Play the Game

Chapter Four

 

  That evening there was a knock on my bedroom window. I opened our and let Frank in with a roll of my eyes. “You do know there's a front door, right?"

“Yeah. But there's no fun in that. Anyway, guess why I'm here." I took one good look at him and was about to guess before he burst.

  “Beep! To late. I'm here because... it's payday!" From his pocket he pulled out a stack of money and waved it around. I gasped. “Oh my gosh, Frank. That's like fifty bucks! I can't take that from you!" He opened my hand and put the stack of dollar bills in my palm.

  “Uh, yes, you can. I'm not exactly starving to death. And anyway, you're the one saving my sorry a-"

“Nope. No profanities in this household, please. I get it, though. You're rich," I said jokingly. But it was true. Frank's parents had money to spare, apparently on huge allowances for Frank every week.

  “It's actually fifty bucks for both of you, though. Twenty five and twenty five. For such awesome performances. I was wondering- can you please take Nate his half? He makes me uncomfortable." I giggled and split the money in half. “Sure, Frank. Thanks so much!"

 

  He gave me a quick hug and the himself out the window humming the Spider-Man theme song.

  I put on my coat and told my parents I was going to a friend's house to work on a project, which was only half right. I wouldn't consider myself Nate's friend per se, but I did want to be. Might as well, right?

   I also got the feeling from Nate that he was lonely. These past few days were probably the first times people at school had ever seen him not alone. He was always reserved when he was not 'in character', although he did hang out with me even when we weren't pretending. I guess you could say he was warming up to me.

    With the cash in my pocket, I walked down the few blocks in between Nate's house and mine. I hummed along and thought About Mark. Now, I knew he isn't worth my thoughts, that dirty little cheat, but I couldn't help pitying him a little bit. When he realized that I was with Nate, I knew what he thinking. That I knew about the other girl, and that Nate and I were together.

  I arrived at the familiar little house where I had spent my Friday. Toys and balls were still scattered about the lawn, showing that kids lived there. I rang the doorbell and stepped back.

   Nate answered the door drying his hand on a dish towel.

This time he wrote a royal blue polo. Mike's Mechanic, it read.

His eyes widened at the sight of me. “Elle! What are you doing here," he whispered. I have him a shy smile and showed him the cash. “It's payday." He sighed and stepped aside, inviting me in.

   “Come in. Here, give me your jacket." He took it and hung it on the coat rack and said, “You can sit on the couch. I'll be right there." He went back into the kitchen, probably to put back the dish towel. “Okay," he said sitting next to me. “What's the deal?" I reached into my pocket and pulled out the twenty five dollars. “Here's your half for the first week. He said your doing a good job," I added awkwardly.

  Nate seemed shy about accepting the money, but he eventually received and pocketed the small attack. “Well, thank him for me." I nodded. “One more thing." I showed him my bag. “We have a project to work on." This lightened the mood. He smiled. “You're right. You're the most responsible fake girlfriend I've ever had."

    It was getting late, so there wasn't much we could do but share our notes and plan. “Here's what I think," I said, and described to him my vision for our A-Worthy project.

                                    

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    I stayed up late that night, for me anyway, which was the cause of my late morning the next day. My cell phone was ringing beside me. “Hello?" It was Megan. I could tell right away by the voice. “You're so lucky, Eleanor Swan! You overslept, didn't you?" I sighed. Shoot, a person like me just needs a good rest. I was caught. “Yeah, Megan. What I would do without a friend like you is just beyond me.".

  Megan always appreciated a little praise. “You're absolutely right, Ellie. So, what kept you up anyway, huh?" I was a little embarrassed but I figured, hey, if you can't tell your best friends, who can you tell?

  “Look Megan," I said. “I'll explain more later, 'cause right now I have to get to school. But basically I was at Nate's." I bit my lip and heard her gasp. “Uh, that's all. Bye!"  Quickly, I hung up the phone and went into speedy -readiness mode. I can't beat being late. It's almost like ditching.

  I hustled my way over to class, barely slipping in before Mrs. Hardin took attendance. The poor woman was blind as a bat. Frank, however, was not. “Girl!" He said, seizing the first chance he got to torture my already heavy conscience. “You're late, and that can only mean one thing." He lowered his thick-framed glasses, which, frankly, (see what I did there?) He didn't really need to where.

  “I know, Frank. I overslept, tell me something we don't know." I leaned my chin against my fist and let out a breath. “Well," he said, “The question is doing what." He raised an eyebrow, a gesture that was starting to get on my nerves the more it was done. “I was at Nate's, okay?" I dropped my hand and let me head fall face-down on my desk. Frank gasped.

  I lifted my head and have Frank a disgusted look. “Ugh. No, Frank. You know what I mean. No. Eww. No." He told his eyes. “Yeah, Ellie, I do know. Best friends? Innocent as an... angel?" He waved his hand on front of my face as if I had a concussion. I smiled. “My goodness, Frank. Pay attention in class, will you?" I pointed to the teacher who was covering disapprovingly over Frank's desk.

  “Mr. Franklin." Frank turned around to face her with wide eyes. Though Blind as add a very she may be, she was sure as scary as a whole group of them.

  “Yes, ma'am?"

  “ I think Eleanor here can see just fine. And if it doesn't bother you, post attention in my class. Or I'll have to call your mother again."

  The entire class laughed at that line. We all remembered the day when Frank jumped out of his seat cussing out a be that had stung him. It resulted in the public calling of his mother.

  When she walked away, Frank slipped me a glance that for some reason have me an uncontrollable case of the Giggles, earning me my own death-glare from Mrs. Blind-as-a-Bat.

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A/N

Okay, I'll admit this was a major filter chapter. But I promise, no uneventfulness in the chapters to come. (hint hint, anyone?) Anyway, thanks again! Happy reading!

love, tuppence