Chapter Twenty-One
Channing
Ava and I spent most of the next morning kissing and cuddling. We didn’t talk. Words were meaningless when we could say so much with our fingers and our lips. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to get back to the dorm. She walked me the whole way back, and we waited outside as long as we could before we parted.
After that, I felt like I was walking through a fog, halfway between that moment and the present. I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until the sun had fallen, and my room was completely dark. I got out of bed and checked the time on my phone. Mike had been calling. That must’ve been what woke me up.
I called him. “Hello?”
“Hey, what’s up.” My voice sounded tired.
“Hey, I’m heading out here in a bit. I was wondering, do you have my laptop charger? I think I might’ve left it in your room.”
I looked around, over the white tile floor, past the wardrobe at the foot of my bed. The room was simple, rectangular, with my bed against one wall, and my desk in the back corner. There was a window on the back wall between them.
His charger was sitting on the desk. “Yeah, it’s here.”
“Good, I’m headed over to get it.”
“But…”
“I have to get it.”
“Fine,” I sighed and stood up to find something to wear. Mike was at my door the second I stepped into my pants. I straightened my hair and answered the door.
He pushed through and grabbed the charger, then took a seat backward on my computer chair. “Dude, what happened?”
“What are you talking about?” I closed the door and laid back on my bed.
“You’ve been holed up in here all day.”
“I was up late studying last night.”
“You studied after that?”
“Yes, I did,” I laid back, tired.
“Well, that’s a change,” Mike said.
“Yes, I guess it is. Look, Mike…” I sighed.
“It’s the hot tutor, isn’t it?”
I wanted to sock Mike and tell him not to call her that, but something stopped me. I couldn’t let Mike know that I was with Ava. If he knew, the other guys would talk, and news of me winning the bet would spread. I didn’t want it to get back to Ava.
“What are your plans?” Mike asked. “Are you sticking around here this week?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna study.”
“The whole time?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I sat up. “So?”
“It’s just strange is all.”
“I’m doing what it takes to pass my classes. I hope you do the same.”
“I’m trying,” he said. “It ain’t easy.”
“Yeah, well, get it right. You’re going to your parents’?” I asked.
“Yeah, pretty soon,” he started to sit up. “I should get going.”
“Cool, well, have fun.” I led him out into the hall, then locked the door and turned off the light. I was still tired, and I didn’t want to think. I curled up on the bed and threw the blanket over me. Then I wrapped my arm around a pillow. It was almost perfect when the sound of my waterfall ringtone woke me up.
I sighed, sat up and answered it. “Hello?”
“Channing, it’s your mother.”
“What?” I sat up and opened my eyes. “Mom?”
“Don’t you, ‘what Mom,’ me. I haven’t heard from you in almost a month. What is happening?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you passing your classes? I meant to call you soon about that. I worry, you know.”
“I know. I’m passing.”
“Good, we put a lot of money into that place. I don’t want it to go to waste.”
“It won’t.”
“Were you sleeping? It’s late. You weren’t out partying, were you?”
“No, Mom.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“For fuck’s sake, we had a game last night. I took a nap this afternoon. Now what do you want?”
“Oh, what do I want?”
“Yes, I’m resting.”
“I want you to email me your transcript. Then I want you to apologize for talking to me that way.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Your father wants to see you. Can you be here Friday night?”
“No, I have to study.”
“You’re coming.”
“Why?”
“Because I miss you, Channing. We don’t spend enough time together as a family. Get your butt down here, and the second you get off the phone, send me your transcript. Are you passing?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Good, how’s your love life?”
“My—no, I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Do you have a girlfriend? I’m your mother. You know you can tell me anything.”
“Mom...”
“When are you going to find somebody? You can’t keep screwing everything in sight.”
“Mom!”
“I’m just saying, it would be better for you to stick to one girl. If you don’t, you’re going to miss out on a lot.”
“Don’t do this.”
“You’re gonna wanna settle down and have a life of your own. You can’t do that if you keep whoring yourself out like you do.”
“Whoring myself out?”
“Channing, find yourself a woman.”
“You know what? I do have one.”
“Prove it.”
“Fine,” I hung up and held my head back.
I was the dumbest man in the entire world. I couldn’t bring Ava there. She’d think I was crazy, and my mother would have a field day. She’d probably get Ava drunk and interrogate her. I’d completely lost my mind, but I couldn’t just walk away from her.
If I didn’t bring a girl home, my mother would never let me hear the end of it. My dad would grumble behind my back, and they’d hound me about it all weekend. I couldn’t put Ava through this, though. Could I?
I didn’t exactly have a choice. I dialed Ava’s number.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey,” I sounded breathless.
“Hey,” I could hear her smiling.
“How are you?” I asked.
“Good, I’m just here at home. I’ve been lounging all day. You?”
“Same; tired. I didn’t even get out of bed until a few hours ago.”
She laughed. “Tell me something wonderful.”
“I wish I could. My mother called.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
“It wasn’t. She’s a hassle.” I sighed. “She wants me to go there this weekend.”
“Oh,” she sounded disappointed.
“But I want you to come.”
“Really? That sounds great. Why do you sound all sad?”
“They’re crazy, Ava.”
“That’s okay. Everyone’s family is crazy.”
“No, these guys are, I don’t know. They’re out there. I hope it won’t turn you off.”
“No, I want to come, and I promise I will deflect the crazy as best as I can.”
“It’s a lot. I’m sorry. Just stick close to me, and don’t get dragged in.”
“Channing,” she said. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Alright,” I laughed. “I’m sorry. It’s not that bad.”
“It’s okay.”
Neither one of us wanted to hang up, so we stayed up and talked about everything, then nothing in particular. The reward was in her voice, the chuckles when she smiled. It was wonderful the way my body responded. My stomach jumped, it fluttered, and my heart skipped. I could tell she was experiencing the same thing.
When we did finally get off the phone, it was because we were both starting to fall asleep. I was still smiling when we hung up. That incorrigible giddiness wasn’t going away. It was amazing, knowing that I was making her feel this way.