What If? Talent of Truth

Jealousy

We highfive, and then putting on our serious faces, turn and bow to the class.

As we walk back to our desks, there's nothing but silence. No one seems to know what happened, but they go to ask Eric. They finally have a reason to talk to him. They still ignore me. I don't think they even know what to make of me anymore.

I smiled, and I highfived Eric, the most popular boy in school. (Unbeknownst to him.) I bowed with him, meaning I had something to do with it. But what? That's what was running through their minds.

I look at Eric, and how he's surrounded by people. I think to myself: I'm a classmate too. Maybe I could work my way into the circle? Then somehow like magic, Eric seems to sense my longing.

*Hey. I wanna tell them that we became such good friends, we can read eachother's minds.

*sounds fun. Do it.

I see him say something, and the whole table first is silent, then laughs, as if he were joking. When they see he's not, they ask him to prove it. They're loud enough that I can hear them from my seat. He pulls them in, and starts whispering. Then some whisper back. They go back and forth for a bit. Then the group breaks up.

It seems they settled on something.

*Hey. I'm gonna call you over. Do a fistbump, highfive me, then go to Clair and shake her hand. Then come back and force her to shake mine, and then get jealous. Think you can do it?

*Of course. I'm always up for a fun challenge.

True to his word, he yells at me. The class turns to see what I do. "HEY! Isaac. Could you come here a sec?" I get up. The group spreads out around me. They make a full circle with Clair nearer to my desk and Eric nearer to the door.

I walk to Eric. I fistbump his left hand, then highfive his right. I turn towards Clair, and walk to her. I shake her had gently, then drag her to the middle. I gesture with both hands 'wait' then drag Eric over. I put their hands together and make them shake hands.

I wait three seconds, then act jealous. I grab Eric's other hand and shake it too. I glare at Clair. She tightens her grip before she backs off. So do I, at the same time. I offer my hand as a way to make peace, and she accepts. We shake once, then I head back to my desk.

From what I've seen, Clair likes Eric back.