Why Did He Say That?
by Nina W
"What's wrong with what you're wearing? They look sexy on you–" Then, as if realising something, he cringed and his eyes got big.
"EXCUSE ME?!!!"
"I-it was a joke–"
"GET OUT!!!"
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I enjoy getting burned when cooking–not! I sighed. What's wrong with me today? I mean, look at these burn marks. They look so off on my smooth, creamy, milky white skin. I shouldn't even care, I'm a man, so these would be battle scars. But they're just soooo ugly. I lamented the damage on my beautiful skin. Sigh. Anyway, I just can't get him out of my mind! Argh, he's sooo infuriating! I just don't understand why he said that. OMG, is he, like, gay? Was that what yesterday was about?
We were playing our usual game of Call of Duty when I died because he wasn't healing me. "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaark! What are you doing? Why didn't you heal me?" I pouted at him.
"Huh? Oh, damn, Billy, I'm sorry. I was just..."
Then I noticed him staring at my chest, which, naturally, I had to cover with my arms, arms too slender to actually cover much, actually. I was conscious about my little bumps. I mean, I was proud of them, but still, I didn't want him staring at my pecs. Sure, they're kind of soft now, but they'll be hard, like, real soon. "And what are you looking at, mister?"
"N-nothing, I just thought, there was, no, nevermind." He rapidly looked back at the screen. Weird. He'd been acting strange lately. He even wanted to help carry my books the other day when we were walking to our class in another building on campus, about 5 minutes walk away. I can carry my books just fine, thank you very much, even if it was nice of him to ask.
"Look, if you're not gonna pay attention, our kill to death ratios are just gonna drop. Why don't we just–I don't know–go to the mall? Cruise for some, uh, chicks? It's a nice Saturday, after all."
"Yeah, uh, sure." He got up, turned off the teevee, put his wallet in his pants, and slicked back his hair. Walking to the door, he looked back at me. "Come on!"
"Wait! I need to get something to wear." No way am I going out in a tank top and short shorts!
"What's wrong with what you're wearing? They look sexy on you–" Then, as if realising something, he cringed and his eyes got big.
"EXCUSE ME?!!!"
"I-it was a joke–"
"GET OUT!!!"
"No, I was only kidding..."
"GET. OUT."
Head down, shoulders slumped, he headed for the door. For some odd reason I could not fathom, I started crying. I just don't understand.
Which brings me back to today. He hasn't contacted me back. I'm so worried.
Hmmm, pictures of Mark holding a cake for my birthday, Mark with a goofy smile, Mark holding his table tennis championship trophy. I tap on the album’s trash icon and hover my hand over the confirm button. I close my eyes as I tap on the button, as if doing so would prevent what I’m doing. Stupid pictures.
Author's note: Just a filler chapter while I think of what to do with the plot
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“The number you dialed is unattended or out of coverage,” says the phone. Before I can stop myself, I throw the hapless thing across the room, smashing on the wall before falling in pieces on the floor. I bite my lip in regret. Okay, g–dude, relax. Inhale. Exhale.
I saunter over to where the phone fell and pickup its lifeless pieces. It’s actually okay. The battery just got dislodged and all. Sorry, Sammy! Oh, that’s actually the phone’s nickname–short for Samsung. After putting it back together, I lie down on the bed and stare at the ceiling, absently twirling a lock of shoulder length hair on my finger. Hmph. Who does he think he is anyway, ignoring me? I try to play some more on my Xbox, but my heart’s just not in it. There’s just something missing.
Why do I even care? He was just joking when he said that, right? So why am I feeling all weird? Anyway, I’ll just talk to him at school on Monday and not think about him anymore.
Putting back the battery and cover on my phone, I turn it back on. I open my photo gallery. Hmmm, pictures of Mark holding a cake for my birthday, Mark with a goofy smile, Mark holding his table tennis championship trophy. I tap on the album’s trash icon and hover my hand over the confirm button. I close my eyes as I tap on the button, as if doing so would prevent what I’m doing. Stupid pictures.
I still need something to occupy my mind. Maybe I should just go and call my friends, go outdoors for a change.
I go through my contact list, inadvertently staring at Mark’s number before moving on to Mandy’s to call her. Several rings later, I hear her voice. “Yo Mandy, got a game today?"
"Hi Lea!"
Lea? Who's Lea? "Um, it's Billy."
"Billy, oh it's you! Haha, I thought you were Lea, which is weird, since she's never shown an interest in playing. My contacts got deleted so I didn’t have your number. Buuuuut I’ll save it now. Yay!” I roll my eyes at her extremely high level of energy. “Anyhoo, it's a good thing you called. We're having one in, uh, about an hour. You joining?"
"Yup, just need to get my gear ready. Sunken garden?"
