St. Martin's Day (Second Draft)

PART 2 - JACKIE AND THE STADIUM

I work at a place making and repairing guitar stuff - repairing is my addiction. It's a pretty nice job and pays well. The people I'm stuck with and their own music tastes are just okay, though. What matters is the check; no, they don't like me. But they are desperate for the savant side of me that crafts their product. Or they just want me around so they can check out my motorcycle in hopes I'll sell it to the highest bidder.

Yep, I drive a motorcycle. I've had her since I moved out into my own place. It became a little passion project when I realized this was the way I could be on my own, free of public transportation. Built by my own hands, and painted by them, too. Her name is Jackie, so shut up about it.

Today at work, I was finally convinced to go out for an evening by a guy named Robin to a football game at a nearby college campus. He actually knocked on my apartment door and invited me with him and his girlfriend and a couple of other friends, one of whom works with me at the guitar store. I don't know why I said yes. Maybe an excuse to go outside and get some stadium food. What else is there to do on my schedule? Being alone all the time sucks after a while.

Of course, his friends thought I was joking when I declined their offer for a ride, and proceeded to show them the motorcycle sitting in the apartment garage was mine. Laughed their asses off, but I get that all the time. I look pretty stupid when I call her by her name. Or more stupid than I usually do, because no one can ever know this piece of scrap metal is my only source of pride.

-----

Currently, I'm waiting to meet them in my, uh... "biker" attire - brown leather jacket with faux fur with a white tank underneath with some dark blue jeans with a black belt, silver buckle, and black boots. At least, I think it suits me. It's cloudless this dusky evening, and it'd had helped to bring some shades.

I didn't meet Robin's girlfriend - or new girlfriend, I should say - until I got there and met up with him. Gorgeous little lady. Her name is Marie. She looks like your average blonde sorority girl, dressed in a pink tank top, decorated with some sorority Greek crap, and grey tie-dye spandex. She seems like the type of girl where she feels she needs to be "protected" by a dude. They look like a good pair, but I can't help but feel I need to start looking out for her.

When Robin's gang all meets up with us, I find it very interesting that I'm being ignored. I am not introduced. The introductions to me are all mutual eye contact exchanges. I'm used to it, but I'm wondering now why I came in the first place. Some of Robin's friends look at me funny, but he sort of guides me as we make our way to the stadium. I actually never went into it when I went to school here - I never had a reason to.

Robin's friends don't talk to me. I don't blame them. They do inquire about my hump and bike, though, so I interrupt them.

"You know, I actually built my bike on my own," I turn and say to them. "Do you guys ride?"

"Nah," one blonde guy says, "but it's pretty cool you're able to have done that by yourself."

Robin turns to Blondie and says to him, "He named it 'Jackie'. Don't forget it, either, since they're Mr. and Mrs. Scarborough."

Blondie and one other guy laugh. Marie turns to me and sorta smiles at the remark. My face burns in shame.

Then, she turns to me discreetly while walking with Robin. "It's pretty cool you made it by yourself," she compliments me. "Robin sometimes rides, too. Maybe we can all do something sometime. That would be kind of fun."

"You can't borrow her." I turn my face away from her and run my fingers through my hair. That was embarrassing.

But... she smiles and nods at me. Before she could say anything back, Robin reached for her hand and the two walked up to the ticket stand together, but not before catching me at a glance.

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The stadium is way bigger than I anticipated. Lots of entries. We get to our seats easily, and I'm mistaken for being 40. I've gotten that a couple times. People also assume I'm an alcoholic, but I'm not. Don't need the extra problems and brokage.

I end up sitting on an edge seat next to Marie. I try and talk to her again, but she is purposely more occupied with Robin than with me. She has her arm hooked around his and is focusing on the game so she doesn't have to entertain me. So, I'm alone, and they failed in taking advantage of me for free access to Jackie. Fine by me, really. I am free to get up, get a cheesesteak, and get back to my seat without interruption. I try to eat in peace and peruse my phone whilst hiding in my jacket. Football's pretty boring without friends or knowing anyone on either team.

It gets pretty late. Robin's friends get up before I do, but I'm not totally deserted - I see Marie is getting Robin to wait for me at the bottom aisle of the balcony. I see her motioning for me and begin to get up and down the stairs.

However, as I walk down the first step, I miss one and nearly stumble down to the ground. As I regain my balance, I feel a gripping pain in my lungs. As I try to breathe in, I suddenly become aware of what's happening.

My breath is escaping my body, and I've forgotten my inhaler at home.