Neo Chronicles
Episode 15: How to be a Player
Table of Contents
Oh God, how do I do this?
What do I say?
Come on, Noah. You practiced. You rehearsed. This is the time. This is the moment. You brought her out here. The next class is about to start. You're walking with her. Just pick a private spot and go there.
Kinda hard to find a private spot with all these other kids in the hallway. Just look at them, acting like the whole world needs to stop for them. The world needs to stop for me. Oh God, just play it cool Noah. She doesn't know anything. She doesn't know what's about to happen, so if I do this right, it'll be—it'll be.
Just look at her. Me and Marie have been going out for a little under a year—practically a whole school year. I remember how in the beginning, we'd play around with these week-a-versaries and month-a-versaries. Now it's creeping up on the anniversary, and I'm about to do probably the biggest thing in the world.
Try not to be so nervous. She can sense it. She probably sees me sweating. If I was white like her, she'd probably see me blushing too. Wait, black people can blush, too. Darn it, relax. Oh, look at me bringing skin color into this. Come on, Noah. You're better than that.
“Come on, Noah. I don't wanna be late for class,” she says as she follows me along the hall.
Oh, that's right. Come on, come on, come on. Just pick a spot. I doubt anyone'll notice. But what about her? I don't want her to get embarrassed or feel like she's getting put on the spot. I can't do that to her. She's too good for that. Should I take her to the bathroom? No, that's nasty. And there'll be people in there, too. Outside maybe?
Maybe right there. They usually leave the janitor's closet unlocked. May not be the cleanest, but it is the most private.
“Okay, okay, okay. Let's go in here.”
“In there?”
“Yeah, sure. It'll be fun.”
“I don't think so.”
“Well—” Darn it, darn it, darn it! I can't do it out in the open! What if she can't handle it? She could break down from all of it, or—well, she could decide to act crazy over it. They always said the quiet ones are the ones you should watch out for.
“Noah, I think I know what this is about.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, and it's okay.”
Don't think she went for the janitor thing. We stop just outside the closet, and everyone around us continue on their merry way. Y'know, with everyone so caught up in their own things, I doubt they'd be willing to pay us any mind anyway. Unless this turned into a scene. Drama of any kind is like honey to these bees.
“I may keep quiet, but I'm not blind or stupid or shy.”
Whoa, what's she going on about? Does she know already?
“I know you want to break up with me, and I'm okay with that. We had a good run. You were my first boyfriend. I was your first girlfriend. We got to see what all the talk was about, and I say we did well. Breaking it off is probably the best thing for us to do now, and if you're still interested, we could definitely stay friends.”
I—I kinda don't know what to say. I mean, yeah, that went—that went extremely well. This is why Marie's the coolest person I know. I'm starting to feel like I made a mistake, now. Like I shouldn't let this girl go for anything in the world. She's easily the best thing that's happened to me since this school thing started, and will probably stay the best until we graduate.
I sorta just stand there for a bit. I'm sure she can tell how relieved I am. I loosen up, stop looking so fidgety and tensed up. Everything just feels at ease. “Thanks, Marie. And just so you know, the time we had was amazing. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'd be honored if we stayed friends.”
“Then it's settled. It was fun. It was...interesting. You were great. Now, I really gotta get to class, and you do too, so see you around?”
“Without a doubt. Take it easy.”
I see her off. She is really a great person. Seriously, why am I breaking it off with her? Can't seem to find a single fault with her. She's kind, sweet, funny, innocent, and—well, I think the problem was with her being too good. As much as I hate to admit this to myself, I think I need someone who's a little more crazy than that. Does that make me a bad person? I don't mind if it does. I'll gladly wear that title if it fits, but is that seriously who I am? She definitely deserves better than me, though.