"Uh huh, same place as before. I'll see you later."
"Cool!"
I rummage my closet for my shin guards, quick dry shirt, shorts and my awesome spiky shoes. I decide to take a quick shower first, even though we’ll be playing in the mud, because, well, I can’t arrive all icky, now can I? Thirty minutes later, I’m all fresh and nice, dressed in black shorts, long black socks, and a royal blue shirt with a tank top underneath just for that extra snug feeling. I look quite dashing, yeah.
Glancing at the mirror, I slick back my shoulder length black hair, inspecting my clear complexion. Good thing I discovered those pills. I mean, if it weren’t for those things, I would still be have those awful acne breakouts now. I don’t seem to really need them anymore, but I just don’t know why I still keep taking them. But never mind that! Having no acne is great. Makes me more handsome.
With one last check of my gear and key, I head to the door and leave the comfort of my dorm. Time to kick some ass!
“Oh. Hmm hmm hmm,” he hums as he zips open his bag and gets out what looks like two tickets of, hold on, I think I know that! “No way. No way! Are those...”
“Yeah.” He nods with a swagger. “Yes, they are. Tickets to Franco’s concert. I got them–Billy, you’re choking me!”
The story of Mark and Billy continues, but the inevitable talk gets delayed. Took me a bit longer to get this next part out but I already have a plan. Enjoy! -- Nina W
The sun is out in full force. It wants to eat meeee!!! Haha, good thing I put on tons of sunblock before I left. I raise my sunblocked arm in rebellion, taunting the afternoon sun. “Hah!” I shout. As if it cares. Setting down my gear, I see some of my friends already doing some warmups and practice drills. “Hey Mandy!” I shout at her. She runs towards me and gives me a hug. See what a ladies’ man I am? Oh, are those new? “Ooh, new shoes?” I ask her. “Pretty...”
“Thanks. Bought them on a sale, you know.” She shrugs. “Wanna borrow it?”
“Ummm, noooooo.” She’s crazy! I mean, it’s a lovely shade of magenta, but... “Anyway, what’s the plan?”
“Oh, you know, just the usual. You should play striker today. Todd’s not coming.”
“That’s too bad. No acrobatic entertainment.”
“Haha yeah, he does do those funny moves. So we got four guys, Mandy, Jane, you, and--oh speaking of, here he is.” She waves at someone behind me, so naturally I take a look. Oh my god! Wait, did I just shriek? No, that was just an utterance. An utterance, I say!
“M-mark! You, wha-, I, er, uh, sorry about, hey I didn’t know you were coming.” Good save there. Do I say sorry? Do I do my meek-face? What to do? I know, just pretend nothing happened.
"Well I wasn't really planning to, but since I don't have Saturday class anymore and Mandy has been pestering me to join, well, here I am."
“Oh, so you two know each other?” Mandy says from behind.
“Of course we do!” Mark and I shout together.
We look at each other and burst out laughing. Whew, saved by the laughter.
“We’ve known each other since we were little,” says Mark. “Well.” He glances sideways at me, grins, and puts his hand on my head to show the height difference. “He is still little.”
“Hey, no fair!” I stomp my foot as I slap his arm. He laughs as I do this, making me slap him some more. I’m gonna catch up...sometime. Mark is nearing 6 foot 2 while I’m a pathetic 5. I’ve always been small. “It’s just a slow and steady growth. Anyway, his parents and mine are friends, and we grew up in the same neighborhood.”
“We were pretty much inseparable, doing everything together–”
“Well, not everything!” I blurt out, blushing as I say it. Why am I blushing? “So, umm, what’s the plan?”
Mandy raises an eyebrow at me but lets her curiosity slide...for now. Oh man. She smiles in a sinister way, like she knows something but doesn’t want to tell me. “Well, lemme introduce Mark to the others first since it’s his first time here. Then we can do our warmups and start soon.”
We play until sundown. I don’t get any goals in but our team still wins by a margin of one point. Ooooh, my aching muscles. After a bit of rest, we drag ourselves over to Chow King, our favorite place to eat after a game. We quickly settle our seats and order food. While waiting for my chicken fried rice I find a seat to relax in, all the while apprehensive about talking to Mark about, um, things.
After ordering, Mark sets his bag down and sits down across from me, not saying a word.
I bite my lip as I bow my head. “Look, about earlier, you see, I um, I’m really sorry for shouting at you. I don’t know what came over–” I look back up at Mark just to see him with a half grin half smirk on his face. “What in the world are you smiling about?”
“Oh. Hmm hmm hmm,” he hums as he zips open his bag and gets out what looks like two tickets of, hold on, I think I know that! “No way. No way! Are those...”
“Yeah.” He nods with a swagger. “Yes, they are. Tickets to Franco’s concert. I got them–Billy, you’re choking me!”