Page 54 of The Surprise Play

“Morning, Satch!” Wily booms, despite the fact that he’s standing right next to my table.

I swallow down my gasp and crane my neck to look up at him. He’s so tall. Such a presence. His eyes so blue and vibrant, his smile so broad and playful.

I can sense every eye within a ten-foot radius is on us, and it makes my cheeks flame.

“Uh… good morning,” I reply softly. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I came to buy you a coffee before coming to collect ya, but you’re already here.” Pulling out a chair, he takes a seat beside me, raising his chin to acknowledge the table next to us.

“Wi-ly!” someone shouts from across the café, and my tablemate glances across, laughing and giving the finger to a tall guy with sandy brown hair. He cracks up laughing and gives the finger back before taking his girlfriend’s hand and walking out of the store.

Once everyone has said their hellos to the popular footballer, he finally turns his attention back to me.

“Do you want another one?” He points at my coffee cup and empty plate.

“Um…” I glance at the leftover crumbs and shake my head. “No, I’m good.”

“It’s on me.” His smile is so persuasive, his eyes so keen that I end up folding and ordering an orange juice. “Excellent choice.”

He walks away from the table, greeting more people with his loud, friendly voice. I can’t help watching him. He’s like a celebrity in this place. It’s insane.

Squirming in my seat, I try to focus on his essay until I hear his voice wafting back to me.

“My tutor. She’s helping me out with an assignment. Fucking lifesaver, man. I’d be lost without her.”

My head jolts up, and I spot three pairs of eyes on me.

Swallowing, I quickly glance back down at the paper, hunching over the table and begging them to look away.

I hate the sensation of everyone watching me.

Bad things always follow that kind of behavior.

Holding my breath, I stare at the black words printed on these white pages until they start to blur. I don’t even know what I’m reading anymore.

And then Wily’s back, plunking down in the chair beside me, his knee resting against my chair. “Here you go.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, eyeing the orange juice and suddenly having flashbacks to Jade’s cruel trick in the cafeteria.

Why the hell did I order orange juice?

Feeling obliged to take it, I carefully pick up the glass and take a sip, then wipe my mouth and try not to grimace when I swallow. The smell of moldy orange juicesoaking into my hair is still ripe in my memory. Even after all this time, I can still feel that flush of humiliation, that pain of disappointment as I watched that gross orange liquid soak into the new clothes Mom had made me.

“So, how’s it looking?” Wily taps the pages, distracting me from my nightmare.

I jump all over it, shifting in my seat and looking up at him. “Yeah, it’s reading well.”

“Any changes required?”

“Just a few grammatical errors at this stage. I’m wondering if it’d strengthen your essay to elaborate the second paragraph here.” I swivel the sheet so he can read over the lines I’m indicating. “But that’s up to you. We’re probably not talking huge shifts in your grade over it.”

“If it’ll get me a pass, then I’m happy with it as it is.”

“This work will definitely get you a pass.” My lips twitch. “You’ve done a great job, and if you fail, I’ll be having words with Professor Pilscher myself.”

“Oh, will you now?” Wily’s eyes start to dance, and that tingling sensation I only ever feel around him bubbles in my belly.

I swallow and look away from him.