Page 8 of Attractive Forces

“Pretty much all of it. He tells us what to eat. He watches our grades. Tells us what nights we’re allowed to party. He played for New Zealand, so he knows what it takes to reach the top.”

“Sounds intense.”

“You don’t win the championship by taking the easy road,” I spout the familiar words, almost hearing them come out of my mouth in Coach Collison’s voice.

Which is a slightly scary concept.

* * *

Later that night,I decide to message Jake. I want him to know I have a brain and I’m capable of forming coherent sentences occasionally.

I think long and hard about how to open a conversation with him. Finally, I decide to go with a joke.

what kind of dogs do chemists have?

My stomach twists as I wait for his reply. The response comes through after an eternity. Or ten minutes.

you trying to nerd joke with me, Madison?

maybe

ok, tell me what kind of dogs chemists have

laboratory retrievers

funny, I tell chemistry jokes, but I usually get no reaction

It takes me a second to get it, but when I do, a stupid grin plasters itself over my face.

I send him a GIF of aba-dum-tshh.

He sends me a smiling face, followed by another quick text.

how often should you tell chemistry jokes?

how often?

periodically

shit, I’ve unleashed a demon.

you started it. been storing up chemistry jokes, now they’re coming in your direction

can’t wait. nice distraction from history homework.

who you got for history?

Ms. Lawson

Ouch. Heard she’s tough

tougher than the cafeteria meat

I’ve got Keoghan for geography. Scared to even breathe loudly.

And we’re off, texting about teachers and school. Then it morphs into talking about what music we like. We message back and forth for an hour. I don’t get much history homework done before Jake ends the conversation.

shit, just saw the time. Better go.