Free The Insurrectionist by Mahima Martel Page B

she was always spotting him with daddy’s money.
                Heather sighed deeply. “Look, you are my best friend. I have money to spend as I wish and I wish to spend it on you. What’s the problem with that?”
                “Fine,” he grumbled.
                When they arrived at Ramones’ sandwich shop, Heather placed the order. “I’ll have a large meatball,” she gestured to Deni. “He’ll have a large cheese steak, sautéed onions and no sauce.” She laughed to the clerk. “Can you imagine someone who doesn’t like sauce on their cheese steak? What kind of freak doesn’t like sauce on his cheese steak?”
                Deni rolled his eyes and looked away.
                “We’ll also have two fries and two large sodas,” she said and paid the cashier.
                As they took their seats and waited for their sandwiches, Heather stared at Deni who was scribbling on the plastic table top with his finger. “Do you want to tell me what the hell the matter is?”
                Deni sat back and stretched out his arms. “Nothing.”
                A bell rang. “Number twenty-nine,” yelled the clerk.
                Deni rose from his seat and went to pick up their order. He collected some ketchup in paper cups and packets of salt and headed back to the table. He bit into his sandwich without looking at her.
                “Okay, what gives? You and I have been hanging out together every day since we met. Why are you being such a putz?” Heather said and then took a bite of her meatball sandwich.
                “Maybe because I don’t like being treated like some gigolo,” he said without looking at her.
                Heather laughed. “That would require that you and I actually got physical. The most physical you and I have gotten was playing basketball or sitting side-by-side playing fantasy football. What is it? Don’t you think I’m pretty?” She pulled out her sweatshirt at her breasts. “Are my tits not big enough?”
                Deni glanced around and gestured for her to simmer down. “That’s not it. It’s not it at all.” He noticed she had sauce on her face and pulled out a paper napkin. “Show me your face.” She stuck out her face, while he wiped off the sauce around her cheek and lips. “Can you eat food without getting it all over your face?”
                “You’re one to talk.” She flicked a French fry at him. “Then what is it? Everyone at school is either making out or getting laid. I can’t even get you to hold my hand. Tell me. Whatever it is I can handle it. Are you gay?”
                “No!” Deni laughed. He sat back and raised his arms around the back of his head. “Heather, my pop told me once that I shouldn’t go around kissing girls if I thought I might break their heart. I don’t want to break your heart.”
                “That’s it. Seriously? You’re afraid you’re going to break my heart. That’s real lame, Deni. And by the way, I am responsible for my own heart, not you! If I put my heart out there and risk getting hurt, that is on me; not you.”
                “Geez, chill out sister,” he said and then took a bite of his sandwich. He chuckled. “Sounds like you need to get laid.”
                “Funny guy,” she replied and threw another French fry at him.
                He grinned and threw it right back at her.
                “Seriously, Deni why? Why are we not going anywhere?”
                He had no real answer for her; none that he could think of anyway. She was the prettiest girl he could imagine and his very best friend to boot.
Perhaps that’s the reason
, he thought,
I have the perfect situation sitting right in front of me. Why ruin it
?
     
                There was a knock at Deni’s