32-Brad

MONDAY

Brad went to school on Monday morning tired and hazy. He hadn’t fully caught up on his sleep, but that wasn’t all. He felt a fog around him, an awareness that at times was overwhelming. There was a perspective he had acquired that wasn’t there before. It wasn’t all-good or all-bad—it was just new and different. It was also a bit heavy to carry around.

In other words, he still felt trippy as hell. But it wasn’t just that.

Much of it was inextricably linked to Amy Weaver, as he could never go for too long thinking about anything else before she arose into his thoughts, her shine overcoming all else. Thus, running into her so suddenly on Monday morning was quite fitting, like it was the embodiment of his new perspective coming to life. It certainly could be a weight to carry around, but the benefits meant that he talked with girls like her. So, it was a more than fair trade off.

By chance they passed by one another in the hallway while coming and going from their lockers.

“Oh, hey, Brad,” she said, turning toward him. “How are you?” Her voice and her stance toward him were quite warm and direct.

“Hey, Amy. I’m fine.” He spoke calmly, though he was very much taken aback by her sudden engagement. “How are you?” he managed.

“Good.”

“How was the rest of the party on Saturday?”

“It was fine. Actually…it kind of went a little downhill toward the end. I should have left with you.”

Her eye contact was unfailing. He couldn’t believe it. Brad tried to contain himself.

“Oh, yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah. Not to mention how Lance Gill was like, following me around all night. He just could not take a hint! It was so annoying.” She shook her head, as though she were angry even at the memory of it.

From her sudden emotion Brad thought maybe there was even more there that she left unsaid. “Are you okay, Amy?” he asked, with clear concern. “Did he—”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. Really, I am. You’re just a lot nicer than he is, though.”

“Oh. Thanks.” For the first time Brad thought that maybe his laidback tactics weren’t such a bad play after all.

“The dancing was a lot of fun, though,” she continued. “But I never saw you down there! Who were you hanging out with all night?”

“Paul and Lauren. Rob, too. The whole porch crowd, basically. That’s more my scene.”

“I didn’t know you were so tight with all of them.” Her eyes studied him, and she looked interested, even enamored.

“Yeah, they’re all cool.”

“I read your letter again yesterday.”

“Oh, really?” Brad managed. She’d just taken the conversation to a whole other level. Right on cue he felt his heart begin to pound.

“Yes. I read it like, three times. It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever given me.”

He couldn’t believe her words, and he couldn’t believe the look she gave him, like she was searching him, like she wanted something. Despite what she’d said, she’d been through something, he could see—though he had no idea what it was. She was very affected though—her face was flushed, and she was clearly looking to him for something. Brad thought maybe he should take her in his arms right then and there. She wanted him to. And he wanted to—desperately. Who cares if they were in the middle of school and there were a million people around? This was a real moment.

But he hesitated.

“I should go,” she said, turning away.

“Amy, wait.”

She turned back and looked at him inquisitively.

“We should hang out again sometime,” he proposed. In the moment it was the best he had.

“Sure. I’d like that.”

Brad searched, but he just couldn’t find any more words. He smiled though.

“Call me sometime,” she said, smiling back.

“I will.”

“See you in class,” she said, while beginning to walk away, her smile never fading.

“Okay. See you.”

Brad turned away slowly, feeling his body lift off the ground, telling himself that conversation had just happened, exactly the way he’d perceived it.

He walked down the hallway toward class, trying to move coolly, but really, he felt like a human super ball and wanted to start bouncing off the walls and ceilings.

She did it with mere words, too. He tried to imagine how much better it could get. It was dizzying to think about.

So many people passed by in the hall. Brad kept quiet, a hint of smile on his face.

It felt like a drug all on its own, like he didn’t need the other stuff. It was strong and true. He’d feen for it, again and again, and probably for the rest of his life. It was an addiction.

Brad walked into Coach West’s Psychology class alongside Paul, Rob, and Raza who each happened to make their entrance at the same time. Instinctively, Brad felt a twinge of unease as Rob neared, but it was ridiculous because these guys were his friends now. It was clear that the weekend had carried right into Monday.

“What’s up, playa?” Paul asked.

“Chillin,’ man. How are you guys doing?” Brad asked.

“What up, kid?” Rob muttered.

Raza said nothing, but slapped Brad on the back as he also passed by.

“What’s up, Raza?” Brad asked.

He nodded coolly back at him. Then the guys took their seats.

Brad did the same, sitting down at his desk that was adjacent to his buddies, Zack and Clay, who had both been watching him with bewildered expressions.

“So, what…you’re boys with all of them, now?” Clay asked.

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“Even Rob?”

Brad nodded. “I know, right? No one saw that coming.”

“No kidding. Just like…five minutes ago he was your arch-nemesis. What happened?”

Brad shrugged. “We smoked a mean spliff and called it good.”

Clay laughed.

“Rob is actually a cool dude, man,” Brad continued. “I mean chill as shit. But, Paul is the man, though. He is my bro.”

“What exactly were you doing this weekend, Brad?” Zack asked.

“Interesting you should ask,” Brad replied, speaking very matter-of-factly. “I stayed up all night on Friday talking with Paul after I tripped my nuts off. Then, on Saturday night, I just smoked ludicrous amounts of marijuana with all of ’em. All in all…a wild freakin’ weekend.”

“Man, screw that weekend,” Zack muttered.

“How long are you grounded for?” Brad asked.

“Indefinitely. You wouldn’t believe how much shit in my house is damaged. Or stolen. There’s shit that we are still figuring out is missing.”

Brad winced. “That sucks.”

“Seriously. You would have thought someone just backed up a U-Haul in my driveway and just started carrying shit out. Hell, for all I know, someone did.”

“Well, I had to call my parents to come and pick me up from your house, man,” Clay said. “With the cops standing alongside, and all the while my ass was half-passed out. That was my weekend. So, all in all, Brad…you win.”

They all watched as Amy Weaver made her entrance. She gave Brad a quick wave and smile as she took her seat. Brad responded in kind, very aware of the fact that his friends watched, both of them in awe.

Zack raised both eyebrows. “You hang out with her too, Brad?”

“Yeah,” Brad said, nodding. “She went with me to Antwann’s party on Saturday.”

Zack was aghast. “Dude, who didn’t you hang out with last weekend?”

Brad grinned.

“How’d it go with Amy?” Clay asked. “I’m dying to know.”

“Pretty good, man. She and I are pretty tight now. We’re…making plans to hang out again.”

Zack and Clay were both quiet for a moment, with questioning looks on their faces.

“So…you didn’t get any, then?” Zack chortled.

“A swing and a miss!” Clay added, laughing also.

Brad realized this conversation was hopeless.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he admitted.