To Nash: Not much. LOL. Umm, why are you messaging me?
To River: My brother Holden is your English partner. He talks about you a lot. I just thought I’d get to know you too. Is that okay?
Holden probably doesn’t want her knowing that he talks about her, but if someone has to be a casualty to the cause, then it’s better him than me.
To Nash: I know you’re his brother. He told me about you, and well, the last name gives it away.
Okay. She has some sass. I love it. Not to mention, she knows who I am.
To River: Want to hear a joke?
To Nash: Sure. But is it going to be funny?
To River: Do you think I’d tell a joke that wasn’t?
Now I’m worried. The only jokes I’m good at are dad jokes, and that’s only because that’s all my father told.
To River: What did the bison say to his son when he left the ranch?
I wait for her to guess. And to find out that corny jokes are all I have in my arsenal.
To Nash: See you later? I have no clue.
To River: Bi-son. Get it.
Crickets.
To River: I have another one for you. What’s the best way to save your dad’s jokes?
I wait for her answer. Nothing.
To River: In a dadda-base. Come on now. Those were funny.
To Nash: That’s not exactly the word I’d use to describe them, but you are making me laugh.
She responded. I can breathe. Even though she didn’t get the humor in my jokes.
To River: I have more of them if you ever need another laugh. So what made you decide to take online classes? Do you have any classes on campus? Have I bumped into you before by chance?
There’s a pause in our conversation, and I scoot up in bed, adjusting how I’m holding the laptop on my lap. Suddenly I wish I would’ve grabbed something to drink before coming upstairs.
I wonder if she’s messaging Holden, telling him that I’m talking to her. If she has, I expect him to come busting through my door at any minute.
To Nash: It was just easier for me to do online. I did go to campus once, when I enrolled, but haven’t been back since, so I doubt that I’ve bumped into you. I think that’s something I’d probably remember.
I can’t help but laugh.
To River: Yeah, you would. Do you plan to ever go to school on campus?
To Nash: As of right now? No, but who knows what the future holds. You ask a lot of questions. Your brother does too.
To River: It’s how I plan to get to know you. That’s how it normally happens. Are you talking to him now?
To Nash: You want to get to know me? And yes, we are. We’re actually going over our project. Figuring out all the details.
To River: I’m sorry to bother you then. Don’t want to keep you from your schoolwork. But I can’t lie, I'm enjoying talking to you.
It’s not a lie. I am. In my mind, I’m trying to picture her sitting at her computer, moving between chatting with me and Holden.
