"So I'm not really sure if I should ask him out.” Jay’s friend, Mary, was saying something about some guy she likes, but he doesn't know it. She just continued to drone on and on and on about how she heard that he does not say yes to very many people and all that. "What do you think Jay?"
"I'm not sure... maybe you should tell me who it is so I could tell you." he said. That’s
Typical of Jay to, always trying to get information, but not too openly so he does not anger anyone.
"No,” she says, “What about you, David?"
Hmmm... David? That's me. I'm actually taken aback by the fact that she knows my name. I simply shrug and say "I dunno.” hoping to keep my neutrality on the matter and all others.
"You don't talk much, do you?” she says.
"I try not to.” I say.
We finish getting our food in the lunch line with Mary talking about this boy she likes, Jay trying to figure out who it is, and me just following along in silence. When we get to an empty table, we all sit down. Now is when I start to notice something's out of place because Mary and Jay being the social people they are usually sit with a crowd.
"Why is it so important that you can't tell me?” Jay says.
A simple glance at me from Mary says it all.
"It's okay. He can keep a secret.” Jay says defending my cause.
She nods. No.
"How about if you just whisper it to me?"
"Okay,” she says, leaning over to tell him a secret that is apparently of the utmost importance that even my silent mind can't know.
As she starts whispering, Jay gives me a shocked look then gathers him and acts as if nothing has happened.
Of course, I saw the look. I might look average enough, but I am quite smart. I saw his look and it puzzled me quite a bit. Then I realized that maybe he was only surprised at who it was and did not want me to find out. I could care less about who this girl likes.
We go through the rest of lunch in silence. Until Mary finally looks up at me and says, "Do you wanna know who I like?"
"Sure I guess." I say awkwardly
"It's you." she says.
I am too shocked and confused to say anything. I wonder if this is some prank. I don’t trust it, like most things. Then the bell rings and I am the last one to leave the cafeteria.
Snap!
What was that? I think.
Snap!
There it is again.
Snap!
I come out of my thoughts to see my best friend, Michael, sitting in front of me.
"What'd you get for number fifteen?", he asks
"Oh," I say stupidly, "I didn't start. What page are we on?" I have to repeat to myself again in my head, my name is David Stehura. The year is 2011. I live in Northeastern Ohio. My parents are recently divorced. There I think that should do it as far as bringing myself back from those terrible memories from 2010.
So this is algebra. I look down and see my book laying there with all its scribbles all over it including my favorite. The one from that girl, Mary. Some note of nonsense about things that aren't true about me. Mary, obviously, wrote it masquerading as me. I never erase it because in some weird way I like to look at and feel the pain rush over me.
I quietly get to doing my math to get up to fifteen with Michael.
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