Breaking the Hold [jaz]

[jerome evans]

Tutoring was supposed to help you. It was supposed to be just that little nudge to get you past the hard parts and make graduation just an easier theory to grasp. The tutor was supposed to be just some random person to help you then be done. That didn’t seem to work out though. Jerome had small bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep he’d gotten. For one, he’d stayed up till around twelve trying to work on the homework due today before he finally just found a guy in his hall who offered to sell him his answers for a few bucks. He was then up for another hour or two trying to contemplate everything Jaz had said to him before she packed up and left without helping him in the slightest. His father would call that “being unprofessional.” Emotions should never be a main decider for business, and tutoring was turning into a business all its own.

Still, what Jazmine had said in her short fit of anger really got to him. It wasn’t the immature part that irked his well-being, but the fact that he was compared to “every other stinking guy” that really bothered him. Jerome made it his goal in life to be unique and different from everyone else. He was pretty sure he was the only kid here who aspired to be a songwriter, so he really doubted he’d ever call her when he “grew up and decided to learn math.” He didn’t need math. He could count to four and figure out enough fractions to work with time signatures. That was all he needed to know. What the heck did a derivative have to do with his life? Nothing.

Jerome decided he’d just not worry about it anymore as he made his way through the halls from his last class. He had Kimble now, and Jaz was in this class. He felt a little bad for everything he said to her yesterday, but he wouldn’t admit it. He never did. He also wouldn’t say that what she had mentioned got to him at all either, and he was pretty sure that by the end of class he’d go talk to Mrs. Kimble about getting a new tutor. Particularly a male one who didn’t come with the complicated flirting, gorgeous looks, and mood swings. Jerome rolled his eyes at that though as he zipped up his bright red jacket with yellow and blue stars covering it. Getting a male tutor right now probably wouldn’t be the brightest idea.

After he got back to his dorm last night and relaxed for a few hours, Jerome had gotten online, and there he saw the latest Gossip Girl blog? For one, he was pretty impressed on how she managed to get information on him and Jazmine so quickly, and two, he was pretty ticked off that there would be a rumor going around that he was gay. With Steele’s ex, nonetheless! Luckily he had friends like Steele who defended him no matter what, but people who didn’t know him, like Jaz, might come up with a completely different theory. He wasn’t going to let it bother him though, especially not now as he waltzed into Kimble’s room, ignoring her annoyed stare as he came in only a minute or two before class began. Hey, he wasn’t late, and he had his homework done. She couldn’t complain too much.

[jaz jacobs]

after ending the tutoring session early, jaz had time to finish her homework early and stat her newest book. she felt horrible for blowing up all her anger towards jerome, a complete stranger. jaz wasn't like that at all, and after her little stunt, it was going to be hard to prove to jerome, who had guessed her right on the dot. jaz never had thought of herself as uptight until now. it made her think, wonder what else he might think she was. she had never had a problem with people accusing her of being something, why start now? but the truth was, jaz wanted change. no, she needed it. for too long has she been pushed away from the popular crew and being used by the jocks and cheerleaders for her answers. she was over halfway through her high school career, she needed to finally step out of her shell and be a normal teenager.

her first step, to hopefully win over the mind of jerome. maybe to become friends, because that's all he'll want to be with a loser like her who spends her free time reading books and tutoring kids. jaz did love the look on kid's faces when they start to get things, that's why she'd make a great teacher, but if little things like a cute boy or something causes her to act childish, then that career was flushed down the toilet. of course she had plenty of time to change jerome's mind since she was his tutor after all, but she would't doubt it if jerome wanted a different tutor, maybe a male tutor after reading what gossip girl had written about him. jaz didn't usually believe everything she read, but she didn't know much about jerome other than his name and that he had third period pre calculus with her, oh and not to mention he was ridiculously good looking as well. other than that, nothing. for all she knew, he could be gay.

though jaz had never met a gay black guy before, they weren't that common, but that didn't mean there wasn't any. jaz didn't want to believe it. it didn't make any sense, but from the shocking photographs that were posted, anything was possible. it made her giggle a bit, but also sad, all the good guys were gay. just her luck to like a gay guy. jaz figured, as she headed to third period. her first two classes of the day she had completely zoned out which wasn't like her. she even made little doodles on her notebook without realizing it. all morning long she'd been stressing about third period and seeing jerome, wondering if she should say hello to him or not and finally the moment has come. jaz was usually early to third period, so it put a surprised face on ms kimble when jaz walked into the classroom a bit later than usual, she couldn't be late, it would screw up her perfect record. she had been stalling till the last second to get to class, and just as she suspected, he wasn't there. a big sigh escaped from her mouth. maybe he didn't want to face her either.

jaz slowly walked to her seat ignoring ms kimble's bitching about tardies. she knew it wasn't directed to her because three boys walked in right after her that distracted ms kimble from her tardy. she never realized how close they sat in class together, for this was the first time she actually realized he was in her class. she had remembered a couple of times staring off towards his direction, but his hair was always in the way of everything, so she didn't look much. but then, as she thought she was safe, he waltzed into the classroom with that dumb, happy-go-lucky look on his face. jaz forced herself from disgusted as he passed by her desk. "hey jerome." she said, quite proud of the effort she had used.