Lessons || Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
DARRYL

                          
On Monday, I wanted to punch Max in his throat. 
                          
He walked into lunch with Leslie hand in hand. Turk had the guts to snicker behind me. Even Fredrick smiled without any regard for my feelings at this moment. Even now, I couldn't allow myself to provoke violence here. This was no time or place. 
                          
My knees almost buckled watching Max kiss her. I couldn't exactly hear the possibly sweet dialogue between them, but my heart ached. I looked back to see Turk and Fredrick completely still. Honest concern finally reached their eyes. 
                          
"You okay. D?" Fredrick asked, nodding to our usual table. 
                          
"Let's just eat." I mumbled, sighing. 
                          
"Hey, fellas." Leslie grinned and my heart melted. Max draped his around her shoulder as usual. I faked the best smile possible. 
                          
"Hey." All three of us dragged. 
                          
If only I'd remembered to bring sunglasses today. The sun gleamed over our heads too early this morning. Autumn leaves remained sprinkled all over campus. At the same time, maybe those shades would've helped shield all the pain brewing inside me now. 
                          
As usual, Leslie and Max took seats close to each other. Leslie had explained that Yvonne caught a stomach bug at home just before the weekend started. She'd be out of here for a while from what I could tell. 
                          
"How was your date, Max?" I questioned, discreetly pissed off. He turned to face Leslie with such joy and Turk nudged my shoulder. 
                          
"What do you think, D?" Turk squinted. "Look at them." 
                          
"What? I'm just asking." I tossed my hands. Leslie slumped her head onto Max's shoulder. Their hands locked right at this table. 
                          
"He's better than I imagined." Leslie answered dreamily. "You guys are some lucky bastards to have this dude around." I laughed honestly for the first time that day. Tension lifted at the note of her pretty smile. 
                          
"I'm glad you enjoy him, Leslie. We've put up with his ass for too long anyway." I fibbed. Tears in my eyes almost revealed themselves, but I knew so much better than to cry. She just looked so happy without me as her man. 
                          
Just when I reached for another Mickey D French fry, Max cleared knocked on my side of the table. He'd excused himself from Leslie with a kiss and walked around to face me. I didn't what to think as I wiped my hands. Students kept up their typical noise close by. 
                          
"Hey, could I talk to you for a second, D?" Max whispered. 
                          
"Sure." I nodded, already getting up now. My arms soon folded as we stood across from each other. It'd been damn Wednesday all over again. 
                          
"What's wrong, man? You've been on edge this whole time." I knew Max didn't lie now. 
                          
"You're gonna hate me for saying this, Max." I sighed. 
                          
"What is it? We've been friends for too long. Just because I've got a girl doesn't mean we're not boys anymore. I was just frustrated that day." Max assured. 
                          
I hesitated and shook my head. "It's about Leslie, though." 
                          
"Tell me." Max said. 
                          
"You'd kill me." I whispered. "It's not worth losing you as my friend. For real." 
                          
"We're not the most emotional people, but I've always had your back, D. Nothing you say could change that."  Max reminded me as always. 
                          
"You sure?" I raised an eyebrow. 
                          
"For sure." Max smiled. "Come on out with it." 
                          
"I like your girl." I finally admitted. 
                          
"I know." Max threw me completely off guard. My eyes narrowed. If roles reversed, I would've punched him in the face by now. 
                          
"What the hell?" I shook my head once more in disbelief. "Why aren't you beating my ass right now? I just said..." 
                          
Max scoffed. "Shit. I want to. Trust me. This is the happiest I've been in a long time, but the look on your face says it all. I can't have a relationship with her knowing that my best friend feels like shit." 
                          
My jaw almost dropped. "What? No. You can't. No! Don't jeopardize your joy for me. Does Leslie even know about this?" 
                          
"I've known for a while actually, Darryl." Leslie spoke up out of nowhere. "It was hard, but Max and I decided to stop seeing each other like this. It hurts you too much." I wanted to cry from their generosity right now. 
                          
"So, what does this mean?" I looked to face Max. My best friend grinned, but kissed Leslie's cheek first. I completely understood. 
                          
"She's all yours." Max winked. Leslie covered her face to giggle. This couldn't be real. How the hell did this even happen?
                          
Before I could say anything, Leslie opened her arms to embrace me. Her perfumed wafted straight for my nostrils and I just felt intoxicated. 
                          
"Thank you." my voice came down to a shy whisper. 
                          
The moment I pulled away from this hug, she kissed my cheek. Leslie held my hand and led me back to Max's old seat. All of three of my other friends just smiled, but I knew there was still a pain in Max's eyes. Completely reasonable. 
                          
We all broke out with laughter once Max tried eating one of my French fries. I shot him this glare and Leslie just chuckled away. The prettiest smile crept onto her lips when she looked at me now. Again, I almost melted into nothing. 
                          
"So, now what?" I asked. My friends went on to chat on their own now. Leslie chewed her bottom lip and my entire body heated up. 
                          
"I don't know." Leslie's dimples turned up bashfully out of nowhere. "What usually happens when you have a girl, Darryl?" 
                          
To flirt or not to flirt? my thoughts probed. 
                          
I decided against flirting and excused myself from Leslie. Max just looked hopeless at this point. Leslie noticed too before long and carefully reached over for his hand, expressing comfort. I'd never felt so rotten in my life. 
                          
Even Turk and Fredrick tried to help, but there was no use. Max would only listen to the woman sitting right next to me. But Leslie's next few words to Max crushed my heart. 
                          
"I love you, baby. Don't cry." Leslie whispered and they kissed softly. 
                          
No. I thought again. Back to square one.