Who Would've Guessed Ch. 01

"I think I, uh, need to go anyway. Bye, Cory. G-good luck with your, um, project stuff. Bye!" And so she stormed off like someone was chasing her, much to my dismay.

I shrugged. It didn't matter. She helped me enough.

Part of me was a little sad, though. We'll probably never talk again.

It only makes sense, considering she was who she was and I.... well, I am who I am. We live in entirely different worlds.

She was just being nice. That's all.

Don't read too much into the pauses. It's not tension, Cory.

I took off my wet shirt and scrunched them up to dry. I cracked a smile. She was pretty cute, though. I never expected a girl like her to be the... cabbage type, if that makes sense. It goes to show how much I still judge other people with the kind they hang out with — despite me being very careful about that.

She was right. We don't always get to choose who we hang out with. After all, if I had a choice, I'd probably want to hang out with someone like her.

__________________________________

Fuck. I ran off without another word.

What was that? You think you know a guy, but then they pull out something like that — metaphorically. In this case, he didn't even need to pull it out. You could see the wet print from a mile away.

Cory just doesn't seem the type of guy to.... have that kind of thing, you know?

Now, don't get me wrong. I know it's a bad habit to judge other people before you get to know them, but I'm usually right about most people.

This one was a bit of a left hook.

I mean, it's Cory. Nerdy Cory. Cory who nails every test out of the park — Cory.

He wears baggy clothes and doesn't talk much to other people. He's quiet even when he does, and he always prefers corners — what was up with that? He keeps his head down often so it's not obvious, but he also has these really light-brown eyes.

And no one knows that. The guy doesn't have much of a presence so he's usually ignored. I only know all this stuff because I make a habit of observing people. Well, that and he's always kind of been... sort of my type.

In any case, throughout all these observations, I don't think I've ever even seen him with a friend. He never really talks to anyone.

Unsociable Cory. Invisible Cory. Cory who broke a leg trying to run in a race back in 7th grade — Cory.

That Cory had a fucking weapon under his baggy pants, which in retrospect kind of explains it all.

The oversized hoodies, the unrelenting cargo pants. I'm assuming fashion choices are much more limited with that monster hanging around your lower body.

If he wore the school jogging pants like the rest of the boys... people would instantly notice.

He also probably avoids the locker rooms like a plague because these are the type of conversations men in our school usually have. Anything that stands out circulates around the school right after they talk about it.

That would explain the showers in that deserted bathroom.

Fuck! Why am I so flustered? I wasn't some virgin who blushed over these types of things. Usually.

I shook my head and promptly erased thoughts of that nuclear weapon before walking towards my friend Celia, who was already near the front gate and waiting for me. A spirited redheaded girl, though surprisingly the oldest of my friends.

"You're back," she welcomed, wrapping her arms around me. I nodded before she could ask me where I've been, "How'd it go with Mr. Michael?"

She shrugged. "Nothing much."

I could tell something was bumming her out, though. I resolved to ask her about it later.

Michael was our history teacher, whom Celia had been dating for a few months. I had initially warned her about him, but that was before I saw how happy she was. Plus, he was only a couple of years older than her anyway.

She didn't blame me for worrying about her, of course. Celia was my best friend. I hung out with a lot of people, but she was my person. Sarah and Jess weren't bad company, but I probably wouldn't have hung out with them as much if we didn't know each other from middle school. We definitely got a lot closer this semester, though.

Speaking of the devils, the illustrious pair showed up around the corner.

"Sarah, Jess. We heading home?" I asked.

"Oh, c'mon. It's Friday. Let's go out," Jess urged, cutely pouting her lips. Just beside her, Sarah clapped her hands repeatedly in excitement. These two...

I shook my head, turning to ask Celia if she was in. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Sure, why not?"

I decided to go after thinking about it, too. We were seniors, set to graduate next year. If now wasn't the time to enjoy it, when?

I nodded at the two and they cheerfully hopped around for a solid minute before we headed out of the campus. It could be fun. Knowing Sarah, there was probably going to be alcohol. God knows I needed it.

After a few stressful minutes of picking a place to crash in, we ended up in a karaoke place that sells beer. Of course, we didn't want to sing; I don't think any of us could hold on to a single note. We just wanted a private room.

