I recognize you.

You must

Recognize me.

We went

To School Together

Once.

Sat in the

Same

Classroom,

Listened to the

Same

Lectures,

Stared at the

Same

Clock,

Bolted out the

Same

Door,

And never looked back.

Now,

We face each other

With

No

Acknowledgment of the

Past.

You hand me a bill,

“Make this check out to reminiscence,

It's written on the bottom”.

“Sure”

I say,

“Thankyou”,

Even though I

Already know

How to spell your

Name.

I used to see you

Write it

In purple

Ink,

“What do you think?”

Courtney’s apartment

Wednesday

Courtney’s apartment

Ally had seemed reluctant to come over. Hadn’t even picked up her phone until the third call. Was she sick? Or worse- Courtney felt nauseous- upset?  She heard footsteps by the door, Ally, Finally. They needed to talk. If someone had hurt Ally- or worse- if she had hurt Ally,  she needed to know. She’d make it right.

“Hey Court, what’s up?”

"so what was that work thing?

“Oh I'm good too, thanks."

"Al."

It was nothing really, just a silly survey”

“A survey?”

“Mmm-hmm”

“Al, you’re lying, what’s going on?”

Ally looked tearful now. A sight Courtney had only seen twice, paired with a smile- and now thinking about it a brownie.  Simple brownies, Ally said, that were perfectly (a subjective word Stephanie had pointed out) gooey, but also a little crispy on top made her cry. But that was with happiness, not the unease now pulling at her brows and stiffening her shoulders.  

“I don’t know”

When had Ally ever been out of words?

“Ok. But now that you’re here, let’s get pizza”

“Oooooh, the one with broccoli and parmesan and no tomato sauce, or do you want some good ol’ cheese?”

Courtney smiled slightly, “your choice.”

***

“So I’m not gonna push you? But do you want to tell me what’s up? Your chattiness is usually at its peak when you’re full.”

“Yeah…” Minutes passed.

“Well the sky if you want to limit this discussion to purely the Earth- “

“Al, as much as I would like to simultaneously laugh, throw a pillow at you, and moan, I’m dying.  We’ve never had secrets.”

“Why do you like me?”

“Al, what’s this about?”

“No please, I’m curious.”

“You want a compliment shower? Because I have no problem giving you one. Alright ready; you’re quirky and-“

Ally was amused now. “I thought you hadn’t listened to a word I said?”

She took a breath- “no it’s just that”

Courtney gawked. She really is out of words-  IS SHE PREGNANT? But how can she be? Al wasn’t a virgin, but she didn’t have sex. Courtney smiled to herself, had that made any sense? Oh, the contradictions of people.  

Ally’s frustrated grunt pulled her out of her head. Here it comes, Courtney braced herself, my best friend’s about to tell me she’s pregnant.

“It’s just that, Court you’re so damn awesome, and I make you spend butt loads of time with me, and I thought that maybe it was too much. That you'd want time to hang out with people who don’t define “wild” as blueberry pie for dinner and use insults that range beyond: ‘I hope the next orange you eat, squirts you in the eye’.  People who, you know, are ‘cool’”

Courtney felt her laughter like an anchor, it pulled her down until her cheek lay on cold floor. Ally stared in shock, her eyes widening suddenly; the urgent calls, the strong desire for pizza, this weird mood, COURT MUST BE PREGNANT! But before Ally could apologize for being so self-centered, before she could ask who the father was, and when she’d found out, Courtney faked a gasp.  

“People who are ‘cool’- as in a word that changes with the perspective of society? Has my dear sage Alison has fallen to the pressures of us common, touchy, people?!”

Saturday

Swim Meet

Ally stood cheering, “YESSSSSSS Court!” “You did amazing!” “Court!! Court?” “Come on Court, I’m literally showering you with compliments. You’re not wet because of the pool, but because of soaking in my praises.“

“Why are you so distra- Oh, I see. Man, could you look to the camera please? I’ll glue a portrait of you under the thesaurus entry for romantic.“

"Romantic,” Ally stressed, fanning her hand out, “synonymous with Courtney.”  

Friday

Dinner at Squibble Commons

They sat where they always did. The raised grey table meant for groups larger than three. Alison had first picked out the table in September. She had liked the large window it leaned against.  Courtney and Stephanie had agreed immediately. Courtney for the sunshine- which she realized despondently one week later was the last of an unusually long summer. The fall’s coolness streamed through the window for the remainder of the month; at which point Stephanie’s fingers opened the farmer’s almanac, Ally’s eyes drifted to weather.com, and both their mouths explained “Court everyone knew that the sunshine would end soon”.  Courtney as stubborn as ever, though, justified “the window always displays summer when we sit here. Even in the depths of the winter, the window looks sunny, because of our beautiful friendship.” No one wanted to object this point. Stephanie liked the window for the symbolism (windows in her eyes served as a constant reminder that just because something is visible, doesn’t mean it can be taken.)   

“No I slightly disagree” stated Ally.

Stephanie looked to her, mouth gaping, “you do?”

“Yeah. You see I don’t think that there is a problem with always having strawberries alongside breakfast.”

“But there are soo many other fruits- Court’s really missing out”

Ally shushed Steph then. With a finger to her friend’s lip and a comical “Ah- bup- bup” noise, she scolded herself for making. She continued, “there would be a problem if Court didn’t have a choice- if she had to have, and didn’t choose to have, strawberries with breakfast, but have you seen the amount of fruits in her fridge? She has Rambutans”

Steph shrugged. “ Good point.”

Courtney couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Did you two just have an ethical argument over the fruit I consume every morning?”

Stephanie nodded, “indeed”.

“Did you?” Courtney turned towards Alison,  “did she just say ‘indeed’”

Ally grinned, “indeed”.

Courtney laughed, “Why do I hang out with you guys?”

Stephanie shrugged.

Their friendship had started  because of a secret understanding. They had had chemistry together. A class that was dreadfully enthusiastic. When talking to strangers- or worse their family- they used words and phrases that echoed the enthusiasm of their classmates. And  when talking to these classmates they did not utter a word or phrase, lest give away their careful charade.  For deep down each knew, that such a class did not truly spark their interest, and they recognized with great relief this suppressed disinterest within one another. Thus began their weekly meetings. “To study” they initially claimed. It soon became custom however to drink tea and rant. The tea the indicator of an inside joke (they were the Patriots- the rebels- in a class of Loyalists.) They labeled their pot of tea “The Chemistry Tea Party”.

Ally smiled at the memory, then looked to the time. “I guess we should call it a night. You have a swim meet in the morning.” “come on loser,” she gestured to Steph, “we should let Court rest up.”

Stephanie grumbled rising furiously, “I’m no loser, loser. But you’re right, we should go. Goodnight love.”

There needs to be some sort of plot- some action or else it gets boring.