From then on, I showed up to class twice a week.
One of the three friends would study with me whenever they were free.
Between school and writing, I spent my time with Leo and Mike, looking out for the people in the rougher parts of town.
“We found the girl,” Mike said at my apartment that afternoon.
“She’s holed up at a friend’s place.
She wants to go home but she’s scared.”
“Then we’ll take her home and let them talk it out,” I said.
Ginger’s wardrobe changed day by day.
She still dressed modestly from head to toe, but now her clothes actually fit her.
“Your style has changed,” I remarked while she was tutoring me.
“I was told it might help me open up to the world,” she said.
“Why haven’t you opened up before?” I asked.
“I did, years ago.
It wasn’t a good idea,” she replied.
“My brother paid the price.
Let’s move on.” She shut the topic down.
I just nodded, right as Dom and Anna burst in.
“You guys got in!” Anna said enthusiastically.
“Your IDs got the highest scores.”
Ginger stood up and Anna hugged her, but Dom just squeezed her hand for a moment.
“But guess who didn’t even apply,” Dom said.
Anna sighed as they sat down with us.
“I didn’t apply,” I noted.
The three of them laughed softly.
“Neither did Anna,” Dominic said.
Ginger dropped her pen.
“I barely have enough time for Connor as it is,” Anna said.
“But I want to be proud of you guys.”
“We won’t let you down, Mom,” Dominic teased her.
“How are you going to play the violin now?” I asked.
“I play twice a week in the afternoons, and I’ll do the internship tasks three times a week.
I don’t go many places, so my afternoons are free.”
“I don’t know how I can be there when you play,” Dominic said.
“I can’t lose my football scholarship.”
“You don’t have to be there,” Ginger told him with a smile.
“I’ll take a taxi and wait inside for it.”
“A taxi will take almost your entire paycheck,” Anna pointed out.
“Then I’ll take the bus, or I’ll figure it out,” Ginger replied.
“I need to open up to the world.”
“I’ll drive you home after your set,” I spoke up.
The others looked at me in disbelief.
“It’s the least I can do in exchange for the tutoring.”
“Thank you,” Ginger said after a few seconds of thought.
“I’ll take you up on that.
See you there tonight.”
“Good,” I nodded and stood up because some girl was waving at me from the door.
I had way more girls hanging all over me than I actually wanted, but I usually got bored with them after one short date.
Most never even made it as far as my guest room.
In the afternoon, while Ginger played her set at the bistro, Leo and Mike joined me.
“The girl’s gotten a lot more stylish,” Mike laughed.
I didn’t react.
“Even when I’m not around, I expect you to keep an eye on her,” I said.
“Even if someone else is already watching.” Leo and Mike both nodded.
“What’s her deal, anyway?” Mike asked.
“I don’t know, but if my father gets off my back thanks to her help with my grades, the least I can do is return the favor.” I paused.
“And dig into why her brother is in the hospital.”
Over the next few weeks, the four of us really settled into a rhythm.
Dom and I split the duty of watching over Ginger at the bistro.
By then, I was driving the junker to school; I refused to take the bus.
I still only showed up twice a week, but I made sure it was on the days I had to look out for Ginger.
I always drove her home after she finished playing.
She and Dom didn’t live in a bad neighborhood, and it was on my way home anyway.
Since I walked her all the way up to the apartment, she’d occasionally invite me in and feed me.
Sometimes we’d even play a game or two.
“Thanks for hauling me home,” Ginger said in my car as the junker finally roared to life on the third try.
“My pleasure,” I replied.
“My father is finally off my back about school.”
“What do you do when you aren’t in class?” she asked.
“Hang out at the beach or around town with my friends,” I answered.
“I haven’t been to the beach in years,” she admitted quietly.
“Why not?” I asked.
“You’d have time to go down on the weekends.”
“I’d rather not,” she replied.
“Does this have something to do with ‘opening up to the world’?” I asked with a smile.
She nodded.
“Are you coming up to eat today too?” she asked, laughing.
“I ordered a pizza to your place before we left.” I winked.
Shortly after we got home, the pizza arrived, and the two of us started eating.
I was careful not to touch her, but she kept a respectful distance from me anyway.
I pushed her drink closer to her; I’d noticed Dom always did that in the dining hall.
Ginger just gave a smiling nod.