Page 20 of Collision
“But it’s too much! I mean, look, it’s an actual first edition! I would have been happy with a little David magnet too.” I continue to gaze in wonder at the novel, turning it over in my hands. “I just don’t know what to say!”
“A ‘thank you’ will be more than enough,” he replies, amused.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” I hug him very tightly.
“Let’s get coffee before class, shall we?”
I nod, contemplating the novel. It really is beautiful.
We sit across from each other at a vacant table and sip our drinks while chatting about nothing in particular. I tell him about the warm welcome I received from my mother this morning after days of absence and her conversation with Travis.
“So,” he goes on, wiping away some grains of sugar that fell from his doughnut, “how are things with you and Travis?”
I put the coffee cup down and look at him. “Oh, let’s call it…good.”
“Let’s call it?”
I stretch my legs under the table and sigh. “It’s been a weird time, this summer. Travis has been gone a lot, and now we are trying to get back into the swing of things.”
Alex nods, but he doesn’t seem entirely convinced. “I don’t know, Nessy. In these two years, I’ve never seen you as distant from him as you are now.”
I shrug my shoulders, caught out. I don’t have a chance to argue because I’m distracted by a group of boys. Among them is Thomas, with his phone in hand and Shana in tow. They sit on the high stools in front of the counter, and I notice that Thomas has his head bowed, peering at something on his phone. Shana reaches over him and flirtatiously whispers something in his ear, but he pays her no mind. Then she starts stroking the back of his head, but that’s a bust too. Thomas just continues to look at the phone, dead to the outside world. Finally,the redhead is annoyed enough to turn away and talk to a blond-haired boy I don’t think I’ve seen before.
“Who are you looking at?” asks Alex, bringing me to my senses.
“Um, nothing, I’ve just never seen that blond-haired guy there at the counter. Do you know him?” Yet another lie. What is happening to me? Alex turns and stretches his neck to look at the group of boys.
“I think he’s an engineering major. Why?” he asks suspiciously.
“Curiosity.” I redirect the conversation quickly to something that will distract Alex—my relationship with Travis. About ten minutes later, I see the guys walk toward the exit. I follow them with my eyes but I notice that one of them is missing. As they reach the threshold, I see Shana turn in my direction. The nasty look she gives me makes my skin crawl, even from a distance. I straighten up in my chair, confused and flustered. Since when does Shana know I exist?
“Hello, stranger.” Thomas’s deep voice is right next to me, and I can feel his warm breath on my ear, which causes a strange flickering sensation in my belly. I gasp as he slides into the chair beside me, with his legs splayed and one arm stretched across the back of my chair. Alex looks at us with wide eyes.
“Stop calling me that,” I hiss, regaining lucidity.
“Calling you what?” he retorts, pretending not to understand.
I glare at him. “You know what. What the hell are you doing here anyway? You’re not welcome.”
“I’m greeting a friend. Isn’t that what ‘friends’ do?”
“You and I are not friends. I already told you that.”
Thomas chuckles, takes my hands, and crushes them against his chest, right where his heart would be.
“Are you telling me that last night was just a game to you?” he asks, seemingly hurt.
I look into his eyes, stunned, not daring to look at Alex and see his reaction. Then, Thomas bursts out laughing, and I realize that he is only mocking me. Again.
“I wanted to experience the thrill of saying that for once, rather than just hearing it yelled at me.” He smiles at me with satisfaction.
“You’re such an idiot.” I lower my eyes to my coffee, uncomfortable. I hear Alex clear his throat. My God, what a mess.
“Am I gonna see you in any of my classes today?” Thomas needles.
“No, fortunately.”
“Too bad, I’ll miss seeing your pouty little face every time I turn around,” he teases me.
