Dead Boys

5

Tobias

Monday, I finally visit the library again during lunch. Beth ignores me as I walk in and I do the same, going straight to my chair to set down my things. I take a deep breath, tracing the upholstery with my fingers.

I'm fine. I tell myself, standing up straight. Quickly, I go out into the hall to grab a soda from the vending machine.

I click upon the button for Dr. Pepper, then search in my pocket for a dollar and seventy five cents. I find five quarters and frown, checking my other pocket.

"Toby!" I turn to see Billy jogging lightly down the hall, stopping right before me. "Fancy meeting you here. I was wondering where you go to have lunch."

"Well, sometimes I spend it in the field." I say, even though I only do that when the library is closed.

Lightly, he pushes me away from the vending machine, punching a couple of buttons and slipping a five dollar bill into the slot.

Three sodas are disposed through the bottom of the vending machine and I frown again. All I wanted was a Dr. Pepper.

Seeing my face, Billy makes an amused sound, taking one of the drinks and pressing it to the side of my face. I jerk back from the cold aluminum. He laughs and places the soda in my hand. Dr. Pepper.

I can't stop the grin that takes over my face, no matter how much I try to suppress it. I pop open the can and take a gulp.

"Thank you." I say overcome with gratitude. "You didn't have to-"

"It's nothing." He insists. "It's only, like, a dollar."

"But you also bought lunch last time we were together." I remind him, then hold out the coins in my hand. "At least take these."

With a roll of his eyes, he takes the coins and shoves them in his hoodie pocket along with the two other drinks.

He follows me inside the library, humming along to whatever is playing through his headphones.

Beth gives me a look when she sees Billy trailing along beside me, but I pretend I don't notice. I fish my lunch out of my bag, a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread and half of a roll of Ritz crackers.

Billy takes out a bag of spicy chips, already opened, and shakes the bag a bit before upturning it into his mouth. He chews, then opens a can of Sprite to wash it down. His Adams apple bobs as he drinks. I look at his hoodie clad arms, seeing them differently now that I know what's underneath the fabric.

"Y'know, Jessie is still talking about you." He says, bumping my shoulder with his. "She keeps asking when she can see her new best friend again."

"Really?" I ask and he nods.

"Hand to God." He says with an almost mocking tone. "It's getting kinda annoying honestly, you're supposed to be my friend."

He puts a strange tilt on the word friend, too, but I pay it no mind. "I can have more than one friend."

He hums. "Maybe." The bell rings and he hops up. "Damnit, I totally left my bag in Mrs. Seymour's class and my next class is all the way across campus."

"You better hurry," I tell him. "Before you're late and get more detention."

"See you later, Toby." He gives me a quick smile and jogs out the door. "Bye, Beth."

Beth waves him off as he leaves, then swings her head back around to me as I put my bag back over my shoulder. My hand tightens over the strap.

She walks out from behind the desk and hands me a square package haphazardly wrapped in news paper. "Keep it, throw it away, I don't care." She shoves her hands in her pockets. "I found it in the back, so I don't think anyone else cares either."