"A date!" My words burst forth with more force than I was expecting. "I-I-I . . . no! She can't be going on a date. That's not how this is supposed to go." I'm about one busted blood vessel away from launching my phone across the room.
Reggie speaks from over the phone. "I dunno what to tell ya, man. That's what my confidential informant told me." And by "confidential informant", he's referring to the kid that sells him video games for a reduced price underneath the school's bleachers.
"Well . . . tell me who it is at least."
"I dunno if I can do that."
"Reggie. Spill. Now!"
"Alright, alright. Yeesh! It's Zane Archer." My stomach swells into a bundle of knots at the sound of that name. Zane Archer is arguably the coolest fifth grader in all of Pine Ridge Middle School. His parents own a high-end furniture store downtown and everyone knows they're loaded. Which means Zane Archer is loaded. Which means I'm doomed. There are rumors the guy gets $500 allowance each week. I'm lucky if I find loose coins in between the couch cushions. How am I supposed to compete with that?
The sick feeling in my stomach worsens. "Regg, you don't think . . ." I let my words drift. I can't bear to speak them into existence, almost as if doing so would somehow make the whole thing a done deal.
"What? I don't think what?"
I swallow the lump that's rising in my throat. "You don't think Gwen . . . likes him. Do you?"
There's a long pause over the phone. "Well, I saw Zane and Gwen sitting together at lunch every day last week, so—"
"I knew it!" A loud moan escapes me and I let my head fall back against my pillow. It's not even ten o'clock and my Saturday morning is already ruined.
"What are you going to do about it?" Reggie says.
"Nothing. There's nothing I can do. It's over. We're over. My worst fears have come true; Gwen has completely forgotten about me."
"What!" Reggie's voice gets louder, almost like he's pressed the phone against his lips. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. You gotta fight for her, man! You gotta ride in on your black stallion, slay the dragon, and rescue the princess. You gotta be like Kobe in the fourth quarter and hoist the team onto your shoulders and carry them to victory. You gotta be like Joey Chestnut and eat one more Nathan's hot dog because America is counting on you!"
"You're hungry, aren't you, Reggie?"
"Starved! But you're missing my point. You gotta fight for your girl. You gotta fight for Gwenevere, maggot!"
"I think those Call of Duty games have been getting to you."
"Yeah. You're probably right, but we're not done with this conversation. I've got a plan!"
"No! Absolutely not! No more of your plans. They never seem to go as . . . planned. Remember that Forth of July two years ago, the one where we set off fireworks inside your bedroom? You assured me the ceiling fan would blow them out the open window. For the next three Saturdays thereafter, your dad forced us to help him re-drywall the entire ceiling."
"Details, Christian. Minor details." I can practically envision him waving a dismissive hand through the air. "Besides it'll be different this time. And I'm going to prove it to you. Meet me at Anthony's in twenty."
"Why? Is there a secret underground facility full of Japanese ninjas that will somehow make Zane Archer disappear beneath Anthony's?"
"Christian, that's preposterous. I'm just hungry."
YOU ARE READING
Cupid's Sabotage (COMPLETED)
CintaAt six years of age, Christian Monroe met the love of his life: Gwenevere McCallum. The two agreed that if neither of them was married by age thirty, they would marry each other and sealed their agreement with a pinkie promise. As the years passed...
