The Mishaps of Two 'Third-Wheelers'

The lights installed into the school hallway flickered at least a hundred feet away from where I was. A slow sequence, lasting only a few seconds, that no one except me seemed to pay any mind to. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now, I found the off-white luminescence to be odd against the beaming neon rays that surrounded the campus. Nothing unusual about the sight, however. There were probably damn near over eighty teens here at the school-hosted dance, all of which were enjoying the event to their heart’s- however separate- content. Popular radio songs echoed with vibration everywhere they reached. The DJ obviously didn’t hold back in music, I thought, snorting. While everyone was having their own enjoyment, where was I though? Making my way through the combining crowds, having to push through flings of dancers along the way. Everyone was so close together, it made me feel sickened. I needed a drink, soda, preferably, but even water would suffice the aching in my stomach. 

At last, I found the exit of the entire crowd, where few people dared to linger, and relaxed my tense shoulders, heading for the drinks area. Sighing with relief, I picked out a Sprite, pulled the can’s tab with a pop!, and took an eager sip from the beverage. I closed my dark amber eyes, easing myself, but immediately opened them once again as I heard steadily approaching feet making their way to where I stood. I scanned the clearing, nearly empty as practically everyone was on the dance floor or hiding from security, until I found the suspect. James. James, with his light brown hair that made a swooping yet soft bang-like appearance against his face, and slightly visible jawline. And his eyes. Dangerous and cold, but convincing. Convincing enough to-

“Shouldn’t you be with your friends?” 

James’s words snapped me out of my thoughts, and I refocused my gaze on the soda can in my hands. Had he noticed I’d been staring too long? He must have not, as he breezily continued, extending a hand to his lips, “I mean, we’re in ASB for crying out loud; need a little break sometimes.” I rolled my eyes at James, taking a sip from my drink before bothering to reply. “Could say the same to you, kid,” I sassed, trying my best to sound light-voiced and calm.

“Well that’s no way to treat a fellow third wheeler, is it?” 

“Oh it isn’t? I didn’t realize.”

He looked me square in the eye, but anyone could notice the corners of his mouth beginning to upturn into a grin. “I like you, Trinity,” My expression must have changed to surprise at the mention of my last name, and my face to a light shade of reddened blush, as James chuckled quietly. I groaned to myself, clearly trying to ignore his comment, and discarded what was left of my drink, leaving for the garden,- being a member of the ecology class had its benefits once in a while, and I needed some time to myself. “As members of Environmental Studies, you’re allowed to enter the garden as you like, and bring who you wish. However, you cannot do so during any of your main subject periods,” I recalled from the lecture Ms. Lypson had given the exploratory class. She never said we couldn’t come here during school-hosted events, so there’s no harm being done right? 

I pushed open the squeaky wooden-enclosed gate, its light coating of paint already beginning to chip and fade. As I was about to close the wicket behind me, a black shoe stopped it just in time. I tensed, trying to fight back the words that were clawing at my throat, but to no avail. “What do you want?” I questioned, an edge of annoyance clear in my voice. James gave me an amused expression I couldn’t describe, and closed the gap between the two of us, studying me for a split second. “I only want to talk,” he assured, and ambled past me, making his way to a bench a few feet away. I quietly snickered. Amateur. I closed the gate I still stood at, and striding past the bench to a ladder leaning against the gardening shed, I turned my body to James. Giving me an entirely confused stare, I spoke up. “Rather talk up here and look at the stars than on ground-level. Coming?” 

I put a foot on the ladder and carefully climbed my way up until I was close enough to the shed’s roof. I hauled myself onto the wooden framing with ease, having done this several times. The slanted rooftop had built in squares of sturdy wood that rose above the covering itself, making it a simple foothold. Once I knew I couldn’t fall, with my legs resting comfortably on the wooden blocks, I shifted to look below me, to where the ladder was positioned. James had obeyed and was climbing up, but looked desperate as he heaved himself onto the rooftop next to me. I looked down at his frame, my eyebrows raised in question, “Tired?”  James widened his eyes at my collectedness and cleared his throat.

 “Do this often?” 

“Perhaps. When I need a break from the world and school, at least.”

“Break from the world?” 

I stopped, shaking my head; I had said too much. Don’t let on more than you’re supposed to, that’s the rule to this game. “Nevermind,” I insisted. “What did you want to talk about?” James rested his hands back against the roof behind him, “Oh, right. It’s about Klea and Finn, really.” I beckoned him to go on, and he continued. “Graylyn- no, Gray. You haven’t told Klea anything, right? Regarding this whole thing with Finn, you know?” He waited silently for a response. “Ah, so that’s what this is about,” I said at last, “Yeah, no. I already talked to Finn about this too. Unless he wants me to say something, I’ve kept my mouth shut. Why?” 

James sighed, which only sparked my confusion even more. Wouldn’t Finn have told James I already talked to him myself? After what felt like a whole few minutes had passed, he looked upwards, changing his focus to the stars and off of me. Thankfully. “Well I mean you’re her friend,” James replied smoothly, still looking at the millions of stars washing over the sky, “Chances are you do stuff in her favor.” I gaped at him; he couldn’t be serious. He’s Finn’s friend too- chances are he does things in his favor. I broke the act of staying cool and calm throughout this discussion, and allowed indignation to completely take over my appearance; for the most part. 

“That doesn’t mean I can’t be a double-agent, now does it?” He winced and went back to surveying my face for a hint to something, anything. But I continued, “Like you, right? I have quite a bit of stuff I can freely tell you without a second’s hesitation, but I’m sure you’ve already been trying to get info from Klea as well.” Time stood still, the words already said and, assumingly, acknowledged by the teen boy next to me. I peered at the night sky laid out in front of me, until I heard a barely audible voice of humor. Surprising humor, considering I just degraded him and, in general, both of our “side-jobs”. 

“Hm, I’d be lying if I said you’re wrong.. I guess.”

That’s why… “Also,” I added, fully in control of my reactions now and swinging my legs calmly near the roof’s end, “I’m a crowd pleaser. I do things in everyone’s favor, rather than my own.” I completely intended to let on information little by little.. only, not in the way he’d expect. I turned my head to look at the confused expression spreading across his face, and smirked. That sentence caught him off guard, I knew. Double-agents always got information for both sides, for other people’s benefit. So then.. why was he so surprised to hear these words coming from my mouth? I gazed at his eyes for what was planned to be a mere second, if anything less than that, for some sort of answer. I was stunned by what I saw. Blue-hazel eyes, the once piercing and cold I was oh so used to, diminishing from view, and being replaced with a gentleness. Furthermore, a gentleness that I’d never seen in them before. And it didn’t disappear, which part of me was grateful for.

Not that this silent calm lasted long, though. “You know,” James’ soft voice- as if there was anything else that he could surprise me with- interjected, “It’s not always a good thing to worry about others. In this sense, to be a people pleaser. Needa take some time for yourself too- not that I can be saying anything.” He chuckled. “You know what I mean, though. But for the time being.. this little ability- weakness or strength, I don’t know; it’s something we both share.” 

I took his words into consideration. He said all he needed to, really, but there was one thing he left out- it's something we both have each other for. Except, we don't need to like each other to tolerate the latter.

And I think I can live with that.