After ordering a couple of drinks, we were already well on our way to tipsy-town. Especially Celia as she was a lightweight— I knew it was the perfect time to ask her what was up.

"I'm in deep trouble," she answered me.

I took a big gulp of my favored cup of dark ale, which was surprisingly getting the job done. Maybe they put in more alcohol than usual.

"Why, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned.

"Michael invited me to go to this really cool hot spring after exams. Just the two of us. Overnight."

My mouth opened before closing again. "Wow. Sounds... horrible?"

Jess chortled, "If it's a cool hot spring, then you really are fucked, Celia."

Celia punched the cheeky friend in the shoulder as we laughed.

"I'm serious! I want to go so bad, but he told me I couldn't if my grades are lower than a B."

Sarah's brows furrowed as she scoffed, "Is this what it's like having a teacher-boyfriend? Shouldn't one of the perks be, I don't know, perfect grades?"

"Michael's not like that," Celia replied, obviously ambivalent whether or not that was a good thing. She desperately turned to us, asking for advice, "What do you think I should do?"

"I know what I'd do. A sloppy head ought to fix him right up." Sarah winked suggestively, waving her long wavy black hair around as she mimicked the gesture.

Celia blushed furiously. "Sarah!"

I could hear them argue and laugh as my mind slowly wandered. I wasn't an academic achiever either. In fact, I didn't know many people who were — they're not exactly within the circles I usually hang out with.

Then I thought of him.

"You know, you could just study," I suggested.

The three women looked at me like I was crazy. I shrugged.

"I don't even know where to start, Sam. This is the midterms we're talking about. Can I even catch up?" Celia muttered dispiritedly before her eyes lit up the next second; Sarah and I knew what it meant.

"Nuh-uh," the black-haired woman vehemently refused before she could ask.

"Why not?!"

Jess tilted her head in confusion, her shoulder-length hair framing her cheeks. "Why not what?"

Celia hugged her clueless friend's lithe body, pleading, "Can you guys help me study?"

"Girl, have you seen our grades?" Jess immediately responded. Sarah just laughed. All of a sudden, an idea passed through my head.

"I think I know who can help you," I said before explaining my idea.

"Cory?" the three women asked simultaneously after I was done.

"The nerd, right?" Jess said.

"Exactly. He can help you. He consistently ranks within the top of the entire school — and I've never seen him listen to a teacher. I'm not sure you realize how crazy that is."

Or how cute he was, I omitted.

I could see Celia's mind rotating and felt slightly guilty. My intentions weren't entirely pure in suggesting this.

.... Okay, they were completely dishonorable. I'm the worst friend ever. More than that, I'm ashamed to admit that my curiosity with a guy amplified this much just from seeing how.... big he was.

I felt so cheap.

But I couldn't help it. This was the perfect excuse to get to know him better. Who knows when I'll get the next opportunity?

It wasn't all sexual, mind you. I found Cory cute even before all this. I mean, the way he looked with those rimmed glasses — and those swollen eyes....

I sadistically pictured his crying face again. At least until I realized how creepy I was being.

Celia nodded, thanking me, "That's actually a great idea. I'll ask him tomorrow if he can help."

"And I'll join you for a group study," I added.

Sarah looked at me as if I had just betrayed her. "Excuse me?"

Similarly, the other two looked stunned. They knew I didn't like studying.

"It's officially weird now, but if everyone's going, I want to go too," Jess cried out as she raised her hand, almost smacking Sarah who was seated beside her. I inwardly sighed in relief as her observant eyes strayed from me. Sarah's one of the most perceptive people I know. Lying to her was as hard as teaching math to Jess.

Sarah pushed the blonde off and reprimanded, "You'll just be a bother, dumbass. And why are you doing this, Sam?" she looked at me before asking, squinting her eyes in suspicion.

Fortunately for me, I was an expert with interrogation. Without pause, I lied with a straight face, "Unfortunately, my parents asked me to get my grades up this semester."

After a few seconds of her incessant staring, Sarah finally let it go and sighed, "I think you guys should go for it — if he has the time to teach a few dumb girls, that is."

Jess spluttered, "Hey! We're not dumb. And you're not going?"

She huffed in derision, "I am not spending my last year in high school studying for exams."

