Cheerleader's Tutor: Chapter 2: Stay A While

She slumped through the door, her legs aching from another grueling cheer practice. She knew what was coming her way, a firm talking to from her parents and possibly a grounding for her Algebra 2 grade.

            “Ino?” her father called in a stern voice.

            Ino sighed and replied, “Yes father?” she stopped in her tracks and turned on her heel to sit on the couch and await her lecture.

            “Honey, sit down please,” her mother motioned to the couch as Ino entered the living room. Ino nodded and took a seat on the couch, which was opposite her parent’s and facing them.

            “What’s this F in Algebra 2?” her father asked is a disapproving tone as he crossed his arms and pressed his back to the back of his recliner.

            “It’s me not getting good grades on tests…” Ino mumbled as she folded her hands and set them in her lap, then proceeded to stare at her hands.

            “I’m afraid we have no choice but to ground you for the weekend so that you can pass. There’s a test tomorrow correct?” her father spoke with class and every indication of power and domination.

            “Yes father—but Sasuke’s party! It’s this Saturday!” Ino cried as she stared at her parents in distress.

            Her father slouched forward a bit and he put a hand on his chin. All was silent for a while. Ino waited in great anticipation for her father to deliver her sentence, or hopefully make a compromise.

            Her father then opened his mouth to speak. “Tell you what,” Ino let a gasp out, waiting for her father to continue, “I’ll let you go, if you get a B or higher on this next test, if you get a C+, then it’s no deal,”

            Ino opened her mouth and let out an excited cry. “Thank you so so so much dad!” Ino gushed, her father laughed happily at her excitement but her mother still looked troubled. Ino turned her attention to her mother, waiting to hear what she had to say.

            “Honey, what can you do to pass?” Mrs. Yamanaka asked as she stared at her daughter with worry and concern.

            “Mom, I have a tutor coming tonight at six, he has the best grade in the class right now. And if it’s alright with you, I’d like to take a shower before he comes. So that he’s focused on helping me with Algebra 2 and not my body odor,” Ino announced as her parents nodded and she proceeded to leave.

            Ino dashed up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time, and rushed in a frenzy to her bathroom. She ran through her room and into the adjacent bathroom and she turned on the water to warm up as she undressed.

            Rock Lee approached the lovely house of Ino Yamanaka, hardly believing that he was tutoring a beautiful cheerleader like herself. He felt, for the first time ever, uncomfortable and underdressed in his white polo shirt, nice kaki slacks and his black shiny shoes. Lee was the epitome of the classic nerd, and like most nerds, he knew it too. But still, it wasn’t everyday that the nerd got to tutor the beautiful cheerleader, even if it was just for a little while.

            Lee took a deep breath and knocked, gripped his notebook and text book, and knocked on the Yamanaka’s door. A blonde woman who greatly resembled Ino opened the door and she greeted him with a smile.

            “Are you here to tutor my daughter?” She asked still holding her beautiful smile. Rock Lee was star struck from her smile and he just nodded and the woman let him in.

            “What is your name again? I’m sorry, Ino didn’t tell us your name,” Mrs. Yamanaka meekly admitted.

            “It is Rock Lee ma’am,” Lee replied, his voice drenched in much due respect.

            Mrs. Yamanaka just nodded and turned her direction towards the stairs, “Ino,” she called cupping her hands and projecting her voice, “Rock Lee is here!”

            Mrs. Yamanaka waited for the prolonged reply of her daughter asking to send him up. Mrs. Yamanaka nodded towards the stairs and told Lee that she’d be up later with snacks, which Lee expressed great thankfulness over. Mrs. Yamanaka was so hospitable.

           

            Lee, once again, knocked on a Yamanaka door. This time it was Ino’s bedroom door, however. Ino murmured a reluctant come in and Lee slowly twisted the door knob.

            “Hey,” Ino greeted as she motioned him over to her bed. Lee nodded and complied with her request. He had never sat on a girl’s bed before, and the way that Ino looked tonight made it a dream come true! Ino was wearing yoga pants that said “Pink” on the butt with a pink V-neck shirt. Her hair was pulled back by a pink headband, making her look very cute.

            Rock Lee unsurely sat at the edge of her bed and put down his notebook and textbook. He looked to Ino and shot her a smile, “Well, let’s get started then,” Rock Lee beamed as the cheerleader nodded and faced his direction.

            Later on, Mrs. Yamanaka came up to the room with cookies and bottled water, which both graciously accepted. About eight o’clock, after almost two hours of studying, Ino decided that she felt ready enough for the test. Lee agreed that it was getting late and he followed Ino down to the front door.

            “Thanks so much for helping me,” Ino politely smiled as she opened the door for Lee.

            “Are you leaving now, Lee?” Mrs. Yamanaka asked as she rose from her seat in the living room to see Lee out as well.

            “Yes ma’am, it is getting late,” Lee told her as he bowed respectfully. He then looked at Ino and smiled, “I think that Ino’s ready for this test and I know she’ll get a good grade on it,” Lee assured both of the women. The two women smiled at each other then turned to Lee and opened the door for him. Lee stepped out and said goodnight.

            “Goodnight Lee, see you tomorrow. Hey, can you help me some more after school tomorrow? I know that after the test teacher will give us another lesson,” Ino rolled her eyes.

            Rock Lee had to restrain himself from jumping for joy at the blonde’s request, but he solemnly agreed and finally walked out of the door.

            Mrs. Yamanaka was waiting for her daughter when near the front door when Ino finally said her goodbyes to the smart boy.

            “He’s very nice you know,” Mrs. Yamanaka complimented, staring at Ino. “I liked him a lot more than that Sasuke of yours,” she made a face and Ino, once again, rolled her eyes.

            “I’m going to bed mom, I have an early morning cheer practice tomorrow to prepare for the game that afternoon,” Ino notified her mother as she glided up the stairs.

            Mrs. Yamanaka gazed up at her daughter who disappeared as she rounded the upstairs corner to her room. Mrs. Yamanaka giggled, “I hope that that boy stays around longer than to help Ino with her Algebra grade,” she finished. Then she hummed as she made her way back to the living room to finish reading her magazine.