Life Lost and Found

19: How's Your Chi Today?

Earlier that Day

Mark stood on the edge of the practice field and pulled on his jersey, straightening the big number 3 on his chest. It was a difficult switch for him, moving from the center forward position to a wing-back, but he was adjusting. Sort of. The men's soccer club was good. So good, that even the star player of the Ackland Cougars was struggling to make a decent showing. From big-shot senior to weak-sauce freshman, just like that.

The fall sky was cloudy, and the air was uncomfortably cool, but it hadn't seemed to stop anyone from heading outside. Several runners strode briskly along 18th Avenue, something was going on at Hayward Field, and a heated battle was taking place at the tennis courts.

"Markay! The Markster! The Markinator!"

He groaned. "You're so lame, Rick."

Mark's best friend in the soccer club strode up and slapped him on the shoulder. "No, I'm creative. I'm retro. I'm free of spirit. I'm in touch with my chi."

"Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that."

"Maybe I will." Rick became serious, and he put a hand on Mark's chest. "Are you in touch with your chi?"

Mark found the question surprisingly relevant. He didn't feel in touch with very much at all, forget his inner energy flow. He pushed Rick's hand away.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Rick started rubbing Mark's shoulders. "Well, you're in luck, because today I am introducing my new video series: Dude, How's Your Chi Today? Only four easy payments of twenty-nine, ninety-nine, ninety-five."

"$2,999.95? Wow. Those must be some videos. Also, you're creeping me out." He pushed Rick away again.

"Come on, it's a special deal. Today only, man. Gotta act quick."

"Right." Mark stuffed his street clothes into his bag and zipped it shut. Normally, he was just as much a goofball as Rick, if not more so. But today? Less so. He felt... He didn't know what he felt. "Do I want to know what the normal price is?"

"I dunno, five bucks, probably." Rick shrugged. "You ready to tear it up today? We've gotta throw down on Tribe in a few weeks. Man, I hate those guys!"

"You hate all the guys on every opposing team."

"And I'm justified. It's our duty! Am I right? Come on, tell me I'm right."

It was usually easier just to agree. "Sure. So, how was class?" he asked.

"Only fan-freakin-tastic!" Rick made an A shape with his hands. "Mr. Professor promised an A and extra credit to the student with the craziest dating history. And who won? Was it me? Of course it was me, dude! Pay attention!"

"Seriously?" Mark asked. "Weird assignment."

"It's a psych class, dude. Weird goes without saying. Anyway, we're studying relationships."

"What about them?"

"Oh, stuff. Like, why we're attracted to certain people, how psychological baggage can mess with a relationship. It's pretty fascinating. Good thing you're not in my class, or you'd have won."

"Me? Nah."

"Dude, yeah right. How's the scene with Aiko anyway?" Rick asked.

"Good. Really good."

"You've been dating for, like, two weeks, right? So that means you have, what, two more to go? Tops?"

Mark gave him a hard shove. "Ouch, man."

"Look, dude, all I'm saying is, you've got to figure yourself out. Figure out why you have a hard time committing. Or why you make such dumb dating choices," Rick said, dodging another push. "It might have something to do with your mom."

Wow, this conversation was getting annoying. "Aiko's not a dumb choice."

"Maybe not. But you're not going to be able to make it last unless you focus. Harness your chi."

"Fine. I'll take up yoga or something."

"Wrong culture. Different energies at play."

"Whatever." Mark resisted the urge to punch his friend and glowered at the horizon. He didn't want to admit it, but he wondered if Rick had a point. If there was some tiny kernel of sense buried deep in the... Rick-ness he was spouting. Probably not. But maybe. Hmm. "I once told a girl that I felt like I was looking for something, but I didn't know what the something was," he said, half thinking out loud. "She—"

"Dude! Dude, it's her!" Rick interrupted excitedly. "Right over there, on her way to the gym! That one girl from, like, Australia or something. With the weird-but-totally-hot accent! She's probably going to gymnastics right now. Think I could skip our practice to go watch hers? Because, dude, that girl has got some serious chi." He watched her for a minute. "Anyway. What were you saying before?"

Mark was walking away. "Nothing."

He did not perform well at practice. The coach accused him of having his head in the clouds, which wasn't too far from the truth.

After practice, Mark declined an invitation to go to Rennie's with some of the team, preferring to be alone. He wandered through campus for a while, then sat down on a bench in front of the library, watching a small handful of students mill about the quad in front of the Lillis Complex.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked a few text messages: three from Aiko, two from Rita, and another from a girl named Theresa. He didn't feel like reading any of them, so he put his phone away. As he was slipping it into his pocket, he noticed the date on the lock screen: Friday, October 3.

It was her birthday today.

Well, that decided it. No more hesitating. He took out his phone again, searched his contact list, and dialed Holly's Flower Basket. He started rehearsing what he would say when she—

The line was busy.

He waited a couple minutes and tried again. Still busy.

"Seriously?" He glowered at his phone. "Agh, fine! Whatever!" The truth was, if she wanted to talk to him, she'd have called a long time ago. He looked at his phone one more time, then got up to join his friends.