Not Quite Like the Movies (Otis Milburn x OC)

Are You In? Revisited

Chapter XXXII

"Well, all I can say is that I commiserate, my friend," Kyle says, plopping down next to Otis at the morning assembly.

"...About what?"

"Everyone knows," Kyle says. "Jackson's bagged Abby. And he's still got Maeve Wiley, too."

He nods over to where Maeve sits, with Abby on her left and Jackson on her right.

With that, Eric whips his head around. "I'm sorry, what are you on about," he asks.

"Tom Baker saw her carrying Jackson's books to assembly," Kyle says. "Well, half of his books. Maeve had the other half. Man, is he a lucky bastard."

Otis narrows his eyes. "You know his hand is broken, right," he asks.

Kyle stands up and looks across the auditorium. "I thought that was a glove," he says. "Like, you know, a tribute to Michael Jackson."

"No, Jackson's injured," Otis says slowly. "And Abby was helping him."

"Oh," Kyle says. "That explains a lot. Like the ambulance yesterday."

Almost on cue, Abby looks down the aisle, and smiles at Otis, until Kyle sticks his head forward and waves. She grimaces and turns back around.

"Still," Kyle goes on. "You ought to be more careful. I wouldn't let my girlfriend go around carrying another guy's books even if he was in a body cast."

"Uh, one, did Otis ask," Eric snaps. "And two, where exactly is your girlfriend then?"

Kyle's mouth drops open and Eric snaps his fingers. "Exactly. We were having a perfectly pleasant assembly in regards to having cured chlamydia before you decided to stir the pot. So, hush."

"I just thought you should know," Kyle says to Otis. "If I had a girlfriend, and she started hanging around other guys, I'd want someone to tell me."

He turns his head back to the stage as Otis slumps slightly in his seat.

🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬

After the assembly, Otis watches Abby collect all of Jackson's books. She smiles in his direction and nods down the hall, where Maeve is heading outside for a smoke break.

Otis jogs after Maeve, catching up to her on the back steps of the school.

"What's up," she asks, without turning around. She stops at the foot of the stairs and then lights her cigarette. She smirks as Otis stands next to her.

"I called last night. Jackson's fine. Although now I'm curious," Maeve asks. "What exactly did Abby say to him that made her declare herself his new aide? I know she's a decent person, but this particular act of kindness reeks of guilt."

"Well, he was on the list of chlamydia subjects," Otis says. "And she did mention that if he had so happened to have been a carrier, she would have stabbed him for having given you an STI."

Maeve laughs at the thought of Abby the mad knife woman for a bit before looking at Otis. "So, come on," she says. "What'd you want to talk about? I wasn't going to stop in the hallway because I wanted my smoke, but you may as well tell me now."

"Do you want your old job back?"

"Back," Maeve questions. "Did you guys replace me while I was out for two days?"

"We...well, okay, me and Eric weren't sure you'd come back," Otis says. "I mean, Abby just kept saying over and over again that you'd get let back in, but, I mean...I just didn't know if you would, really. I mean, you could have decided you didn't need school or, well, us." Otis takes a breath. "You're really smart, Maeve. And cool. And you're light years ahead of us all in maturity. I just figured...maybe you'd find something else, something better to do than stick around here. Even without A levels, somehow."