe I should try and find him, just to thank him.

It turns out that isn't necessary. He's waiting outside of the calculus classroom when I come out, and immediately falls into step with me.

"So?"

"Um... Dr. Love just... asked if your story was true, and then thanked me for trying to get you to come to class, and said I was a good influence."

He smirks. "You're welcome."

"I was about to say thank you."

He grins. "Okay."

I eye him suspiciously. He gives me a sly grin in response that tells me absolutely nothing. I decide not to respond.

So we walk without talking until we get to my locker (it's not silent, because we're in the hallway at lunch hour, so there are people everywhere). While I'm exchanging items between my locker and bag, I wonder if I should ask why he tried to get me to skip in the first place. Or why he wanted to sit on my desk, or rested his hand on my forearm. Or why he asked Dr. Love to excuse my tardy. Or why he even bothered coming to class at all. I decide that the last of those seems relatively safe.

"Why did you come to class?"

"Guess."

I look at him. He's smirking a little. "Really?"

"Yes."

"If you think it's obvious, it's not."

"That's why I said 'guess' and not 'assume'. Guessing implies a level of not knowing."

"Okay, but what if I'm wrong?"

"Then you'll guess again."

I huff a little in exasperation. "But what if I don't get it right? What if I just don't know?"

"Then it's the end of the world."

I give him a look, and he grins a little more.

"Then you won't find out why I came to class. Oh dearie me, what a ghastly fate. I'm sure you have like, a hundred other questions that seem equally important."

"Why did you talk to Dr. Love to get my tardy excused?"

"Guess."

I sigh. "Because you wanted to prove something to me."

"Mm, no."

"Because you actually felt guilty?"

"Not really."

"Because- oh! Because you want me to feel indebted to you? And that would explain the $650, and the covering for me with my parents, and wanting me to enjoy myself-"

"Why would I want you to feel indebted to me?"

"I don't know! I have no idea what you want from me!"

"You're over complicating this. No, I don't want you to feel indebted to me."

"Then why?"

He gives me another smirk, which I take to mean he's not going to tell me. I sigh and close my locker, clicking the lock into place. I turn back to look at him, still giving me that smug grin.

"So...?"

He continues leaning against my locker and looking at me. When I looked away from him, just now, was he doing that thing, that way that he looks at people who he 'hangs out' with...?

"What are you doing?" I ask, sighing.

"Many things, actually. Breathing is one. Blinking is another. Standing is yet another example of what I'm doing. Well, that's debatable, because I'm technically leaning against the locker as well-"

"No. Like, what is this? Why are you talking to me? Why did you want me to skip calculus?"

"Guess."

"Guess what this is, what you're doing?"

"If you want to know, yes."

I let out a deep exhale. "You're doing that thing that you do every couple of days, where you find a person and stay around them all day, sit on their desk, and whenever they're not looking at you, you do that thing where you look like you're reading their mind."

He's smirking, like he finds this amusing. "Very specific. You know what happens when you aren't looking at me, then?"

"Answer my question."

"I call it 'friends'. It's this obscure concept created by people who interact with other people who aren't their parents or teachers."

I glare at him. "You know what I'm talking about. You shower the person with attention and don't leave their side and then you look at them in that way you have and probably think 'Fascinating,' because that's what you've said every time you do it to me."

"Did I say that out loud? Oops."

"Answer. The. Question."

"Sure, let's say I am. Now come on, we can talk in the car."

What did you think of the millionaire lying to Dr. Love to get Todd's tardy excused? How about Todd's questions, and the millionaire telling him to guess? Do you have any guesses as to the answers to Todd's many questions? Let me know!

If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider leaving a vote or a comment! Thank you so much for reading!