by C. E. Wilson
“I guess Micah still really wants to help out with the tournament.”
“So he called my girlfriend? What the hell time was it when he did?”
“No idea. I just know her father didn’t seem to have any problems with it.”
“So that would explain why she called me before school,” Orion said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I thought she just wanted to help. I didn’t know Micah called her behind my back.”
“I’m sure it was just to ask her to talk to you, Orion.”
“It better be,” he said, shuffling through some more papers. “Mason?”
“Yeah?”
“Take these papers around to the teachers and make sure that they sign this agreement,” he said, holding the stack out to him. “We don’t want any miscommunication about the extra credit for our volunteers.”
“Can you handle that, puffy face?” Archer asked in a teasing voice as Mason took the papers.
“Archer, please,” Orion scolded. “As if the situation isn’t bad enough.”
“I’m only kidding. I think it’s big of you to let him participate behind the scenes, Orion. You’re a better man than me.”
“I don’t feel like a great man right now,” Orion said with a frown as he looked at Mason’s freshly stitched split lip. He did feel bad for him. “Can you handle it?”
“Sure can,” Mason said with a pained smile, taking the papers and leaving the classroom.
“Are you pissed that he called her?” Archer asked.
“I’m…I’m not sure yet.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Chapter Three
In the back of the library, Devony knit her fingers together and tried not to look at him directly. She couldn’t stand the panicked look in Micah’s green eyes as they searched hers, begging for help. “You know I’ll do everything I can,” she said to him.
“You should help him, Dev. Even Archer’s upset about the whole thing and you know he doesn’t give a damn about anything! He’s still blaming himself. He’s convinced the whole thing could have been avoided if he had kept a closer watch on him,” Ellie said.
“I wouldn’t stress too much about this, Micah. I’m sure he’ll let you help out with the tournament. I mean look on the bright side, at least he didn’t tell your father that you were drunk and fighting last night,” Devony said.
“Thank hell, he didn’t,” Micah said, trying to smile though it hurt his eye. “Whatever you’re able to do, thanks so much.”
“It’s not a problem. You and Orion have been friends for a long time. I refuse to believe he’s doing this for any other reason than to show the school he’s not going to tolerate fighting.”
“Do you think he’ll replace me?”
“Replace you?” Devony asked, looking curious. “As a friend?”
“As a vice-president?”
“Of course not! Orion would never do that! It’s just a slap on the wrist, if that.” Devony slid her arm across the table and grabbed his hand. “You’re not going to lose your position as vice-president. I’ll do everything and anything I can to make sure that you’re helping out with the tournament tonight. I’ll see him at lunch, I can text him, call him, and be a nuisance until he’s so fed up with me that he won’t have a choice but to give in.”
“You don’t need to go so far.”
“It’s not a problem. So that’s enough of this talk about losing your position of vice-president, Micah. Don’t be silly. If I’m on your side, Orion will be too.”
“Speaking of Orion,” Ellie trailed off as she saw Archer and Orion enter the library.
“I should go,” Micah said, quickly pulling his hand out from under Devony’s. “I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.”
“Don’t you want to be here when I talk to him?”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he said, standing up. “I’ll go out the back, okay? Don’t mention I was here.”
“Well…I guess I can’t stop you,” Devony said, watching him silently leave the library.
Archer caught sight of Micah stepping through the back door. “That can’t be good,” he muttered.
“What can’t be good?” Orion asked. “Did you see something?”
“No, nothing…” he said, trailing off for effect, “…it’s nothing.”
“Did you see who just left the library? Was that Micah?” he asked, looking around the room. His eyes fell on Ellie and Devony. Had he just been there talking to them?
“Micah? I don’t think so. Did you see the way that person snuck out? Whoever it was had something to hide, and what could Micah want to hide from you? It couldn’t have been him.”
“I think it was.” Orion approached the table, leaning over it to look at Devony. “Who were you just talking to?”
“Someone who wants to help out with the tournament,” Devony said.
“Who?” Orion snapped.
“What’s with the attitude? It was your friend, Micah. Orion, please talk to him. He really wants to help out and he hates that you’re mad at him. He didn’t mean to—”
“He didn’t mean to what? Get drunk? Get into a fight? Or get caught?”
“Orion, don’t be mean. Talk to him.”
“So that was him just now?”
“It…it was. Orion, he feels terrible about what happened. Go get him, bring him back, and tell him that you’re done being mad.”
“Not now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m still mad.”
“But you are going to forgive him by tonight, right?”
“Why so soon?”
“He wants to help out with the tournament. You know what an amazing opportunity this is.”
Orion rolled his eyes but leaned in, and gave Devony a kiss on her cheek. Her freckled face blossomed with a blush. “I’ll talk to him.”
“When? During lunch period?”
“Probably not then.”
