You suck. I get the text in the middle of math class. I only had two problems left and there were still thirty minutes left of class.
What did I do this time? I text back.
You know what you did. My phone vibrates on my desk. I don't even know what that means, how do I reply to that? I push my round glasses up, as they were sliding down my nose, and thought long and hard on how to reply to this text.
You know I don't. So why can't you just tell me? I reply.
And you know I can't do that. Meet me in the hallway in five minutes. That's annoying. Why can't we talk after class? I'm trying to be a good student and get my work done, but precious little Hadley won't let me do that.
After about three minutes go by I raise my hand and get a pass to go the bathroom. I might as well make use of this unwanted delay.
As I'm walking to the bathroom a voice stops me in the middle of my step.
"Ollie get over here!" Hadley whisper yells down the hallway.
I roll my eyes and walk over there. "Why are you whispering?"
"They might hear me," she explains.
"Don't be an idiot," I said.
She hits me in the arm. "Oliver, I'm serious. I'm scared." Hadley's always been good at lying but I've found her little quirks over the years. She always traces a circle on her left leg whenever she lies and there was no circle today.
"Hadley. What's the matter?"
"Nothing, it's just I'm scared."
"You said that already. Who do you need me to beat up?"
"As if you would beat anyone up. And it's no one at this school. Well, technically, they're here but they don't go here."
"Who is it?" I asked tensely.
"A couple of guys that my dad works with. Their boss wants me dead in order that my dad knows how to feel pain."
"What does your dad do again?"
"Shut up. All I'm saying is that you need to get me out of here. Do your thing." I knew exactly what "thing" Hadley was talking about but she knew that I didn't like doing it.
"Hads, you know I would love to do it but I can't do it in the middle of school. Not right here," I said.
"Fine. After school, meet me behind the school and then get me out of here."
"Of course. Now if you'd excuse me, I really have to pee."
Hadley laughed and then she hugged me. Weird. I always assumed there was a no physical contact rule since she wouldn't even give me a fist bump after she got on base in P.E. Something must be seriously wrong.
