The Eccedentesiast

Chapter Twelve

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Chapter Twelve
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"I'm Xavier." He stuck his hand out to shake Daniel's.

Daniel had no idea his hand was being offered to him. He kept his eyes directed into his.

"I'm Daniel," he breathed out without meaning to.

Xavier glances down at his outstretched hand, awkwardly coughed, and brought it back to his side.

"Uhm, you met Jenny?" Xavier jabs his thumb over his shoulder where Jennifer held her hands to her chest while nervously biting her lip.

Daniel nodded. "Ye-Yeah. She mentioned you two broke up?" he asked keeping his tone wary. His smile didn't seem at all fake, but off.

Behind Daniel, his friends were huddled up in a small circle trying not to laugh.

"Yeah," Xavier replied. "But, oh well, shit happens." He scratched the back of his neck and then runs his hand through his voluminous hair.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah."

Both averted their gaze. The ground, cars, people.

"Daniel." Connor draped an arm around his shoulders. "It's time to go, amigo."

Daniel cleared his throat and looked at Xavier. "I'll-"

"See you at lunch?" Xavier finished.

Daniel nodded, the corners of his mouth tilting up intensely.

"Co-Cool. Yup," Daniel stammered. He sent Xavier a nervous smile and then waved goodbye before turning around to walk with his friends.

Xavier stood there, his mouth agape and his hands clenching to loose fists.

"How'd it go?" Jennifer asked him. She laid her left hand on his shoulder. "You good?"

Xavier looked at her. "I think we'll be having lunch together." He shrugged.

His smile was suddenly gone; he was nervous—overthinking.

"That's good. You look like you just shit your pants, though." She scrunched up her nose.

"I might have." Xavier patted his butt. "My bum is firm. Damn," he whispered, turning his head to somehow glance at it.

Jennifer let out a laugh, slapping his butt playfully. "Come on, weirdo."

𖨆

It was lunchtime. Kids ran around outside playing football and others stayed in the cafeteria either making fun of other students or reading a book while having earbuds plugged into their ears—there were only a few in-betweens in this school.

"Do you think he actually meant what he said?" Daniel asked eagerly as he and his friends waited in line to get food.

"I'm sure he did." Connor sighed and patted Daniel's shoulder.

"What if he was just being nice? You know, like when you tell someone you'll see them later but actually, mean for them to go fuck themselves." Daniel cracked his knuckles. "I wish we could smoke right now."