10

Liam

––––––––

One day and one day very soon, I'm going to stop agreeing to Zach's double date invitations. Today, unfortunately, isn't that day. Especially since I'm already stuck at a table at Pamela's—watching his date fawn all over him while barely paying attention to my own date. 

"Is something wrong?" My date, Taylor, rubs my shoulder. "You haven't said much tonight."

"I have a lot on my mind."

"Am I one of those things?"

Hell no. "Maybe."

"Oh." She blushes. "I like maybes. What college do you think you're going to play basketball at next year?"

"That's not —" I stop my sentence. I look down and realize her hand is caressing the crotch of my pants. I gently grab her hand and move it away. "I haven't decided yet."

A light giggle from across the table makes me look up at Zach's date. He's whispering into her ear and her face is bright red. 

Usually, I can stomach what's sure to come from double dates with him, but I've officially lost my appetite. 

As my date attempts to rub her hand against my crotch again, I stand and toss my napkin onto the table. 

"I'll be right back," I say, walking away without waiting for a response. I head straight for the parking lot and slide behind the wheel of my car. Before I can shut my door, Zach grabs it and holds it open. 

"Are you about to leave?" He looks as if this is a life or death matter. 

"Yeah. Sorry. Something came up."

"Bullshit, Liam. What's up with you?"

"I'm just not feeling it tonight."

"Of course, you're not feeling it. You're not even trying to work with me here. They're best friends. Best. Friends."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because if it doesn't work out for you and your girl tonight, then I won't get her friend."

I shake my head, completely confused as to who he is right now. 

"Zach," I say, sighing. "Are you really this obsessed with girls?"

"Are you really asking me that question?" He deadpans. "Yes. Does that mean you're coming back inside?"

"Not at all." I crank the engine. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait, wait ... Give me two minutes." He rushes away before I can say no, so I shut the door and wait. 

Five minutes pass and he returns with carry-out boxes. 

"Switch seats with me," he says." No offense, but I feel like you're too 'emo' to drive right now."

"I'm fine, Zach."

He gives me a blank stare and I unbuckle my seatbelt — moving to the passenger seat. He pulls the car out of the parking lot and speeds down the street. 

"Now, because of that stunt you pulled back there, I didn't box up your dessert. That shit is mine."

"Oh, the horror."

"I know." He laughs and then he softens his tone in a way that makes me believe he's going to attempt to be serious. "You know; it didn't hit me until you walked out, that I haven't talked to you outside of practice or a double date for weeks. And I know you probably miss me a lot because were best friends, but —"

"Drop me off in the ditch to the right, please. I'll walk the rest of the way home."

He laughs again. "I was kidding."

"I was hoping so."

He speeds down the edge of Blue Harbor's Central Park and pulls down the back road that stretches for ten miles straight. He changes the radio station from rock to his favorite — classical music. 

"I forget sometimes that you're a lot smarter than you act," I say. 

"A 3.9 GPA is just as good as a 4.0 GPA." He puts the car on cruise control and opens his box of food. "So, what's up? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me," I say. "I just have a lot going on between basketball and shit."

"Shit like what?"

"My parents, college selection, Mar—" I clear my throat. I am not telling him about Mariah. Ever. "March madness."

"It's not even spring yet."

"Yeah, but you know we're going to get all types of coverage from the reporters around that time."

"And I'm very much looking forward to that."

"I'm not," I say, ready to get this over with. "I'm not interested in playing basketball beyond high school and I'm tired of people acting as if that's what's best for me. This shit used to be fun but I never wanted it to be more than that ... And believe it or not, I actually want to be a —"

"Doctor?" He asks, making me look over at him. "I can totally see that shit. I used to joke with you about that, remember? At team physicals, you spent more time asking the doctors questions about school than completing your own tests."

"You wouldn't feel let down if I didn't join you at Duke?"

"Of course not. More attention for me."

I roll my eyes and he laughs. 

"Seriously though, Liam. Fuck everyone else. You have nothing left to prove to anyone and you're my only real friend, so I wouldn’t dare hold something like that against you."

"You know, that actually sounded somewhat intelligent."

"I mean, I'm going to beg you to finish what's left of our season because I get way more girls when they find out that 'Mr. Popular' is joining us for a night out, but other than that? No harm, no foul. No pun intended."

"I rescind my last statement." I laugh for the first time tonight. "I'm definitely finishing the season."

"Good. And since we're actually talking about serious shit tonight, I have a serious question for you."

"I'm listening."

"Are you gay?"

What the fuck? "What?" 

"I mean, I personally don't care, but if my best friend is gay, I feel like I should know. I actually know a few guys on the Red Sharks team who are not 'out' yet, so maybe if you —"

"Shut the hell up, Zach." I can't help but laugh again. "No, I'm not gay, but good to know you're not a homophobe."

He shrugs. "Can't hate me for asking. But you know, I think if you had a girlfriend, you'd be way less miserable."

"We've agreed that you should never give relationship advice. To anyone."

"Just hear me out on this for five minutes."

"Two minutes."

"Fine." He smiles. "You're one of the good guys. Like, you actually want to get to know a girl and take her out and stuff."

"What a crime."

"It's a waste of time, but that's not the point. Point is, if you had someone you could talk to all the time and someone you could sleep with, of course, I don't think everything that's bothering you right now would matter so much. You'd be too pre-occupied with your girlfriend to pay attention to anything else. And I mean, I would get one myself but that scenario makes no sense for me, but it's practically designed for someone like you."

"Thank you, Zach. I really needed those wise words, from you of all people."

Laughing, he takes the car off of cruise control and speeds down the road. "Let's find something at the dock to do for the rest of the night, like old times."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Not at all. It'll just be the two of us. Until midnight."

"What's at midnight?"

"Sex with Sarah.” He gives me a “duh” look. “Do you really think I’m going to end this night talking to you?”

I laugh. “I really can’t believe we’re best friends sometimes.”

“I know.” Zach laughs, too. “Mariah can’t believe it either.”