X-Kid

99 Biker Friends

Jack and I hadn’t talked for 2 days. I had been spending my lunch hour with some acquaintances from my History class while the rest of the group remained intact. Biology was quiet and lonely despite the fact that one of my best friends was sitting next to me, and I wanted nothing more than to fix it. I couldn’t stand the ache in my gut as I avoided the sweeping gaze of the skunk haired boy that had quickly become a huge part of my life. But I didn’t dare say anything, because I was too awful stubborn and let my pride get in the way.

Rian slid quietly into the desk next to mine , sighing and giving me a wary look. He looked as tired as I felt, dark circles forming under his eyes. “Nora, you and Jack seriously have to stop this.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “I’m not the one you should be saying that to.”

“Come on! You’re one of the mature ones! You know that it’s stupid and petty. All it takes is one conversation, and everything will go back to normal,” he said. There was a begging tone to his voice that plucked at my curiosity.

“Rian, you were there when this whole thing started. I told Jack that when he decided to stop being a dick, he could come find me, and I haven’t heard from him. What exactly do you expect me to do?” I questioned.

“At least meet him halfway. It’s not going to be fixed unless both of you go for it,” he replied.

“And who’s to say he won’t just blow up at me again for no reason?” I wondered.

“Oh, there was definitely a reason. I can’t believe someone as smart as you didn’t see it,” Rian began, but seeing my blank look, decided to continue. “You were talking to that guy, the one you said was cute. Jack was obviously jealous, Nora.”

I gasped unintentionally. “Jealous? Why the hell would he be jealous?”

Rian pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated. “Because he likes you, duh! You like him too, but the two of you are too oblivious to see it. Look, I don’t care about you two figuring that out for yourselves, at least not yet. All I want is for you guys to be friends again.”

I brushed over his shocking words quickly. “Why are you so hellbent on getting us to make up?”

“You’re both doing awful without the other. I’ve never seen you drink so much coffee or look so sad, and Jack has never been so quiet for this long in his entire life. I don’t know how the two of you functioned without each other before you met, because you sure as hell aren’t doing it now,” he explained.

Rian’s words hit me really hard. I couldn’t picture Jack being quiet, even though I had seen it in Biology class the past couple of days. Rian was like a brother to me, and he only wanted what was best for me, right? Therefore, I should take what he said to heart. “I’ll think about it...but I can’t promise any more than that.”

Another sigh. “Fine. I just hope you make it quick.”

Our French teacher began discussing verb conjugation on the board, and my attention focused on that, though everything still loomed in the back of my head. Even after class ended, I parted ways with Rian and made my way upstairs to where I had been sitting recently. I was the first one there, but they all slowly trickled into place.

Nobody questioned how quiet and distracted as I was as I attempted to watch the chess game going on before me. No matter how hard I tried, I could never understand the game, and my distracting thoughts weren’t helping me at all. The players gazed intently at the board, trying to figure out where to move, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack.

I didn’t say anything in Biology either. Jack and I continued our game of glancing at the other when they weren’t looking, making me go even crazier. The words I wanted to say danced on the tip of my tongue, but my lips stayed clamped shut. I wondered if Rian and spoken to Jack too, or if it was someone else.