I'm a fast learner, although I really can't take much credit for it. It's not that I put a lot of effort into studying or that I have some secret method, I just remember things well and figure out how things work almost instinctively.
I sailed through high school taking advanced classes and got a full scholarship to a prominent university, all before I hit age seventeen. Granted many of my "friends" were people who needed help with the subjects they had taken. I didn't mind, I'd faced the same thing in high school. I knew I was being used, but sometimes friendships would develop that transcended being a study partner.
The cool thing about being the "brain" in high school was that some of the hottest girls in school wanted to come over. I had a bit of a reputation in high school because of it. But truth be told, none of those girls were ever more than study partners.
It's not that I was ugly. While I was smart I didn't fit the typical geek persona, no pasty white skinny kid with bad acne. My family spent summers at a cabin on a river and early on I learned to love the water. I kayaked every day and my arms and shoulders had definition that most kids my age would have killed for. I wasn't awkward either; socially I was outgoing and friendly. No I think my problem was I was to nice, the girls treated me like an older brother or a good friend.
I always hoped that one of those girls would give me a little hands on education but sadly it stayed in the realm of fantasy for me.
When I learned I'd received the scholarship I was excited and nervous. The school was only a couple hours from home but I would have to go alone. My parents, ever concerned about the dangers of frat houses, had rented a small one bedroom apartment for me.
School started uneventfully, classes were a breeze, not really any harder than high school was. It didn't take long to develop a reputation for being "a brain". A couple weeks into the semester and I already had a couple people over to work through some physics problems. They brought pizza and some beer and I explained basic quantum theory to them in simple terms.
I was just beginning to develop a routine when Laura showed up, late to class, drenched by an unexpected downpour. She had missed the start of school because of a death in her family. Due to the circumstances the school administrator said she could start late rather than have to wait until the next semester.
That first sight of her was unforgettable. Her red hair hung in thick wet strands on either side of her face. One small piece looped over her left eye. She tried to blow it out of the way, as she walked up to her seat, arms full of books. Her skin was pale and a few small freckles dotted her nose and cheeks. I locked in on her lips, full red and glossy but devoid of lipstick. Then I noticed her eyes, emerald green jewels that twinkled with mischief as she noticed me staring.
I awkwardly looked back up to the professor as he continued to lecture us quarks and their role in quantum theory. Toward the end of class the professor asked that I stay after for a minute to talk with him.
As class ended I made my way up to the front, I noticed too that Laura was still finishing up her notes and not making for the door either. I'd definitely say hello if she was still there when I left.
Professor Sanson told me about Laura situation, I really wasn't sure why. Then he asked me if I could help her catch up. My grades to this point showed I had a good handle on the topic and other students had told him how good of a teacher I was. I didn't think too long, I knew I had to meet her and this would be a good way to get the ball rolling.
"Laura, this is David, and while he isn't a teacher's assistant he has got a great understanding of what we've covered so far. He's agreed to help catch you up." Sanson's introduction was simple to the point, perfect. I smiled her way when he finished.
"That would be great, I really didn't catch most of what you were talking about today."
We worked out the details of when I would tutor her, juggling her evening art classes and my part time job, Thursday nights worked the best for both of us.
The week past in a blur, at 7 p.m. on Thursday I rang her door bell, feeling nervous and more like I was going out on a date than teaching physics, although physics was pretty exciting to me too.
