This Girl (Slammed #3)(27)

“Hey, Mr. Cooper,” Gavin says. He and Eddie pull out their chairs and sit at the table with me. Unlike last week, I actually welcome their distraction tonight.

“For the last time, Gavin, call me Will. It’s weird hearing you say that when we’re not in class.”

“Hey, Will,” Eddie says sarcastically. “You doing one tonight?”

I had planned on performing, but seeing Gavin has me second-guessing my choice. I know most of the pieces I perform are metaphorical, but he’ll see right through this one. Not that it matters; he already knows how I feel.

“Yeah,” I say to Eddie. “I’m doing a new one.”

“Cool,” she says. “Did you write it for that girl?” She turns around and scans the room. “Where is she? I thought I saw you leaving with someone last week.” She returns her focus to me. “Was she your girlfriend?”

Gavin and I immediately look at each other. He makes a face that tells me he didn’t say anything to Eddie. I try to steady my expression when I respond.

“Just a friend.”

Eddie pushes her bottom lip out and pouts. “Friend, huh? That sucks. We really need to hook you up with someone.” She leans forward onto the table and puts her chin in her hands while studying me. “Gavin, who can we hook Will up with?”

He rolls his eyes. “Why do you always think you have to hook everyone up? Not everyone feels the need to be in a relationship every second of their lives.” He’s obviously trying to squelch the subject and I appreciate him for that.

“I don’t try to hook everyone up,” she says. “Just the people who clearly need it.” She looks back at me. “No offense, Will. It’s just—you know. You never date. It might do you some good.”

“Enough, Eddie,” Gavin snaps.

“What? Two people, Gavin! I’ve mentioned finding dates for two people this week. That’s not excessive. Besides, I think I may have figured out someone for Layken.”

When Eddie says her name, I immediately shift in my chair. So does Gavin.

“I think I’m gonna try to get Nick to ask her out,” she says, thinking aloud.

Before Gavin can respond, the sac is called to the stage. I’m relieved the subject is off the table now, but I can’t deny the twinge of jealousy that just made its way into my stomach.

What did I expect would be the outcome of all this? Of course she’s going to date other people. She’s got her entire senior year of school left; it would be crazy if she didn’t date. But still, it doesn’t mean I’ll be happy when she does.

“I’ll be back,” I say, excusing myself from the table. It’s been five minutes and I already need a breather from Eddie.

When I return from the bathroom, the sac has already finished performing. As soon as I sit back down, the emcee calls me to the stage to perform first.

“Break a leg,” Gavin says when I stand back up.

“That’s theater, Gavin,” Eddie says, hitting him on the arm.

I ascend the steps and take my place in front of the microphone. I’ve noticed in the past that if I concentrate and really put my emotions into writing, performing can actually be therapeutic. I really need to find some relief after all that’s happened this week.

“My piece is called This Girl.” I do my best to avoid Gavin’s glare, but it’s obvious by his expression that he knows the poem is about Lake as soon as the title passes my lips. I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath, then begin.

I dreamt about this girl last night.

Wow.

This girl.

In my dream I was standing on the edge of a cliff

Looking down over a vast, barren valley below

I wasn’t wearing any shoes and the rocks were crumbling beneath my toes.

It would have been so easy to take a step back,

To move away from the ledge,

Away from a certain inevitable life that had somehow been determined for me

a life that had somehow become my only option.

It had been my life for two years and I accepted that.

I had not embraced it,

But I had accepted it.

It was where I belonged.

As much as it didn’t appeal to me, as much as I yearned for the rivers and mountains and trees,

As much as I yearned to hear their songs . . .

To hear their . . . poetry?

It was apparent that what I yearned for

wasn’t decided by me . . .

it was decided for me.

So . . . I did the only thing I could do.

The only thing I should do.

I prepared myself to embrace this life.

I sucked it up and took a deep breath. I placed my hands on the edge of the cliff and began to lower myself onto the rocks protruding from the edge. I burrowed my fingers deep into the crevices and slowly began lowering myself down.

Down into the vast,

barren

valley

that had become

my

life.

But then . . .

Then this girl . . .

Holy hell, this girl . . .

She appeared out of nowhere, standing directly in front of me on the edge of that cliff. She looked down at me with her sad eyes that ran a million miles deep . . .

and she smiled at me.

This girl smiled at me.

A look that cut straight to my core and pierced through my heart like a million of Cupid’s arrows,