Continuum

by Susan Wu

  Emma reaches across the table pats Mackenzie’s arm reassuring, “It’s so we don’t have to see ugly, fat girls dancing in skanky dresses.”

  “But what about us hot girls that want to look like hot skanks?” Chloe chimes in, placing one hand behind her head and one on her hip like she was posing for a camera.

  They all dissolve into fits of giggles and start making plans for a mall crawl this weekend. Allowing my eyes to wander again to Fallon’s table. Sam catches me looking over at his table and he gives me a weird look before a grin spreads across his face. Busted. He starts gesturing for me to come over and I want to ignore him, but his long arms are hard to miss and the rest of his table stops talking and turns to look in my direction.

  As my chair scrapes back, my whole table looks up in surprise. Mackenzie asks, “Where are you going? You’re not done eating your lunch.”

  “I just have to talk to Sam a sec. I’ll be right back.” I can hear them murmuring behind me as I walk over to the other table.

  Sam is pulling an extra chair up to his already crowded lunch table. He sits down next to the empty chair so I’ll have to sit next to Fallon. She is shooting Sam a pointed look but he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

  His voice is booming and cheerful as usual, “Hey Ethan! Join us for a minute. Give the gals some time to discuss their plans to take over the world.” I pull out the empty chair and sit down. I wave to the table and Fallon’s face is flushed as she studies her folded hands. Sam continues, “Ethan, have you met Fallon? Fallon Pierce, Ethan Hayes.”

  Fallon peers up from a fringe of dark lashes and gives me a brief, shy smile before continuing her examination of her hands, her fingers twisting together. Her voice is quiet, “We’ve met. Ethan and I have a few classes together.”

  “Fallon and I are going to be partnering for the Shakespeare project. Gotta keep my GPA up so she’s saving my butt.”

  I can’t help but grin at Sam’s candor, “And here I thought I was your hero with Bio.”

  He groans, “Don’t remind me. I guess my GPA needs a lot of saving.”

  Fallon frowns, “You’re smart, Sam. You just lack focus when it comes to academics.”

  He grins at her, “If only I could be a super genius like you.”

  “I just read a lot,” she mutters.

  “Seriously, Ethan, this girl is crazy smart. Wait, wait! She can show you. You gotta see this!” He grabs his book bag off the floor and starts rummaging through the front pocket before pulling out his keys. There are only two keys, one for his house and one for his car, attached to a miniature Rubiks cube keychain.

  Sam hands Fallon the keys and she strokes the cube with her forefinger, that shy smile returning to her face. She looks at him, something hidden in her expression. Surprise? Pleasure? “I can’t believe you still have this.”

  “Hell yeah. No one’s ever won anything for me before. Do you remember when you won it? At the carnival in Lakeside the summer before eighth grade? Wasn’t it that balloon game you liked to play?”

  Fallon nods, turning the cube over in her hands. “I was pretty lethal with a dart back in the day.”

  Sam turns to me, “Do you have a watch? Or a timer on your phone? She can do it in under a minute. It is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed.”

  I pull out my phone and Sam takes the cube from Fallon and gives it a few more random twists as I pull up the clock app. He hands it back to her and glances back at me, “Ready? On the count of three. 1...2...3...GO!”

  Fallon begins twisting the cube in quick, decisive movements, her slender fingers turning the cube into a blur of color. The colors start matching up until only the corners are off and then a few more twists before she stops moving her hands, holding up the cube triumphantly, each side matching. 37 seconds. She looks up at me and her smile is absolutely radiant.

  Sam snatches the cube and turns it round and round making sure she really did solve it. “That literally never gets old. How long was that?”

  I flash my screen around, “37 seconds.”

  His voice is full of awe, “How do you do that?”

  She shrugs and resumes her finger twisting, “I read a book about it.”

  “How freaking cool is that?” Sam drapes his arm around her shoulder and gives her a squeeze, making her flush. I get that sinking feeling again and suddenly the table seems way too crowded.

  I push back my chair hastily, the metal legs scraping loudly against the linoleum floor. “I should get back to my table,” I mutter. “See ya, Sam. Bye, everybody.”

