Splinters

Chapter 3: Civilized Conversation

I got through the first week of classes in one piece, but I was still having a hard time. I had two classes with Chase and one with Zoey, but none with the two of them together. I had a different lunch period, with Logan and Quinn, so by some miracle I had been able to avoid seeing them together yet. I knew this wouldn't last; it was bound to happen eventually. So I decided that it would be best to set it up so that I could be prepared for it, rather than having it sprang on me.

"Hey, Michael," I said on Friday morning as we were getting ready for class. Chase and Logan were showering and the room was blessedly quiet. "We should do something fun tonight. It's only the first week of classes and I'm already feeling gloomy." Michael gave me a knowing look.

"That sounds cool. Just us or the whole gang?" I was still a little surprised at being included "the gang" but I was no longer questioning my good fortune.

"The whole gang. Maybe go to the beach or something and cling to the last little bits of summer before they fade away." He laughed as Chase entered the room.

"Quit being so dramatic," he teased. "Summer's not lost forever."

"Who said summer is lost forever?" Chase demanded. "Summer never ends at PCA."

"It doesn't?" I asked. Chase looked to Michael.

"You never showed him?" He asked. Michael shook his head.

"We didn't get a chance to last year."

"Well then I think we should make up for it tonight," Chase replied.

"Umm, could one of you tell me what the heck you're talking about?" I broke in. Chase grinned.

"Oh, you just wait," he replied. "It's the experience of a lifetime."

I barely made it through my classes, I was so anxious for Chase's surprise. I knew part of him was being nice out of pity, since he felt he stole my girlfriend. But from what I was learning, I had sort of stolen her from him in the first place. I had never known that Chase had told Zoey how he felt before I came along. I didn't know that Zoey had been in England or that she and Chase had left their respective countries to be with each other, leaving Chase stuck in England for a semester. And no one had bothered to tell me, until now, that they had actually dated briefly, long distance, mere weeks before I had moved to PCA.



I was learning to accept these things and the fact that Zoey and Chase were happy together. It sucked, but that was a fact of life, unfortunately. And Chase wasn't so bad to have as a friend. He was really good with biology, which helped when my Anatomy class proved to be a little more challenging than I had anticipated.

"James!" Zoey caught up with me just outside calculus. "Wanna walk to English with me?" She was smiling tentatively and I couldn't refuse. She was trying really hard at this whole "just friends" thing and I was cooperating to my best extent.

"Sure. Where'd you come from?"

"Advanced Physics. Don't ask me what possessed me to take that class. Regular physics was hard enough!" I smiled and nodded but didn't respond. We were standing in the math building and the science building was halfway across campus. Our English class was between the two.

"Hey, maybe you'll get to ride another roller coaster," I said finally. She grinned.

"If only. That was so much fun. You should drop by the class and mention it to my teacher." Again, I chose not to respond, only nodding and smiling. If this was any other girl, I would have assumed she was flirting with me. But not this girl. Not Zoey.

"Why aren't you taking AP? I thought you had to have one more science credit?" She continued when I remained silent. I nodded.

"I do. I decided to take Anatomy. I've been thinking about going to medical school." She stared at me in awe.

"Really? Med school? That's awesome, James!" She furrowed her brow. "Isn't Anatomy like ridiculously hard?" She asked. I shrugged.

"It's definitely challenging, but I'm getting through. Chase has been a big help." I couldn't resist the opportunity to not only remind her of her boyfriend but to also to remind her that he and I were somewhat friends. Her expression darkened and she nodded.

"Chase is really good with biology," she agreed. I fiddled with my backpack strap, avoiding her searching gaze. "Can I ask you something?" She spoke finally, and I looked up at her in surprise.

"You just did," I joked, hoping to keep the mood light. She gave me an exasperated look and ignored my comment.

"Are you really okay with all of this? I mean I know it was hard enough for you coming back knowing about Chase and me, but to be stuck in a dorm with him, sharing friends with him? I mean, Michael just set it all up without ever asking you if you wanted that." She looked seriously concerned and I couldn't help but smile.

