Rafe found Norah's house to be warm and cozy, exactly how he imagined it. He felt like he violated the homeliness and clean atmosphere with his rain-soaked clothes and shoes. He probably smelt like the pub too. The argument he had with his father over the phone and the ache for his mother numbed him for the day, but entering this house felt like his insides were warming up and he was coming back to his senses.

The smell wafting from the kitchen made his stomach growl. The soft lights from the lamps and the sound of the boiling of kettle made this place a home, and he'd only been there for a few minutes.

An elderly woman, holding a glass of wine, came out wearing a faded pink tracksuit. Her platinum blonde hair was tied up and her glasses were more delicate and fashionable than Norah's black-rimmed ones. He guessed this was the grandmother. It was hard to believe this woman was a grandmother, and to someone like Norah. The contrast in their physical appearance was almost comical. Age lines had appeared on her face as she smiled, but you could tell she had been a handsome woman back in her day.

"Well finally she stopped hiding you! I'm Joyce— oh my dear you're soaking wet," she said urging him to come in.

"We finally meet. I'm sorry for my... appearance," he said, looking down at himself.

"Oh nonsense, it's raining cats and dogs outside! I hope you're hungry. Norah and I have been in the kitchen all morning, I'm glad we get to have a guest after all."

"Starving," Rafe said, feeling rather sheepish and large in their house.

"Take off your shoes here," Norah said as she took off her own boots and tucked them away neatly on a shelf, "and follow me."

He did as he was told and followed her. She gave him a quick tour of the second floor. The rooms were small and neat. There were scented candles, small pots of plants, and diffusers everywhere. She led him past the master bedroom which was Joyce's.

Norah's room, which was across the corridor opposite to Joyce's, was predictably neat. Different sized pillows were arranged in a perfect angle and there was not a single crease on the cover. The books were stacked by size. Even her cat's fur shone like silk. The colors of her bedroom mostly comprised neutral colors like beige, caramel, and peach. He again felt like a bit of a tramp as his clothes left droplets of water on the carpet.

Rafe swayed and bumped into a door. The beers hadn't left his system yet. He wasn't a lightweight, but he did start drinking on a hungry stomach. The sudden warmth of indoors made his lids heavy and his head light.

She looked concerned; as she grabbed him with both hands and led him to the third bedroom which he guessed was a guest bedroom.

"I'm fine, honestly. Maybe I should just go ho-"

Before he could finish his sentence, she sat him down on an armchair.

"We have to get you out of these clothes. And you need a hot shower if you don't want to catch a cold. Here's a change of clothes."

"Why do you have men's clothes here? They're not your grandfathers... are they?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, they're Benny's. He stays over all the time. Come on, let's get you out of these, you're freezing," she said as she tugged up his hoodie. The wet material was cold and heavy. He let her take it off. She unbuttoned his shirt.

"You have to buy me dinner first," he said with a smirk. In response, she violently pinched his cheeks. He swore, and the shock of the pain seemed to sober him up for a few moments.

"What's wrong with you," he muttered and rubbed his sore face.

"Just snap out of it already," she said.

Getting back into teacher mode, she straightened up and her face became firm. She looked stern, but without the glasses, and her hair down, she looked... sexy. He took off his shirt and leaned back, staring at her with a playful smile. Her eyes quickly observed his upper body, and she blinked rapidly, clearing her throat.

"Great. Take off the rest of your clothes and fold them here, I'll throw them into the washing machine. You get into the shower, and get changed into these. I'll wait for you downstairs. Okay?"

Rafe grabbed her hand. He wanted to embrace her. His heart was heavy in his chest. Maybe it was the alcohol. She took his hand into hers and gave a pat on the back of his hand.

"I don't want you to get a cold. We have to submit uni applications next week. Please go under hot water."

He let go of her hand with a sigh and inwardly chuckled.

"It's always about school with you," he slurred. "Seriously, I wonder what you'd do if the place burned down to hell."

Norah paused. "Enroll in an online school."

Rafe groaned. All he wanted to do was dump himself on the bed with all the wet clothes, but Norah was having none of it. It took him all of his willpower to take a shower and attempt to sober up. This was definitely not the way Rafe had imagined meeting Norah's grandmother.

What will she think? Her granddaughter is tutoring a rich, spoilt, alcoholic. A handsome, rich, spoilt alcoholic, he thought and chuckled to himself. By god, he was very drunk.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself. The water cleared his mind, and he realised he almost got into a brawl. A drunken brawl. Again. He remembered Norah's friend Benjamin holding him back with another guy who he'd never seen before. They've helped him and he showed them the middle finger in response and left. Cringing, he rubbed his forehead and his eyes. If that had gotten out of control, his father probably would've never picked up the phone again.

All that hard work, his time and patience, Norah's determination- all of that would've been for nothing.