  “Catch you later, Ethan,” Sam says casually, his arm still possessively around Fallon’s shoulders as I make my way back to my lunch table. Fallon looks up at me, a mixture of confusion and guilt in her eyes.

  Fallon

  When Ethan walks into Psychology, our eyes meet briefly and his expression is tense, his lips pressed in a hard line. His eyes flicker away and he makes a point of sitting in the front of the classroom. He joins in easily as everyone chats excitedly about the upcoming Homecoming festivities. I want to run up to him and apologize for my childish behavior and tell him Sam is only a friend.

  I don’t know if Sam was playing along or playing stupid, but his usual touchy-feely friendliness had driven Ethan away from the lunch table. As soon as Ethan left, Sam dropped his arm and resumed eating like nothing happened. Even though Sam has some understanding about my stance on relationships, I can’t bring myself to broach the subject with him. How do I explain to my ex-boyfriend that I like a boy but I can’t ever be with him? Ethan doesn’t even look my way once during the longest fifty minutes of the day. Which is how it should be. As I gather my books, I watch Ethan disappear out of the classroom door.

  My plan worked better than I could have hoped. So why do I feel so awful?

  After last week’s disastrous ending, I am in full avoidance mode. Operation Elude Ethan is set into motion. His proximity just makes me feel confused. Hiding in a small school is difficult but Mackenzie helps by making sure she is wrapped around Ethan every free minute.

  I stumble on Day Three. All the days seem to blur together for me these days. I come into first period with seconds to spare and Mrs. Douglas is standing in front of the room for a change. The class has been split up into two groups. Oh, crap it’s the day before a major exam.

  Mrs. Douglas’ European History syllabus hasn’t changed since the Twentieth Century--four major exams, a midterm, and a final. Before each test, she has a “History Off” with the winning group getting a five percent bump to their final test grade. It was also the only day anyone paid any attention so they could learn everything they needed before the exam. The school year was really flying by.

  “Miss Pierce, on this side.” Ethan is part of my group and his eyes lock on me as I make my way across the room. Mackenzie is facing him on the opposite team and I can practically feel the heat of her death glare as I join my team. When I settle, she is still glaring at me so I muster the sweetest smile I can manage which only makes her glare heat up an octane.

  The rules of the History Off are simple. There is a bell on each side and the first person to hit the bell gets to answer. If it’s right, you get a point. If it’s wrong, you lose a point and the other team can confer and try to answer.

  Mrs. Douglas reads off the question, “What is the oldest political party in the western world?”

  Ding! Someone from my team hits the bell, “Republicans!” I wince.

  “Incorrect, team A?”

  They huddle together and after some murmuring, they respond with, “The Conservatives.”

  “Correct.”

  It goes back and forth until ten minutes before the end of class. Team A is killing us: it’s 34 vs 28. I purposefully fly under the radar only answering one question but I can’t help but cringe every time someone from my team answers the questions incorrectly. Does anyone pay attention in class? Or read the book? My fellow teammates are giving me the side eye but they don’t say a
nything to me directly.

  Now it’s the Sudden Death round. Each question is worth two points, but there can only be one representative from each time. Team A chooses Mackenzie. My teammates look at me expectantly, even Ethan, who has been studiously ignoring me this whole time.

  Connor Stevens pipes up first, “You should represent our team, Fallon.”

  “History isn’t my strongest subject. You should do it,” I mumble. Connor is only a Sophomore but on pace to be class valedictorian.

  He snorts, “Bull crap. We all know you’re a certified genius. Plus Mackenzie would destroy the rest of my high school career if I beat her.”

  “Very well. I guess I have the least at risk by defying Queen Mackenzie.” Ethan eyes me inquisitively as I make my way to stand in front of the bell.

  Mackenzie stands a little straighter and smirks as I approach. I can tell she’s thinking I’m easy prey. Rage courses through me and I practically see red. Connor’s words echo inside my head but instead I find that I want to destroy her. She’s used to chewing up and spitting out her opponents, but I will remind her just how worthy an adversary I could be.

