Presley

 

“Oh, my God, Pres, this is seriously gold! Like you can’t make this stuff up! I’m calling Zeek, here—tell him about the rape whistle.” She thrusts her cell in my hand while she giggles uncontrollably.

“No, Zeek, nothing happened. She’s lost her freaking mind is all.”

“Tell him! Tell him about baby bird mouth. Oh, my Lord, my side hurts! My side!”

“No, nothing. She’s being dramatic as usual. No, Zeek, do not come over. I can resist you just as well in person as I can on the phone. No, you aren’t. No, I’m not. Nobody is that cute. Zeek don’t—” I look down at my phone, yep. Sure enough, he hung up on me.

“Look what you started.”

“Oh, come on, Pres, you have to admit this is one awesome story! I can just picture you, too! Why do you always wait to do the amazing awkward things until I’m not with you to relish in them? It’s really not very polite, and here I thought you were Miss Manners.” Jodi jumps off the bed at the knock on our door.

“Take one look at this magnificent face and tell me no,” Zeek commands as he saunters in.

“Easy. No,” I say as I walk past him with my towel and robe in hand. I know Jodi is going to tell him anyway, and I refuse to be a party to it a second time. Well, third, if you count the original incident.

“I’m taking a shower. Behave, you two,” I command as I head to the bathroom. I take as long of a shower as I can, but being a dorm shower, it doesn’t stay hot as long as I’d like. Once it runs cold, I step out and take my time drying off. I braid my wet hair and brush my teeth, then decide I’ve stalled as long as I will be able to.

As soon as I step into the room I know something is up. Jodi and Zeek look far too innocent, I smell a rat.

“What did you do?”

“It was Zeek!” Jodi points at him and receives a scowl in return.

“Seriously? Jodi Leanne!” Zeek accuses.

“I cracked! She was interrogating me.” Jodi defends.

“You are so dramatic, I didn’t see a water board in sight! Don’t ever join the CIA, all our national secrets will be out in five seconds.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt your cute little banter or anything, but would someone mind telling me what Zeek is guilty of?”

“Nothing,” Zeek replies at the same time that Jodi points to my phone.

“Jodi! Again? Jesus!”

“Don’t yell at me, you know I can’t keep a secret! That’s why you’re friends with me, so you can get all the gossip! Next time lock me in the closet!”

“Gladly. You can keep all your skeletons company.”

I run over to my desk and get my phone. I quickly scroll through my messages.

“Zeek, how could you go into my phone and message him? I can’t believe you!”

“How can you not have it password protected? It’s like you wanted me to break in and message him.”

I quickly scroll through all the messages and groan out loud, piercing him with my deadliest scowl.

“‘What’s up, bro?’ You seriously texted him that? I’d never say anything like that.”

“Something which I pointed out,” Jodi pips up, looking smug.

“I thought that’s what that type of guy texts,” Zeek adds defensively.

“To each other maybe. I also pointed that out. But keep reading. I fixed it,” Jodi says, proudly. This is seriously not happening to me right now. I just stare at the texts, hoping they will magically morph into something else.

Presley: What’s up bro?

Barrett: NM. U?

Presley: Sorry, ignore the what’s up bro. I must have been on drugs. I’m just hanging out and thought I’d say hi.

Barrett: um…OK.

“Not much of a talker, is he?” Zeek says as he peers over my shoulder.

“What’s up, bro? Really…and what is he supposed to say to that? Wax poetic? Lord, Zeek!” I now turn my scowl on my roommate. “I’m on drugs! Really, Jodi? How was that fixing it?”

“Well, people tend to say weird things when they are—oh, that was rhetorical…right.” Jodi looks thoroughly chastised and looks down at the ground.

I wasn’t expecting to ever talk or see him again or anything, so I don’t know why I’m so upset by this. It must just be the violation of my phone. I take a deep breath and look at my friends.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you both. I appreciate that you were trying to help, but never go into my phone again, okay?”

“But what if you have a seizure or something and my phone is lost and Jodi’s is dead and they only way to save yo—

“Enough, Zeek! No more going into my phone unless I’m in medical need. Promise?”

“Promise.” They both cross a finger over their hearts and chant at the same time that I can’t stay mad at them. We all start to laugh and the tension breaks easily.

“Sorry, girl. We were only trying to help. But if you want to try to fix it yourself, I think I know how you can see him.” The idea of facing him again sends dread down my spine, especially after those messages. But I can’t let him think it was me, either. And texting more will only confuse matters. I don’t say anything but motion for her to continue.

“My brother is his brother’s best friend and they play football together. He’s never missed a game as far as I can tell. I’ve seen him whenever I’ve made it to one. He has a game next Friday if you want to go.”

“It looks like we are going to a football game, people.” I sigh and throw myself on my bed, wondering how much more of a disaster one day can become.

“Yes!” Zeek fist pumps.

“You like football?” I ask, surprised, and he looks affronted that I would even question it.

“And why wouldn’t I like football, Ms. Presley?”

“Well…I mean...I’m not saying you shouldn’t…I was just surprised because, well...”

“Oh, stop it, Zeek, you are so cruel. Of course, he doesn’t like football, Presley, his love affair is with the nachos at the concession stand.” Jodi saves me from my stuttering and I turn my glare on him.

“What? It was funny, you should have seen your face. I might not like sports but I got to give it to the sporting events…they sure do have all the good stuff. If I have to sit through a boring sports event just to get some decent nachos, well, then that’s what I have to do.” Zeek winks and grabs his jacket off the back of Jodi’s chair.

“Time for me to jet, ladies, Miss Presley, I will see you Friday.” He swings his jacket over his shoulders in a move that only he could pull off. He tosses me a wink before he saunters back out our door.