I shrugged. Fair point.

"Good luck," Sarah mocked in a singsong voice, smugly waving her fingers at us. We all rolled our eyes at her.

__________________________________

Despite the sun glaring sharply, my hair was still drenched when I got home. Of course, I was shortly confronted by Aunt Cass.

"Cory, why are you wet?" she asked in a chastising tone, her eyes repeatedly flitting between my wet head and the floor I was dampening.

I guiltily rubbed the back of my head, hiding my drenched locks. "Sorry. I accidentally turned on the shower at school and I didn't bring any extra clothes.

She ran over to the living room and covered my head with a towel.

"I got it," I told her before she could attempt to dry my hair. Until now, she treats me like a kid. I chuckled.

"Take a shower," she said in no uncertain terms, the tone she always used with me and Uncle when she wouldn't take no for an answer.

I nodded, heading upstairs, "Yes, Ma'am."

A few minutes later, I exited the bathroom, warm and relaxed.

"Dinner at 15," I hear Aunt Cass calling from downstairs.

"Coming!" I yelled back before turning on my

computer, downloading the pictures I took today. After spacing them nicely in computer format, I started to print some of the photos. We couldn't afford printers, actually. I found one on the sidewalk a few years ago. It was defective, but my uncle and I had made it our little weekend project. After hundreds of YouTube videos and hours tinkering with the electronic device, we finally succeeded.

Since then, I've been using it for my pictures.

I picked up the printed photo of Sam. She was really pretty — especially under the sunlight where you can see the golden flecks of her green eyes. Bet she hears that pretty often.

"Cory!" Aunt Cass called out from behind me. I flinched in surprise as I turned to her. "Didn't hear you come in," I sighed, staring her down disapprovingly in the eye. I belatedly realized Aunt Cass' eyes were glued to the picture I was holding.

Shit.

I quickly hid the picture behind my back, but it was too late. A smile appeared on her lips as she asked, "Who's that? She's pretty."

"Uh, no one, really. Just a classmate."

With an insinuating, knowing smirk, she cautioned me, "Well, don't stare too hard, all right? Dinner's ready."

Then she headed downstairs with a persnickety stride. I followed suit, desperately trying to explain the situation, "It's not like that...."

"Yes, yes."

I begrudgingly set the table for the food over my aunt's constant teasing. Usually I do most of the cooking, but since I've been staying late these past few days, Aunt Cass made it a point to cook her admittedly iconic Bolognese every waking moment of the day. My uncle never had the heart to tell her it tasted horrible and neither did I.

It didn't matter all that much, though, because it was basically the taste of home.

As I started cleaning up the dishes on the table after we finished eating, I abruptly heard my aunt say, "You should ask her out if you like her."

I turned to her in confusion. "What?"

Aunt Cass clarified, "The girl in the picture you were holding."

"It really isn't like that," I said, sighing in resignation.

"Whatever you say, Cory. I'm just telling you life is too short not to try," she replied gently, that endearingly familiar wisdom present in her voice. However, at this moment, her words just felt like prickly needles.

Staring at my hands on the table, I bitterly muttered without thinking, "You don't have to remind me."

Silence befell the room and I regretted my words immediately.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

I didn't dare to look at her, but I could tell from her voice she was smiling in the same accepting way she always does. "It's okay."

My heart panged with guilt just at the sound of her voice.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

My fists clenched in self-frustration. I couldn't keep letting this happen. This misguided anger. This... misery.

The pain she was going through far outweighed whatever I was feeling — losing her husband of 36 years.

"Cory," she called out, clearly trying to ground me back in reality. I couldn't let her. Not right now.

"Cory," she called out my name once again, and I was compelled to answer like I always have.

"....Yeah?"

"Look at me."

I reluctantly obeyed, looking away from the table and into her eyes.

"Your uncle always wanted to be a father. Did you know that? He told me he wanted kids on our second date. I was always the unsure one. So many things to think about. What were they going to eat? What if something happens to them?"

She started twirling her hands gently.

"Ever the pessimist that I am, really. Edward, on the other hand, always knew what he wanted. He knew in his heart that he would love them — no matter what."

My eyes couldn't help but avoid hers.

