"Okay, Liam, let's try this again. A squared plus b squared equals?" I say, trying to get Liam to learn the Pythagorean Theorem was like trying to put a dog through a needle.

"I need to know what a or b is, and I've told you a million times, call me Payne," Liam says.

Ever since that night, Liam's and my relationship has been strictly professional. No more goodnight texts, no more going to his house unless it was to see his sister, and he acted like I didn't exist at school. Louis and I haven't really gone on a real date, but he still walks me to every class and brings me home. He's been trying to get me to let him bring me to school, but I refuse. I don't wanna leave Ashley on the bus all by herself.

" A squared plus B squared equals C squared. Its the Pythagorean Theorem. Do you know what triangle you use it with?" I ask.

Liam thinks for a moment, making a frustrated face, "A Right Triangle?"

"Correct," I say and smile. He's starting to get it.

He sighs, "That's the first thing I've gotten right in math all night."

"You shouldn't bring yourself down," I tell him. I haven't asked him what his reading disability even is. I don't think he'd appreciate me doing so, either.

He frustratedly puts his fingers through his hair, "Can we move on to English?" He asks.

I nod, and get out the English book, "Let's start with Vocabulary" I tell him.

"What does it mean to throw something it someone out a window?" I ask.

"In what world is it important for me to know the specific word to throw something out a window?" He asks.

"I don't know, but it's on this list of 'Words To Know'" I tell him.

He thinks for a moment, "Deafnistate?"

"Close." I say, "Think again."

He pauses again, "Defenestrate?"

"Good,"I say and smile once more. I like his face when he concentrates. The way he scrunches his eyebrows together as he singlehandedly massages his head...

"Why do you do this?" Liam inquires.

"What?" I ask.

"Why do you do it? This tutoring thing? You don't have to. No one is making you. You aren't getting paid. Why do it, then?" He asks me.

I think, why do I do this...? Was it what Mr.Bronson said...? Something else?

"I don't know..." I admit.

"You don't know." he says, seeming aggravated, "Well, I think were done here." He tells me standing up, "See you at the party. Happy New Years, Claire." He puts on his jacket, and walks out the door. I hear his motorcycle start, as he carefully drives off as it starts to snow.

•.•.•.

I wake up to my phone going off. I grab it and put the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?" I groggily say.

"Good Morning, Beautiful," a familiar voice says. Louis.

"Hi Lou," I tell him, with a small smile.

"What time you want me to pick you up tonight?" He asks.

"The party is already tonight?" I ask, shocked.

"It is New Years Eve." He says and laughs.

"Oh gosh, what time does it start?" I ask.

"10:00" he tells me.

"Pick me up around... 9" I tell him.

"Alright, Love. I'll see you then." He tells me.

"Okay, Lou. See you." I say and he hangs up.

I get up and look at the time. 10:30. As I head downstairs, I see Avarie. She runs up to me, "Claire Bear! Can you get me the lucky charms?" She asks. I laugh, "Sure," and walk in and make her Cereal.

"Wheres Mom?" I ask.

"She went for a job impervew" Avarie says.

"Interview?" I ask.

"Yeah. Impervew" she tells me and I laugh. She's so cute. I hand her bowl to her and she smiles.

"Thanks Sissy," she says.

"You're welcome," I tell her.

She sits down and watches some cartoons while I eat my breakfast. I get a text.

ashwee- hey, can I go to your house and we can help each other get ready? harry could pick me up at your place.

me- sure thing, chicken wing!

ashwee- you call me that in front of harry, you're dead.

me- xD okay then.

Not long after, Ashley is at my door with her dress in hand. She seems really exited.

"Let's go!" She says. We do each other's hair and make up and put our dresses in, etc.

"You look amazing," I tell Ashley.

"You look way better." She says.

"You think?" I ask.

"I know," she says.

"I think you look better," I admit.

Before she can answer, my doorbell rings. Is it already 9? I look at my watch. It sure is. I open the door to see Louis and Harry dressed up nicely, but still in clothes to party. Harry's hair has gotten longer since I first came here. It's now to his shoulders, but it looks nice. Louis hair has grown too, he also has some stubble, but it looks good. Liam always has some stubble... it looks better on Liam than in Louis...

"Claire, you look... Wow." Louis says, I smile, and feel my cheek turn red,

"Thanks, Lou, you look amazing too." I tell him.

Ashley and Harry start their own little conversation by themselves and kiss each other. They're head over heels for each other. I kind of wish I had a relationship like that... Where all feelings were mutual.

"Shall we go?" Louis asks.

I nod, as Harry and Ashley follow us out the door. I see Louis's red... Ferrari...

"Woah" I say when I see the car.

"Yeah, my mom doesn't use this car much, it's her prized possession. I begged her to let me use it." He says.

"That's very kind if her." I tell him.

"Oh, she never said yes, I just took it anyway." He exclaims.

I slightly laugh, but it's kind if weird. I mean, he just took his mom's Ferrari. But I guess it's none of my business.

We drive up to the big house where I have the memories of Liam and I... What happened afterward... Having no clue what will happen tonight...