Page 15 of Choosing You

“I don’t have a fridge.” I take a sip of my soda.

“You don’t? Are you sure?”

“It’s not that big of a room. I think I would know.”

“You need a fridge. I’ll get you one.”

“No, don’t do that. Lunch is enough. I told you I don’t like owing people.”

“You’re on scholarship, right? Room and board is paid for? The people who are paying for that can pay for your fridge. It’s like $80. That’s nothing. I’m sure they’d pay for it.”

“How do you know? Do you know the people who gave me the scholarship?”

“Sort of. I know who they are. Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”

“I really don’t need one. I just need some bags of chips and a two liter of soda. That’ll last me until Tuesday.”

“You can’t live off that for two and a half days. We’ll get you some snack stuff for your room, but you’re coming out with me for meals. Do you like Thai food? Because I know this great place we could go for dinner.”

“No, really, Garret. I don’t eat that much. In fact this lunch will last me until tomorrow.”

It’s not true at all but the $100 Ryan gave me will be almost gone if I eat out every meal from now until Tuesday. And I refuse to ask Ryan for more money.

A frisbee lands on our table knocking over my soda. Garret goes to grab it but it rolls off the table to the ground. He picks it up, then tosses the frisbee back to the kids who threw it.

“Here. You can have mine.” He hands me his soda.

I don’t understand why this guy’s being so nice to me. And I can’t figure out why he wants to waste his Saturday hanging out with someone he just met. If he’s from this area, he must have a ton of friends to do stuff with.

We sit there for the next hour, gazing out at the lake and enjoying the weather. He asks me what classes I’m taking, but other than that we don’t talk much. That would normally be uncomfortable but for whatever reason, it’s not.

“We should go,” I say, getting up. “I need to unpack and put stuff away. My room’s a total mess.”

He tosses our trash and we go back to the car. Instead of driving to campus, he takes us to a grocery store.

“What are you doing?” I ask him. “I told you I didn’t bring any money.”

“That’s okay. I’ll pay for it.” He turns the car off and releases his seat belt. “Go ahead and load up on chips or soda or whatever you said you wanted. It’s on me.”

“What the hell? I’m not your charity case! I don’t need you to buy me stuff. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Calm down. I wasn’t trying to piss you off. I’m just trying to be a friend.”

“You’re trying tobuymy friendship.”

Nowhe’sgetting angry. “Yeah, like I’m really going to buy your friendship by spending a few dollars at the grocery store. Why are you getting so mad about this? It’s just money. I don’t even care. And I promise you, I’m not expecting anything in return.”

He waits for me to make a decision. I really do want to get some food for my room and I don’t want to pay for a cab to take me there later. “Okay, fine. You can pay, but I’m paying you back as soon as we get to campus. This is just a loan.”

He agrees and we go inside. I buy the store brand potato chips and soda and they’re still more than the name brand versions back home. I grab a bag of oranges that’s on sale in an attempt to be somewhat healthy.

We don’t talk on the way back to campus. I think he’s still mad at me for accusing him of trying to buy my friendship. But I don’t care. He shouldn’t be paying for my stuff. It’s not right. And he’s lying when he says I wouldn’t owe him. People don’t give stuff away for free. They always want something in return.

As we’re driving back, I check out Garret’s expensive car. It still has the new car smell. The beige leather seats are buttery soft and the air conditioning is icy cold. I’ve never been in a car this nice.

Back at the residence hall, Garret stands outside the door to my room. “Are you going to dinner with me or not?” He really does sound mad. I thought he’d be over it by now.

“Let me get your money. Wait here.” I go in my room and grab a twenty from the desk. I meet him back at the door and hand him the bill. I need the change back, but I’m too embarrassed to ask.

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