Me, Me & You

Chapter 9

"Hey."

Prying my eyes reluctantly from my phone, I locked eyes with David who, today, managed to dress himself like a big boy. Though he smiled, the corners of his mouth were tense.

"What?" I said bluntly. The word came out harsher than I intended.

After an awkward foot shuffle, David leaned against the lockers—a pantomime of "cool" and "nonchalant."

"So, uh... did you ask her? What does she think about me?"

His smile grew more strained. Sheesh. This kid was for real, and that really pissed me off. If you were that serious about a girl, do the work yourself.

"She doesn't know who you are," I said gruffly. His face fell. His moment of weakness made me want to pounce so I attacked. "She said you're too short."

His face turned red. The flesh on his cheeks bubbled and puckered as his face contorted. With a roar, he slammed his knuckles into the locker he was leaning against, rattling the door like a gong. The entire locker room grew quiet, and their wide eyes turned to watch the scene.

"That fucking bitch! These cunts are only after big dick swinging' fuckwads!" Spittle flew from his mouth.

The guy directly behind him watched, eyes boggling and following each dramatic swing of David's arms as his fingers alternated between gripping his hair and wiping his palms on his jeans. I wanted to piss off David, but this was something else. This was "school shooter" antics. He didn't even verify what I said, and instead, exploded like a shaken can of pop.

A gym teacher emerged from the office.

"Hey! Keep it down!" The burly teacher barked. "Don't make me write you up for damaging school property!" David took a few breaths, appearing to hit the limit of his rage, though his face was still beet red.

I had to do something. Fast.

"Hey, David," I began. His eyes lashed at me like a bulldog's. "I was only joking. Luna never said that. I thought you'd get I was joking because you're already pretty tall."

He alternated between balling his fists and relaxing them.

"She just said she wasn't interested in dating right now. She wants to focus on... running."

"What? That's stupid. She can date and run," he huffed. The red in his face barely subsided and turned the skin on his cheeks blotchy.

"She's probably... not interested. Heck, she isn't even interested in me...in that way," I threw the last part out there to placate him, but I felt hurt even saying it.

I collected my things and latched the locker shut.

"Anyway, sorry, Dave," I called out over my shoulder and weaved my way around the guys still changing. Some were still hushed from Dave's outburst. I didn't expect Dave to let me go that easily, but I walked out of the locker room in one piece.

That afternoon, pinpricks of snow began to fall. Some school committee decreed that windows be boarded up in the classrooms, but there were a few gaps in the plywood where I could watch the first dustings of white. I pulled my phone from my jean pocket and, with a quick glance to make sure the teacher's back was turned, texted Luna.

Me: It's snowing

Luna: Really?! :OOO

Me: Are you running after school?

Luna: maybe in the gym. They have that old track

Me: will the gymnasts let you use it?

Luna: The gymnasts use a track??? Why