(Clark)
-That Same Day.-
I decided to nix Hillary’s study time with me.
The crisp Autumn air flowed through my cashmere scarf as I walked down the road to a nearby pond. My house wasn’t far from this pond, but it was impossible to drive there. There were two giant cinder-blocks surrounding the entrance to the crunchy, rocky road to get to the water. I preferred to not waste gas and to just walk there. My legs thanked me for that. I could feel them squeezing in delight.
I was texting Hillary at the time of walking down.
Why did you ditch me?
I have things to do - I’m sorry.
You suddenly have things to do? Since when?
Since...The pond was getting lonely.
The pond can’t be lonely.
How do you know?
Because I’m keeping it company right now.
Crap. Okay, I might as well just turn around now. But, I guess I have to talk to her. She knows that I’m going down there - I would have ditched her twice in one day. On the other hand, she’s ditched me for many guys before.
My conscience would bug me, though. Looks like I’m going down.
A few robins floated over me, singing songs of happiness and love. Another was eating a worm. The pond gleamed of Diet-Coke colored water and the rust from the docks was being eaten by a sucker fish.
“About time,” Hillary called out to me from a low dock. She was skipping rocks on the pond like a pro.
“Sorry about being such a...”
“Douche?”
I pressed my lips together. “Yeah, that’s the word.”
She chucks a rock with a snap of her wrist. Eight skips. “So, you come down here, too?”
“Only all the time,” I smile and walk down the ramp to the dock. “Why do you come down here?”
She reaches to her pile of rocks and grabs a perfectly flat one. She glances at it and puts it back - obviously saving it for the last one. “I take out my rage here. For some reason, throwing rocks helps me calm down.”
“I know. You hit me in the head in the second grade with one.” I grab one and throw it. One skip.
“Flick your wrist,” she says, demonstrating. “It helps.”
I grin at her happiness. She never seems happy. Right now, though, she has a gigantic smile on her face.
We skip rocks and talk for the rest of the time down at the lake. I found out about her struggles with her mom and her brother. Sure, the case was soon to be wrapped up, but her brother was still scared of people in the neighborhood. Whenever he sees me, he thinks I’m going to attack him. I don’t blame him.
She cried.
I cried.
Her fingers ran along the sides of the perfect skipping rock.
“You take it.”
“Me?”
“Yes. There will be other skipping rocks. I want you to skip it.”
I grab the rock and wrap it in my fingers like she said to. I throw it hard. It slams into the water with a big splash.
One skip.
“Dork.”
So, after an emotional talk with Hillary, I drop her off at her house. But, her brother answers the door and what does he do?
He screams.
Tiffany comes running up to the door. She takes a sigh of relief. “Oh, Hillary, Clark, it’s just you guys. I thought it was...”
“Don’t worry, Miss Martin. I was just talking to Hillary down at the pond. We ran into each other.” I run my right hand through my blond hair.
“Good, good. Well, thank you for bringing her home. You can’t really trust anyone in this damn neighborhood anymore.” She hugs Hillary tight. “You should’ve texted me. I was worried sick about you.” She continues to talk and pull her into the house and Hillary shuts the door.
Bye, I guess.
My phone rings, “Milkshake” and I take it out of my pocket.
Annie Stanon.
My heart melts a little bit.
I answer the phone and begin to walk back to my house. “Hey, Annie, what’s up?” I say cheerfully.
I hear sobs. “Rick broke up with me for Valarie!”
“Wait-” I start, trying to hit the pieces together. “Isn’t Valarie dating Bo?”
“SHE IS!” More tears. “Rick just said that if he wants to get into Valarie’s pants, he needs to be a free man.”
Sick bastard.
“Really?”
“Can you believe that, Clark?”
Yes, definitely. Without a doubt. He is the biggest jerk in the world.
“I can’t!”
“I know that I said all of those bad things about him and stuff, but I really do love him! I’m such a sad person, right?”
I would have to say yes. Even though I would date you sad person in a blink of an eye.
“No, you’re not. Don’t say that.”
“I am! Do you know what it feels like to like a total jerk? That whole pitiful feeling?”
Not really.
“Not really.”
“Anyways, I was calling you because I need a distraction. Are you doing anything?”
“Well, I was going to have a Halo tournament with my friends tonight...”
“Fine! I’ll be there at seven!”
She hangs up.
Did that really just happen?
