Loser in Love: High School Edition

Chapter Five

Riley is sitting on the floor of my bedroom wearing a low cut top and blue jeans. Breathe, Danny. We are watching a movie. Riley has the popcorn bowl in front of her. I reach in to take some, our hands touch. I look at her; she just stares at the TV as if engaged in the film.

"Do you want more popcorn?" I ask.

She doesn't hear me. I lean close to her, and catch a whiff of her shampoo. She uses Herbal Essences, and it smells very tropical. Riley looks up at me, I feel my cheeks burning.

"Could you make more popcorn?"

"Sure."

I nearly trip over a rug which would have been really embarrassing.

Downstairs, Mom and Dad are entertaining some of our Aunts and Uncles. Ben is outside our cousins. I head to the kitchen to make more popcorn. I dump the popcorn in a bowl and run back up to my bedroom.

Riley is not there. I figure maybe she's outside talking to Ben and my cousins. By the time I get down there, Riley is on the defensive, Ben and the cousins are calling her names and adding sound effects as she walks.

"You guys are jerks," Riley says. She starts to leave.

"Wait, Riles, don't go."

"Why are you going to make fun of me too? Leave me alone, Wheeler."

"I didn't do anything."

Riley didn't hear me. She leaves. Ben and our cousins are laughing at her. I shove Ben to the ground then go after my cousins who climb into the tree house. I turn back to Ben. He gets up and tries to shove me back, but I push him.

"What's your problem?" Ben asks.

"What did you say to Riley?"

"We were kidding."

"It wasn't funny. You hurt her feelings."

"Calm down, it was just a joke."

I punch Ben. Something just comes over me. Ben gets up and takes a swing at me. He misses; I deck him in the jaw. Dad comes out to break it up. Ben has a busted lip. I am not sorry.

"Daniel, what's the matter with you?"

"Ben's an idiot."

"Sweetie," Mom says, touching my arm. I yank my arm away and turn my back to her.

"He said something to Riley and she got upset and went home."

Mom rubs my arm. I turn away from her and go in the house. She follows me. I pick up the phone in the kitchen and call Riley. I could just go over there, but I figure I should call first.

"May I talk to Riley? Riley, I'm so sorr—" she hangs up on me. I slam the receiver down several times and punch the wall.

"What's wrong, Sweetie?"

"Riley is mad at me. I didn't do anything. I just walked outside. She got at me for no reason."

"I think you should talk to Riley, and then apologize to Ben."

"I am not apologizing to Ben. He deserved it. It's his fault. But I will talk to Riley."

I walk out the door, pick some daisies from the neighbor's yard and walk across the street. I knock on the door, Riley answers. She tries to slam the door in my face.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"Because you didn't do anything?"

I'm confused. It's as if she reads my mind when she adds, "You didn't stop Ben and those jerks from making fun of me."

"I just got there when you walked away. I didn't have time to defend you. I am sorry. Please accept these daisies a token of my sincerest apology."

Riley smiles. She accepts the flowers, squeezes my arm and goes back into her house. I walk back across the street. My cousins are gone; Ben is at the table with Mom getting his lip treated.

"I am not sorry, Ben. You deserved it. I think you should apologize to Riley."

"Do I have to?" Ben asks Mom.

"Yes. And you are grounded for the rest of this weekend and next weekend too."

Dear Diary,

I had a close call today. Girl X came over. We watched part of a movie. Well, she watched part of a movie. I watched her. I couldn't help myself checking her out. She looked so cute in that tight tank top and those pants really flattered her butt. Then she went outside to hang out with Ben. He made fat jokes about her and when she walked, he and my cousins made whale sounds and stomping sounds. I punched Ben. I don't know what came over me, but watching Girl X get mad and blame me when I didn't do anything really got to me.

The inside scoop from Bonnie Wheeler:

My son, Danny beat up his brother for making fun of Riley's weight. I can't say I condone violence, but I am sort of proud of what Danny did. He obvious really likes this girl if he is willing to fight his own brother for her honor. I have to respect that. Hell, my own husband won't do that for me.

Song associated with chapter: "Girl Worth Fighting For" Mulan Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Ugh, too much dialogue. If anyone knows how to fix this problem, by all means, help me.