But for real, this is some serious reflection stuff here. It stays on my mind as I rush to Biology. I should be paying attention, but I think I'm learning something big about myself. Ever since I was little, I always looked to get into some crazy and zany situations. I can't just do normal things. And my time with Marie was sorta—well, it was smart. She's a smart person. She doesn't get into stupid stuff. I was really a better person around her, but looking back—I don't want to be better. I don't want to be boring—not that she was boring or anything. She was super interesting. It's just—well—
We were boring. Together. Maybe she was feeling the same way? I'll never know.
Now that we're not together, I guess that means I can look at other girls. Not that I didn't look when I was with her. It wasn't like I was walking blind, but with that said, I can see them pretty clearly now.
I don't discriminate. I can't, they're just all too good. Everyone's interesting in their own way, and not just by looks alone—no, I'm not that shallow. They all have their own set of unique traits to them. I could go on about each and everyone in this class room right now, but I really should get to taking notes. The period's almost over, and I feel like I've daydreamed the whole day away.
Out in the halls after class, I'm at my locker still trying to figure out my place in the grand scheme of things. I think I'm finally coming to grips with this. I can't help who I am. I am a connoisseur of the fairer sex—a player, if you will. I accept that. Now, I just gotta figure out what to do with it.
There's still a good bit of time before next period. I think I'll—oh there's my good buddy Kai. Jamal Quinton Hezekiah Michaels. Man, we go way back. I remember when we first met in middle school. It was just two years ago. He's been my nemesis ever since. He looks mad about something. Probably made a bad grade on the last test he took or—or—oh crap I think he's mad at me. Oh crap, I'm supposed to be hiding from him.
Oh crap, there's Kai! Better duck out before he sees—
“Noah!” My God, I've never seen him move that fast before. He doesn't care who he runs over. He's got a vendetta against me. Can't believe he's still holding that grudge.
“Look Kai, I get it. I know you're still mad. Just, can you please calm down?”
“No I ain't gonna calm down. You backstabbed me. People don't 'calm down' after gettin' their back stabbed!”
“Like I tried to tell you before, she came on to me! I'm the victim here.”
That's sort of how it went down. You see, Kai is a freshman coming into this high school gig. I've been here a whole year already, so he sorta looks up to me. I'm like his leader and role model—here to show him the ropes. When he has a question about how things run here, who to talk to, and who to avoid—I'd like to think he comes to me. He did this one time a couple weeks ago.
He had his eye on this pretty good looking girl, Octavia. Dark skinned, light brown eyes, shapely body, great smile—she was good looking. Very good looking, and he wanted to get to know her. Him being the young, wide eyed pupil of mine with no experience with women of that nature—in that way came to me, the all wise, all knowing, all experienced, older friend for advice on how to approach her. This was when I was with Marie, so of course I had all the answers, so I told him “just talk to her.”
He didn't know what to say, he got butterflies in his stomach when he was around her, he didn't know what to do, so me being the amazing, wonderful, best friend that I am said that I'd talk to her for him. I'd be cool and pretty much say all sorts of cool things about Kai to get her interested in him, so he could come in and make his move.
The problem was... I was too cool for my own good. She got these misinterpreted signals from me, which had her thinking I was trying to come onto her. Looking back on it, I think I was, but that's another story. Either way, she started hanging out with me. We weren't doing anything special or nothing, she was just a cool person. Turns out she's into the same cartoons I like, we roughly like the same type of music, and she's just fun to be around.
Word got out, and Kai eventually came and confronted me. Last week to be precise. But then that Chris guy jumped in, and we got picked up by the cops, and one of the cops turned out to be possessed, and we got to fight demons—basically the matter never got resolved.
So I guess it makes sense for Kai to still be mad at me.
“Look, you're right,” I say. “I was in the wrong, big time. I'm sorry. But can you blame me?”
“You were already with someone! You had a girlfriend! How could you even—”
“You're right! You're absolutely right, and again, I'm sorry.”
“You better fix this!”
“I will fix this. I promise you I'll fix this. I feel horrible about it, and I'm going to make it right. Just give me some time. I already got a plan in mind.”
