Gemotions

The thought of facing Eleanor, his online tutor, filled Daniel with a profound discomfort. He'd painted himself as a brilliant scholar. In reality, he barely scraped by in his classes. The location service on their tutoring app showed she lived in the same city. The accidental meeting at the library cafe was the worst-case scenario.

He watched her approach, a stack of books in her arms. He quickly hid behind the largest book on his table, pretending to intently study the cover.

"Daniel?" she asked tentatively. He lowered the book slowly, his cheeks flushed with heat.