  Mrs. Douglas picks up her stack of notecards, “Who is the Grecian credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and establishing a direct dem--?”

  Ding! I hit the bell before she finishes reading, “Cleisthenes.”

  “Correct.” She flips to the next card, “What series of wars was fought between Rome and Carth--?”

  I smack the bell again. Ding! “The Punic Wars.”

  “Correct.” I can practically see the steam coming out of Mackenzie’s ears as Mrs. Douglas flips through her notecards, “Which Roman Emperor issued the Edict of Mil--?

  Ding! Ding! Mackenzie hits her bell, but I’m faster and Mrs. Douglas turns to face me, “Constantine the Great.”

  Mackenzie slams her fist onto the bell making it clang against the desk, “Would you let her finish reading the damn question?”

  I think I spot the faintest of smiles on Mrs. Douglas’s lips before she glances down at the next card, “This will be the last question. Worth four points. What is the correct order of the four emperors during the Year of the Four Emperors?”

  When she finishes reading the question, Mackenzie’s jaw actually drops. I smile and tap the bell softly. I let the quiet ding trail off as I close my eyes and call up the answer to the last question, “Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.”

  “Correct, Miss Pierce. Team B wins and will be awarded an extra five percentage points on tomorrow’s exam.”

  My team lets out a big whoop and I get patted on the back several times as the bell rings. Mackenzie is absolutely fuming as she stomps out of the classroom, practically dragging Ethan by the elbow. He turns back and gives me a half-smiling, half-perplexed look as he’s led out of the room.

  Day Four of Operation Elude Ethan, I run into Ethan and Mackenzie as they make their way to third period. Her arm is snaked in his and she’s whispering and giggling in his ear as they make their way down the hallway.

  He is absently running his hand through his unruly hair when I narrowly avoid colliding into him as I rush out of English with an armful of Shakespeare books. I’m trapped in the crowded hallway. Ethan looks divine as ever in a simple blue oxford shirt and light gray blazer. His dark slim cut jeans are splattered with specks of paint and rolled slightly at the ankles over his broken-in leather boots.

  She is wearing a very tight, plum colored v-neck sweater, her long blonde hair framing her cleavage. Her snug, low cut jeans show just a flash of tan skin as she walks. With her high heeled boots, they are almost the same height. They look like a picture perfect couple.

  She’s so engrossed, she doesn’t pause to give me the death glare she’s been aiming my way anytime the opportunity struck. She is angling for him to ask her out. Probably to Homecoming. They would make the perfect Homecoming king and queen. The thought makes my heart squeeze uncomfortably in my chest.

  His mesmerizing blue eyes are so distracting, I forget that I’m supposed to be avoiding him and my feet stay glued to the ground. Ethan starts to smile but then his lips fall and he blinks rapidly as if remembering something unpleasant before turning his attention back to Mackenzie. His smile at her is blinding and an unexpected jolt of pain lances through me as I turn away. I am making a fool of myself.

  “Excuse me,” Mackenzie says tartly, slamming into me with her shoulder on her way into the classroom and making me drop my books.

  I bite back the angry words on the tip of my tongue. I wait until she is inside the classroom before stooping down to pick up my books. Balance is restored.

  This is going to be a long school year.

  Ethan

  It’s Friday night and I’m sitting in bed trying to tune my acoustic guitar. I have spent the last half hour trying to do so, but my concentration just isn’t there. Sighing, I give up and sit the guitar back in its stand. I think about video chatting my brother Scott. Glancing at my alarm and doing a quick calculation in my head, it’s 3:14AM over there.

  I pick up my cell phone from the night stand and scroll down my contacts list. There is one person that might be able to keep me distracted this evening.

  Hey Sam. What r u up 2 tonite?

  My phone buzzes back almost immediately.

  Meeting the guys for pizza @ fat tony’s on 8th and main at 10. u kno it?

  I quickly text my reply, Yep, see u there.

  NO GIRLS ALLOWED!!!

  I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had my fill of girls and their drama for the day.

  Fat Tony’s Pizzeria is hard to miss. Attached to the roof of the tiny restaurant is a fifteen foot tall neon cartoon rendering of Fat Tony tossing a giant pizza in the air. I’m parking my motorcycle in the small parking lot a little after 10PM.

