What's the worst that could happen, a question asked many times, seldom to a beneficial effect. Lincoln pondered this exact question as he stared down the hallway and into Jordan's locker. She wasn't there yet, but she would be any minute now. it might seem like little time, but Lincoln's mind raced with how many failures it could come up in even half that time. His voice could crack when he tries to talk to her. He could trip on his shoelace and then have his voice crack when he tries to say he is okay, when she asks him if he is okay. He could trip on his shoelace and then have his voice crack when he tries to say he is okay, when she asks him if he is okay, and then trip again on his foot, falling flat on his face. He could trip on his shoelace and then have his voice crack when he tries to say he is okay, when she asks him if he is okay, and then trip on his foot, knocking her over and ending up in a compromising position before having his voice crack again when he tries to apologize for it.
No, he was overthinking it. He already removed his shoelaces beforehand to prevent this very possibility. He was safe, at least from that one. As for the others...
However, now was not the time to focus on those. Now was the time to focus on what he was going to do. As much as he prepared for all the possibilities of approaching her, he didn't actually put much thought into what he would do afterwards. Can you blame him, there was just so much that could go wrong before that point he just didn't have time! But now he needed to come up with something quick, or else the whole plan went bust. Then again, he could wait for just a while longer... getting some extra time to properly think it through as well as rethink the older parts of the plan might be a good idea. Yes, maybe he will do it tomorrow, tomorrow seems like a great day to do it. But others sound even better. The day after that! The weather broadcast said it would be sunny, so it must mean it would be his lucky day. That's right, in two days... no, let's round it up to three, three, and three is getting quite close to the end of the week. Maybe next week?
Lincoln rubbed his chin, waying his options, before Clyde pulled him back and gave him a light slap. "Hey, what was that for?" Lincoln got annoyed, more so confused.
"You are thinking of quitting!" Clyde slapped him again, this time even more lightly. "Don't even try!" He grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him ever so gently.
"But Clyde, I was thinking and-"
"No thinking." Clyde slapped him again. It was a bit harder, causing Clyde to apologize before continuing. "We already went over this, you'll just overthink it." He spun him around and started massaging his back like he was a boxer in halftime. "You got this Lincoln. We went over all the ways it could go wrong and right. All you have to do now is go and put that plan into action." Clyde said like a seasoned coach before pushing Lincoln forward. "Now go and make me proud!"
Lincoln was slightly taken out of his element by Clyde's display but quickly regained composure. He walked out into the hallway just as Jordan was coming up to open her locker. Perfect timing, he thought as he started his trip down the hall, carefully adjusting his walk to be more confident as he went along. Clyde was right, this didn't have many ways in which it could fail, if he excluded the part where he came up to her. After that, it was just a short talk before they went their separate ways. Easy, please, lemon squeezy. He had dozens before this one, he can have one now. Just as her how she's doing and maybe if she wanted to catch up later, deepening on her current mood. Simple, yes?
But before he could try, something stopped Lincoln dead in his traps, and it was the one thing he didn't see coming but that, in retrospect, he really should have, Chandler.
"Hey! Watch where you're going Larry!" Chandler said as he rubbed the back of his head.
Lincoln was disorientated for a moment before realizing who it was, and promptly sighing discreetly. "Me? Why don't you take your own advice?"
"What... You're the one who ran out of nowhere!"
"I didn't!"
"Yeah, okay, you walked very fast, doesn't changed the fact you just went straight into me."
"Are you okay?" Jordan asked, a bit confused by their argument.
"Yeah." Both boys answered, though one was grouchier than the other.
As Jordan walked away, Lincoln's eyes briefly followed her, lamenting what just happened. Of course, it was going to be Chandler. His first contingency plan should have been for just that, Chandler. That one, and the next twenty. Out of all the days he could pick to just walk around, he had to pick this one. Unless he wasn't "just walking". Chandler, you little weasel, Lincoln thought, you are trying to sabotage me. Lincoln passed Chandler an irate glare, only to see the boy offering him a hand to get up.
Chandler was slightly confused by this, checking his hands to see if something was on them before walking away once Lincoln showed no signs of accepting his help and whispering "Weirdo", when he thought Lincoln couldn't hear him. But Lincoln did hear him, though it didn't bother him much.
He got up on his own and went back to the place Clyde had sent him off from. Of course, Clyde waited there for him, and he had already seen everything that had happened.
"Well, that one didn't work. Too bad you bumped into Chandler. Though, what was that bit at the end, why didn't you take his hand?"
"He did it on purpose Clyde." Lincoln said while starting to concoct another plan.
"Did what? Wait, you don't mean to tell me..." Clyde was shocked as he came to the same conclusion.
"Exactly. He is trying to sabotage me to get to Jordan." Lincoln opened his locker and took out a notebook to write something down. "At least this confirms one thing."
"What?"
"He's not dating her. If he was, he wouldn't need to resort to petty sabotage." Lincoln said before typing out a few notes. "The question now is, how did he know I was coming."
Clyde got to thinking. "Yeah, how did he know you were coming?" Clyde peeked out into the hallway and looked around. "The only way for him to see this part of the school is if he had access to the security cameras, and I don't think he has that."
Lincoln looked around. The hallways were mostly empty, apart from a few odd students wandering around. "It's not the only one. One of his goons must have helped him out."
"I don't know... the hallway was empty just minutes ago, I checked."
"Then they must be hiding pretty well." Lincoln opened the nearest trash can to find it completely empty.
Clyde approached to join in the trash inspection but found nothing Lincoln already hadn't. "I think I would have noticed someone climbing into a trashcan, or a locker, and while we're on the subject, I doubt anyone would have come before us, just so they could hide in a trash."
"Something here isn't adding up, I can feel it, I just can't quite put my finger on it." Lincoln closed the trashcan.
"Maybe it really was just a coincidence?"
"I doubt it." Lincoln said, unimaginably sure of himself. "Looks like we will have to ask the rest of the gang for help, this will be harder than we initially thought."
"Maybe if you just try one more time..."
"I will, but this time I will have the guys set up at key points so they can spot and intercept Chandler on time." Lincoln told Clyde.
"Lincoln, buddy, you know I won't push you on this, but do you maybe want to tell me why you are so sure Chandler is out for you. I mean, you seem super convinced, but I just don't see it."
"Because, Clyde, it's Chandler. You know how he is." Lincoln said defensively. "He is always scheming behind our backs."
Clyde sighed. "If you say so... but please at least consider trying again without getting everyone involved. Please?"
"I will, I will, but first I just have to..." Lincoln pulled out his phone and started to type something out.
Clyde just sighed, disheartened. This was going to blow up in his face and while he was always happy to take a bullet for his best friend, he still hoped he doesn't get caught in the direct blast. However, maybe if Lincoln got more people involved, one would tell him he was being ridiculous. It didn't look likely, but he could always hope. After all, hope was the last thing to die.
Well, that was an unexpected one week... oh fu...
I meant to update this story far earlier, but life got in the way. And when life gets in the way, it usually kills my creative drive along with my free time. However, I do have something to show for my extended absence, other than this, but you will have to wait just a bit more. As for this chapter itself, I know it's not much, but I hope it got the main point across. Lincoln hates Chandler for no reason, that's just how it is.
I don't know what else to say, so I'll just stop rambling here. Have a nice day, good night, happy anything you wish, and I hope to see you next time.