Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 09:16:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Lusty <lustyville@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Science of Us-Part 8. Strange Bedfellows

   I walked in the classroom and took my seat in the back. I
focused my energy on breathing slowly and slowing down my
thumping heart. I had a date with Pat! At first I thought John
had given me some shitty advice about being more flirtatious with
Pat, but I was seeing results. In class with Pat, I was really
evasive about my conversation with John, which seemed to make Pat
jealous. I wasn't sure if Pat was jealous that I was with John,
or jealous that John was with me, but Pat's behavior made it
clear that he felt something towards me. Pat even dropped the 20
questions routine when class was over and he acted sort of
normal. He offered to take me out to dinner and I wanted to
faint, but I kept my cool.

     I was jittery for the rest of the day and fearful that I
would see Pat in the hallway. My excitement to go on a date with
him was only overpowered by my fear of seeing him before
practice. I didn't want to make small conversation with him and I
was a little afraid to look him in his eyes after being so
forward. I needed time to prepare. I needed time to talk to Nick.

     I saw Nick at the end of the day and told him about the
strange happenings during the day. He was shocked about John's
behavior, but I didn't get a big reaction out of him until I told
him about my date with Pat.

     "No shit!" he said.

     "It's true." I assured him.

     "So I guess I'll be driving home by myself?"

     "Sorry." I gave a fake sad face. He shoved my shoulder.

     "No you're not!"

     "Okay, I'm not." He reached up and grabbed my shoulders.

     "You better call me as soon as it's over and tell me what
happened."

     "Yes Mother." He lightly slapped my right cheek.

     "Okay, as long as we're on the same page. At least now I
don't have to wait for you to finish practice."

     "No, you don't."

     "Well I'm going to cut out now. Don't do anything I wouldn't
do."

     "Haha. And that would be?"

     "Very funny. See you later, Loverboy."

     "Wait, you need to tell me what to do at dinner."

     "Be yourself and relax. Now, goodbye."

     "Is that all?"

     "That's all you need. Call me." With that he walked away.

     "Come on Nick!" I shouted after him. He kept walking. I
needed someone to talk to about the date. I slammed my fist
against a locker. "Damn it!" I said out loud to no one in
particular.

     "What's wrong?" I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a
hand on my shoulder.

     I turned around and there was John. I wondered if he was
following me. "Huh?"

     "Did you and Nick have a fight?"

     "No, I just, well, I have a date with Pat." I blurted out.

     "Yeah, I heard about that."

     "What? Who told you?"

     "You think Pat wouldn't tell his friends about his first
ever date? He's probably as nervous as you look."

     I felt a pinch of relief. "Pat is nervous?"

     "Of course! Who wouldn't be?" I just looked at him. "Come
with me."

     "Where?"

     "You'll see."

     I was hesitant but curious. "But I have practice."

     "You can miss one. Come on." His smile put me at ease. He
would make a good drug dealer because I would buy anything he was
selling.

     "What about Pat?"

     "Drop by the locker room and tell him you'll see him after
practice."

     What was I supposed to say? "Okay."

     I usually walked the 15 minute trek to the local ice rink,
which served as our practice area, but John drove me, thus making
the trip a short 5 minutes. My daily routine was severely screwed
and it all started with lunch. On a normal day, I walked to the
ice rink, and Nick would drive the car there and be waiting for
me when practice ended. John walked me to the locker room and we
waited for ten minutes before my teammates began to filter in. We
waited another five minutes before we saw Pat approaching. He
gave us a questioning look and asked, "Why are you guys standing
here?"

     I was speechless. John came to my rescue, "Since you guys
have a dinner date, I asked Pat if we could move his tutoring
session from 7 this evening to right now. I know he shouldn't
miss practice, but he'll be missing a lot more if he fails math."

     Pat looked at me and I still couldn't manufacture any words.
I knew I was blushing as I tried to force a smile. Pat asked me,
"So, um, what time are we meeting?"

     Again, John answered for me, "A little after 5. You just
stay here and wait for him, and tell the team why he missed
practice, half the team has already walked by and seen him." Pat
seemed as powerless against John's commands as I was.

     Pat looked back at me and said, "Okay." as if he was talking
to me.

     John grabbed my arm and started pulling me away. "See you
later, Pat." All I could do was wave. I can't recall my brain
functioning again until I heard my seatbelt click in the buckle
in John's car. What was I doing with him? I should be at
practice!

     He drove me to some playground and parked the car. "What do
you want to know about Pat?"

     "Huh?"

     "You don't understand English very well, do you?" He smiled
to let me know he was having some light-hearted fun at my
expense.

     "You caught me off guard. I just wanted you to repeat the
question."

     "Okay, what do you want to know about Pat?"

     "Anything?"

     "Anything. Now ask something!" I had a flash that maybe John
wasn't as bad as I feared he was, maybe Nick was right that John
could be a good source of information.

     "Is it true that Pat had a party to announce he was gay?"

     "What? Haha. No, that's not what happened at all. Pat was at
some party and he got plastered and told the whole damn party
that he was gay. Drew had to practically drag him out of there."

     "Were you there?"

     "No, I don't do parties."

     "Why not?"

     "Aren't we talking about Pat?" I made a mental note of his
refusal to answer my question.

     "Why are you trying to help me with Pat? First you give me
advice and now you're trying to calm me down before my date.
What's your deal?"

     "Maybe I just want Pat to be happy."

     "Why?"

     "He's a good friend. Now do you have anymore questions?" I
felt like he was a spy trying to give me a secret report before
he ran off and disappeared somewhere.

     "Is there anything I shouldn't do?"

     "I wouldn't worry about it, Pat is pretty laid back, just be
yourself and everything should be fine."

     "Oh" was all I managed to say before we fell in to an
awkward silence. I didn't want to say anything and he seemed
fresh out of conversation as well. I watched the sun slowly inch
its way across the sky. I watched a few kids play on the jungle
gym and I saw the most adorable little boy come down the slide
with a huge smile on his face. The sight of him made me smile too
and I remembered a time in my life when each day was mudpies and
play pals and no worries. What I wouldn't give to have those easy
times back. We must have sat in silence for thirty minutes or so.

     John finally spoke, "Well it's obvious you don't have
anything to say. Maybe we should head back early."

     "Okay."

     "Do you have your math book?"

     "Yes."

     "Okay, we can go over some math when we get there."

     "Okay." I focused my gaze out the window. I didn't know why
I hadn't asked more questions. It wasn't until we pulled in to
the rink parking lot that I realized I was no longer nervous. I
was relaxed and ready for the date. I wanted to thank John for
taking me away. The change in scenery helped me think and clear
my head. John reached for his door and I grabbed his arm. "Thank
you."

     "For what?"

     "For taking me away. I know you don't think you helped me,
but all I needed was time to relax and think about things other
than the date for a few minutes. I've been driving myself crazy
worrying about it."

     He lifted his right arm and looked at his watch. "It's
almost 5," he said with a wicked grin.


c Lustyville 2006
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