"I was with him when he was a mess, Cory, but I never once saw that aspect of him falter. Not a single time. Not when we figured out we couldn't have children. Especially not when we first saw you, building yourself a cute little home in that sandbox," she chuckled.

"Aunt Cass..."

"Tell me, Cory. Do you feel loved?"

My mouth immediately parted to answer her, "Of course I do. You know I do."

She nodded, leaning towards me and caressing my wet cheeks. "Well, you are — and I know you love him back. I know you're hurting. You're probably thinking you have no right to be, but you are dead wrong. If anyone has the right to scream or cry out loud about missing him, it's his son. Our son. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I bit my lips to forcefully stop my tears from falling.

"...Yeah."

She smiled, rolling her eyes at me. "Good. Now, care to tell me what's bothering you?"

My mouth couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh — devoid of any worries. She never relents, does she?

I stared at my hands, the weight they've been carrying seemed much less heavier. Leave it to Aunt Cass to somehow solve the unsolvable.

Notwithstanding — I know she said otherwise, but I still didn't want to bother her with my problems. If she knew a kid was messing with me, she'd probably march over there and kick the whole faculty's ass.

"Okay, I do like this girl, but she and I aren't exactly within the same circles."

But maybe I could tell her about this little white lie.

__________________________________

Exhausted from the night before, I woke up a little late later than usual. The sun shone annoyingly yellow as I grabbed some random shirt to wear before coming down to the living room.

"Hey, working late at the shelter this week, yeah?" I asked Aunt Cass while I got dressed for class.

She shook her head. "It's not work if it's helping people, Cory."

I begged to disagree, but I nodded anyway. I knew better than to fight her on this. I tried to get her to stop working so hard there, but there was no persuading Cass Anderson when she put her mind to something.

"Go ahead and eat without me, all right?" she added.

"I'll leave some for you. Anything you want? I could make rounds at the grocery store on the way home. I've got some money left."

"Are you still tutoring that unruly girl?" she asked, handing me the keys to the house.

"Oh, she's not that bad. And it's still a few bucks."

"You don't need to, Cory. You know that, right? Just focus on your studies — "

"I am. Got a scholarship, remember? That's not going anywhere any time soon," I quipped, arrogantly crossing my arms together.

Cass rolled her eyes at me, "Okay, young man."

"Have a great day. Let me know if you need picking up, all right?"

She nodded in response. Similarly, Aunt Cass knew better than to fight me on the offer now.

I kissed her on the cheeks before she headed out. After a few minutes, I locked the door on my way out and started walking to school myself — which was actually pretty near our house.

It's why I arrive really early on most days. Gives me time to take a nap or calmly review my tutoring materials.

Today was different, however.

Because when I arrived at the classroom, not just one but two beautiful women were perched on my table, chatting casually as if nothing was wrong.

And believe me, something was terribly wrong.

I've never had anyone hanging out around my chair, let alone two of the most beautiful girls — unanimously agreed upon — on campus. They had literal sites dedicated to them. God, people are already starting to stare.

Shoulders tensed up, I walked one step at a time towards my chair. The redheaded Celia, whom I don't think I've ever locked eyes with before, turned to me and waved.

Just what crazy dimension did I fucking walk into?

"Morning, Cory!" Celia enthusiastically greeted. I stared at her in confusion for a few seconds before realizing I was being rude.

I greeted her back before asking why she was here. Behind her was Sam wearing a cute oversized hoodie, subtly waving at me. I waved back.

"Actually, I need your help," the beautiful redhead replied.

"We," Sam corrected from behind her.

"We were hoping to get a little help with the exams this semester. Kind of like a study group? Uh, we're not good at studying."

"Oh."

I immediately understood. No wonder they approached me.

Mentally checking my calendar, I hesitated. Between the tutoring and the house chores, I barely had enough time as it is.

But I had a feeling if I refused them, I'd get a ton of locker pranks and hate letters over the next few weeks. There's nothing the masses hate more than a guy refusing to spend time with pretty girls who are way out of his league.

"I... I would be happy to. Can we do it in my house, though? I'm a little busy — and there's someone else I'm tutoring. We won't be a bother," I spelled out the situation anxiously.

Celia looked me up and down weirdly. "Woah! Don't sweat it, Cory. Why are you explaining? You're the one helping us out here."