“So when?”
“Devony, please. I have a lot on my mind. Can you understand that?”
“I understand, but I still really want you talk to him. Don’t wait another week, another day or even another few hours. You’re stressed and he can help you. That’s what having a vice-president is for! Micah’s always been a good friend to you and even when we were dating in secret he never told anyone. You have to forgive him.”
“Enough,” Orion snapped. “I’ll talk to him if you just stop talking about him.”
Devony winced but quickly regained her composure. “You don’t have to be so harsh, it’s not like I’m asking you to do anything terrible.”
“I said I would talk to him!” Orion said, slamming his hand on the table.
“Shhh!” the librarian hushed from the front of the room. “Keep that noise down.”
“Alright,” Orion growled. “I’ll talk to him, Devony. Okay? I’ll talk to him, but in the meantime, can you please just mind your own business? I’m sick of it.”
“Sick of it?” Devony repeated as she stood up from her chair. “I’m getting a little sick of you acting this way. Come on, Ellie. We have class.”
“I’ll see you later,” Orion called, narrowing his eyes as Devony stormed towards the library’s exit.
“I’ll talk to her,” Ellie said as she rushed by to catch up to her friend.
“Thanks, Ellie, I appreciate that.”
Chapter Four
After the two girls had left, Orion appeared deep in thought. He took the seat Ellie had just left and crossed his arms over his chest. “So it was Micah,” he muttered.
“I really hoped that it wasn’t,” Archer said, taking a seat next to him. “I have to ask you something.”
“What now?”
“When you were with Devony in secret, I’m assuming you told Micah?”
“Of course I told him. He’s like a brother to me,” Orion said. “Why are you asking me now?”
“No reason.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I swear there isn’t any reason for asking other than my curiosity.”
“So why are you curious?”
“I guess I didn’t realize that those two were so close.”
“They’re not that close,” Orion said, uncrossing his arms and leaning over the table. “I guess that they have spoken to each other from time to time. We only needed him for delivering messages on the days when Devony was worried about her father finding out about us.”
“Huh.”
“Huh, what? What’s wrong with that?”
“I didn’t say anything was wrong, Orion. I just made a sound.”
“I don’t like the sound you made. Talk to me. Are you saying there’s an issue with trusting Micah around my girl?”
“Micah Castile?”
“Yes, dammit. Who else would I be talking about? We’re talking about Micah, aren’t we?”
“As far as I know.”
“So answer the question.”
“I wasn’t aware you were asking one.”
“Are you kidding me?” Orion grumbled, running his hand over his short dark hair. “Why are you talking around everything that I’m asking you? I can see it in your eyes that your mind is buzzing. When we walked into the library you said you didn’t like something and now you’re asking about Micah and how close he is to Dev. Is there something going on I don’t know about?”
Archer looked away. “I don’t think so.”
“You looked somewhere else! I saw it! Tell me what you’re thinking. Now.”
“Orion, I…” Archer said, breathing in and then heaving out a heavy sigh. He wanted to smile at how carefully Orion was watching him. Every gesture, every movement was making him nervous.
Good.
“Go on,” Orion said, looking more uncomfortable. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Orion, I’d like to think that we’re friends now. We’re friends, right?”
“Of course. You helped me out when Micah was drunk and making an absolute ass out of himself. You’ve proven on more than one occasion that I can trust you with school events and I know you care about the school’s reputation as much as I do. Please…tell me what you think you saw.”
“Micah’s a good guy. I think I’m looking too much into things.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t see a reason to get you riled up this close to the tournament.”
“Why would I get riled up?”
“Because you’re stressed. I’m worried you’ll start to see things that aren’t there. There’s going to be a lot of pressure. The media’s going to be here.”
“I know about the damn tournament. What I want to know is if Micah is trustworthy.”
As he fumbled with his fingers, Archer could feel Orion’s heavy gaze. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“You’re lying.”
“I have better things to do than lie. Why would you say that?”
“I want you be honest,” Orion said. “If you think something’s up, then as my friend you have tell me.”
“I…I can’t,” Archer said, suddenly unsure. For a moment he hesitated. Could he really do this? Orion took his silence for something terrible and looked at him with a face so pleading and pathetic that Archer almost felt bad for him. And then he remembered all the rejection letters from colleges. He remembered Orion preaching about waiting until marriage to have sex when he was sure that he had slept with Ellie. He had to do this. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Would I be here begging if I didn’t?”
“Orion, I could have a rotten thought about anyone. No one’s perfect.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t have to.”
“As your friend, I think you do have to tell me. If you think even for a second that Micah or Devony are up to something, you have to tell me.”
“We should head down to the Headmaster’s.”
“Not until you tell me what you’re thinking. Archer, come on. Tell me.”
“I’m probably wrong.”
