...she shouldn't ruin her life.

"Look, I get it," you say. "Being 'smart' is hard. The world is stressful, especially when you're aware of modern social problems, and expectations can be difficult. I think there are a lot of other women who do things like this. But I think it's like...a kinky sex thing? I don't think it's how they conduct their entire lives."

She frowns, hard. You're worried you might have fucked this up by being too harsh. "Well what if I want to?" she says.

"Okay," you say. "But that means you want to fail college, never make any money, and be totally dependent on, I don't know, the possibility of marrying a rich guy to support you. It also means that you'll never have an equal partnership with him. You'll just be his sex object."

Her legs grind against each other very slightly. "I'm okay with that last part."

Oh. Wrong tact. "Okay, so fine, it is a sex thing for you. But think of it this way: what if that can be who you are in the bedroom, but then you can go about your life being totally smart and capable and successful outside of that. No one needs to know that you like being this..." you gesture at her. "...Outside of your partner."

"But what if it isn't just...that," she says, slipping back into valley-girl. "Like, what if I don't like being smarter than other people. Or like, the way it makes me feel when I'm the nerdy girl."

"You don't have to be the nerdy girl, even," you say. "You can act however you want, as long as you succeed."

She's biting her lip. Now she starts shaking her head. Shit. You went too hard. "You don't understand, then, what it's actually like to be a nerd. Like, look at you Ryan. I can tell you were always hot. You were hot in High School and no matter how smart you were no one ever doubted it."

There's a perfect response here, probably. But you can't even think of it. You were not ready for this entire situation. You're trying to wrap your mind around it. How smart is she, actually? Right now it's impossible to know. As a tutor, what are you even doing here?

"Madison," you say, finally. Your voice takes on a surprisingly adult tone. "I am coming back next week. I'm going to think about this, and I hope that you do, too. If we're going to be successful with your tutoring sessions, this is the first thing we need to address."

Hey eyes glance up at you, and you see something new in them. There's a look of slight shame...but with it, her mouth opens, her chest heaves just a little. When you used that authoritative tone, did it...

...is she turned on?

"I'll see you next week, alright?" you say, to cut off any further conversation.

"Yes," she says, between her heavy breaths. "Next week."

You get up and, trying not to be awkward, head out toward the door of her dorm room. As soon as you escape, you let loose a heavy breath. You're still somewhat shocked that this girl is real, but at least there's an explanation.

But how are you supposed to respond to this?