Page 71 of Hits Different

“That’s a shame!” Donnie says, “But of course, this is quite last minute. And you have school to get back to. That reminds me”, he coughs slightly, “Parker, I received a letter this morning that we could do with a quick chat about”.

Parker slides off his stool. “Hold on two secs, okay?”

He disappears to the other end of the café, head down, talking intently. I decide not to wait for his return.

My inner monologue counts it off one by one.He freaks out when he touches you in public. He lies when his parents suggest that you spend time together. And sooner or later, he’ll go back to his real life, and you’ll be left with nothing but a broken heart.

Chapter 28

Revelations

Parker

“It’s official? I’ve been expelled”.

“The letter arrived this morning. No criminal charges. That’s the main thing”. Donnie pauses. “Your mom knows that too. She just needs some time to come to terms with it. You know how important she thinks a degree is for your future”.

“Yeah. She’s mentioned it once or twice”. I feel worse when people are kind, rather than just mad. “But things are going well here. It’s been better than I thought it would”.

“So Simon says”. Donnie smiles. “An annoying phrase I swore I’d never use. But he says you’re doing a great job. That you’re developing a real interest in it all?”

He sounds a bit doubtful, and I guess I can’t really blame him. It’d be quite a jump to go from expelled from college to executive at a training facility in a couple of weeks. “Does Mom know that?”

“She does. Parker, listen. College didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean you have to jump into the first thing that comes along. Take your time, okay?”

That’s easy for him to say. His face isn’t carved into the Mount Rushmore of public screwups.

“So, you and Brandon Carter are reunited and causing chaos up at Summit. Who’d have thought it? I never did understand why you two lost touch. It must feel good to be back in touch with him”.

“It really does”. I’m surprised by how much I mean it. I’d never really thought about how good it felt to have Brandon back in my life. I shoot a fond look over to our table.

But it’s empty, and Brandon’s gone.

* * * *

I duck out of the café and onto the street, weaving in and out of pedestrians. I think I spot him, but when I race over, it’s just some guy in the same sweater. Damn it. I scan the square, until I see him disappearing into an alley leading to the car park.

“What the fuck?” he splutters in surprise as I race over. He looks behind me. “Do you have a freaking jetpack? How did you catch up with me so fast?”

“All dine and dashers use alleyways to make their escape. It’s a well-known fact”.

“I paid for my sandwich. And yours. I’d hate for you to have to owe me one”.

“You can’t possibly be pissed that I wanted to split the cheque”.

“I’m not pissed at you at all”.

“You’re doing a great impression of someone who is”. I grab his elbow, pushing him gently against the wall. “Will you just stop for a second?” He glares at me but doesn’t try to escape. “Look, I touched your fucking hand, okay?”

“I’m aware”.

“And I overreacted”.

“Is that all it was? An overreaction?” Brandon scans my face. “Or something else?”

“Don’t be crazy. Come on. This is newer for me than it is for you”.

“That’s the thing. It’s not. I’ve never dated a guy before. Hook ups? Sure. Anonymous one-night stands with people I don’t care about? Fine. But dating someone I actually like? That’s new for me too”.

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