We got to the old oak and climbed. The thing looks like it’s been standing there on the hill for centuries. Two huge branches that lie parallel to each other have become our kind of home away from home. We assumed our usual sitting positions on the branches that are now decorated with engravings and graffiti from the years of going there. When were about eight, we carved a large skull and cross bones into the thing to ward off any trespassers—it was during our pirate phase.
Maria doesn’t waste any time, and before I’ve even taken out the gum, she’s tucking into the doughnut. She’s the only girl I know that doesn’t exist solely on a diet of air, Diet Coke, and carrots. She eats more than me sometimes. I like that about her too. I like that she doesn’t walk around obsessing about her figure and the caloric content of a lettuce leaf. That drove me mad about my last girlfriend, especially when she used to criticize my diet. Apparently carbohydrates are from the devil and sugar, well that is just about the ultimate sin. It got old pretty quickly.
“So what’s the plan, are you just going to chew each one until you find it?” she asked in-between big bites.
“Basically.” I looked up at Maria, she had a smear of white sugar on her chin. “You’ve got half a doughnut stuck to your face.”
She tried to wipe it but totally missed. “Here.” I reached out and wipped the stuff off her chin and suddenly she’s looking at me strangely again. She had that same look plastered across her face last night.
“What’s up?” I can’t help thinking that something is bothering her, but I can’t figure out what.
“Just exhausted because someone kept me up late and woke me up at the crack of dawn. So…start chewing.” She pointed a sugary finger at the packets of gum I had in the bag.
I ripped the first one open and shoved it in my mouth, the flavors hit me immediately. Cool mint, hot cinnamon. I can’t say I’ve ever liked this flavor, until now. I closed my eyes for a moment and I could almost feel the kiss again. I chewed a few more times, then pulled the gum out and smelt it.
“Eeew,” the peanut gallery spoke.
“Nah. Too minty, not enough cinnamon.” I pushed the chewed gum back into its packet. I needed to be strategic about this. Eliminate them one by one.
The next one went in, and the next one, and the next until…The familiar rush of flavors hits me, bringing with it a million memories and emotions.
“Got it!” I held the packet up like it was a prize. It’s bright red with a blue strip down the side, easy to spot. I waved it in front of Maria’s face. “Look at it. Burn it into your mind. Commit it to memory, because you’re going to be on the lookout for the girl that chews this gum.”
She shot me her famous unimpressed, slightly rude sarcastic look. “Um…and how would you like me to do that?”
“Use whatever means necessary, riffle through their jeans at gym, fucking watch them all like a hawks, walk around and ask for some gum…you’ll think of something.”
“What? I’m not walking around the school spying on people and asking them for gum. You do realize it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I burst out laughing but quickly stopped when it looked like she was being serious. She didn’t have her usual I’m being badass and hardcore but you can twist my rubber arm if you ask nicely kind of look.
“Dude, you have to help me. You’re a chick, you can get close to them, you have the best chance of finding out who chews it. Besides, where’s your sense of adventure now?”
“I would hardly call this adventure. And what if there are ten people that chew the stuff?”
“That’s okay, once I see them all, I’ll just know who it is.”
“You’ll just know?” Another severely sarcastic look is thrown in my direction, but once again it seems loaded and laced with something else. I know she absolutely hates being roped into my dating stuff, we’ve had this conversation before.
“And how will you know?” She asked.
“I just would. There would be a vibe between us. I can’t explain it Maria… but I feel like we're meant to be together. ”
“And you can tell all that from some sloppy five second kiss in the dark?”
“Yes. There's no way a kiss could feel like that without it meaning something more."
Maria face palmed, then after a few seconds looked up at me wih a deadpan expression that gave nothing away.
“Mike, Mike, Mike.”
“Maria, Maria, Maria?” I replied.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But you owe me. Big time.”
I reached out squeezed her hand. “Anything. Just name it!”
* Chapter 5 (Maria)
Anything. Name it.
As that statement tanked like a lead balloon in my stomach, I wanted to pull out my own hair and scream at him. Perhaps even slap him across the face and probably end all that with a good hard shaking for good measure. Because it’s not anything. It’s far from anything.
I wanted to shout, “I’m sitting right in front of you.” So much for the so-called vibe he would apparently feel. The words bubbled in the back of my throat and I was left with no other option but to take a giant bite out of a Snickers bar and swallow it down.
