Best Friend Protocol

Best Friend Protocol (5)

BEST FRIEND PROTOCOL

V

     There was soft music coming from the speakers. My elbows were resting comfortably on the silk sheets that I was sprawled into. My hands were aching from all the writing that I was doing. I am seriously considering proposing a petition against teachers who make us write a back-to-back paged essay about what we did this summer. I have a very sure thought that they don’t really care. Let’s see…what did I do this summer? I gained a very nice tan, I saw hunky foreign guys, I had breakfast with my gay friend Victor…Speaking of Victor, my gaze turned at my best friend’s face as he bobbed his head lightly to the music coming from his headphones. Ever since I neglected to tell him of Victor’s existence, he hasn’t spoken to me—which means that he turned the music up the entire ride home so that he wouldn’t hear a word of the subject that I tried opening up to him. I have no idea why he would react in such way since I had more mysterious dates before and he never questioned them—unless you don’t count him trying to tail us.

     The soft rustling of papers indicated that he’s already starting with his homework. He scribbled something on it before completely trashing the whole thing and throwing it across the room. He did this action a couple more times before I decided to intervene and wave my hands in front of his face. He raised his eyebrows in question so I gestured towards his headphones for him to get the idea.

     “What do you want?” He asked me while placing his earphones on his bedside table.

     I threw my paper on the floor in hopes of continuing it later and sat next to him. “Talk to me”

     He looked down at me with a dry expression. “I am talking to you”

     I shook my head. “No. You’re completely ignoring me by listening to your really horrible punk music when there is decent music being played on speaker right now. Besides, I always thought that I am helping you with your homework. Remember? Protocol #5?”

     “Well you have Protocol #4 before that. You know what Protocol #4 is, do you?” He slyly asked me.

     I rolled my eyes. I knew that this was about Victor. “What?” I taunted him “‘Thou shall get to know the guy Steele is dating’?”

     “Exactly”

     I slapped his shoulder and sat in front of him—okay so basically, I’m straddling him. “I am not dating anybody”

     He made the funny face that he’s always making when he’s confused. “What about that Victor dude?” I laughed making him tense. He gripped my waist tightly, making unwanted electric currents to surge from his hands. Am I becoming a robot or something? “Stop laughing”

     “It’s because you’re assuming wrong. Didn’t you notice the constant emphasizing of the word ‘him’?”  I asked him, snaking both of my hands around his neck.

     Realization dawned on him and apologetic look started growing on his face. “So you mean…?”

     I nodded. “Uh-huh”

     “YOU’VE BEEN HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GAY PERSON?”

     “Oh my God—WHAT?! Seth, you probably killed a lot of brain cells for you to come up with that conclusion” I grabbed a couple of pillows and started hitting him with them. Stupid…stupid…player! “What the hell were you thinking?”

     “Hey…hey…ow!” He used his arms while trying to dodge the pillows. “I didn’t mean to say it that way!” He reasoned, suddenly spreading his arms. Big mistake since I used that opportunity to hit his face. He cursed out loud and before I knew it, he was on top of me, caging my arms above my head so that I can’t keep hitting him. Oh God. This totally does not help with my thoughts about him during lunch time. Did he grow his hair? He looks good with it longer. “You’re really a drama queen, Stacey Steele”