hot 'n cold [tag; luke]

[imogen elizabeth green]

The only reason she was doing this was plain and simple; she needed the money.

With a heavy sigh, Imogen slung her battered and worn leather book bag over her shoulder as she stepped out of the chem lab. Heading to her locker, she was buffeted from one side of the narrow hall to the other, bouncing off one of the walls as a group of boys wearing letterman jackets rudely pushed past her, whooping and hollering, asking what each other was doing tonight and it only made her roll her eyes. No, Imogen did not care to go to Randy Matthews keg party at eight o'clock tonight. No, she did not care that Kelly Johnson stripped when plied with alcohol. Tonight, rather than going to an alcohol fuelled sex party, she was staying home as a documentary about Leonardo da Vinci was showing on TV.

With a sigh, Izzy stooped to collect the pile of books the boys had knocked out of her hands, shaking her head as she adjusted the lapel of her jacket. It wasn't that she was feeling patriotic at all, she'd just found the jacket in a thrift store for a bargain and she couldn't ignore a bargain. Her long, pale fingers reached up to slide her glasses back onto her face and up the bride of her nose, the noise of wedge heels of her knee high cream suede boots were swallowed up by the loud school bell and the onslaught of adolescents who forced her forwards.

Keeping her head low as she wandered alone, her long tresses escaped her bow shaped hair clip and slipped over her shoulders as she took a left, placing one hand on the bannister rail and jogging up the stairs to the Library. It was her second home, really. It was a little after three and it was always quiet, especially on a Friday as everyone seemed to want to rush home and hang out with their friends. Izzy, on the other hand, oh no. She, for some reason, had been roped into tutoring. Usually, she didn't mind as it both helped her and her companion learn but it wasn't just anyone, it was Luke Moreau. School slut, constant failure, big mouth, serial party boy. He should win an Olympic medal for not giving a shit about stuff.

Today's topic was History. More specifically, The Battle of Trafalgar. If anyone asked her, she was fairly certain he had no idea where Trafalgar was, who was involved or who won. Sliding off her jacket and placing it neatly on the back of her chair, rays of the New York sun highlighted the freckles on her shoulder blades as she plonked her collection of leather bound and dusty books on the table with a dull thud.

Ruffling her hair, Izzy slid down her seat a little as she got comfortable, her bright blue eyes sliding to the clock on the wall as she was convinced Luke would be late for their little session. She'd also brought snacks; chips, cookies, candy, general junk food for general merriment. The blonde cracked open a can of her energy drink, ignoring the fact the fizzy liquid inside was a shocking shade of luminous green as she took a delicate sip. Something told her that she'd need all the help she could get this afternoon. Who else was betting he'd totally forgotten?

[luke anthony moreau]

unfortunately luke wasn't doing so well in history. not because he didn't know what was going on but because he rarely showed up to class or turned in any of the work that was due. the only thing that was keeping him from failing was the fact that he did so well on the tests. but since he had so much work he had to do his teacher decided to set him up with a tutor. wasn't he a great guy? just thinking about him annoyed luke. he had this feeling that he was that teacher that could change his students. he spoke to luke for about half an hour about how important knowing your history was and he wasn't really paying attention to everything else he as saying. the only reason he agreed to the tutor was because if he didn't he would have to come in and work with the teacher instead. but there was no way he was going to take this tutor seriously he just wanted to get this teacher off his back.

leaving the class room he headed towards his locker to put his books away. he had soccer practice today and he was supposed to be with his tutor until then but everyone had much more interesting plans. they were all going out to eat and luke was planning on going along with them. opening his locker he stuck all his books instead even the ones that were needed for his tutoring session. taking his gym bag out he looked through it making sure he had everything that he needed. not bothering to check the time he went over to where all his friends were talking about the big party tonight. of course he was going to be at that party where they were providing free alcohol and the place was going to be packed with girls. two of luke's favorite things.

walking into the library he looked around wondering where his tutor was suppose to meet him. he was about ten minutes late but at least he had shown up. he had only come to tell whoever his tutor was that he wasn't going to need any of their help because he'd do the work himself. there was no need for him to be stuck in the library when he could do the work when he got back from the party matthew's was throwing. there was no way he was going to pass up partying so he could learn about the battle of trafalgar. as if he wouldn't know about it, he was french. finally his eyes spotted his tutor and she was much prettier than he had thought she'd be. maybe being tutored wouldn't be so bad if she was the one he got to spend his time with. staring at the clock he had some time to spare so maybe he could at least get to see what kind of girl she was. walking over to her he took a seat across from her and dropped his gym bag on the floor. sorry i'm late he said apologizing with a small smile on his face.

