After returning to campus and introducing herself to the other suitemates with Heather, Kaitlyn decided to excuse herself for a little while. She needed a break to think.

Her steps carried her down the main thoroughfare of campus. To either side, the full blooms of Hartland’s signature roses had begun to close under cover of twilight as the arching tree branches rustled gently overhead. The place was busier than usual for a weekend evening, owing entirely to the bustle of people moving in and exploring. However, it was still nowhere near the crowds that tomorrow would bring.

Ok. So. What am I doing this loop?

She reviewed her plan so far. I’m going to try learning programming and music. That’s already been decided. And I’m going to buy equipment for them by working at Chella’s and through my meal prep business. Heather’s on board to bring more customers in, so hopefully that translates to more earnings. But the real question is, how am I going to actually learn those skills?

She gazed up at the trees while considering the options. The first was to watch videos on the subjects and see what kind of knowledge could be gleaned there. It was certainly the cheapest and easiest option, not to mention accessible. The biggest issue would be actually practicing and testing her knowledge.

It feels like it’s harder to track my progress if I’m learning something alone. I have gotten heaps better at it, of course, but still. Tests and tutoring and all that were actually really helpful for measuring my progress.

Which brought her to the second option - to seek out tutoring. She’d already employed this tactic to learn math from Philip, specifically for those prerequisite classes she wasn’t enrolled in. Why not take it a step further?

The only issue there is money. A large group of excitable students chattered away as they meandered down the path. Kaitlyn stepped to the side to let them pass. I’ll need a good amount of money for the equipment already. That might limit me a bit when it comes to tutoring, even if the business takes off.

Programming at least was a bit easier in that regard. There were plenty of places on campus for her to use a public computer. Perhaps she didn’t even need to buy her own at all. Not until she had a better surplus of funds for the loop.

Speaking of money issues… maybe there’s a music club I can rent equipment from? Even better, one that helps to teach beginners? Worry creased her brow. Yeah, that seems like a long shot. Who would join a music club without having ever picked up an instrument? I think I have to pick up some level of skill before trying that, if only to avoid complete embarrassment. Still, it’s worth investigating.

There was also the option of asking the guys to teach her - asking Ian for programming help and Elliot for music lessons. But her thoughts skittered away from the idea as soon as it manifested. That was going a bit too far right now. Maybe it would be an option later, but for now, she preferred to do something more independent.

She filed the idea away. In the meantime, a different question crossed her mind - what instrument to choose.

Something cheap, preferably. She sidestepped a skateboarder as the tall figures of red brick buildings came into view. The cheapest thing would be singing, but, well… that didn’t go so well last time.

She winced at the memory of her last karaoke attempt. Some skills just didn’t seem worth the effort to get good at, even with the time loop.

A deep sigh escaped her lips. This would be so much easier if she were able to change up her classes. Especially now that the original five the game had stuck her with weren’t going to be useful. Unfortunately, she’d long since learned that it simply wasn’t an option. If it was, then the whole “mastering every class” thing wouldn’t have been necessary in the first place. Not that she regretted it, though.

Actually… maybe I should double check the enrolling in classes thing. I can’t imagine that it would have changed, but better safe than sorry.

Kaitlyn mused over her options as she passed by one of the larger lecture halls. Her gaze idly swept over a bulletin board posted along its outer wall. Despite a smattering of flyers and advertisements stapled to its surface, the board was as sparse as it would ever be. All of the notices were fresh, with new ones to be added in layer after layer as the days and weeks went by.

Her eye caught on one in particular. An all-too-familiar tutoring advertisement printed on plain white paper.

Tutoring On-Demand

Specializes in Math, Programming, Computer Science, and Physics

$30 per hour

Contact the number below to schedule a session

Wait… Philip teaches programming, too?

She stepped closer to examine the blocky lettering. Sure enough, her eyes didn’t deceive her. The phone number she’d practically memorized over the loops was listed at the bottom of the advertisement.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Kaitlyn pursed her lips. Well, that works out pretty well then. He’s been great at teaching so far, so I wouldn’t mind getting the basics from him at least. It’ll give me a good starting point. And he did say he’d be happy to have me as a student again… Hopefully he was being truthful.

Pulling out her phone, she shot her favorite tutor a quick text.

***

The next day, Kaitlyn slid into the familiar bench of Philip’s favorite lunch table. However, rather than reading a book as she’d come to expect, the tutor sat ramrod straight typing on a rather chunky looking laptop.

Huh. Guess that makes sense, given the class we’re working on.

His stony grey eyes flicked up to meet hers. “Kaitlyn, I presume?”

“Yup. Nice to meet you, Philip.” She met the guy’s look with a smile.

