Page 52 of Late Fees

He wanted to save our souls by telling us how wicked we all were.

“You know it. I never miss Brother Jack. It’s my new Sunday ritual.”

I laughed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

He winked. “Wanna come? We’re getting boxed lunches, and then we’ll watch the show.”

I shook my head. “I’m actually heading to the video store.”

“Really?” He tilted his head to the side. “Why?”

“I saw my old high school girlfriend there last night.”

“No shit?” Ruben said, looking surprised but not totally shocked. “The redhead?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s cute, man.”

“I know.”

“Are you guys still friends?”

“Not really.”

“Ah, so you have unfinished business?” Ruben asked, raising one eyebrow.

“Something like that.”

His dark eyes widened as if a lightbulb was glowing above his head. “Hold on a sec.”

In a haste, Ruben left the room and returned just a few seconds later with the tapes we’d watched the night before. “Here. Now you have a reason to go back. You’re legit.”

I nodded. “Thanks. I really should’ve thought of that, huh?”

“I got you, man,” he said, walking to the door and placing his hands on the wood. “Look for us on the quad on the way back. We’ll probably be there all day.”

“Just like last week,” I said with a nod. “I will, man.”

Ruben pointed to the VHS tapes in my hands. “Good luck.”

Somehow, I knew I was going to need it.

The wind was whipping against my face as I reached the door to Spotlight Video. Sweat was building on the back of my neck, so remembering Jeremy’s suggestion, I reached for a tissue from my pocket and carefully wiped the sweat that had built on my skin during the walk from my dorm.

Taking one last deep breath, I opened the door to the store. My heart hammered inside my chest as I heard the bell ring above me, and I scanned the front desk. A strikingly beautiful blonde gave me a polite smile. “Hey, welcome to Spotlight.”

“Thanks.” I scanned the store, looking for any sign of Tilly. The blonde left the counter and approached me. The nametag hanging from the lanyard around her neck read Naomi.

“Something I can help you find?” she asked.

“Um, yeah. I, uh, was hoping to see Tilly.”

“Tilly who works here?”

“Yeah.” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded, urging myself to stop sweating.

Keep it together, dude.

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