Descending Star

ADAMANT

"Man, you've got to be kidding me."

"Now, wait"–

"You seriously scooped her? I thought we were friends."

"Oh come on, Jake. Don't be like that."

"'Don't be like that?' You're unbelievable. I am so done."

Jacob hung up.

Ben had told Zoey that he would come clean about dinner last night, as a preemptory measure, so that Jake wouldn't hear about it some other way. Zoey had concurred that it would be for the best if Jake heard it from them. So he would get the news right, and not misconstrue it.

Ben had timed it for the Reservation Combined School's closing bell, so he'd catch Jake before he started driving, to have his full attention, so he'd be able to listen and understand it right.

Ben had even rehearsed it with Edythe last night, at the lumber yard overlook, on one of the lulls in their principal activity. Ben had played himself. Edythe had played Jacob. It didn't go well. She had his octave, tone and inflection so dead-on that it felt spooky, the way Jacob Black projected through her lips. Until Ben registered the actual words. To wit:

"Of course I'm amenable to your taking Zoey to dinner, Benjamin. You are soulmates, and you make each other happy."

Ben looked at her, nonplussed.

"What?" Her own voice.

"He wouldn't call me Benjamin."

"Oh. Right. Insert Ben, my Benjamin."

"And Jacob wouldn't be amenable."

"Why ever not?

"Because he doesn't know the word."

Edythe laughed.

"And he wouldn't be, anyway. He won't be good with it."

"So strange. He's your friend. Why would he not be happy for you?"

"It's a mystery. Can we try it again?"

Edythe nodded with a big smile, an avid pugilist ready for the bell.

Ben took another swing and honed his shtick. "Oh, hey Jake, glad I caught you. So listen, I just wanted you to hear it from me first, before you hear it on Kayla's parking lot or wherever, because anyways it's no big deal, but Charlie kind of grilled up some Harry's Fish Fry for Zoey and me last night, and it was nothing, just friends catching up, and that's it."

He finished his little epistle and looked up at Edythe.

Her face would have broken the heart of Josef Stalin. Her lips quivered. Her shoulders shook. She clutched herself as though in pain, and she dabbed her eyes. She broke into vocal sobs and nasally blubbered, in Jacob's jarring baritone, "You're my best and only friend, Benjamin– I mean, Ben. I... I understand what you're saying... and I admit I saw it coming, because I don't deserve Zoey... but... I still don't know how I'm going to go on. I... I just h-h-hope you're h-happy with her."

Then she crumpled and broke down completely.

Until she heard him tapping his foot.

She looked up, perplexed. "What now? Still not right?"

"Edythe, you're not supposed to be ready to slit your wrists. You're supposed to want to slit mine."

"So absurd. You know I'm not cut out as an actress, my Benjamin."

"It's okay, really. Can't we just try it again"–

"No. Well, maybe. Can I play you? I'd be better as you, I promise."