Page 18 of Talk to Me

Even if I’d looked a mess the previous week, I hadn’t looked like an actual troll. And I hadn’t actually stunk or anything. I simply wasn’t as put together as I would have liked. I’d greeted him during that first, class, too. I’d done nothing to make him give me the look he’d given me. The minutes seemed to trickle by as my mind raced with thoughts about why the person sitting next to me treated me like his arch nemesis for no reason.

My back and shoulders were tight halfway through class, carrying the tension I felt at that one small interaction with my tablemate. I was gripping my pen so tightly as I attempted to take notes that I thought I’d snap my pen in half. Of course, sending blue ink flying all over the place wouldn’t make Theo think any better of me. And it definitely wouldn’t improve my already lackluster notes.

By the time class came to an end and our professor was dismissing us and spouting off which pages to read for the following week, I felt like stone. I was so tense I could barely move. I nearly missed the professor telling us we’d need to be prepared for class participation next week—a group discussion—about our reading material. If I’d missed that, I’d have shown up to class completely unprepared. Unless it was in the syllabus, of course.

As soon as we were thoroughly dismissed, Theo leapt from his seat, having already tucked his books in his bag, and darted out of class. He actually managed to wind his way through all of the other students excited to get out of class to be the first gone. He really, truly, had hated his time sitting next to me for the hour-long class.

With a sigh, I slowly tucked my books in my bag, put away my materials, and stood from my seat. By the time I was slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I was the last in class. Even our professor was stepping out for some reason. I shuffled out of the classroom and into the hall, my eyes on my feet as I continued to mull over what had happened at the beginning of class.

Once down the busy hallway of the English and Language Arts building and out into the sun, I hadn’t thought of a single reason for how Theo had reacted to me. The logical side of me said to ignore the slight. The guy was obviously a jerk. The emotional—please like me—side wanted to know what I’d done to make a stranger immediately dislike me. The two sides of me fought in my head as I shuffled along the walkway towards the quad.

By the time I got to the quad, I was beginning to chase the voices in my head away, and considering going to the dining hall for a snack. It was too early for lunch, but having a shitty morning can make a guy want comfort in the form of greasy food. However, when I turned on the walkway at the quad that would take me to the dining hall, my eyes landed on the trees.

Theo was sitting at the base of the tree again, his back against the trunk. His eyes were closed and his head was back, as though trying to calm himself. I watched him from a distance as other students zipped past me, hurrying to get to their next class of the morning. I stared at Theo for so long that by the time I decided what to do, the quad was almost completely empty. Classes were beginning again, so Theo, me, and a few other stragglers were all that was left.

Emboldened by the lack of witnesses, and the determination to get an answer for what the hell was going on, I found myself suddenly stomping towards Theo. I made my way across the quad as though I was on my way to fight a grizzly bear, when I was simply going to demand a person explain why I was so unlikable. You know, like a totally cool person would do. Not like a geek.

With his eyes closed and his head back, Theo hadn’t seen me approaching. However, when I was within a few yards of him, the early morning sun was at my back, casting him in darker shadows than the tree already provided. The sudden change in light, combined with the sounds of my approaching footsteps, made Theo open his eyes and lift his head to look around. When he saw me, his nose turned up again, and I could see in his eyes he was considering fleeing. Before he could jump up, I held a hand out, indicating he should stay seated.

“Do I stink or something?” I demanded as I came to stand over him, glaring down at him. “Do you hate strangers? People in general? Or is it just something about me that makes you rude?”

Theo glared up at me. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

“It doesn’t really matter,” I said, waving a hand. “But if you think there’s something wrong with me, show up a little earlier to American Lit next week so you have your choice of seats. It’s not that complicated.”

I turned to walk away.

“I will!” he barked from behind me.

I spun around and glared at him again.

“You know, it’s okay to not like someone,” I explained heatedly, “but it’s another to be a complete snob. All I said was ‘hi’. I was trying to be nice. There’s no reason for you to be a dick to me, you know?”

Theo snorted.

“Me?” He scoffed. “Be a dick to you?”

“Turning your nose up and acting like I was a cow pat you stepped in? Yeah. That’s dick behavior, in case you were raised in a barn and never taught basic manners.”

Theo rolled his eyes.

“So, don’t sit by me again,” I said again. “Get to class earlier. Then you won’t have to act like a dick to me anymore and I won’t have to put up with you.”

I started to turn again, but Theo’s voice stopped me.

“Dude, you have a lot of nerve calling me a dick,” he grumbled. “I’m not the one going around campus talking shit about other people.”

Still angry, but also now confused, I turned to stare down at him.

“What?”

“Did you think I was going to be nice to you after you talked shit about me?” he asked, his tone heated. “I mean, what did you expect? If you act like a jerk, people are going to match your energy, my guy.”

“What are you even talking about?” I demanded. “I just said ‘hi’ to you. How could you take offense to that?”

Theo snorted derisively and pulled his phone from his pocket. Not knowing what to say, I watched as he unlocked it and began tapping the screen. His thumb began to swipe violently as he searched for…something…on his phone. After what felt like forever, the silence was unbearable. I was about to ask him what he was doing, or simply call him a dick once more before walking away, but he suddenly tapped the phone screen with his thumb. Then he turned his phone so that I could see it.

Since I was blocking the sun, the screen was in shadow and I could clearly see the video playing on Theo’s phone. Immediately, my stomach dropped when I recognized the people in the Peepers video he had pulled up. A handful of my friends, along with Collin, were crowding in together in the video, giggling and acting stupid.