3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
I’m Not A Cynic by Alec Benjamin
I swing open the building doors and scan the quad for Ben. He’s sitting at our usual table in the courtyard near the fountain. It’s slightly secluded so we can talk, but public enough that it’s still great for people watching. It was his turn to grab our lunch today. I see him sitting and waiting with his usual, a Cobb salad and iced tea and my usual, a chicken bacon ranch wrap and lemonade.
He looks like he’s peacefully listening to music, his head calmly swaying back and forth, when I abruptly yank out his left AirPod.
“Ben, what the hell does your godfather want with us?” I say in a demanding tone.
He looks up at me, startled and confused. “What the hell are you talking about, Al?”
I attempt to discreetly slip him the note, but it ends up just looking awkward as I check over each shoulder behind me multiple times. Very smooth, Ali.
Ben reads the note and his brow immediately furrows.
“Wait, what?” He examines the note for authenticity, wondering if this is all an elaborate joke. “Ali, what is this? What does it mean?”
“I don’t know! Rebecca came to my office and said his secretary personally dropped it off. It’s his stationary and his handwriting though.” I stop myself when I realize I’m practically pacing in the quad.
“Well, I’m intrigued. But I’m also confused about why I didn’t get one.” Ben scoffs, as if offended he didn’t receive his own personalized secret note.
“Come on, Benj. You’d lose it. This says to destroy it. You’re too risky of a variable for whatever secrecy this demands.”
“Hey!” He motions as he laughs, feigning being offended. “That’s so not true!” He knows it’s for the best. He’s never been the most organized. Ben would lose himself if it was possible.
I settle into my seat further, holding onto the sides. I’m going to start overthinking this. Anchoring myself down, I lean in toward him and whisper. “Honestly, what do you think this is?”
“Is it a golden ticket? Did we win a tour of Wonka’s factory?” Ben is so casual about this. He’s easygoing and goes where the wind takes him, while I think of every possible outcome and prepare for the worst one. It drives me insane when he does this.
“Ben,” I sigh.
“Oh! Is he sending us to the moon?” He’s just toying with me now. He’s literally sitting there casually eating his salad. How can he eat at a time like this?
“Benjamin.” I tilt my head and break out his full name, so he knows I’m getting annoyed.
“I’ve got it! He wants to do lab experiments on us!” Ben has way too much fun getting me riled up.
“I hate you,” I say as I roll my eyes with a smile, trying to stifle a laugh. Ben knows I need him to be serious, but I also know he needs me to lighten up a bit.
“Wow, Al. You’re really stressed about this.”
“I am! Join me, won’t you?” Just once I wish he’d meet my level of anxiety, so I feel less unstable.
Ben finally relents on the playful antics. “Honestly, Al. I don’t know what he wants from us.” He shakes his head as he continues to stare at the note, probably trying to think of more outlandish theories to set me off with.
“Should I go home and change? Is this professional enough?” I’m suddenly self conscious that I’m dressed inappropriately for this secret meeting. I’m well aware that I’m grasping at any excuse to worry.
“Al, we got summoned to a secret rendezvous in the moonlight and you’re worried you’re not in the right outfit for it? What is the right outfit for this occasion?” He’s mocking my tendency to worry and over-analyze everything. I plan for everything, and this meeting is going against all that.
“I know… I just…” I stop myself before I get too worked up thinking about every situation and outcome awaiting us.
“I know. I’m confused too. But hey, mystery and the unknown can be fun. Loosen up, Al.”
Loosen up . A hysterical notion for me. And he knows that. He says it like it’s easy. Like I’ll just worry about this later when the time comes, and I won’t stew on the possibilities for the rest of the day.
I try to eat my chicken wrap and ask Ben questions about his date to distract him from the fact that I am deep in my head thinking about this mystery meeting.