Free In My Shoes by Adrian Stephens Page B

can’t promise what you’ll see when you walk in,
just be prepared for anything.”
    “I’m not going into his room if he’s
naked.”
    “He’s not going to be naked, but he will
probably be in underwear and his room will probably be a mess. Oh
and he has posters of girls on his walls.”
    “Classy,” I said.
    “Yeah, well I never said he was classy, but
once you get to know him, he’s a good friend.”
    “Okay, then what.”
    “Mike and I don’t talk like you and I talk.
Call him Mike or dude. Don’t be too proper. He will wonder what’s
up with you, and he’ll probably tease you.”
    “Nice,” I said.
    “Look, he’ll probably be sleeping still. Just
go in there and say something like ‘Mike…dude where’s my homework.
Did you get it like I asked?’ He’ll probably tell you where it is.
Say thanks, grab the homework, and say goodbye to Diana as you
leave. Easy, right?”
    “Yeah, easy.” Why do I see lots of potential
for problems here?
    He pulled up to what must be Mike’s house and
parked in the driveway. He left the engine running. “I could go in
with you,” he said, turning to face me.
    “No!” I said with emphasis. “After yesterday,
I don’t want him getting any ideas about why I am at his
house.”
    “Right. I will wait in the car, but you
shouldn’t be in there for more than five minutes, and that’s really
pushing it. If you’re not out in five minutes, I’m going to knock
on the door.”
    “I won’t be,” I said confidently.
    “Last thing…what’s his mom’s name?” he
quizzed.
    “Diana.”
    “Good. Say it like you’ve known her forever,
and not like the first time you’ve greeted her.”
    “Got it. Wish me luck.”
    “Luck.”
    I walked up the driveway, down the short walk
to the front door. I paused for a minute to gather my courage. Okay
Nicole. Let’s see how good of an actress you can be.
    I knocked three quick knocks on the door and
opened it to the see the main room. I walked in and saw what I
guessed was Mike’s mom peek out from the kitchen. “Hi Jake. I’m
getting ready to make breakfast. Are you hungry?”
    “Oh, thanks Diana, but I have a friend
waiting for me in the car. I just stopped by to pick up my homework
assignments from Mike. I was sick yesterday and asked him to get my
work.”
    “Okay, sweetie. Are you feeling better?”
    “Mostly, but I’m sure I’ll be back to normal
soon.” I really, really hope I’ll be back to normal soon.
    “Well, feel better. Mike’s still asleep, but
I’m sure you could have guessed that.”
    “Yeah,” I said, “I’ll just be a minute.”
    That went pretty well. I headed right down
the hall and opened the first door on my right. I knew it was the
right room immediately. One, there were posters of women in skimpy
bathing suits all over his walls. I mean seriously, do guys still
do that? Second, the room was a disaster. How does his mom let him
keep his room like this? Third, there was Mike lying in the middle
of his bed, sheets kicked off, with only a pair of purple bikini
briefs on. Not exactly a sight I wanted to see.
    “Mike.” No answer. “Mike, wake up!” He tossed
a little and peeked at me from underneath his eyelids. “Dude,
where’s my homework? Did you grab it like I asked?”
    “I thought you told me to bring it by today,”
he said, half asleep.
    “I did, but I decided to come by and get it.
Is it here?”
    “Yeah, it’s in my backpack…over there.” He
pointed to his backpack. I grabbed it and tossed it on the bed for
him.
    He squinted up at me, sat up and started
going through the backpack. “What, are you still mad at me?”
    “No,” I replied, “I’m just in a hurry.”
    “You know, if I’d known that you were going
to ask Nicole out, I would’ve been cool. I was just trying to have
a little fun with you, and I was bored. You looked like you were
lost in space, and I thought it would be funny to make you jump.”
He kind of laughed to himself. “And…well, I