by Dexx Peay
“You ready bro?” Marcus asked.
“Yep.”
We gathered our things and headed out.
We talked more on the ride to the mall. I was grateful to have my friend back. The more I looked at Marcus on a daily basis, the harder it became to keep the secret of our real relationship. There were times when I think I’ll never be able to tell him and there are times I feel like I can’t keep living until I do.
The music played.
It wasn’t too loud or too soft.
Marcus was talking, laughing, but nothing entered my ears but the sound of music. He was happy about whatever he was talking about. I tried to fix my mouth to tell him. I guess a part of me thought that now was the perfect time but I stopped myself just in time.
What was I so afraid of?
“Hey Marc,” I quietly said.
“Yeah?” he looked over.
The sound finally returned. I looked out the window and gazed at all the cars in the parking lot.
“What’s up Dylan?”
“Oh—nothing, it’s nothing,”
I didn’t remember the drive there. I remembered being in the passenger seat and that was all.
I snapped myself back.
“You ready to find you something for this dance?”
“What am I in high school again? It’s a ball not a dance.”
“Whatever. Let me see some moves. You remember prom?”
We both busted out laughing.
“Which part? The Jessica part or the dancing?”
“Ehh… please don’t say that name around me.”
I still quivered at the thought of her.
We went into the first store. My favorite, Macy’s. Can’t go wrong with that, and they always had stuff on clearance. Marcus made it clear that he didn’t want to be in the mall longer than needed, the first store would be the only store. I walked around picking up things that I thought he would be interested in. When he kept rejected them, I noticed that they were clothes I would wear. Marcus had a completely different style than me. I would classify his as — well — boring. He doesn’t wear many colors or brands, nor does he follow trends or make them. He’d be fine with a white shirt and black slacks for every event.
Bor-ring!
“How about this?”
I held up a bright purple shirt. He grimaced at the sight of it.
“Marc, dude you need to switch it up a little bit, you are going with Delilah who I’m sure will be—”
He glared.
“Well…looking nice. You want to look nice next to her as well and I’m going to make sure you do. Trust me, I know you can pull off any look, just have some confidence in what you wear. Now—what is she wearing?”
“Navy blue.”
I looked around, then looked at him. He looked worried. I wasn’t though. I walked off for a bit and grabbed some clothes. When I got back, he was in the same spot. It looked as if he hadn’t even breathed. I handed him the clothes and pushed him into the dressing room. I sat outside the room tapping my foot uncontrollably until he opened the door again.
When he walked out I didn’t recognize him, he looked so spiffy. I matched him with navy blue slacks, a yellow button-down and paired it with a navy blue bow tie that had dark gold circles on it.
“You look good Marc,” I stood.
He smiled. “I feel good. I would have never picked this out. I think I like it.”
“I have a pair of brown loafers you can wear.”
I fixed him up — straightened his pants, shirt, bow tie, and cleaned his face. He didn’t like the face clean part. He went back, changed his clothes, then we headed to the register to pay for the clothes.
“Delilah won’t be able to keep her hands off you,” I said. “Just don’t try to cause another massive heat wave over the city.”
“Okay about that, I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh gosh you are planning on doing it again?”
“No crazy. Listen. I made a heat wave based off my powers right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, what if we can actually control the weather with our powers? Who is to say that the day you tried to make it hail was far off? If I can cause a heat wave I believe you can make like a cold front or some snow. You hungry? Come on let’s go grab some food.”
“I’m starving, and no… that doesn’t sound crazy at all Marc. Your state of mind was greatly elevated and I don’t know how to get there. To be honest, you were only like that I believe because it was your first time, unless maybe you were experiencing a more powerful emotion?”
He glanced over at me as we walked to the food court and didn’t say anything.
“You’re not, are you?”
“Not at all.”
We got in line for some Chinese food. Marcus was in front and got his food first. He went to grab a seat while I ordered mine. The food court was busy like it was everyday. I got my food and when I got to the table, there was someone else there with Marcus. I didn’t know who it was because he had his back to me and Marcus was smiling and talking.
“Small world. Let me introduce you to my friend. Malcolm, this is—”
“Dylan Pa…Pa… Perry. I remember you,” Malcolm said.
Marcus was right, very small world indeed. Malcolm stood and shook my hand. I didn’t have time to react but I knew one thing, I died inside.
“Oh wow, how do you guys know each other? That doesn’t really matter, come, have a seat Dylan,” Malcolm said.
I was hesitant.
I took a seat next to Marcus.
I wasn’t sure if Malcolm noticed, but he scooted his seat away from me just a hair. Marcus was about to find out a secret that I really didn’t want him to ever know. He was pissed. Instantly his whole demeanor changed soon as Malcolm started talking.
