Something About Us

Part Six

Part Six

Enter: Sebastian Dubois

     It seems there is an almost infinite amount of ways that a prank can go wrong. Kobe showed me exactly what could happen when things go awry.
     It was eight o’ eight and class was due to start in four minutes but no one was making an effort to rush to class. Earlier Jay-Bird pleaded with the cafeteria ladies and weaseled an apple pie out of them and he took nibbles off of the edge of the hot pastry, as if he was trying to make it last longer.
    The cafeteria was almost empty aside from a few nerds working on their homework in the early morning before class began.
     I texted TJ beneath the table and believed I went unnoticed. Then Kobe snatched the phone from my hand and waved around like a trophy. The people at the table held their breaths and looked to me, hoping that I would react angrily. “Ed, give me my goddamned phone back,” I said between clenched teeth.
     Kobe just laughed. He selected TJ’s number. “Imma call your little side ting here. I want to hear the voice of the girl that’s got you so whipped.” My heart completely stopped and my stomach seemed to sink to into my feet. CALL MY SIDE TING?!!?
   “Kobe, just give me the phone. She’s in class. I don’t want her to get in trouble. Just give me the phone, okay?!” I yelled, rising up from my spot. Kobe got up and stood on the cafeteria table. In a moment the troll-shaped female janitor would appear out of nowhere and yell at Kobe.
   Kobe rolled his eyes and called the number. I jumped up onto the table and grabbed at Kobe. I needed to take the phone from him before TJ picked up. My phone rang once. Dear God, how long did the phone ring before the person on the other line had their phone ring? I ran after Kobe who laughed and kept on walking down the table. My phone rang again. Bam Bam and Dee stuck their arms out, trying to trip me. It took me longer to step over their hands and put more distance between Kobe and I.
    Kobe pounded the speaker-phone key so the whole table could hear my phone ringing. It had been three rings. TJ’s phone had probably started to buzz. I kept grabbing for the phone but Ed kept it from me.
    “Hello?” The voice sounded clearly male. It didn’t take long for Kobe to piece together the realization that I was texting a guy saying things like “I can’t wait to hold you”. His face twisted with confusion and then he pressed end. “Shit. I swore I dialled the girl’s number.”
      He knew he dialled the right number and now he pretended he didn’t? Why was he doing this for me?
     “Idiot, give me the phone and I’ll do it properly!” Ed volunteered, holding his hand out. They believed it! Kobe stopped moving and I grabbed the phone from his hand.
     “You two need to get off of the table RIGHT NOW!” The troll-shaped janitor yelled. No one at the table possessed any fear for her and we all regarded her wearily. I climbed off the table with my phone tucked safely into my pocket. My heart was raced but they seemed to have bought Kobe’s lie.
     The troll hollered; “Get outta here and get to class for once in your lives.” There was no way I could class, not now. I needed to speak to Kobe before I went to class. I needed to speak to Kobe before I could feel at peace.
    The group of us moved out into the hallway muttering and groaning all the way.
    "Uh . . . Bastian, we should probably get to class. We've got a test today," Kobe muttered but loud enough for Rex, Bam Bam and the rest to overhear.
    "Yeah. Later," I said to no one in particular. The others in the group chirped their goodbyes before congregating around the vending machines in front of the caf. Kobe and I walked away in silence. Though we walked together Kobe and I stayed far from each other.
     Once we were outside and on our way to the portable Kobe questioned me. "Dude, what the hell was that?" I didn't know how to respond. "Why is TJ . . . Man, why are you texting TJ?"
   "We're friends," I sputtered.
   "Friends? What do you need to be friends with him for? Those texts you were sending didn't sound like y'all are friends. Bastian, are you gay or something?" 
    My stomach lurched. There was no point in lying. He saw the texts. He knew what was happening between us, all I had to do was confirm what he already knew. "Maybe. . .I don't know."
    Kobe grabbed his head, not caring if he ruined his waves. "Oh my god. I can't even . . . Why?" He looked me right in the eyes, something I couldn't remember Kobe doing in a long time.
    "It just happened. I just looked at him and I just liked what I saw. I didn't choose whether or not I wanted to be attracted to him," I stammered.
   Kobe made these weird noises of surprise. "That's crazy, Sebastian. That's really crazy."
      I started to turn off, I needed to go home. No way I could get anything done in math class with all these thoughts swirling in my head and eating me up. Though the day had hardly begun I was exhausted.  Mom wasn't home and neither was Seth so if I skipped and spent the day playing GTA no one would ever know. And the school would call but I didn't have to answer. I could always delete whatever voice message they had left. I dug the packet of cigarettes out of my pocket and pulled one out.
     "Bruh! Where are you going?" Kobe called out to me.
    "Home!”
     Kobe jogged up to me. "You still gonna reach Rex's jam?" His tone was oddly hopeful.
    "What?"
    "Are you coming to Rex's jam?"
    "Why do you care?"
    "'Cause you're still my friend, gay or not. I mean, we were still cool and you were hooking up with that clown for weeks. You're still Bastian."
    My eyes felt hot but I reigned myself in from that precipice. I’d look weak if I cried. Kobe squeezed my shoulder. "You're cool for a faggot."
   "Hey!"
   "Sorry," Kobe said with a laugh.