"Honestly, it was weird as all hell at first, but I'm okay with it now. In fact, I'm glad Michael did that, because I probably would have just moved into a different dorm and alienated myself from everyone. This 

way I was forced to deal with it and I'm glad I did. Besides, Chase is a way better roommate than Michael and Logan. And he's not bad as a friend either." She nodded solemnly.

"Good. Because I was really worried about you and I wondered if Michael ever really considered how you would feel about all of it. I just wanted to make sure that, you know, you were okay." She was blushing and I felt nervous all of a sudden. Why was she acting this way? Was this really how you act around and ex that you still want to be friends with? What would Chase think?

"Really, Zoey, I'm fine. I promise. I'm starting to get used to this whole 'friends' situation. And I'm really glad I didn't have to find new friends." She shook her head.

"Lola told me she hit you for saying that."

I nodded. "After Michael hit me in the same spot. It's still sore!" She giggled as we reached our English classroom. Slipping inside, she seated herself right next to me. She had been sitting with Lisa, Michael's girlfriend, all week, and I was surprised she would sit with me until I noticed Lisa's seat was empty. Zoey pulled out her folder and textbook and began flipping through the folder for her homework.

Sighing, I did the same as the bell rang. Lisa's seat stayed empty and I nodded inwardly. So that was why. Larry Manford, a somewhat dorky kid, had been sitting next to me all week, but when he saw Zoey, he seated himself in Lisa's empty chair. I bit my lip, feeling angry. Zoey had no right to sit there. I wasn't her boyfriend, I was barely her friend, and now poor Larry would have to sit alone all period. I could feel Zoey watching me but I refused to look over at her. Instead, I focused my attention on the teacher.

When the class ended, I grabbed my things and rushed out of the room. I had just made it into the warmth of the late morning sun when Zoey caught up with me.

"James!" I kept walking, but she kept pace with me, finally grabbing me by the arm to stop me. "James, would you stop for a minute?"

I jerked my arm out of her grip and glared at her. "Why? So you can confuse me some more?" I snapped. Tears sprang to her eyes. "This isn't fair, Zoey, at all. Us being friends doesn't mean you still treat me the same but without the making out, ok? You wouldn't act that way with Lola or Logan or Michael and you shouldn't act that way with me. And I'm not your fill-in for when you don't have a table buddy, either. If you want to sit with me, sit with me, but don't use me to make up for Lisa being gone. You do realize you took someone else's usual seat?" The tears were threatening to spill over and she blinked them back furiously, but I wasn't done.

"I'm trying, Zoe. I'm trying to do this friend thing but it's hard for me. And you're not making it any easier." I drew a ragged breath. "I'm sorry I got so mad, but I can't handle this, okay? You're going to have to figure out how to treat me as a friend, just like all of your other friends, or else I can't do this…." I trailed off. One single tear trailed down her cheek, and without thinking, I reached out and wiped it away. She turned her head away and I cursed myself under my breath.

"I guess we both need to figure out how this works," she whispered to her shoes. I had the urge to tip her chin up and make her look at me, but I resisted. Too much contact was bad for us.



After a few minutes, she looked up, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry. I guess I just don't know how to act around you. We weren't ever really friends, you know? We barely knew each other when we started dating. I want to be friends, I want this to work but I might need your help. And a little patience would be nice, too," she teased softly, and I smiled.

"I'll do my best," I promised.

"What's all this?" Logan's voice broke into the conversation. "Why are you two just standing there smiling at each other?" I rolled my eyes and Zoey glared at him.

"In case you didn't realize, Logan, we were having a private conversation," she replied haughtily. "So if you don't mind…" He crossed his arms.

"I do mind. What could you two possibly be having a private conversation about?" His eyes narrowed. "Unless…" I shoved him out of the away.

"Get out of here, Logan, you know we would never do that. We were just talking and now, I'm just leaving to go to class. I'll see you later, Zoey," I added, and she nodded, still glaring at Logan. She turned and marched away before I was out of sight.

