Fourteen #2
“There he goes with that stupid smile again,” Alv says while slurping his liquid dirt.
Me:
Building? Classroom number? End time?
And I go to class.
I don’t text girls. I don’t DM them. They show interest, they approach me, and if I’m down, I let them know they can follow me if they want. We, meaning me and two of them, fuck or do whatever, and then I leave.
At this point, the girls at HU know what to expect from me. They’ll get shake and scream sex, and a great fucking story to tell. It’s their choice and an unsolicited decision to meet up.
Just like it’s my decision not to get into situationships, catch feelings, have conversations, kiss, or cuddle. I don’t want any of that with those girls, and I especially don’t want any fucking problems that go along with them.
Edison:
Are you in class now?
Me:
No, I’m still at the shop.
Edison:
You've proven my point, now go away.
Me:
And you’re avoiding my question, Ed.
Where are you, smartypants?
Edison:
It’s questions, because you asked me not one, but fifteen. And say please.
Me:
Fine, you, menace.
Can you please answer my questions?
Edison:
I’m in Medieval Warfare.
Today’s all about knives. My favorite.
Now fuck off.
Me:
You’re lying.
No way that’s a real class.
Is she for real? She’s such a sassy little shit, there’s no fucking way that’s a class.
And that’s exactly why she’s different from all those other girls. All I want to do is get under her skin. I want to be a thorn in her side. I want to be a problem for her. I want to hook her like she’s fucking hooked me.
Edison:
Yup, and it’s girls only.
??????
Me :
Too bad, make room for me. I’m coming to find you.
Edison:
Sorry, no pendejos allowed.
Me:
What’s that mean anyway?
Edison:
…
Those three dots are so fucking annoying and have me clutching my phone. They appear and disappear ten fucking times and then nothing. I fucking hate them.
Edison:
That you’re a fucking idiot.
Disrespectfully speaking.
Me:
I am.
When are you done playing with sharp objects?
Edison:
Probably never.
Me:
You gonna go to the cafeteria after class?
Well, those are words I’ve never said to anyone else. Besides my sister and Red, I never eat with any of the women here on campus. I don’t need any of them thinking shit because I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with them.
Edison:
Prolly yes, you fucking stalker.
That’s what people do at lunchtime.
Thanks for mentioning it and making me think about food. Pinche cabrón.
I can’t help but fucking grin. This crazy girl texts like she talks, and I’m getting to hear all her big, brainy thoughts.
Edison:
Now people are looking at me cuz they hear my stomach eating itself!
Actually, Ed, I wouldn’t mind watching you every day; you’re pretty to look at. Speaking of, let’s see if I can find you. Let’s play hide-and-seek, little demon.
“Yo, Alv, I’ll be back later, man,” I yell out and grab all my shit. I need to get to campus. “I’m headed back,” I tell my brother and Max, just as she texts. Twice.
“I’m going to the caf. You walking back?” I shout to my brother and Max while pushing the door open. I need to get to the dining hall before she does, and wake up my phone to see how much more time I have. I figure thirty minutes until most classes finish up. I’ll place that bet.
I look around the street to track anyone who might be watching the shop after last night, but don’t see anything. I start walking down the sidewalk to get back to school. Max falls in line beside me and texts away on his phone, probably to Evie.
“I’m meeting Eves before we get lunch. What’s up with you? Where are you going?” He asks. “She says you look rough, by the way, which you do,” he says while punching my arm. “Why’d you camp out on the floor, man?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“I like stories.”
“This isn’t one of you and my sister's audiobooks, man.”
“I’m telling you, don’t knock it until you try it. It makes the time on the bus go by faster. Plus, Eves listens to it at the same time, so when I get home,—“
“Shut the fuck up, man. I don’t want to know.”
“No, you definitely don’t,” he fucking smiles, and I’m gonna fucking kill him.
“At least tell me why you blew off practice. That’s not like you.”
“Edison showed up at the shop last night. She got caught up in something, and it was late, so we all just stayed there.”
“Yeah, I got that part, but if she was at the shop and safe, why didn’t you come, and don’t fucking tell me it’s because you were tired. I’ve seen you walk up the driveway and get right in Jake’s car to go without any fucking sleep.”