“I don’t care. Tell me.”
“Doesn’t the saying go that ‘ignorance is bliss’?” Archer asked, trying to look uncomfortable. “I don’t want to plant a seed of doubt in your mind when it comes to your trust with Devony and Micah. It isn’t right.”
“What isn’t right? What am I being ignorant about? Is there something going on?”
“It’s nothing,” Archer said, standing up. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”
“You’re going to tell me by the end of the day.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
“What isn’t?”
“Getting yourself all worked up like this, Orion! Even if Devony was cheating on you—”
“Cheating on me? What the hell are you talking about?” Orion asked, standing and getting in Archer’s face. “She’s not cheating.”
“You’re right. She’s probably not. But even if she was—”
“She’s not.”
“What I’m trying to say is, that even if she were, would you really want to know about it, or would you rather be kept in the dark?”
“I don’t want her cheating on me in the first place!”
“And as long as you don’t know, she’s not. Orion, stop. You’re going to regret having this conversation and I don’t want you be upset with me.”
“I wouldn’t get upset with you for telling me the truth! I would rather know than be an ignorant fool. Can’t you understand that?”
“Of course I do. Which is why I’m telling you now to stop this conversation and go see the Headmaster.”
“Do you have proof?” Orion asked once Archer started walking towards the front of the library. “I want proof to your claims.”
“I’m not claiming anything! Seriously, Orion, it’s nothing so stop worrying about it.”
“Do you swear I have nothing to worry about?”
“No more than you would with any other guy in the school.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“I don’t think it’s supposed to make you feel worse,” Archer said, opening the door and motioning for Orion to go ahead of him. “Orion, listen to me. I don’t have proof but you should keep a closer eye on Devony. She’s a nice enough girl but a guy would have to be a fool not to flirt with her.” Archer walked a bit ahead of him. “I’ll see you at third period, okay?” he called over his shoulder.
Orion didn’t answer him, instead grumbling to himself. “Micah would be a fool to try anything with her.”
***
“Do you really think she’s cheating on me?” Orion asked near the end of third period once the teacher had given the class permission to talk until the bell rang. He slid his desk closer to Archer’s so no one else could hear their conversation.
“She lied to her dad, didn’t she? For months she lied to him about seeing you.”
“I never wanted her to do that.”
“Do you think she’d want you to find out if she was seeing another guy?”
“N-no.”
“But she could probably keep a secret about it, couldn’t she? She’s done it before. I mean hell, Orion, didn’t you say that she was afraid to talk to you at first when actually she liked you?”
“She did.” He pressed his forehead to the cool desk, trying to calm his nerves. “Oh God, it must be true. She could do it and I would be none the wiser.”
“You don’t know if she’s doing anything yet,” Archer said, resting a hand on his back, patting it. “I’m just worried about my friend is all.”
“And I appreciate that. I really do.”
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m not,” Orion said, lifting his head up. “I don’t believe ignorance is bliss. I’m glad you talked to me about this.”
“I don’t believe you but I’m happy
to help, I think. Don’t look too much into this until after the tournament, Orion. You’re stressed and you’re looking for a release. You shouldn’t take it out on Devony.”
“I don’t plan to. Not without proof.”
“Don’t go searching for proof either,” Archer warned. “If you start acting like a snoop, you’re probably going to scare Devony away. You don’t want that, do you?”
“I don’t want that.” He shook his head. “I don’t think Devony would cheat on me with Micah.”
“Let’s hope not…for her sake.”
“But it makes sense though, doesn’t it? Micah and Dev are a much better match.”
“Devony’s father is fond of him.”
“Oh God. I know. I know that!”
“Archer and Orion,” the teacher warned from the front of the class. “Voices down.”
“Yes, Ms. Crane,” Archer said, leaning closer to Orion. “Maybe she’s tired of being ashamed, you know? Maybe she just wants to have a relationship that she doesn’t have to explain to everyone.”
“That would make sense,” Orion said, reasoning in his mind. “I can’t keep my eye on her, though. Our class schedules are very different. Do you think that Ellie could do it? They’re close friends.”
“I can ask her.”
“I should have never let her keep a secret from her father,” Orion said. “He was right. A real man wouldn’t have allowed such a thing.”
“Darren said that out of spite, don’t take him too seriously. He’s a man who only wants the best for his daughter.”
“And that’s clearly not me,” Orion said.
“Stop beating yourself up over things you can’t change. Micah flirts with everything, Orion. You know that better than I do. What you need to do is not let him weasel his way back into your good graces. Make him work for something for a change. Did he talk to you yet about helping out with the tournament?”
“You already know he called Devony late last night.”
“So that’s how he’s going to do it?” Archer asked. “Just see how hard Devony works on his behalf.”
“That means nothing,” Orion said as the bell rang overhead.