Walking toward the gym for P.E., I recognized a head of bushy hair walking in front of me. "Chase!" I hollered, jogging to catch up with him. He looked around, smiling when he saw me.

"What up?" He asked, holding his hand out for a slap. I complied and fell into step beside him.

"I'm just heading to P.E., unfortunately," I replied. He laughed.

"Have fun. Coach Keller is still a nightmare."

I nodded, running a hand through my hair. It was now or never. "Listen, Chase, I just want to tell you the truth before Logan comes around cooking up trouble. Zoey and I were talking – well, arguing – just now and Logan went all Mr. Detective on us. Just in case he tries to make something out of it, I wanted to assure you that it was nothing, okay? We wouldn't do that."

"Do what?" Chase asked, bewildered and curious.

I sighed. "Whatever is going through Logan's mind. I don't know or want to know, but I'm sure it's something we would never do. You know Logan." He nodded.

"I do," he replied. He looked concerned. "What were you arguing about?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Something stupid. We're just… we're having a hard time with this friend thing, you know? It's even more awkward with me and Zoey than it is with you and me. But don't worry, we'll work it out." He looked thoughtful. "Chase?"



He shook out of it. "Sorry, I was just thinking. I think it's cool that you and Zoey are trying to be friends. My last girlfriend and I don't even speak to each other, at least not civilly. And if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know, okay?"

I smiled. "Sure. We appreciate you being so cool about this, too. I'm not sure I'd be so generous if I was in your shoes." He shrugged.

"No problem. Hey, here's my building. I'll see you back at the dorm, okay?" I nodded and he disappeared inside. I continued on my way to the gym.

Coach Keller was definitely still a nightmare and barked at us constantly as we ran laps around the track. I was in fairly decent shape so I kept up well, but some of the other students lagged well behind. Our assignment was five laps, three of which I had already finished. I was lapping other students easily until halfway through my fourth lap. I was about to pass a dark-haired girl when suddenly her ankle bobbled and she went down. There was no way for me to avoid her and I fell down on top of her. I quickly threw all of my weight to one side, hoping to avoid crushing her and somehow I managed to land next to her.

Pulling myself into a sitting position, I heard Coach Keller yelling at the other students to keep running. He was huffing and puffing his way toward us. I inspected myself; other than a bruise on my knee and a few scrapes, I was fine. I got to my feet and extended a hand to the girl, who had tears in her eyes.

"Are you all right?" I asked her. She shook her head, clutching her ankle. I helped her up and placed her arm around my shoulders to support her weight.

"Is everything okay?" Coach Keller had come within a foot of us but was still yelling.

"I think I sprained my ankle," she whimpered.

"I'll take her to the nurse," I offered. I felt somehow responsible, even though she had been the one to trip me. Coach Keller nodded.

"You're dismissed," he yelled, and I winced at the volume. "Class is nearly over anyway. It's about time for me to get myself some sushi." He pronounced it with a short vowel rather than the requisite long vowel, and I corrected him.

"It's 'sue'-shi, sir." He glared at me.

"I say suh-shi!" He hollered, and I nodded.

"Okay, okay, whatever." Desperate to get away from this crazy man, I helped the girl hobble off the track.

We had just made it out of sight of the track when she looked around, pulled her arm away, and stood flat on both feet. I stared at her.

"Classic trick," she explained. "Coach Keller's not bright enough to catch on."



"You mean you're not hurt? Was the fall fake, too?" I was a little angry. She laughed.

"Oh, calm down. Truthfully, the fall was real, and I'm sorry I took you down, too. But once I was down, I figured why the hell not get out of running while I'm at it?" I half-smiled.

"I see. So was I just a pawn in your scheme?" She shrugged.

"I don't know yet. Buy me a smoothie and I'll decide. I'm Rebecca, by the way," she added. I nodded. "And you're James."

I stared at her. "I'm not even going to ask how you know that. I don't want to hear the answer." She grinned.

"I don't blame you. Sorry I brought it up. Anyway, smoothie or are you going to slink back to your dorm alone?" I smiled back.

"Smoothie."