[imogen elizabeth green]

In the quiet hum generated by the still turned on computers, Izzy pursed her plump lips, slowly licking the pad of her index finger before she casually turned the page she was reading. Of course he was late. She wasn't complaining or anything because deep down, she knew they both had other places they wanted to be and that was fine. Despite being labelled as decidedly socially inept, Imogen always kept tabs on the idle gossip between classes. Who he'd slept with, who he'd done body shots off of and the like. Oh, she hoped everyone would have fun at that party that would, inevitably, end with someone calling the police.

Turning another page, she let out a soft sigh. Being continually shunned by her peers was actually starting to get her down a little.

Looking up sharply, her large eyes widened a little as they landed on his familiar figure. He was sorry he was late? "Oh," she whispered, her hands against her will going to her hair in the traditional feminine gesture of attempting to smooth it down flirtatiously. Just then, she realised what she was doing and promptly sat. Swiftly, she narrowed her eyes a fraction to rest on a borderline glare, the type parents gave their children when they knew they were lying to them. "Sure," she replied nonchalantly.

"I'm Imogen." With that, she tall blonde stuck out her lithe forearm towards Luke in the traditional business-like greeting as she offered him her hand. "It's nice to meet you finally after three years." The comment was meant to be sarcastic and scathing. She'd been invisible her entire life. She had classes with him, not that he'd know. Looking down, she retracted her hand in order to adjust her black rimmed square glasses she'd picked up from a little boho shop in Greenwich Village last year for a dollar; they were in a retro style, "geek chic" she's heard someone comment and the left arm had been broken and then, in true nerd fashion, patched back up with a cutting of sellotape. She didn't have a lot of money to throw around on Versache eyewear and the like, especially not since the relic she was wearing seemed to suit her needs well.

"I'm fairly certain you don't want to be here any more than I do," Imogen ploughed on, offering him a brief smile as she opened one of her books, enjoying the way a faint cloud of dust rose when the spine hit the table. "Just put in the hour like you were asked and you can go and drink your own body weight in cheap beer and fornicate until your heart's content but first, Napoleon."

With another smile, she sat up straighter in her seat, leaning forward over the table so the long chain of her necklace accidentally slipped under her shirt and down her cleavage. Staying silent, she pushed a cold and unopened canned energy drink towards him and over the table slowly, her own personal apology for her terse words beforehand. "Got a pen?" Izzy asked, tilting her head at him curiously before continuing. "The main thing you really need to know is the date of the battle and who was fighting who," she continued, trusting he already knew the basics. "You're bound to be asked in the exam." Flipping through her book, she paused at a full colour and intricate diagram of a large galleon ship, with a dozen white sails. Leaning a little further and unintentionally exposing her décolletage, she tapped the picture. "Nelson's ship. Do you know the name of it?"

[luke anthony moreau]

she looked surprised for a moment when he apologized probably not expecting that from him of all people. she stuck her hand after introducing herself and he stared at it for a moment before sticking his out too and shaking it. it's nice to meet you too he told her with a smile even though she already didn't seem to like him very much. could they really have been in a few classes together and he hadn't noticed her? it was hard to believe that he could have missed such a pretty girl but she didn't seem to be the type that made her presence known. he didn't bother introducing himself since she seemed to obviously know who he was and had already decided what she thought of him. maybe tutoring wouldn't be so bad and he could see if he could get her to change her mind about him. they could even go on a date or two that would be interesting. she fixed her glasses and while he watched the only thing he was thinking was that she'd look much better without them on. though he was pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate it if he just took them off of her.

he raised his eyebrow as she spoke about neither of them wanting to be there and him drinking and fornicating. maybe this girl knew more about him than he thought. but the way she said everything was pretty interesting most people weren't so straight forward with him. sure that was how he spent his weekends but that didn't mean it was the only thing he liked to do. it was just in the top five. he just found it much more fun to do those then stay at home thinking about all the school work he needed to do. but this is so much more interesting than alcohol and fornication he told her with a fake smile as she opened up her books. she was smiling at him but her smiles seemed to be just as fake as his were. she made it clear that she didn't want to be here with him. if his tutor was anyone else he would have been long gone but he was lucky enough to get such a pretty girl. he wasn't planning on letting her get away that easily.