“You as well. Now,” with introductions taken care of, he immediately got down to business. “You requested tutoring in Programming - specifically, the introductory course. Is that correct?”

Kaitlyn nodded. “Yeah. That’s right.”

“All right. I’ve set out a lesson plan for our session that will provide an overview of the basics.” He reached into his backpack and retrieved a familiar notebook. “Most of this session will not require a laptop, but should you choose to book future sessions, then I would request that you do bring one. It will allow you to engage in practice exercises more easily and effectively.”

Kaitlyn winced. “Ok. I’ll do my best. If I don’t have a laptop though, are there other options?”

Philip stopped. “We can explore pair programming or meeting at a public computer as an option. However, if you don’t have a laptop I imagine that will present larger issues for your class experience as a whole.”

“I’m working on getting one!” She hurried to explain. “I should be able to save up for one in a few weeks, maybe longer. But for now… yeah. Sorry.”

One eyebrow raised slightly on that usually impassive face. “I did not expect someone enrolled in a CS class to begin schooling without a computer of some kind.”

“Oh. Uh…” Her face flushed even deeper with embarrassment. “I’m, uh… not enrolled in this class.”

Now the other eyebrow rose to meet the first. “Then why did you request tutoring?”

“I just…” Kaitlyn’s head sank meekly. Even if she suspected the guy was actually kind, his look still felt incredibly judgemental in that moment. “I wanted to learn? I thought it sounded interesting, and well, you seem like a good tutor…”

The guy blinked a few times as she watched his face. To her shock, she caught a flash of something there. Confusion, definitely, but also… surprise? Maybe even respect?

“Truly?” Philip finally asked, breaking the silence. “Then are you intending to learn the class’s material simply through tutoring?”

“...Pretty much, yeah.” She blushed at being caught. “Sorry. Is that bad?”

“It’s not so much bad as incredibly inefficient.” He explained slowly, seeming to consider his words carefully. “Especially when you are already paying for college tuition. Why not simply wait until next semester and enroll then?”

Kaitlyn chuckled dryly. “I could, but let’s say I’m impatient. I want to learn now, if possible. And since the semester’s already started, I can’t change my classes around.”

She’d double checked that last point. Indeed, the lock on class selections still persisted even with her “Dean’s List” achievement. Though she hadn’t expected much, it was still a disappointment.

Philip looked at her consideringly for a long moment. It made her shift a little uncomfortably. This is new. Usually, he’s off and running with the lesson by this point. Did I really throw him off so much?

“... Have you considered going to the class anyway?”

“I told you, enrollment’s over. Besides, even if it wasn’t, I’m sure that general weeder classes like this are full anyway.”

He shook his head. “I don’t mean enrolling in it. I mean sitting in for the lecture despite being unenrolled.”

Now it was Kaitlyn’s turn to blink in surprise. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Can you even do that? That feels… wrong, somehow. Like it shouldn’t be allowed.

Philip just shrugged when she asked. “There are no rules against it. I suppose you can ask the professor to be sure that they don’t mind. But most classes are large enough that no one can keep track of who’s coming or going anyway - especially the less specialized classes. Think about it. How many of your classes take attendance regularly?”

Kaitlyn considered it. Only Genetics took attendance, and that was a “random” event that occurred 4 times over the whole semester. Still, that was to make sure that people who enrolled were attending, not to keep unenrolled people out. I suppose there’s no way to check if a person sitting there’s actually enrolled without getting their ID and everything… Huh.

“I… I suppose I could try that,” she admitted. “I’d never thought about it.”

“There’s always the chance of scheduling conflicts, of course. If one of the classes you’re taking overlaps with this one, then I can continue to tutor you instead.”

“Thank you. That’s… That’s actually really nice of you.” She furrowed her brow. “Actually, why would you tell me this? If I go and just sit in the lectures, then you get less money from tutoring, right?”

“I do,” he conceded, “but it wouldn’t be right for me to take your money when there is a better option available to you. Especially considering that your funds are already limited enough that you can’t afford a key piece of equipment. If after considering your options you do decide that my services are worth it, then I will accept your business.”

She blinked, trying to keep her mouth from falling open. That’s… Wow, he’s got some serious principles. What in the world?

For a moment, she felt the weight of guilt settle onto her shoulders. This was her first time meeting Philip in the loop. He didn’t know her at all. And yet he was still being this kind?

I really did misjudge him. Dangit.

“Thank you. Really. I appreciate it.” Glancing down at Philip’s open notebook, she continued. “... But I suppose we’re already here. Plus, I might have missed the first day or so of lectures, so I’ll need to catch up on that stuff. Do you mind teaching me the basics still?”

For what seemed like the first time, a slight smile softened the normally severe features of her tutor. He straightened his suit vest slightly. “Of course. Let’s begin.”