“It better work.”
Episode 15: How to be a Player
Table of Contents
Oh God, how do I do this?
What do I say?
Come on, Noah. You practiced. You rehearsed. This is the time. This is the moment. You brought her out here. The next class is about to start. You're walking with her. Just pick a private spot and go there.
Kinda hard to find a private spot with all these other kids in the hallway. Just look at them, acting like the whole world needs to stop for them. The world needs to stop for me. Oh God, just play it cool Noah. She doesn't know anything. She doesn't know what's about to happen, so if I do this right, it'll be—it'll be.
Just look at her. Me and Marie have been going out for a little under a year—practically a whole school year. I remember how in the beginning, we'd play around with these week-a-versaries and month-a-versaries. Now it's creeping up on the anniversary, and I'm about to do probably the biggest thing in the world.
Try not to be so nervous. She can sense it. She probably sees me sweating. If I was white like her, she'd probably see me blushing too. Wait, black people can blush, too. Darn it, relax. Oh, look at me bringing skin color into this. Come on, Noah. You're better than that.
“Come on, Noah. I don't wanna be late for class,” she says as she follows me along the hall.
Oh, that's right. Come on, come on, come on. Just pick a spot. I doubt anyone'll notice. But what about her? I don't want her to get embarrassed or feel like she's getting put on the spot. I can't do that to her. She's too good for that. Should I take her to the bathroom? No, that's nasty. And there'll be people in there, too. Outside maybe?
Maybe right there. They usually leave the janitor's closet unlocked. May not be the cleanest, but it is the most private.
“Okay, okay, okay. Let's go in here.”
“In there?”
“Yeah, sure. It'll be fun.”
“I don't think so.”
“Well—” Darn it, darn it, darn it! I can't do it out in the open! What if she can't handle it? She could break down from all of it, or—well, she could decide to act crazy over it. They always said the quiet ones are the ones you should watch out for.
“Noah, I think I know what this is about.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, and it's okay.”
Don't think she went for the janitor thing. We stop just outside the closet, and everyone around us continue on their merry way. Y'know, with everyone so caught up in their own things, I doubt they'd be willing to pay us any mind anyway. Unless this turned into a scene. Drama of any kind is like honey to these bees.
“I may keep quiet, but I'm not blind or stupid or shy.”
Whoa, what's she going on about? Does she know already?
“I know you want to break up with me, and I'm okay with that. We had a good run. You were my first boyfriend. I was your first girlfriend. We got to see what all the talk was about, and I say we did well. Breaking it off is probably the best thing for us to do now, and if you're still interested, we could definitely stay friends.”
I—I kinda don't know what to say. I mean, yeah, that went—that went extremely well. This is why Marie's the coolest person I know. I'm starting to feel like I made a mistake, now. Like I shouldn't let this girl go for anything in the world. She's easily the best thing that's happened to me since this school thing started, and will probably stay the best until we graduate.
I sorta just stand there for a bit. I'm sure she can tell how relieved I am. I loosen up, stop looking so fidgety and tensed up. Everything just feels at ease. “Thanks, Marie. And just so you know, the time we had was amazing. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'd be honored if we stayed friends.”
“Then it's settled. It was fun. It was...interesting. You were great. Now, I really gotta get to class, and you do too, so see you around?”
“Without a doubt. Take it easy.”
I see her off. She is really a great person. Seriously, why am I breaking it off with her? Can't seem to find a single fault with her. She's kind, sweet, funny, innocent, and—well, I think the problem was with her being too good. As much as I hate to admit this to myself, I think I need someone who's a little more crazy than that. Does that make me a bad person? I don't mind if it does. I'll gladly wear that title if it fits, but is that seriously who I am? She definitely deserves better than me, though.
