Late Night Phone Calls | Tyrus

Part 5: He'd Have to Try

TJ's POV

As I close my locker, I see Reed walking up to me in the hall.

"Yo, TJ," he calls.

"What's up?" I ask while I start heading toward my first class.

"Where were you this weekend, man? You missed Brian's party."

I forgot about that. I told Reed and Lester that I would go to it, but after going to The Spoon with Cyrus on Friday, the commitment completely slipped my mind. I guess it must've been in the spot in my brain that is now occupied by Cyrus' phone number, which, in all honesty, is a much better use of space. But I can't tell Reed about Cyrus.

"Sorry," I say. "I guess I just forgot."

"How do you forget about that?" he asks with a chuckle. "Dude, Brian's parties are legendary."

They are memorable; I'll give him that. Last time, someone set off fireworks. Our friend, Cory, still has a scar on his chest from being hit by one of them. Thankfully, his jacket, which now has a hole melted through it, protected him from being burnt.

"I've just had a lot on my mind," I say.

"Whatever, dude, but you gotta come to Linda's party next Friday."

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"Niceberg!"

He gives my shoulder a friendly punch before jetting off in the opposite direction of where I know his first class is. He must be skipping class again today.

_____________________________________

Cyrus' POV

"Where's Buffy?" Jonah asks.

Andi, Jonah, and I wait by Buffy's locker for her to get out of class so that we can go to lunch, but the halls are already beginning to clear, and there's still no sign of her.

All of a sudden, the river of kids divides, revealing and infuriated Buffy stomping toward us, steam practically blowing from her ears. In her hands she holds a sopping wet orange shirt. When she gets up to us, the sour smell of the fabric becomes apparent.

"Look at this!" Buffy barks.

"What happened?" Andi asks, wrinkling her nose at the putrid smell.

"Is that milk?" Jonah adds.

"Yes," Buffy answers. "Someone soaked all of the girls' basketball uniforms in sour milk."

"Since when do you guys have uniforms?" I ask.

"They came this morning," she explains. "I went to pick them up from the office, but it turns out someone got there before me!"

"Who do you think it was?" Jonah wonders.

I don't need to hear her answer. I know what she's going to say, and I hate to think that he might've actually done this. I know he and Buffy don't have the best relationship, but I guess I just thought he was above this kind of immaturity.

"TJ," she growls. "Believe me, when I get my hands on him—"

"Let me," I interrupt. "I'll talk to him."

She looks at me in surprise.

"You? Cyrus, he could snap you with his pinky finger."

"I know," I say. I need to know if he did this. "But he doesn't have anything against me, and you seem like you're about ready to punch him, so I'd rather not see my best friend get suspended."