Page 11 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

He doesn’t look up at first, his focus on the papers in his hand and whatever the professor is telling him. Even as they finish talking, the Library Guy takes a seat on the front row.

“Good morning, students. Welcome to English 1001. I’m Professor Pliet. My office hours are listed in the email I scheduled to go out to you right now.” There’s the ding of several people’s computers all at once, which makes the man in front of us smile. “As I was saying, I expect you all to follow the syllabus and complete assignments on time. This course is not difficult, though it is tedious at times. So long as you stay on top of your work, you should pass with no issues.”

I listen to every word he says intently, waiting for him to give some kind of indication of who the Library Guy is. Instead, I’m left without any more information.

At the end of class, I stand to rush toward the front of the room. Before I can get far, the other students take off to head up the stairs. With my substantial size, I’m able to see over their heads as Library Guy leaves through the door he and the professor came through.

The change doesn’t stop me. Instead of going after him like I want, I approach the professor with a forced easy smile. “Good morning, sir. I introduce self. I am the Andry Rykov, foreign exchange student for the Bellport,” I say with a thick accent to really ham it up.

Is this how I really talk? No.

But he doesn’t need to know that.

His eyes light up. “Ah, yes! Welcome, Andry. I hope you’ve found America to be welcoming.”

“Yes! Very much. It is, how you say, delightfell.”

“Delightful, you must mean. Well, that’s good. Is there anything I can help you with? Do you have questions about the syllabus?”

I shake my head, then nod. “Not the syl-bus. But I do have question. The man with you. Glasses. Short. His name is…”

“Rodney? I’m mentoring him. Do you know him?”

“No, sir. I ran into him accident this morning. Should to apologize him.”

He pats my shoulder and laughs. “I’m sure there was no problem. Rodney’s a good guy. He wouldn’t get mad for something like that.”

I bristle at the dismissal. Having his name is one thing, but it’s not enough. I want more.

“What is mentor?”

Forgive me, Mother Russia for using you in such a vain way.

The professor goes into this elaborate explanation about how he helps Rodney with his thesis since he’s apparently a genius who already has a PhD and is working on another. Even I know that’s not your everyday level of smart.

By the time he’s done raving about the other man, I realize I’m going to be late to my next class. I thank him for his time, then set off to the next building.

Rodney, Rodney.

You can run, but you can’t hide.

I will find you, and then you’ll be mine, little genius.

CHAPTER5

Rodney

Later that week

Yaz pins me with her most fearsome stare. I hold the look as long as I can before sighing.

“Listen,” I start, “It’s not that I don’t want to…”

She snorts. “Of course that’s the reason. And it’s exactly why you need to go. It’s not your normal scene, but I think it will be good for you.”

While I don’t fully agree with her about my needing to go, she’s correct in her assessment that this isn’t my scene. I don’t party or socialize with other college kids. It only ever leads to trouble. I’m far too smart to put myself in that type of situation.

“You still haven’t presented a strong enough case for me to want to attend. Where is all that debate work going?” I tease her with a wink.

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