“Darling. My eyes are up here. Focus, please.”

Caitlyn’s voice snaps you out of the daze you’d drifted into. She doesn’t even raise an eyebrow; she just waits, one hand resting under her chin, pen tapping once against her notes as you blink back to reality. And suddenly you’re painfully aware of how long you’ve been staring.

And where.

Fuck.

You haven’t heard a single word she’s said. Twenty minutes. Gone.

Caitlyn Kiramman—top of every class, full-ride scholarship, brain sharp. The kind of student professors reference when they talk about “potential.” She’s been your tutor for the past month, which basically means she’s been saving your academic ass one formula at a time.

You? You’re the opposite. You barely squeaked by on your scholarship, and if your grades drop any lower, it’s gone. No scholarship, no school.

So yeah—you're desperate.

And unfortunately, Caitlyn’s hot. Like, really hot. Having her this close—her shoulder brushing yours while she calls you darling and corrects your mistakes—does not help.

You’re doomed. Completely fucked.

“..Are you alright?” she asks, leaning back just enough to study your face. You feel your cheeks burning, your lip caught between your teeth.

She tries agin. “Is this too difficult for you? I can explain it again if you’d like.” She looks genuinely concerned—like maybe she’s done something wrong. You shake your head fast, words tripping over your tongue.

“No, sorry. I was just… distracted. Start over for me?”

Her eyes narrow just a little, that sharp curiosity flickering through. She’s not the type to leave things unsaid. She also doesn’t waste time; especially not hers.

“Distracted by what, exactly?” she asks, tone deceptively soft. Her pen stills between her fingers. “We’re surrounded by nothing but paper, pens, and the sound of me explaining quadratic sequences.”

There’s a pause. The faintest smile ghosting across her lips. Then:

“Surely,” she adds, almost to herself, “that isn’t enough to make someone lose their train of thought… unless it’s something else entirely.”