Page 10 of Convergence

“I cycled through too many fandoms to name any,” I said and finished my drink.

Nate opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes shot up to the sliding door behind me. He tensed, then jumped out of his seat and pulled me up from mine as the sliding door flew open and yelling voices boomed out. It was a fight and one guy in basketball shorts and a tank top, holding a t-shirt and his shoes, was thrown out of the door and smashed into the table and the chair I had been in. Nate stepped us off of the cement patio as a guy screaming obscenities came barreling out towards the guy on the ground. More people poured out after them, shouting and watching the fight.

Nate put me down gently but pushed me mostly behind him as we edged around the fight to get back inside. We went to the kitchen sink and checked the time. It was eleven thirty- thirty minutes before Ev and Daisy would meet us here.

“What do you think? Do you want to call it?” Nate asked and pulled me against his side as a group of people pushed through the kitchen to find the fight.

“Yes, please,” I said and pulled out my phone.

Me: Me and Nate are ready to go, are you two ready? There’s a big fight in the back yard and I think the cops are probably going to come.

Daisy: The cops are definitely not coming for a little frat fight. Me and Ev are staying. You two can go ahead and take MC, we’ll Uber home. Don’t wait upkiss emoji

Nate:eggplant emoji

Ev: Nathaniel.Rolling eyes emoji

“Well, that answers that,” Nate said with an exhale. “Good thing I have the key, I guess.”

The way to the front door was mostly clear, since most people were outside to watch the fight. I wondered where Ev and Daisy were since I didn’t see them outside.

“I feel kind of weird about Ev and Daisy,” Nate said, reading my mind as we drove home.

“Same. I think I was really looking to hang out with Daisy and have a friend to talk to tonight,” I said, watching the houses we passed.

“Well, you have me,” Nate said cheerfully and clapped a hand on my knee.

“That, I do,” I said and relaxed into my seat.

4

Iwoke up early the next morning to go for a run and I tiptoed down in my pink running shorts and matching sports bra, holding my shoes. The kitchen light was on, and Ev was leaning against the island in a pair of black basketball shorts and a red fitted t-shirt. He had running shoes on his feet and was clearly waiting for me. He smiled at my shocked face as I came around the corner.

“You’re home. I figured you’d be in Daisy’s dorm,” I said with not a single drop of distaste.

“She’s asleep in my room,” he said casually and pushed away from the island. “Do you mind if I join you on your run?”

“No, I don’t mind. I was going to check out a park I saw on google nearby. We could take Marie Curie there,” I said and stooped to put on my shoes. I had planned on walking there since I didn’t drive, but if Ev was going, he could drive us.

Stumbling footsteps on the stairs sounded behind me and I turned around to see a sleepy Nate in blue basketball shorts and a black t-shirt. He was wearing what looked like Vans instead of running shoes, but they were tied tight like he had intentionally put them in sport mode. A baseball hat, different from the one he wore to the party, was in his hand.

“I’m coming,” he mumbled and glared at us with half-closed eyes, his glasses over his hair and around his ears, askew on his nose.

I grabbed three bottles of water and three bananas from the kitchen and Ev grabbed the key to MC. He shot a quick text and I heard Daisy’s phone chime in his room. I shoved down the strange feeling rising in my stomach.

We quietly headed out to Marie Curie, and I navigated Ev to the park while making sure Nate didn’t fall back asleep and consequently off of MC’s bench. The park had a little parking lot at the entrance and we got out to do our stretches. Nate pushed his wild hair into his hat and fixed his glasses before stretching.

“Do we get breakfast when we’re done?” Nate asked as he yawned through a calf stretch.

“Yes, and lots of coffee,” I smiled and bent to touch my toes, and then hugged my arms around my knees. I heard crunching gravel as Nate struggled to keep his footing during his stretching behind me. It sounded like Ev had caught him.

“Get ahold of yourself,” Ev said to Nate, his voice deep and raspy.

I stood and turned to them. “Are you guys good?”

“Yup,” Nate said, looking more awake after his stretching. Pink stained his cheeks, and he turned away from me and looked around the parking lot.

We looked at the trail map near the start of the gravel path. It was about three miles and boasted some wonderful scenery. It surprised me this much green space existed so close to the city, and I appreciated the work that went into keeping it.

---