Chapter 4: Zack Can't Talk to Women
Georgia called several hours later to tell him that their talk had given her the courage she needed to tender her resignation at the school. He responded in what he hoped was an appropriate manner.
"Good for you."
He said it as supportively as he knew how. With 'oompf'.
Angela – who had instructed him on oompfing just a few moments before – stood in front of him and nodded with a calm smile that told him he was doing a good job.
"I just wanted to say thank you. The way you actually listened to me. I mean, I know you don't do well with people. Not that you didn't do well with me, but I'm different and, and you're a genius, so I think that's how I got the courage from you…" She stopped and quietly said. "Oh, God. You know, I planned this all out. Just say thank you and hang up. But I just can't stop talking when I'm nervous."
"Why are you nervous?"
Zack was afraid that it was something he had done or said. Maybe she did think he was weird, after all. But Angela's smile lit up and Zack knew that he was wrong. He just didn't know what was right.
"I don't like making telephone calls. I know it's stupid, but my voice sounds so weird on answering machines so I can only assume that it sounds like that on the phone."
"I think your voice sounds fine."
She sounded like she was smiling when she said, "thanks." Then, she sighed. "Well, I guess I should get going. But first...look, I know this is kind of a lot to ask, but would you mind just calling me and telling me when you find out who the killer is? I'd rather hear it from you than have to hear it from a newspaper headline."
Angela's smile grew wider. Zack hadn't realized that she could hear the conversation. He backed away, glaring at her. But he wasn't really mad. He hoped that she could tell.
"Okay," he said. "I will."
"Thank you so much."
After several more formalities, he hung up his phone. Angela made a noise that could only be described as a squeal.
"Thank God you managed to pull that off," she said.
"I know. My throat is quite dry now."
Angela laughed.
"So this Georgia girl, she seems really nice. And she seems to actually like you."
"I know. I don't understand it either."
Angela sighed.
"Oh, sweetie. I didn't mean it like that."
"But I did. Girls don't like me. Naomi doesn't like me."
"Naomi is just one woman."
"One of many, you mean."
Angela sighed and put her hand on his shoulder.
"I heard her ask you to tell her who killed Nester. Don't tell her on the phone. We'll probably all be going to Wong Foo's later. Invite her along. Trust me, it's the best move. It'll make her think you're sensitive and gentlemanly. Plus, you'll get to see her again."
Zack, as always, just nodded. He knew that arguing with Angela about relationships and the forming of them was about as effective as it would be for Angela to argue with him about quantum mechanics. Instead, he just sighed.
"She's beautiful, Angela."
He didn't mean that she was just physically appealing. She was, certainly, but he meant it a little deeper than that. He just wished he could find the words to describe exactly what he meant. Angela would have known how to do that. She could pinpoint her emotions just like Zack could pinpoint one murder weapon out of thousands of possibilities. Angela would have known what to say. But he thought that she understood what he meant.
"I know, sweetie," she said. And then, "I'm proud of you."
She rubbed his shoulder comfortingly again and then started to walk back towards her office.
"Angela?"
She turned and asked, "yeah?"
"I didn't give Georgia my number."
Angela smiled.
"You're welcome."