The Next Big Plan

Alex was looking at her with that way he had. He didn’t do it on purpose, but Alex was always giving Moria that look. That look which meant he needed something. Something important to him. And there was no way she could ever say no when he got that look. She was terrified of whatever was going to be asked of her. As soon as he opened his mouth to ask she knew she was doomed.

“Moria,” Alex said her name like even he was unsure of what he was about to ask of her. He looked towards the ground like he couldn’t bear her stare anymore. “Moria, I need some serious help right now. I’ve gone and messed up everything I had going for me.” At this point he finally met her gaze as he confessed. Confessed to how he’s ruined any chance at ever getting into the college we’ve been dreaming about going to since the second grade. How he probably ruined his chance at getting into any college at all. He confessed to how he’s been struggling so much for the past six month to do anything more than open his eyes. None of his school work has been done or turned in. “Moria.” Again he says my name like it’s a question to himself. “I need you to help me. I can’t let go of nine years of work. You have to talk to the teachers. Maybe even your dad?” 

She snapped at this, “we swore never to ask for any academic help from him. No. Matter. The. Circumstance. You can’t just change the rules because you felt like slacking off.” Most people thought her and Alex had gotten to where they were because her dad was the principal. They let everyone think this because they knew they deserved their places and it didn’t matter if others knew it or not.

Again he just said her name, “Moria,” but this time it wasn't said like a question. This time it was a prayer. The prayer of someone who had used all other options and was on their last string of hope. “I was trying so hard to keep up. Tried so hard to force myself to do anything, but I couldn’t. I- I-” she could obviously tell he was struggling to admit what was on his mind. She just didn’t understand how much he was struggling with it until he slowly sunk to the ground. Alex was sitting crouched on the ground for only a second before he burst into tears. As soon as Moria realized the magnitude of this problem she immediately felt bad. Felt bad for how she responded to his initial request. So she crouched down next to him and slowly wrapped him up in her arms.

They stayed like that in silence for a good couple minutes. Alex was still too worked up to speak when Moria broke the silence. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. First, you’ll get off the ground and sit at the picnic table instead. And then I’ll go get us some drinks while you try to calm down. After I get back and your calm you can explain what’s wrong and we can figure out a way through this.” She knew she was being harsh, but right now that is exactly what Alex needed. He’d failed at doing things his way for six months; it was time to let someone else take control for him. At least for a little bit. She helped Alex stand up and got him to the bench before heading to the kitchen.

Alex was finished chugging his water bottle before Moria could even open her soda. Silently she passed him a second water which he drank a lot slower. When he was almost done he closed it back up and set it on the table. Alex slowly dragged his gaze up from the table to meet her eyes, but immediately raised his eyes to the sky instead. Three deep breaths later he started explaining, “I could barely force myself out of bed most days and didn’t have enough energy to make any actual meals. It’s a miracle if I even showered once a month, but I’m getting back to normal and I’ve realized everything I missed and what it means for my future. And for the first time in so long I want a future. For the first time in six months I believe I have a future. It's just- I need your help to get back on track.”

Moria took a couple minutes to process this and develop a plan while she finished her soda. Suddenly she just stood up and went upstairs to her room leaving a baffled Alex staring after her. When she came back down she had her laptop and a notebook. “I think the best way to make a plan to fix this is to make a list. And as you know every-”

“Thing can be solved with a simple list.” Alex cut in. “You’ve been using that saying since you heard the school counselor say it in fifth grade.”

“Well that’s cause it’s true. So I think the first thing on the list should be going to said counselor and explain what you’ve been going through.” Moria being Moria got right to the point and started planning. When Alex opened his mouth to argue he was immediately cut off, “I know that’s not what you want to do, but it will make everything after much easier.”

Alex look skeptical but just asked, “And what is ‘everything after.’”

Not taking anymore time to think her plan through Moria jumped into an explanation jotting things down as she rambled. “First stop is the councilor. You don’t need to go into any details, but just give him an overview of what's been going on and then go over the plan and see if he has any extra suggestions for you. Talking to your teachers will be next. It would probably be best to start with your stricter teachers so when they inevitably say ‘no’ to your request of extra credit and work you can go back after talking to all your other teachers and try again. As more of your teachers agree others are likely to join because they don’t want to seem mean when compared to everyone else.”

Moria finally took a breath and Alex used this opportunity to ask “What if they still say no what do I do then?” There was a look of pure terror on his face at the thought, but Moria had already thought of that.

“Well if you remember before going to the teachers you went to the councilor who okay-ed and adapted the plan. So, you’ll just go back and explain who is refusing to help you and then he will send out his magic emails that get anyone to do anything.” Moria was so sure her plan would work and she should her plans always work.

However, Alex still wasn’t sold quite yet. “What if all the extra work still isn’t enough. What if I still fail. I’ll need to retake the year. I won’t graduate. We won’t be able to be roomies in college.” Moria just stared him down disappointed that he’d doubt her.

“You act like I haven’t already made backup plans for that. If all that work isn’t enough I might be able to talk to my dad and get you into some remedial classes. Since you don’t have any classes you can afford to drop they’ll have to be taken on the weekends, but it’s better than nothing. That should be enough to get you back where you were, but if it isn’t you’ll just need some summer school and then we can take the fall off as a gap year.” Moria rushed through the last sentence of her plan. Alex was just staring at her in disbelief. 

Their plan had always been very direct. Graduate as soon as possible and go to the best college in the state. They’d then become successful scientists and save up together so they could build their dream house as soon as possible. A gap year had never even been discussed as a possibility for either of them let alone both of them at once.

Alex was still staring at Moria in shock when she explained. “Well, this way we’ll still get to be in college together and it will give us time to do everything we’ve been to busy to do in high-school. Like we were always so busy working on school stuff we never had any time to do fun things.” She knew her point had finally sunken in when Alex looked towards the ceiling and tried not to cry again. Though, this time Moria didn’t think they were sad tears.

Finally he looked back at her and still sounded a bit disbelieving as he said “You’d put your entire life on hold for me. Why? I’ve never done anything but hold you back since we became friends. I would never ask you to do this.”

Moria could do nothing but stare at Alex as she responded, “But you're not asking me. I’m the one suggesting this plan. And honestly it would be nice to take a break.”

Alex had no response for that so instead he launched himself into Moria’s arms. They sat holding each other for hours. Minutes. Seconds. However long it was it would never be long enough. Thankfully they still had plenty of years left together.