Free Do-Overs by Christine Jarmola Page B

those moments so that I wouldn’t have to turn them down. But Stina didn’t know that.
    “Oh, some have been interested. But there just seemed to be a glass wall there. I’ve had the distinct feeling that there was a broken heart in your recent past,” came the clairvoyant Rachel. “I’m glad you’re willing to start disassembling that wall.”
    “Disassembling—who says disassembling?” Stina laughed. “Rachel sometimes I think you’re morphing into a psych textbook.”
    “Well OMG, let me use some hip talk. Boom, boom chica boom,” beat boxing Rachel began to do the worst imitation of a rap singer on the planet. “It’s time for some major destruction to that invisible obstruction.”
    “Oh pleaaaase, no more,” I moaned.
    “I’ll only stop if you tell me who the fortuitous young man is,” said Rachel, as Stina mouthed the word fortuitous and rolled her eyes.
    What would they say? The gay conversation had never happened. I had erased that. Now they would tell me again. How un-fortuitous. But I was not in the mood to listen to reason. I was going out with Al Dansby, gay or straight. Let them say what they wanted.
    “Al Dansby,” I finally choked out. I saw the quick look they exchanged. I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t known what was coming.
    Strange how when you know what is coming, it often doesn’t.
    “Oh he’s gorgeous,” Rachel said.
    “And a fantastic actor. I saw him last year in Les Mis . He was Marius. He was so awesome,” chimed in Stina. “And a really nice guy. We’ve had a few classes together and he is always such a gentleman.”
    “I’m surprised he asked you out,” said Rachel. Oh no, there it was. She was trying to think of a nice way to let me down easy. I gave her a questioning look. I didn’t trust my voice to talk. “He never dates. I think it’s because he’s so shy,” she continued. “That’s a weird thing about him.”
    “You’re right,” Stina confirmed. “He can get up in front of hundreds of people and be magnificent, but one on one he really isn’t very confident. He must really have the hots for you if he dredged up the nerve to ask you for coffee.”
    Where was the gay thing? I had avoided this guy for over a month because it wasn’t possible and now all they say is he’s shy?
    “What time are you meeting him?” Stina asked.
    A look at my cell for the time and I knew I’d better book it or be late. “Gotta go.”
    “Don’t worry. We’ll wait up,” laughed Stina.
    “Waiting for all the juicy details,” added Rachel. “Just one thing Lottie. Don’t say anything just yet to Olivia.”
    “Yeah, she has a few issues, as Rachel would say, with Al,” said Stina.
    Here it comes. The bad news. I looked to Rachel for affirmation.
    “Yup, he’s the only guy who ever blew her off.” They both exchanged a knowing smile and I left on that note. Off to find out if maybe there could be a potential where none had been before.
    Rounding the corner from the dorm I suddenly remembered I had forgotten my special eraser. I sure didn’t want to go to such an important rendezvous without it. Hurrying back to the room, I was stopped by the conversation I heard through the door.
    “Should we have told her?” It was Stina’s voice.
    “I just couldn’t. She seemed so happy,” replied Rachel. “Let’s see how things go. Maybe she won’t even like him.”
    “Sure, one cup of coffee and she might figure it out for herself,” replied Stina, not bubbling for once.
    I slowly withdrew my hand from the doorknob. So they did think he was gay after all. Half of me was angry that they hadn’t been honest with me. The other half was grateful that at least I would have a chance to find out for myself. But as good or as bad as the evening would go, it wouldn’t be done over. I wasn’t about to go back in that room right then and know that they knew that I knew what they had been talking about.
    So there I sat impatiently waiting in the library