Warrior: The Forging of a Champion

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 

The next day at school, I walk into the cafeteria at lunchtime looking for Dan. I spot him on the other side of the room. He looks over, sees me, picks up his tray and runs outside. I start to walk across the room after him when I get a tap on my back. I turn around and it is Theresa.  

"Are we talking again?" I ask. 

"Yeah." 

We stand in silence for a few seconds and then she looks right in my face and asks, "Who is she?" 

"I met her at a party. She goes to Churchill." 

She stares away from me and says, "I'm happy for you." 

"Thanks. It's already complicated."  

"What do you mean?" 

I stammer for a second and then realize this might be the chance to get out of the dance with Theresa. I tread as carefully as I can. "I was supposed to see her this weekend, but we have the dance and now I have to go to a competition, and I'm afraid she will think that I'm blowing her off." 

"Doug, you don't have to go with me to the dance if you don't want to." 

"It's not that I wouldn't want to. It's just that we were just going as friends so, you know, now it's different." 

"I guess it is," she says and turns to leave. 

"Theresa thanks for talking to me." 

She walks a few more steps, and I say, "I'm sorry." 

She stops and turns around, then turns back to the door and walks away. That was unpleasant, but I don't know what else to do. I didn't want to hurt her. It's just that it was something Dan thought of, not really me. But maybe Dan was right. Maybe she does like me more than a friend. I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I'm interested in Chris. Okay, just another complication in a complicated life. 

I grab something quick to eat and spend the rest of the period combing the school for Dan. I do have to give him credit. He is a hard person to find. He should consider being a fugitive when he leaves school. I give up looking for him and go to the rest of the classes for the day, then make the school bus dash.  

I'm running for the bus, but I stop for a second. Dan, with his back to me, is talking to a group. I look at the bus and then my watch. I got two minutes. I walk over to Dan, put my hand on his shoulder, and turn him around. I don't say anything I just look at him. He smiles, turns serious, and asks, "You're not going to kill me or anything are you?" 

"Why did you tell Theresa about Chris?" 

He stops for a second, scratches his head and says, "You know, I really don't have a good excuse. It kind of slipped out, but I didn't stop it either." 

I hear the driver start up the bus and the fumes of the exhaust spread over the carport .  

"I talked to Theresa today, and we seem to be cool." I have to yell to talk above the sound from the bus. 

"That's great to hear. Did she profess her love for you by chance?" 

"No, of course not." 

"That's unfortunate. That would really make the triangle all that more interesting. I'm disappointed." 

I step onto the bus and then turn and to face Dan, "You know, you're supposed to be my friend. You're not supposed to do things that make my life more difficult than it already is." 

"Just keeping things interesting, Doug. Let's keep communicating. It's good for our relationship. We'll do lunch tomorrow. You know the place." 

All I can do is nod. I don't know if it is possible to be mad at someone who doesn't take anything seriously. I text Chris and set up a time to talk to her after Tae Kwon Do. This is crazy. I'm so busy, I have to set up an appointment to talk to her. I lean back in my seat on the bus and think this is the last time I get to relax until I go to bed tonight.