Malcolm was just how I remember him, the epitome of perfect. He dressed like he was raised on the Upper-East Side and walked like a piece of string held his head up. He was tall and lean, his complexion much darker than Marcus. His speech was impeccable and lacked any known accents.
“Listen guys, I just moved to the City and I have absolutely no friends at all,” he joked. “As you can see, I am at the mall alone getting free samples from the food court. We should exchange numbers and get caught up.”
I looked at Marcus. He still looked pissed and here I was again, stuck in another awkward silent moment.
“Sure,” I said. I gave him my number. “Just send me a text with your number when you get the chance.”
“Will do,” he said.
He got up and walked off. If I didn’t know better, Marcus was about to send fireballs hurling through the air. Nobody said anything. Our food hadn’t been touched and I no longer wanted the food.
“Marc man,” I softly said. “I wanted to tell you.”
“You got in didn’t you?”
“I just wanted us to be together in college.”
Malcolm was junior class president at Harvard and a University ambassador. He toured around potential incoming freshman as they waited for their interview. Once I saw him, I knew Marcus would piece together the puzzle.
“Your parents buy your way into the school Dylan?” He said with disgust then got up and walked off.
I was tired of him always throwing his temper tantrums. He needed to grow up and learn how to talk. I wasn’t going to be the guy to keep apologizing and trying to put together our friendship every time we hit a bump in the road.
“Hey, don’t act like my parents just gave me everything. I busted my ass off just as much as you did in high school. I didn’t have to pay my way into any university. I can’t help it the school liked me better than you,” I screamed.
The mall guests gossiped as we walked off. As if they didn’t see this on a daily basis. That moment reminded me why I didn’t want to tell him anything. He is emotionally unstable and has to have things go his way.
I felt my eyes tingle and I knew they turned blue. We argued all the way to the
car. He couldn’t understand that I was trying to surprise him. I didn’t bother to tell him once he didn’t get in and I decided not to go. If anything he should be thanking me for trying to spare his feelings.
Marcus drove like a madman all the way back to campus. We went so long without talking and just when we started to patch things up, we were back not talking again. This time I was done. I was no longer going to cater to his feeling and be the bigger man of the situation. If Marcus wants to be my friend and act like an adult who talks, I will be ready.
Until then, I'm done.
Later that night, I called Noel to see if he wanted to hang. I just needed to get out my room and away from Marcus. He didn’t answer. I called a few of the other guys in the circle. They were all busy enjoying their weekend. I even called Hachi and she was too busy to hang with me. I looked at my phone and after I had exhausted all my options, I decided to give Malcolm a call. I wasn’t too sure how it would be hanging around him, but I had to get out the dorm.
I called Malcolm and he was at a bar with one of his co-workers. I reminded him that I was only nineteen compared to his twenty-two. He told me to meet him at Artichoke if I wanted to grab a pizza. I agreed. I grabbed my book bag, my keys and headed out.
“Where you off to in such a hurry?” Mayson said, walking up to her door.
“M&M’s where you been hiding girl?” I joked.
“Me? I’ve been around, now you on the other hand sir, where have you been hiding?”
“Uhhh...school you know, been killing me this semester.”
She smirked. “Don’t play stupid with me like I don’t know where you been running off to every night.”
“So you know…”
“Have you forgot that we’re the sister sorority to Xi Beta Kappa? We have been well informed of the whole process and who is pledging. Don’t worry we don’t speak of it, but enough about pledging, where you headed out to? I know you guys have the weekend off.”
“My buddy Malcolm just moved in town and doesn’t really know anybody. We’re gonna head over to Artichoke for some pizza. You’re free to join if you’d like.”
“I’ll have to decline. Sorry Dylan. All I want at this moment is some sleep.”
She walked up to her door and turned around right as I started to walk off.
“Rain check?” she whispered loud.
I felt her voice shake. I knew she felt as awkward saying that as I did hearing it. Utt-Oh I thought to myself. This couldn’t be good.
“Rain check. Gotcha,” I blurted.
I was dead meat if I was ever caught with Mayson alone. I swear Airin has eyes and ears all over this campus. There were a few seconds of awkward silence.
“Well I guess you better get running. Don’t want to keep your friend waiting.”
I nodded and walked off.
Malcolm was already at Artichoke when I got there. He stood outside with somebody who looked to be around his age.
“Hey Dylan,” Malcolm smiled and shook my hand. “Dylan this is Tommy, one of my co-workers.”
“Hey there,” Tommy greeted.
He took a step towards me and firmly shook my hand. Tommy was Asian. His skin, a pale pink with cool undertones, and dark hair styled like the wing of a crow. Average height and dressed just as dapper as Malcolm.
Maybe nicer.
