Our Communications

Chapter 7

Mikey’s POV

I’ve never seen her, this close to me. This is the longest I’ve talked to her. It’s amazing. I can see the way her full lips move quickly, speaking about bands. I love them all. She looks right at me while she talks and her long eyelashes flutter involuntarily. One time, I chuckle at her and she looks at me, confused. “Nothing,” I say. “I just like how you converse.” Nina gives me a strange look, but I don’t worry. We like the same bands. She’s practically obligated to be friends with me now.

“Where is Kiara anyway?” Nina asks after several moments pass in silence as we eat lunch. “This period began five minutes ago.”

I frown. “She seemed a bit upset today. She could be in the bathroom, you know, tears.”

“No,” Nina replies. “I don’t think so, not today at least.” We thoughtfully chew.

“You cry, right?” I blurt. Nina stares at me and I cringe. “I mean, everyone cries sometimes. It’s a natural thing. It helps stuff, too. I mean, if you cry sometime, you can call me or text me, because I'm pretty good with handling tissues and issues…” I'm an idiot. Crap. I'm such an idiot.

“Do you cry, Michael?” Nina asks me. I nod.

“Sometimes.”

Nina smiles and I sigh inwardly, relieved. “Then we can be cry-buddies. I’ll text you if I cry and you text me if you do.”

“Sure,” I say to her, smiling. “Totally.”

A burst of giggles and squeals hit my ears as Elaine, Cal and Ada rush over. Calum is holding Ada’s backpack and Ada is smiling widely.

“We couldn’t leave you alone, now, could we?” Ada says.

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“Aw, come on, Mikey. Cheer up! There’s a chance of you getting a girlfriend before you turn fifty.” I roll my eyes as Calum cracks up at his own joke. He whines when Ada sits down next to him. ”Ada,” he groans, dragging out the ‘a’. “Why won’t you sit in my lap?”

Ada looks at him incredulously. “Calum! You know very well that though you are my boyfriend, there are limits. When food is involved, it receives all of my attention and care. In a sense, you don’t exist when you are standing next to a box of pizza I want to eat.” I laugh as Ada turns away from Calum with determination.

“Did you just compare me to nothing or to food?” Calum asks. Nina leans across me to slap his arm and I smell her rose lip salve.

“You two might be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever known.” Nina states, wrinkling her nose cutely. I want to poke it.

“Oh Nina,” Ada teases. “That’s only because you hate love.”

“I hate everything,” Nina pouts, sticking out her plump, rose-salved bottom lip.

“Except me,” I say, beaming. I say it jokingly, but even if Nina did hate everything with one exception, I hope I would be just that.

Nina squints at me. “Whatever you want Mister Michael.” I laugh.

Ada pauses her conversation with Calum and turns to Nina and I. “Oh, I'm sure,” she says to Nina deviously. Just as Nina gasps and is about to give Ada a smart retort, a loud voice accompanied by raucous laughter presents itself to the cafeteria.

“Nina, Michael! You wouldn’t believe it! I totally slayed Mason in pre-calculus today, it was amazing! Not literally of course… but he tried to verbally attack me and it didn’t work and it even backfired and I just- Oh, am I hungry! I want to eat. Just- food…”