“You took it the wrong way, man,” he says to my back as I walk away. I make sure he sees my middle finger over my shoulder before I push out of the locker room, otherwise I might do something stupid like punch him in his smelly face.
“Oz,” someone calls, and I glare over my shoulder. Higgins joins me as I walk down the hall.
“What’s up?” My voice is tight when I speak.
“Want to grab dinner after practice?” He doesn’t react to my tone.
“I can’t tonight, my buddy has a show I said I’d go to.”
“What kind of show? Is he in a band or something?”
“Or something,” I say.
“Are you partying on a weeknight right before a game?” Higgins sounds doubtful. We spent most of the summer running drills and preseason practices together, so he knows that’s not how I roll.
“Nah, just going to watch him play. I’ll be asleep before midnight.”
“Where’s he playing?” He’s a little too interested, and I don’t really want any tagalongs this time, not since Waylynn will be there.
“Some small bar in Chelsea. He plays the cello.” I say the last part to discourage him.
Higgins sucks air through his teeth, making the incorrect assumption it will be lame. I might have too, but I’ve been watching and hearing Bates play for years. He’s a beast. I feel bad for making it seem like a shitshow now, but I’ll make it up to both Higgins and Bates later.
“Another time then.” He slows his steps.
“Yeah, for sure,” I agree and head to my class. I’m not as pissed as I was, but I’m still irritated with KJ.
Waylynn
Are you fucking joking?The words ring clear in my mind, and I don’t question who they came from. Oswald sounded upset, at least in my head. It’s silly to think it’s really him, but I still pull out my phone and open up the text app.
My thumbs hover over the keyboard for a long second as I debate texting him. I don’t know what to say. It’s not like I can just ask him directly if he thought the words I just heard in my head.
Me:Morning, sorry about forgetting to leave the code.
I hit send after erasing and retyping the message three times. I watch for a response for several seconds, but when none come, I slip my phone in my back pocket and lock up the house. I don’t know what I thought I was going to learn anyway.
I haven’t left school early once, and I’m feeling brave, so I leave my car in the garage, walk the few blocks to the corner, and cross over to campus. Students are still hustling to get from place to place, but I don’t feel the same sense of urgency I felt last week.
When I enter the room, several of the seats are already taken, but I find a few open spots in the middle of a row near the back. I have to pass several people already seated, but there’s nothing I can do but suck in my stomach and butt, then pass them quickly.
After opening my laptop and pulling up my notes from Tuesday, I still have time to check my phone. Oswald still hasn’t responded, so I browse my social media, then give into the real reason I opened this app. My thumbs fly over the screen as I type in Oswald’s name, but I know the person who comes up isn’t him. I delete his name and retype Oz Gravlin, and when an account pops up, I know it’s him, even though the picture is old.
I click on his account and look through the posts, most of which are memes and football related stuff, but there are a few with him and Memphis. I check to see if he’s tagged in the photos, but nothing comes up.
After looking through his stuff a few times, I eventually go back to the top and click on the people he’s following.
Memphis Gravlin is at the top, but when I click on his account, I get notified it’s private. I’m not surprised, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less curious. I go back to perusing Oswald’s page, lingering way longer than I should on the pictures with girls in them, until the professor calls the class to attention.
When class is over, I head home for lunch. I have plenty of time and even more food. I feel my phone buzz when I’m about to cross the street, but I don’t check it until I’m on the other side.
Oswald:U r adorable when you sleep.
His text brings a smile to my face.
Oswald:Where ru?
Me:Walking home for lunch. No parking violations today!