“Tommy graduated from Princeton. He’s been working for the company about…. a year now?” Malcolm looked over at Tommy to confirm.
“Yep, a little over a year. I love what I do and love the company, but I really got to get going guys. Dylan...” Tommy rushed. “It was nice meeting you. I’m sure we’ll be hanging out more in the future.”
“Okay Tommy, take care and nice meeting you as well.”
“Come on let’s go in and get a table, it’s freezing out here.” Malcolm shivered with his hands inside his designer peacoat.
“Nice coat.”
We ordered a pizza and sat at a far table with the pizza separating us.
“Ahh smells good. I am a little hungry,” he said.
“So what is it that you two do?”
“We both work in IT for a company called DGS.”
“And how much money do you make if you don’t mind?”
He choked on a bite of his pizza and laughed at the same time.
“You alright?”
“Yeah, you just caught me off guard. Just know I make great money for someone who just graduated college.”
“That’s great. How did you land that job? You know by time I finish I will have a degree in computer science and chemical engineering?”
“Dang Dylan.”
He leaned back in his seat and stared, rocking and smiling.
“What?”
“Nothing its just… Harvard missed out on a good one.”
I dropped my head as I chuckled. I didn’t want to tell this story again.
“I got into Harvard,” I murmured.
“Did I just hear you correctly?”
“Yep, you did. I got into Harvard, now I am at NYU and no I don’t want to talk about it… again.”
“Anything to do with your friend Marcus?”
“None whatsoever.”
I grabbed a slice and started eating. He ate another as well. It got slightly awkward at that moment. He shifted the conversation back to DGS.
“My mom works for the company as well.”
“So your mom helped you get the job? That’s cool. What does she do there?”
“She does a lot of traveling. I am not sure what she is doing when she goes away on these trips, conventions and career day at colleges I assume. She is a recruitment and management specialist.”
“Well tell her to recruit me when I graduate!”
He laughed, “I will tell her personally to make sure she recruits you. I feel like you would be a great asset to the team.”
Even though we were both laughing, I’m sure he wasn’t lying. My dad preached to my brother and me for years about the beauty in networking. Neither us knew then what he was really talking about, but now it makes sense.
“Good, I’m ready to graduate now.”
“Not having fun?”
“No it’s just trying to find the time to get everything done in a day and still keeping your grades up and trying to maintain your relationships.”
“Grades not too good?”
“My grades are pretty good.”
“Relationships?”
I looked up right as I was about to take another bite.
“There it is. Come on you can tell me.”
“Ughh…” I exhaled. “Where do I begin?”
I smiled because I had a list of people to talk about. I put my arm on the table and laid my head on my arm for a second. I looked back up and Malcolm was laughing.
“Girlfriend?” he asked.
“Ehhh…” I was shuffling through the words to figure out where to start.
“Boyfriend?”
“No! Noooo it’s not like that. I had a girlfriend. We were… she is… I mean…I broke it off and… she just changed on me. It’s weird. She isn’t herself. It’s like she’s sick but she’s healthy at the same time. Some sort of robotic psychopath. Ugh! She creeps me out now.”
“Crazy man.”
“Then there’s Marcus. He and I have been friends for the longest and I’m starting to think that maybe moving in with him was the wrong idea. We’re so close, I just don’t think we need to be around each other as much as we do. At the same time, I think it is best if we stay close by one another.”
“Why is that?”
Because we both have super-powers and literally have to fight for our lives….
“Marc is so emotional. He was bullied in school and sometimes it just helps to have me around... keep an eye on him.”
“So were you bullied in high school?”
“No, basketball players don’t get bullied.”
“How were you a basketball player hanging with the guy that got bul
lied?”
“You wanna guess how many times I’ve been asked that question?”
He changed positions and leaned forward resting on the table.
“None of that mattered to me. My parents didn’t raise me to be popular or… or to place myself above others. Marcus was my friend since we were in the third grade. Our parents use to set us up on these play dates because our moms worked in the same hospital. We got close fast and before we knew it, we were best friends. He’s like a brother to me and I would die for him, but lately… I just don’t know. We can’t seem to get along really.”
“Sometimes you just need to give people space. Married couples go through it all the time. Find you some new friends and hang with them a little. You and Marcus will be fine man I promise.”
“That’s funny. Marc and I basically have the same friends.”
His eyes got big and his smile came back. He went back to leaning back on in his chair.
“So hang with me then. I mean you need new friends it seems, and I do not know anybody here aside from Tommy and we work together.”
My face was focused on the table at that moment as random thoughts of all my friends started to run through my head.
“I don’t need new friends. I just…I just need a change.”
“Hey man, it is apart of life. People come and go but just remember, the people who are meant to be there will be there in the end.”
