Chapter Eleven: It's My Birthday
That Friday Afternoon
Caleb and Sarah and Vanessa all exchanged looks as Reid approached the lunch table flanked by two girls.
"More groupies?" Vanessa asked in a low voice.
"Hey guys," Reid greeted them happily. "This is Kim and Emily."
After a brief round of introductions they all sat down and began to eat their lunches. As freshmen their conversation consisted of the basics: Name, Hometown and Major
"Kim Wilkinson. Fleming, Rhode Island. English."
"Sarah Wenham. Boston, Mass. Pre-Law."
"Emily Hawke. Canton, Ohio. English."
"Caleb Danvers. Ipswich, Mass. Pre-Law."
"Vanessa Gardella. Jupiter, Florida. Pre-Law."
"Reid Garwin. Ipswich, Mass. Pre-Med."
"Wait a minute," Sarah said to Reid. "I though you were Undeclared."
"Well, now I'm Declared," Reid shrugged.
"So what kind of doctor do you want to be?" Emily asked.
"Guess," Reid smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"Plastic surgeon."
"Nope," Reid laughed. "I don't think I could handle a career based on liposuction."
"You could specialize in breast implants," Sarah playfully threw one of her fries at Reid.
"Only if you promise to be my first patient," Reid grinned. She was one of very few girls he'd gotten to know well enough to cure his habitual foot-in-mouth syndrome. Now if he could just do that with other really hot girls…
"Sarah is perfect the way she is," Caleb put an arm around his girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
Reid groaned as all the girls at the table let out a collective "awwwww." Why did Caleb always have to say shit like that?
"Guess again," Reid said to Emily in effort to get the attention away from Caleb and back to him.
"Cardiologist?"
"Nope."
"Dermatologist?"
"Nope," Reid kept shaking his head.
"Neurology?"
"Pediatrics?"
"No and No"
"I know," Sarah grinned. "Gynecology."
"Hell Noooo," Reid's head shook side to side.
"Really?" Sarah said in surprise.
"He fainted watching the 'health' video in middle school," Caleb informed the group.
Danvers then reenacted Reid passing out in his chair and eventually falling on the floor.
The table erupted with laughter.
"Did you really faint?" Kim asked Reid.
"NO," Reid answered giving Caleb a dirty look. "I fell asleep."
"Then why did you tell Mr. Wood you fainted?"
"Did you say Mr. Wood?" Sarah interrupted before Reid could answer.
Caleb nodded.
"You had a Sex Ed teacher named Mr. Wood?" Vanessa slapped the table hard with her hands. "That is hilarious."
"Our Sex Ed teacher was Ms. Hummel," Kim told everyone. "But we always called her Ms. Hummer."
"That's terrible!"
"So Emily," Reid cut in, trying to steer the conversation back to himself, "you still haven't guessed what kind of doctor I'm going to be."
"I guess we can rule out Obstetrician," Vanessa chuckled.
The laughter began again.
Annoyed, Reid grabbed his cup and went for a refill. Even across the room he could hear them. As he stood at the soda fountain he saw Caleb giving an encore performance of Reid falling on the floor.
All four girls at the table were doubled over with laughter.
Reid took a few gulps of his drink then began refilling it all the while watching Caleb and his one man comedy routine.
He couldn't hear what Caleb was saying but he saw Danvers start smoothing his hair down over his forehead. The blonde knew Caleb was preparing for his Reid impression.
It was something Caleb came up with during summer swimming camp. For the talent show, Caleb had decided to do a skit – making fun all of them. In fact, he still wore the "Pogue" wig every once in awhile.
Caleb then reached across the table and shook Kim's hand emphatically.
"Oh My God! That's exactly what he did!" Emily screeched. Sarah and Kim were both laughing. Vanessa was slapping the table again.
Reid pursed his lips together angrily and grabbed a handful of napkins.
The orange orbed in his eyes as he Used.
"AHHH!"
Caleb and Sarah's chairs flew backward as they both jumped to their feet. Iced tea poured off the edge of the table.
"I'm so sorry," Vanessa apologized as she righted the fallen cup. Kim and Emily were mopping up the spill as Reid approached.
"What happened?" Garwin asked in mock innocence as he casually dropped the stack of napkins in the puddle.
"Vanessa hit the table," Emily explained, "and Caleb's drink spilled."
"Caleb, I am so sorry," Vanessa apologized again as she attempted to clean up.
"Don't worry about it," Caleb replied taking a few napkins for himself. "Accidents happen." Danvers then shot Reid the 'I-know-wasn't-really-an-accident' look.
"I still feel awful," Vanessa piled the wet napkins on her tray, "especially since it's your birthday."
"It's your BIRTHDAY!" Emily and Kim squealed in unison.
Reid rolled his eyes as Caleb humbly nodded 'yes'. All the girls began fussing over Caleb who 'acted' embarrassed by all the attention.
He might as well be wearing a tee-shirt that said "Caleb's Wing Man."
Official OC Counter:
1. Vanessa Gardella - Sarah's roommate
2. Sara - From Calculus
3. Stacey – Women's Swim Team Captain
4. Ashley - cheerleader
5. Adam Abbot – Aaron's older brother
6. Kim Wilkinson – From English class
7. Emily Hawke – Kim Wilkinson's roommate