I don’t say anything because he’s not wrong. And when we look at each other, he knows that what he’s thinking is right.
“You like her, Holy shit, you really like her,” he says while smiling and hustling me around just as we hit one of the school's entrances.
“You just figured that out?” My brother says all matter-of-fact like. How’d he figure it out before I did?
“Fine, you’re right, I fucking like her. Now stop with that shit, my back hurts.”
“Of course it does, bro, you literally slept on the floor outside her door. I’d expect that shit from Chase, not you.” Max punches me in the arm, and I glare at him.
“I’d honestly expect it from you out of everyone,” I tell him because it’s fucking true. He fell fast and hard for my sister. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
“Not me, man, I actually sleep in a comfy bed with my girl.” I know what he’s thinking about, and I fully intend to skate over his fucking throat the next time we’re on the ice.
“It’s like you have a fucking death wish or something. I gotta go this way, I’ll see ya later,” I tell them before I need to split off to go down a different path through campus.
“Yo Hunt, don’t be late tonight, Jake’s been in a mood and he won’t hesitate to leave your ass to walk.”
“What’s this meeting about anyway? We just had one two days ago.”
“No fucking idea, I don’t think it’s just us though, I think it’s everyone,” he says while holding up his fist for me to bump while texting with the other. “I’m gonna go get Eves, see ya, man.”
He takes off in the other direction before I can kick him in the ass, and hustles down the path to get my sister from class.
This dude will wait outside the door for an hour just to walk somewhere with her for ten minutes.
I’ve never seen one of my teammates love their girl like he loves my sister.
It’s also all I fucking hear him say. He ends every conversation that he has with her with those three words.
And I’ve never said them once to anyone other than my parents and siblings.
I’ve never given out flowers or bought a birthday gift for a girl. And I’ve never done anything like what I’m about to do when I open the door to the cafeteria and take the stairs two at a time.
I feel nervous walking into the dining services office. I have no idea how this works or if it’ll even work, but it’s worth a shot. I don’t want her walking around here hungry with no way to eat for one more fucking second.
I’ve got money saved up and an emergency fund for this exact reason. I’m such a dick for not thinking of this earlier. This is the fucking bare minimum of what I owe her.
“Can I help you?”
“I’d like to add funds to an account.”
“Name?”
“Edison Santos.”
“Birthday?”
“Shit… I have no idea. Is there any way around that?”
“What are you trying to do?”
“I want to add a meal plan to her account. She’s my math tutor.”
“That’s a sweet way to say thank you,” she comments while looking at my hat. “You play hockey here?” I nod my head yes while we wait. I don’t feel like talking to anyone today. Or ever. “There,” she states while staring at her computer, clicking through screens. “Which meal plan do you want?”
“How much is it for an unlimited plan?”
“That one’s $5k per semester.” Fucking hell, the only place I’ll actually be able to take her to eat really will be the cafeteria.
“It's fine, I'll pay it as long as it kicks in right away,” I tell her, and she smiles, nods, and takes my debit card. And in one swipe, my bank account’s on fucking life support. I don’t give a shit, though, I'll work triple this summer if it means she gets to eat.
I sign my name on the receipt, walk out of the office, and scan my card into the dining hall.
The large room is filling up. I grab a tray and a to-go bag before walking to the deli station.
I have no fucking idea what she likes. I’ll just grab a few of the sandwich specials with some chips and shit.
I stand in line and fucking laugh when I see the menu board. New York Specials: Pastrami on Rye or the Bronx Bomber. Well, that’s fucking fitting.
I grab two of everything, walk outta the food court, and scan the dining room. Fuck, I hope I didn’t miss her walk-in. I wanna see her smile because of me. It’ll be the first time and I don’t wanna miss it. Even if she never knows what I did, I always will.
I take a seat at the usual team table in the back. I can see the whole room from here. I’m fucking starving and unwrap the Bronx Bomber and take a massive bite. Damn, this shit is good. I devour the rest of my food, and just as I finish, the real Bronx Bomber walks in.