“Oh,” I said as everyone in the room, including the two faces on the computer screen, continued to stare at me.
I was still in that awkward I-just-burst-into-the-room-with-a-powerful-declaration stance.
I stood upright and cleared my throat.
“Hey, Toby,” I said, raising my hand up at him in a small wave. “Hey, Riley.”
“Hey, Jane!” Toby replied ecstatically, with a huge smile on his face. “I’m thirsty. Gonna go get some water, bye!” He then winked at Maggie, stood from where he was sitting, and left the camera’s focus.
“I’m thirsty too!” Maggie exclaimed suddenly, getting up from her swivel chair. “Let’s go, Sabrina Mae!”
I rolled my eyes.
The two girls fled the room and soon it was just me, Riley, and dead silence.
“What was that all about?” I asked as I took a seat in front of Maggie’s computer.
“They were thirsty,” Riley said with that look of mock seriousness on his face.
“Right,” I said slowly. “So, who gave you the right to ask Maggie for my number?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied with a confused look on his face.
“So, you act too, huh?” I asked.
“Well, when I was seven, I auditioned for a role in an Oreo commercial,”
“Did you get the part?”
“Nah, but I got a free pack of Oreos,”
I laughed. “You should try blending that with cheese, some milk, and shaved ice. Makes a really good drink.”
“Maybe I will. But first,” he reached for something on the desk behind him and pulled out a Starbucks GC. “I gotta spend this.”
“Is that the one Maggie got you?” I asked, recalling our near death experience on the road, just to get him that.
“Uh, possibly,” he replied reluctantly.
Maggie was obviously not the only one who thought to give him one.
Just then, Ryan walked into the room. “Jane, why are Maggie and Sabrina dancing around silently in the hall?”
“Maybe because of this,” I said, motioning toward the computer screen.
“Oh,” Ryan said, noticing the Skype call in session. “Hey,” He said, acknowledging Riley with a nod of his head.
“Hey,” Riley replied with a smile.
Ryan stepped out of the camera’s frame and made an exaggerated kissy face at me.
I reached for a pillow on Maggie’s bed and threw it at him. Hard.
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll go see if those two are still breathing alright.” He walked back towards the computer, waved a goodbye at Riley, and left the room.
“Who was that?” Riley asked, still smiling.
“That was Ryan, being annoying as usual,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Oh. Is he like um…your…?” Riley ventured, gesturing with his hands.
“My what?” I asked point blank, as I crossed my arms on my chest and raised my eyebrows innocently back at him.
“Uh…”
I laughed. He looked uncomfortable enough so I said, “Nah, Ryan’s just a good friend.”
