To Catch A Dream

Jonah Part Twenty One

As I arrive at school, I decided to talk to Conrad.

"Hey... man. You want to hang out sometime today?", I ask a little embarrassed.

He looks at me. What's that expression on his face? Pity.

"Yeah... I got football practice... But I can make sometime... And sorry for your loss... ," he says dejectedly.

"Thanks. I appreciate it. Starbucks at seven then?," I ask.

"You got it, dude," he replies.

I make friends through pity or manipulation. I guess that's high school.

...

We sit there. Awkwardly. Not saying a word... It's been a while since we've hung out. Of course, I've given him plays and whatnot at our football games... the occasional congratulations, but nothing more than that.

Conrad clears his throat and stirs his coffee.

"So. What's new with you McAdams?" he asks, hoping to start a conversation.

"You know... calculator, football practice... Dead best friends... what's new with you?" I say as casually as possible.

He chooses to ignore the last part. Smart guy.

" Nothing much. Did you know Mark and Bree Anna broke up?" he says, glad to change the topic.

"Oh?," I say surprised. They always seemed to be the perfect couple.

"It's because of that new girl fight. Bree got mad because Mark beat up a girl, and she's on some kind of feminist phase I think. But mostly because Mark doesn't give the attention a "princess deserves"," he says mockingly.

I can't help but laugh. I suppose that's where the expression dumb blondes come from. But there are definitely some smart ones out there.

"Weren't they already on the road to that after Marcus fainted at the Winter Formal last year? Bree Anna claimed that he did it on purpose to get the attention away from her," I laugh.

Conrad joins in. Then he smiles mischievously.

"Want to make a scene?" he asks, smirking.

This is me and Conrad's way of suggesting we should do something so robust and surprising that the store manager can't help but kick us out.

"You know I do," I say, relenting.

He brings out his phone and turns on Billie Eilish music.

The girl might have talent, but that doesn't mean I do.

I belt out the lyrics of the song very very loud and off-key. Conrad joins in. Together we sound like a pack of rabid hyenas. It's soothing.

...

I left the store in an extremely good mood. I really needed some time where I could forget about all my other issues and just live in the moment.

Of course, my mother realizes this first.

"Oh, honey Jonah... you seem to be in a much better mood today! It must be from the influence of that wonderful boy Conrad. His mom and I are in a book club together you know?" she says in that motherly way.

"Oh come on Mom, so I can only be good if someone is influencing me now?," I asked jokingly.

"Now you realize?"

I sprint upstairs to find my dad and ask him if I could borrow his car keys so I could go for a ride.

He agrees since my grades have been outstanding lately.

In the car, I sing more. Much more. More than necessary, honestly, but hey, who's going to stop me?