Warrior: The Forging of a Champion

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 

"Hey Julie, have you talked to Theresa lately?" I ask Theresa's best friend. We're standing out on the field on Friday right before gym class. Julie is standing across from me. She is a shorter, girl plump, with light brown hair, and pale skin. She has a really big nose that looks even larger with the bright red framed glasses that pulls all of the attention onto the center of her face. 

She looks up and down at me and says, "Maybe." She turns around to talk to her friends. 

"Well, I was wondering if you could help me out." 

"What's it worth to you?" she asks as she turns back around and crosses her arms. "Have you talked to Theresa?" 

"Yeah, so what?" 

"She won't return any of my calls or texts." 

"Maybe she doesn't want to talk to you. Did you ever consider that?" 

"You're probably right." I start to walk away but turn back. "Whatever you do, don't tell her or anyone else that I asked about her and that I wanted to thank her for getting me the shirt. Don't give her that specific message. Got it?" 

"Why, do you like her? Don't you have a girlfriend?" She asks as she switches her hands from being crossed to holding onto her hips. 

"I don't have a girlfriend." 

"She said you met a girl." 

"That doesn't make her my girlfriend." 

"Whatever," she says rolling her eyes. Then she says, "I'll help you if you answer this question: What makes this girl so superior to Theresa?" 

"Doug get over here," my gym teacher yells at me. 

"Okay," I say. "I gotta go."  

"You didn't answer my question," she yells as I hurry back to the boy's class. I don't need to answer her question. Julie is the ultimate busybody. She won't be able to help herself but tell Theresa.  

I make it through English class, and then I eat lunch with Dan, who continues to pepper me with questions about Chris and Theresa. He says, "Speak of the devil" when Theresa comes by and sits next to me. 

"I heard you've been asking about me." 

"From who, Julie?" I ask. 

"I'm not allowed to say," she says laughing because we both know who told her. 

"I'm sorry about the other night. I tried to get off the phone." 

She doesn't say anything but puts her hand on top of mine to acknowledge my apology. 

"Thanks for the shirt," I add. 

"It sounds like you're all set for your big date," Dan says. 

"I guess so," I say, trying not to bring it up in front of Theresa. 

"You're going to meet her over at the mall and then what?" he asks. 

"I don't know just hang out. Did anyone hear how bad the baseball team lost their last game?" I look right at Dan and try to get him to notice that I want him to change the subject. 

"I heard they got crushed," Theresa adds also trying to avoid the subject. 

But Dan forges ahead. "You should take her to the courtyard they have over there. They have flowers and stuff, and, you know how girls like that. You bring her there and you'll score for sure." 

"Thanks for the advice, Dan," I say, giving him another look so he'll stop talking about the date. 

"Or maybe you could take her to the food court and get some ice cream then go walk around the fountains out front." 

"Great, Dan let's talk about something else," I say looking over to Theresa. 

"You don't care about this right? You know he's got a date it's not like it's a secret." 

Theresa stands up to leave and says to Dan, "Yes I know all about it. Thanks for reminding me." She walks away. 

"What's her problem?" Dan asks. 

"Dan, do you have any social skills at all? You know that's going to bother her," I rise to catch up to Theresa. 

"Man, you guys are sensitive," he yells to me. 

I spot Theresa walking fast out of the cafeteria. I yell out to her to wait up, but she doesn't respond, so I yell out again, and she stops and says, "Don't worry about it Doug. It's fine. Have fun on your date." 

I don't say anything, and she turns around and walks out of the cafeteria and up the stairs to the library. I go back to Dan and finish my lunch. I get through the rest of the classes,