  Parked in the corner, I recognize Sam’s black Dodge Challenger with the double white stripes painted down the center. Everything about the guy is a chick magnet. I turn off my bike and remove my helmet, tucking it under my arm. I brush my hands through my hair a few times to unstick it from my skull. As I walk past Sam’s immaculately shiny car, I can’t help but run my hand along the hood. Sometimes you just really want to hate the guy but he’s just too damn likable.

  There’s a soft tinkle of bells when I enter the crowded storefront. Smells of garlic and cheesy goodness linger tantalizingly in the air. Sam calls out my name and waves me over but they are easy enough to spot. Three tables had been pushed together to accommodate the large group. Empty red and white checkered paper lined baskets litter the length of the makeshift table. They must have just finished round one of appetizers. Hanging behind every chair is a navy blue lettermen’s jacket with a silver panther sewn into the upper left corner above the heart. I remove my black leather jacket and sit down in the empty chair next to Sam.

  He claps me on the back in greeting, “Glad you could make it, man.”

  I wave at the others seated down the table and they nod back in acknowledgement. “Sure thing, Sam. I needed to get out of the house tonight.”

  He grins, “I hope you’re not too hungry. I only managed to save you a mozzarella stick.”

  Sam hands me a small white plate with a lone mozzarella stick and a smear of marina sauce. I can’t help but chuckle at the sad presentation. “Thanks,” I tear into the gooey stick. It tastes unbelievably delicious so I must really be hungry. “How was the game?”

  “We obliterated them, 24 to 3,” replies Liam Griffin cheerfully. Liam is Sam’s best friend since elementary school and my other Biology lab partner. That shared history and level of trust is important as he plays left tackle for the Panthers. “After all their seniors graduated last year, Lakeside’s football team is a joke.”

  “Yeah, but they still have the hottest cheerleaders in the tri-county area,” chimes in Chris Glenn, the team’s star running back. “Who was that girl you were seeing last year, Liam? Samantha, Summer, Sandra something?”

  Liam close
s his eyes, relishing the memory, “That would be Miss Sheila Larson. She is this year’s cheer captain, the sassy little blonde one on top of the pyramid. Let’s just say she was very, very flexible.” He winks and wiggles his eyebrows emphatically. Sam groans loudly as the rest of the table erupts into laughter.

  As the noise dies down, Liam turns to me, “Speaking of blonde hotties. What about you, Ethan? You and Mackenzie Brooks are quite an item, eh?”

  I shrug it off and answer honestly, “Mackenzie and I are just friends.”

  “I wish my friends looked like Mackenzie,” says Max Boretti, a wide receiver and the only sophomore on the varsity team.

  Liam reaches over and musses up Max’s hair, “Oh, Max. Maybe one day when you’re a big boy, you can hang with the pretty girls.”

  Max pushes Liam’s hand aside and starts combing his hair with his fingers to get it back in place, “Seriously though, are you taking Mackenzie to Homecoming?”

  “Why? Are you going to ask her, prince charming?” Sam asks teasingly.

  Max rolls his eyes in response, “Oh puh-lease, everyone wants to know. She’s practically attached to Ethan’s side every minute of the school day.”

  They all turn and look at me expectantly. I take a sip of water before I reply, “Uhm, probably not. School dances aren’t really my thing.”

  Liam looks at me exasperatedly, “Dude, it’s Homecoming. I know you haven’t been to high school stateside so let me draw you a picture. Homecoming means insecure girls in skanky dresses vying for a stud’s attention.”

  “Yeah and it’s Max’s only night to possibly talk to a girl,” adds Chris. A breadstick goes flying across the table but Chris catches it easily and starts eating it.

  Sam rolls his eyes and changes the subject, “You should really reconsider, Ethan. Even if you decide to go stag. We’re renting a party bus.”

  Not sure if I really want to know the answer, I blurt out, “Who are you taking, Sam?”

  He shrugs and looks away, his fingers shredding a breadstick onto his plate, “No one yet. But I have someone in mind.”