A Second Chance To Get It Right

Chapter 4-2

The next morning I’m off to get Robbie for class again. It’s frustrating not having a cell phone in my pocket. I keep feeling for it and it’s not there. I’m naked without it. And there’s no internet. I’m used to getting up in the morning and going online to check email. Not anymore. The internet’s not here yet and it won’t be for a few more years. This whole world that used to be my world is so alien—nothing works the same way.

I think about last night, what Monica said to me, about not feeling good enough and letting people take advantage of her (like me) so they’d like her, and then how she said that love is all that matters. It was like having cold water thrown in my face. It stunned me, made me think of how selfish and shallow I was in my other life.

I pull up to Robbie’s house. He’s outside again waiting for me. I watch him walk to my car and get in. He’s frowning. “Something wrong?” I say as he shuts the door.

Robbie dumps his book bag on the floor and sits back. “Yeah, you could say that. Tiff dumped me! Some BS about us going different directions. What the f**k does that mean?”

My heart skips, and I feel my eyes widen. No, it can’t be her. “Sorry about that.”

“Yeah, me, too. First the car, now this. This week’s total FUBAR.”

I pull away from the curb and say, “You guys been going together how long now…two, three years?” (Don’t ask me how I know this, I just do.)

“Almost three.” He frowns. “f**k it.” For the next ten minutes, he’s quiet and I don’t say anything. I’m too busy wondering about this Tiffany. Finally, he says, “You hit up Monie about Friday night down to The West?”

“Not yet. She was buried with homework last night. Tonight for sure.”

“Dude, I need you there, okay?”

I get a strong feeling he’s thinking Tiff will be in attendance. “One of us’ll be there for sure.”

He nods and looks out the window as I drive. I’m wondering if I’m about to meet the future smack in the face. If I am, it won’t be like the last time, and despite what it would mean for Ted and Crystal, I can’t say I would want it to be like it was before. I should beg off and have Monica go Friday night instead of me. Stay home with Tommy. Remove myself from the equation. But the way things are going with my life right now, I have a feeling I won’t have a say in any of it.