“Jock perks? About that… I don’t really…”
“Mason?” A woman said to me from the door to her office. “I’m ready.” She said quickly as if she were annoyed at having to meet with me.
“Continue this later?” I asked sweetly, feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket.
“I don’t see why…” Calvin turned back around to his computer. He was going to be a tough nut to crack. But I was willing to put in the time, I think.
I pulled my phone out as I walked towards the tall, middle-aged lady with blonde hair. I guess she’s Dean Whitmer… I glanced at the phone.
Yep!Calvin. Green eyes. Tall. Hot. Gay.
I smiled as I entered her office and stuffed the phone into my pocket. My heart pounded. My stomach flipped. It was as if I were walking onto the football field for the first time.
Calvin was gay. Holy shit! The cutie who had captured my mind was actually someone with whom I… Shit… If things… Everything could be…
I was in trouble.
“Is everything okay, Mason? There’s no reason for you to be alarmed.” Dean Whitmer studied me, concerned about the war that was ravaging my body and soul right now. I couldn’t even think much less answer her, so I nodded.
“Have a seat. I know that, well, you spoke to Dean Winston today. He actually came to see me about you. Having a little trouble, I see.” She thumbed through the file in front of her. “You’ve managed C’s and B’s in everything else, but the rules for academics have to be followed. Let’s see if we can get someone to help you out with that class and stop you from getting put on probation. We have three weeks until your midterms. You have a paper due, two quizzes, and the midterm. If you put in the work with one of our tutors, I don’t see why we can’t raise your GPA to a passing grade in that time. Andrew is our best tutor with the arts, so I think I will put him with you.”
“Can I have Calvin?” The words fell out of my mouth before I even had a chance to stop them or think about them.
“Oh… He’s the best tutor we have, and I am afraid his schedule is full.” She looked at me over her glasses. “I take it you two know each other?”
“Yes, a little. It would make me feel better, Dean Whitmer. If you would like me to talk to Dean Winston about it, I would be happy to,” I said quietly. Ashamed at playing that card. Here at Moray, athletics ruled, and if I wanted Calvin, Dean Winston would make sure I got him, I thought.
She sighed and sat back in her chair. “Calvin… Mason, you would be putting me in a difficult position. There’s no way I could add you to his schedule. The Dean and I spoke today, and he wants you to get daily tutoring when you are in town and not on away games. Calvin doesn’t really have that time. Dean Winston is paying for you to have a private tutor for the rest of the semester, to make sure that you get through the fall with no other hiccups.” She looked at my file. “Social Science, math, two classes in your major, and Art Appreciation. I mean, Calvin would be great at these other classes too, but…”
“I need Calvin, Dean Whitmer. Please… I don’t really want to beg, but he is the only one that I would feel comfortable with. And I wouldn’t want to come here if you don’t mind. I don’t think I would do well in this type of environment. I would prefer my room or the library, I think. I would… uh… Like to keep this private.” I was begging. I even whined a little.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Mason.” She smiled at me, trying to put me at ease.
“I know… It’s just… I would prefer it if it would be okay with you. It’s not against the rules, is it?” I batted my eyes at her. I was a very handsome man. Flirting had always gotten me far. And yes, I was embarrassed. How would it make me look if I was seen coming and going from the tutoring center? People on this campus know me, and maybe it made me an ass, but it would bother me for people to know.
“No. It’s not against the rules. I suppose that can be arranged, but as for your choice of tutor…”
“Dean Whitmer, please… It has to be him. I am so stressed right now with the games and being captain of the team on top of helping to train the new quarterback. I don’t think that I would succeed with anyone else. I trust Calvin. I don’t know why, really. But it has to be him.” I leaned forward and put my head in my hands. She almost gasped, thinking that I was about to have a breakdown. Don’t judge me… I know it was a shitty thing to do. But my heart needed this chance. I was laying my entire college career on the line.
“Mason… I can’t promise anything. I would need to hire two tutors to do the work that Calvin does. Let me talk to Dean Winston, and I will see what I can do. She sounded defeated, and I felt bad for her. Not bad enough to let her off the hook. I wanted Calvin. I wanted this chance to get to know him and to hopefully make him like me. I wanted to see if there was anything really there or was it just my own needs, finally breaking through, and he was the new fixation.
I stood up and smiled at her and held out my hand. “Thank you, Dean Winston, I really do appreciate it.”
She shook my hand and smiled at me. She seemed genuine, and I was sure that she landed in this job because she actually cared about the students and their success. That made me feel even guiltier.
“Is this your cell?” She handed me the paper, and I nodded as I handed it back to her. “Okay, your tutor will contact you once we come up with a plan. They will contact you tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely, looking her in the eyes. “Today has been a hell of a day.”
“Tell me about it,” she said flatly, as I walked out of her office.
Calvin wasn’t at his desk. I guess he was with some other student. I walked by the girl at the desk. “Tell Calvin I said bye.”
She laughed and shook her head.
Somehow the day looked brighter.