no, can i borrow one of yours? he asked her a smile still plastered on his face. he hadn't brought anything with him other than his soccer stuff but he wasn't sure how his gym clothes would help in this situation. but she seemed pretty prepared with all her books and even the energy drink that she had. unfortunately now it was time for them to be getting down to business. she started talking about the basics of the fight and he wasn't really paying attention but he did at least keep his eyes on her. luke was more interested in finding out how he could get this type of girl to like him. she was beautiful and luke was a fan of beautiful girls. she pointed to something in the book and when she leaned forward she seemed accidentally expose herself. not that he would point that out and embarrass her of course. she was tapping the picture asking him what the name of the ship was which he knew but there would be no fun if she knew he didn't need a tutor. pretending to think about it luke scanned the library a few times wondering who else was stuck in here. there weren't many people around that he knew but then again the people he normally hung out with weren't the types you saw in libraries. looking back towards her he realized that she was waiting for an answer. not at all he said with a shrug hoping that she would stay leaned over the book as she explained it to him.

[imogen elizabeth green]

"Oh, well, I'm glad you think so," Imogen replied breezily. It was so easy to slip back into her snarky self, with biting remarks and so on but she needed to be nice. He wouldn't learn anything if she was constantly berating him. Placing her elbow on the table, she rested her chin in an upturned palm as her eyes swept over his face before dropping to his bag. "Have you been double-booked?" The blonde asked, nodding towards his sports kit, meaning that he should be both with her in the library and on the soccer pitch simultaneously. European history was far more important than running around after a ball, kicking it into a net and then involving himself in boisterous celebrations with his team mates.

Imogen hadn't once been to a game in the whole time she'd attended the school. Her school spirit was next to nothing, she hated the noise and the flags and the placards. Luke Moreau could well be the best soccer player and athlete to ever walk the Earth but she didn't really care.

As he mentioned he didn't have a pen, Izzy held out the one she had between her two long forefingers without skipping a beat. If he didn't have a pen, she presumed he didn't have paper. Pulling back a little, she ducked beneath the table as she extracted a pad of paper before holding it out for him to take. "For notes," she instructed. As Luke proceeded to tell her he didn't have a clue, she felt something inside of her wither and die.

"Oy vey," Imogen groaned, clapping a hand to her forehead before dragging it slowly down over her soft and pretty facial features. He really was living up to her expectations, wasn't he? "HMS Victory," she stated. With that, she reached out to pull his paper towards her as she wrote down the ship's name in her slanted, looping handwriting. Ignoring him momentarily, she let the tip of her pen slide across the paper as she proceeded to draw a little diagram of the ship from memory. It was small but detailed, showing off her decidedly vast artistic prowess. "Are you a visual learner?" She asked, flicking her eyes back up to him, faintly startled to see how close he was before dropping her eyes back to her drawing as she completed the sails, a faint blush suffusing her porcelain cheeks.

"Because I can tailor your tutoring to how you prefer to learn. If you're visual, I can draw you diagrams and colour code. If you're kinaesthetic, we can do some hands-on studying, we can go to museums so you can see exhibitions for yourself and if you're an audio learner, you can record yourself and listen back. There," with a genuine smile, she turned his paper back to him, complete with her drawing of the flagship. "She was a ship of the line." Pausing, she continued. "Which simply means it was part of a naval tactic in which the ships in the fleet divided into two lines, turning so the side with the guns would face the enemy ships, effectively ripping through them with cannons."

Handing Luke back the pen, she ruffled her hair absently as she pulled a thoughtful frown. "The battle started on the 21st of October, 1805, off the Cape of Trafalgar which, in turn, is just off the coast of Spain and you need to remember that date and place." Remaining leant over the book a little, she pointed to the words printed on the book, giving Luke the elementary school version of events. "The battle was between Britain and France. In 1802, they both signed a truce but they didn't expect it to last which, of course, it didn't. The war began again in 1804 and Napoleon decided he wanted to invade Britain and it was Admiral Nelson's job to stop him." Pausing, he looked up at him again. "Still following?" She asked before stopping again, arching a perfectly groomed eyebrow in question. "…why are you staring at me?"