Writers 
I could treat you better
chapter 5
"You're not concentrating."
I looked up from the notebook in front of me.
"I am."
Noami gave me a look.
"You've been staring at that same question for almost five minutes."
I looked down at the page.
She was right.
I had barely written anything.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "This thing is confusing."
"It isn't confusing. You're just not paying attention."
She pulled the chair beside mine a little closer and leaned over my notebook.
"Look here."
Her finger moved across the page as she explained the topic again, slowly this time.
I tried to follow what she was saying.
I really did.
But sitting this close to her was making it harder than it should have been.
I could smell the faint scent of her perfume. It wasn't strong, but I noticed it.
I shifted slightly in my chair.
Noami didn't seem to notice.
She was completely focused on the notebook.
"The first thing you need to understand is that microorganisms are not all the same," she said. "You have bacteria, viruses, fungi and other organisms. If you don't understand their differences, you'll struggle with the rest."
I nodded.
"Okay."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes."
She looked at me.
"What did I just say?"
I froze.
She smiled.
"I knew it."
"I was listening."
"Then tell me."
I stared at her for a moment.
She waited.
I finally laughed. "You said microorganisms are not all the same."
"And?"
"And..." I looked at the notebook. "There are bacteria, viruses and fungi."
"Good."
She smiled.
Something about that smile caught me off guard.
I quickly looked away.
I don't know why I suddenly felt embarrassed.
She was just smiling at me.
It wasn't anything special.
At least, it shouldn't have been.
Noami turned back to the notebook.
"Now, let's continue."
I nodded.
She began explaining again.
This time, I tried harder to concentrate.
But after a while, my attention slowly drifted away from the words on the page.
I found myself watching her instead.
The way she moved her hand while explaining.
The slight crease between her brows whenever she was trying to make sure I understood something.
The way her voice changed when she was serious.
She wasn't just talking.
She actually cared whether I understood.
That surprised me.
Most people would probably tell me to read my book and leave me alone.
But she had spent the better part of the afternoon sitting beside me, explaining things I didn't understand without making me feel stupid for not knowing them.
I wondered why.
Maybe she was just naturally caring.
Or maybe she felt responsible for me because I was Nathaniel's nephew.
I didn't know.
"Christopher?"
I blinked.
"Hmm?"
She was looking at me.
"Are you with me?"
I swallowed.
"Yeah."
She tilted her head.
"Then what was I saying?"
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
She laughed softly.
"You weren't listening again."
"I was."
"No, you weren't."
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
I looked at her.
For a second, I couldn't answer.
I didn't know what I would even say.
How was I supposed to tell her that I had forgotten about microbiology because I was too busy watching her?
So I simply shook my head.
"Nothing."
She studied my face for a moment before turning back to the notebook.
"You're hopeless."
I smiled.
"Maybe."
She continued explaining.
I leaned back in my chair and listened.
Or at least, I tried to.
