Toaster Notes From My Best Friend the Dating-Optimist (A Christian Romance)

Chapter Sixteen

After I get past the coffee incident, lunch progresses fairly well. The team has a few different conversations going on. A few of the guys next to me are talking about graduation. The grade twelves, I assume. Two of the guys down the table are talking in hushed tones about the girls they want to ask out. Anton and the guys next to him are talking about the other teams. Quietly, of course - as to not tip off the other teams at the tables next to us.

The only one not talking is Five. He's sitting quite still, poking at his sandwich with a fork. Hmm. Odd. I realize that I still don't know his name - despite being given the roster for the team. Instinctively, I run my hand along the lip of the table, feeling for the roster where I had put it at breakfast. It was now up in my room. 

Ah, well - I can find out later. I think, drumming my fingers on the table as I wait for my roast beef sandwich to come.

I watch Five from down the table. He picks up his sandwich and takes a few quick bites before putting it back down. He looks proud of himself.

My attention is quickly drawn to other things - including Spencer, who spills his entire mug of coffee all over Matthew's ketchup-soaked eggs (I'm left wondering who would opt to eat eggs for lunch, but that's another one of my unimportant opinions). Matthew angrily pushes back from the table. He stands - gets in Spencer's face.

"Seriously?!" He's loud. Louder than he intended to be, I think. My vantage point for this is excellent. I can see both of their faces. Spencer's eyes go wide. He raises his hands in surrender.

"Sorry, man. I didn't do it on purpose." Matthew rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, right. You just like to sabotage me." His words are cutting. Spencer looks confused. I watch as he clenches and un-clenches his fists - a nervous habit, I assume. 

"What have I ever done to sabotage you?" Matthew presses his lips together, like he's trying to restrain himself.

"Oh, I don't know," His words are slow. Chilled. "Maybe stealing my girlfriend?"

Spencer's eyes look like they might bug out of his head. His pale face turns a blotchy red.

"She wasn't your girlfriend! She wasn't even your friend. Just because you follow her around like a lovesick puppy doesn't mean-"

A loud scraping noise draws my attention to the other end of the table. It's Five. He's standing. His arms are crossed. He doesn't look happy. The rest of the team's attention is divided between Five and their arguing teammates.

The side staring at Five looks afraid.

The side with their eyes glued to Spencer and Matthew are smiling in wicked anticipation.

"Dang, boys." A voice rings out.

Five doesn't hesitate. He pins a defiant Andrew with his gaze, brown eyes alight. Andrew looks down at his lap.

"Look, I know that you guys are stressed." He begins. The team seems to nod in unison with his statement.

"But we haven't even played our first game yet. You can't be attacking each other already. I need you guys to get along for the next couple days, okay?" The team whispers quietly amongst themselves.

"We're really blessed to be here, guys." His tone has softened. The guys' faces are solemn. They continue to nod along with what Five's saying.

"I'm not sure how well we'll do, but even if we lose the round robin - it won't be because of your playing skills. I can't believe I've ended up with such a fantastic team." 

He changes his stance, looking a little more serious.

"That said - I'm not ready to get thrown out of here for disorderly conduct. Not before we've even started."

Five pauses, a weird look on his face. He presses his lips together.

"I'll see you later."

With that abrupt end to his rather inspiring monologue - he turns and heads for the door, pushing his fingers through his hair. He pauses at the entrance to the restaurant - gripping the side of the doorframe. He pauses momentarily, and his knuckles go white. Then he's gone.

The team resumes chatting and eating as if nothing happened.

I'm dumbfounded.

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Hey guys!!

Any guesses as to what's going on with Five?