Part 16 (1/2)
”Actually, it's pretty sweet,” Courtney said. ”I'm only taking three courses, and one of *em is art. Algebra-trig is a drag, though.”
”You're taking algebra-trig?” Mark laughed. ”Need some help?”
”Yes!” Courtney said quickly, laughing. Mark laughed too. It felt good.
”So, uh, how are you?” Mark asked tentatively. It was a simple question. Both knew how far-reaching it was.
”I'm okay. Seriously. That's why I'm calling. We've got a ton to talk about, but not till I see you again. I just wanted to tell you that coming up here has been great. I'm really getting my head back together.”
”I'm really glad to hear that, Courtney.”
”I haven't been thinking too much about, you know, stuff. And that's good.”
Mark didn't respond. He knew what she meant.
”This is kind of weird to say,” Courtney continued. ”But I met somebody.”
”Of course you did,” Mark said. ”I didn't think you were there alone.”
Courtney chuckled. ”No, dope. I'm talking about a guy.”
”Oh,” Mark said. ”You mean like, a guy?”
”Yeah, a guy. His name's Whitney.”
”Whitney? That sounds like a bad soap-opera name.”
Courtney laughed. ”It's worse. His name is Whitney Wilc.o.x.”
”You're kidding, right?”
”Unfortunately, no. But he's cool. We've, uh, we've got a date tonight. I'm riding to meet him for pizza.”
Mark wasn't sure of how to react. It was weird to hear that Courtney liked somebody other than Bobby, but after reading that Bobby had feelings for Loor, maybe it was all for the best. Of course, he couldn't tell Courtney that, for all sorts of reasons.
Courtney said, ”I wanted to tell you about him. I'm not really sure why.”
”I'm glad you did,” Mark said.
There was a long pause, then Courtney said, ”Do you hate me?”
”Hate you? No! No way!” he said quickly. ”I think it's great you met a guy.”
”Not just that,” Courtney said. ”Abouta everything.”
”I don't hate you, Courtney,” Mark said. ”C'mon. Give me a break.”
”Seriously?”
”Yes! There's a lot going on. We've got to do what we've got to do.”
”Thanks. I needed to hear you say that.” There was another long pause, and then Courtney said, ”I'm sorry for taking off on you. That wasn't cool.”
”It's okay. I'm okay.”
”Still, I'm not proud of myself. But if you saw the shape I was in, you'd know I did the right thing.”
”I already know it,” Mark said. ”I can tell by your voice. I can't wait to talk to you in person.”
Mark knew a question was out there that hadn't been asked. He really hoped she wouldn't ask it.
She did.
”So, uh, has anything-”
”No,” Mark said quickly. He knew she was going to ask if Bobby had sent a new journal. He didn't want to tell her. If she was working hard to put her head on straight, the last thing she needed to hear was that Bobby was about to step into the middle of a tribal war and had fallen in love with Loor-even if she did meet a new guy. He knew he'd eventually have to spill the news, but this wasn't the time.
”N-Nothing new,” Mark added, and winced, wis.h.i.+ng he had stopped at ”no.” He felt sure Courtney would pick up on his nervous stutter.
”Oh, okay,” Courtney said.
Mark sensed her hesitation. There was something in the way she said it that made him realize, she knew.
”When are you coming home?” he asked, desperate to change the subject.
”In a couple of weeks. We'll talk then, okay?”
”I can't wait to see you,” Mark said, relieved that she didn't press him about the journals.
”I miss you, Mark. Even though you're a dork and all.”
”Gee, thanks,” Mark said, laughing. ”We'll get some fries at Garden Poultry and catch up, okay?”
”It's a date. Bye, Courtney. Take care of yourself.”
”Later, gator!”
The phone went dead. Mark smiled. ”Later, gator?” He thought Courtney sounded great. And happy. Just like the old Courtney. As weird as it was to think that she liked somebody besides Bobby, this new guy seemed to be helping her heal. That was a good thing. He hated having to carry the weight of Bobby's journals on his own, but if it meant getting Courtney better, it was worth it. He flipped the phone shut and jammed it back into his pocket with the feeling that things were definitely looking up. Now if he could only tackle this stupid silver bowl.
His phone rang again.
What was going on? Why was he suddenly so popular? He dug the phone back out and flipped it open, saying, ”Courtney?”
”Courtney?” the deep guy-voice mimicked. ”Do I sound like a Courtney?”
”Mitch.e.l.l?” Mark asked in disbelief. ”How did you get this number?”
”Who cares? From Sci-Clops. We're both members, remember?”
”Oh, yeah. What do you want?”