But for real, this is some serious reflection stuff here. It stays on my mind as I rush to Biology. I should be paying attention, but I think I'm learning something big about myself. Ever since I was little, I always looked to get into some crazy and zany situations. I can't just do normal things. And my time with Marie was sorta—well, it was smart. She's a smart person. She doesn't get into stupid stuff. I was really a better person around her, but looking back—I don't want to be better. I don't want to be boring—not that she was boring or anything. She was super interesting. It's just—well—
We were boring. Together. Maybe she was feeling the same way? I'll never know.
Now that we're not together, I guess that means I can look at other girls. Not that I didn't look when I was with her. It wasn't like I was walking blind, but with that said, I can see them pretty clearly now.
I don't discriminate. I can't, they're just all too good. Everyone's interesting in their own way, and not just by looks alone—no, I'm not that shallow. They all have their own set of unique traits to them. I could go on about each and everyone in this class room right now, but I really should get to taking notes. The period's almost over, and I feel like I've daydreamed the whole day away.
Out in the halls after class, I'm at my locker still trying to figure out my place in the grand scheme of things. I think I'm finally coming to grips with this. I can't help who I am. I am a connoisseur of the fairer sex—a player, if you will. I accept that. Now, I just gotta figure out what to do with it.
There's still a good bit of time before next period. I think I'll—oh there's my good buddy Kai. Jamal Quinton Hezekiah Michaels. Man, we go way back. I remember when we first met in middle school. It was just two years ago. He's been my nemesis ever since. He looks mad about something. Probably made a bad grade on the last test he took or—or—oh crap I think he's mad at me. Oh crap, I'm supposed to be hiding from him.
Oh crap, there's Kai! Better duck out before he sees—
“Noah!” My God, I've never seen him move that fast before. He doesn't care who he runs over. He's got a vendetta against me. Can't believe he's still holding that grudge.
“Look Kai, I get it. I know you're still mad. Just, can you please calm down?”
“No I ain't gonna calm down. You backstabbed me. People don't 'calm down' after gettin' their back stabbed!”
“Like I tried to tell you before, she came on to me! I'm the victim here.”
That's sort of how it went down. You see, Kai is a freshman coming into this high school gig. I've been here a whole year already, so he sorta looks up to me. I'm like his leader and role model—here to show him the ropes. When he has a question about how things run here, who to talk to, and who to avoid—I'd like to think he comes to me. He did this one time a couple weeks ago.
He had his eye on this pretty good looking girl, Octavia. Dark skinned, light brown eyes, shapely body, great smile—she was good looking. Very good looking, and he wanted to get to know her. Him being the young, wide eyed pupil of mine with no experience with women of that nature—in that way came to me, the all wise, all knowing, all experienced, older friend for advice on how to approach her. This was when I was with Marie, so of course I had all the answers, so I told him “just talk to her.”
He didn't know what to say, he got butterflies in his stomach when he was around her, he didn't know what to do, so me being the amazing, wonderful, best friend that I am said that I'd talk to her for him. I'd be cool and pretty much say all sorts of cool things about Kai to get her interested in him, so he could come in and make his move.
The problem was... I was too cool for my own good. She got these misinterpreted signals from me, which had her thinking I was trying to come onto her. Looking back on it, I think I was, but that's another story. Either way, she started hanging out with me. We weren't doing anything special or nothing, she was just a cool person. Turns out she's into the same cartoons I like, we roughly like the same type of music, and she's just fun to be around.
Word got out, and Kai eventually came and confronted me. Last week to be precise. But then that Chris guy jumped in, and we got picked up by the cops, and one of the cops turned out to be possessed, and we got to fight demons—basically the matter never got resolved.
So I guess it makes sense for Kai to still be mad at me.
“Look, you're right,” I say. “I was in the wrong, big time. I'm sorry. But can you blame me?”
“You were already with someone! You had a girlfriend! How could you even—”
“You're right! You're absolutely right, and again, I'm sorry.”
“You better fix this!”
“I will fix this. I promise you I'll fix this. I feel horrible about it, and I'm going to make it right. Just give me some time. I already got a plan in mind.”
“It better work.”
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