Busy, Busy, Busy [3]

(Kyle)

I promised Ron I would be more open with him. Still, I feel hesitant towards revealing all the messy shit about my life to my best friend. There are some things that we just can’t tell certain people –whether it’s to protect them or because we’re afraid we’ll lose them. I feel like I’m doing both. People often think that just having everything out in the open will be easier and that it will solve a lot of problems, but it’s easier said than done. Emotions are what drive people –not logic. I’ve been in the world of numbers and reason long enough to understand that.

“Hey, man,” Ron says, falling into step with me as we both enter the cafeteria.

“Hey, Roomie,” I say, plastering on a smile.

“I’m not feeling for the burgers today,” Ron whines. “But that’s what’s there for lunch today.”

With that, lunch time becomes a sad ritual of normalcy as we spot the tall stack of buns behind the lunch counter.

Malory and Olivia are, as always, already seated with their lunch before we get there.

Olivia waves at Ron and he waves back. Malory rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head. I scoff.

I want to smile. Back before things between Malory and me had simmered down, I just assumed she loathed me. Now, I know that all these little gestures between us aren’t because we hate each other. They’re just a part of what makes us ‘us’ and, somehow, the thought of that comforts me.