Page 49 of Brick Wall
I might only be a sophomore, but I see that statement for the lie it is.
Theo’s got the same idea because he grabs his books and shakes his head. “Nah, I need to finish this, and?—”
“No, you don’t,” Randall says, taking the stack off Theo’s hands and strolling into the kitchen. He opens a cupboard above the fridge and stores Theo’s textbook, notepad, and laptop inside like they’re cereal boxes.
“The fuck?” Theo complains, rolling his eyes and following his roommate into the kitchen.
Randall—I’m not sure if that’s his first name or his last name— stands guard in front of the cabinets, and though the guys are equally matched in height, Theo’s outweighed by at least fifty pounds. Making lattes does not make muscles, apparently.
“Trust me, dude. You will thank me if you stick around. I got the beer and I’ll cover the pizza that’ll be here in twenty. Just trust me.”
Theo sighs, relenting, and it’s clear I’m not the only one whose friends force me to socialize.
“Fine,” he agrees. “You want to stay, Norris? Free beer and food…”
I’m hungry, but I’m not in the mood for a party, no matter how “low-key” Randall claims it’ll be. I’m about to beg off and head out when there’s a knock at the door. Randall shoves Theo toward it and when he opens it, a tiny brunette damn near vaults through it. She practically knocks him over, but Theo is unfazed.
And it’s all thanks to bundle of energy who’s pounding onhis chest. “Theo! Randall texted and said you’re having a party! Can you make espresso martinis? Or Irish car bombs? What do they teach you in barista training?”
Jesus. This girl’s got as much energy as Mickey.
“I’m a coffee clerk, Viv. Not a bartender” Theo says, laughing with a shake of his head.
Viv…something about this girl’s name is familiar, but I’m probably overthinking it. I must’ve seen her or heard about her at the coffee shop. Randall claps me on the back and offers me a beer. I shake my head. “Thanks, man, but I should get going.”
“Dude. It’s ten o’clock,” he says, shaking his head right back at me, and placing the cold beer in my open palm.
“Yeah, but it’s also Wednesday night,” I answer.
Before he can call me Grandpa or roll his eyes at me, there’s a knock at the door. Randall goes to answer it, but there’s no pizza delivery on the other side. Instead, there are half a dozen girls or so, most of them slightly taller versions of the pint-sized woman occupying Theo’s attention, but I don’t pay any attention to them. I can’t take my eyes off the last girl in the group.
I have no clue what the hell Maggie’s doing here, but I do know one thing: suddenly, I’m no longer in a hurry to get home.
It’s been a solid half hour since Maggie walked in. And almost that long since she noticed my presence.
As for me, I’m back on Theo’s lumpy couch, still holding an unopened beer, and conducting my own social experiment.
This one isn’t going to make it into the slideshow, though.
Maggie hasn’t acknowledged me. She hasn’t said hi, or even waved in my direction.
She also hasn’t taken her eyes off me for more than five seconds.
I’m waiting for her to crack, to give in to her attraction or at least say hello.
I have a feeling I’ll be waiting a long damn time. But then, in a move I wouldn’t have anticipated, Randall comes in clutch. He doesn’t mean to, of course. He’s just making conversation with a beautiful woman at his “low-key” party. But after two minutes of listening to Randall yap about Christ knows what, Maggie looks like she’s about to fall asleep. She fakes a yawn and checks her watch before hooking her thumb over her shoulder and pointing at the door. Randall doesn’t get the hint. Instead, he reaches for his keys and practically pants like he’s a dog whose owner just said the work w-a-l-k.
I watch Maggie shake her head and wave him off before turning her eyes on me. She blinks rapidly, and I can tell it makes her crazy that she got caught looking.
Randall dangles his keys and I set my untouched beer can on the coffee table.
My social experiment is officially over.
“Thanks, man,” I say, walking up behind him and clapping him on the back just like he did to me earlier. “I’m gonna head back to campus. Have a good one.” I start to walk away and when I look back to see if Maggie’s pretty blue eyes are trailing me, she almost slams into me.
“Hey, hi. You’re walking back to campus? Great. Want some company?” Her words come out in a rush, and she beats me to the door. As we step into the hallway, she starts texting furiously on her phone and I still her wrist to stop her.
“Hold up. Was Randall being a dick or something? Because you’re in a hell of a hurry to leave.”
