Page 9 of Phantom Faceoff
“I didn’t want to worry anyone.” Which is partially true. ‘Anyone’ was just mostly myself. Thinking about losing my spot is a real bummer. I don’t like being bummed if I can help it.
“Unfortunately for you, Hale, that’s exactly what a team does. I’ll be grabbing bi-weekly progress reports. If you don’t have passing marks, you don’t play the next game.”
My groan is mostly internal, but the piercing stare tells me it was at least a little bit external, too. Not that he isn’t being totally reasonable, butc’mon. Just let me flunk and flail in peace.
I end up spending most of my dead time in the quad. There’s a big ole willow tree between two of the buildings—and I mean big like a D&D monster in disguise—that calls to me. Lying beneath it and listening to the every day chatter, the rustle of leaves and scuff of shoes, feeling the wind roll across my face, it’s all the perfect recipe for a much needed nap.
Only I’m halfway to dreamland when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Julian
Save me from the boredom that is English Composition.
Me
Sadly. Can’t. Music Theory is about to kick my ass for a second time. Music is supposed to be fun.
When my phone lights up a minute later, the smile that sprouts wilts in an instant.
Buzzkill
Why am I not surprised you’d fuck up something as simple as enjoying music??
First of all, rude. I can enjoy music. I just don’t enjoyanalyzingit.
Second, double rude because I sent that text to Julian. Not his nosy, bossy roommate/boyfriend-lite.
Me
What are you? His shadow?
Buzzkill
I’m the friend keeping him from losing marks over texting in class.
Me
Oh, but if you get marks, it’s fine?
Buzzkill
I can ace this class with my eyes closed. Trouble or not. Now fuck off. I’ve confiscated his phone.
Me
Wow. That is some unhealthy lack of boundaries you’ve got there. Gonna keep him by the balls while you’re busy riding his ass?
Several minutes pass with no response.
Okay, Hale. Too far.
Or he just really has no interest in talking to me.
Not that it should matter, because he wasn’t who I set out to talk to in the first place.
I tip my head back and close my eyes, letting the breeze roll over me and wipe the day’s frustration away with it.
There’s nothing I can do about any of it now except do better going forward. Ace my class—err, well, pass it at least. Don’t engage in idle banter with someone who surely wants me to conspicuously fall off the edge of a cliff.
