All My Life by Rucy Ban

Author:Rucy Ban [Ban, Rucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tiefenbacher Pubs
Published: 2013-05-04T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Tatiana and I are sitting across from each other in the cafeteria, focusing on the food in our trays. We’ve barely taken two bites when a guy thunks down on the chair right beside Tatiana. He’s got short spiked hair and is wearing a grey hoodie with jeans.

I watch curiously as Tatiana doesn’t even register his presence, at least not until he leans over and swipes the barely-eaten pizza slice from her tray.

“Hey! Give that back, you pig!” she exclaims and tries to reach out for the slice which the guy now holds in his arm, stretched far out of her reach. His sleeves ride up and I notice a large tribal tattoo on his wrist.

“Hot damn babe! I love it when you call me names,” he says around a mouthful of Tatiana’s lunch. She stops trying to get at the slice which is already fast disappearing down his mouth and leans back with her arms crossed.

“A-hole! How’s that for a name?” she says.

The guy places his other hand on his chest and scrunches up his face, as if in pain. “You get me, babe. You’re the only one who does.” Then he looks at me and waggles his eyebrows. “Who’re you?”

I bob my head between Tatiana and him, wondering if I should pass on my name to this seriously suspect person. But maybe I’m wrong about him because Tatiana doesn’t hesitate a second before outing me.

“Kari. We’ve got three classes together and she’s my new best friend,” she says and I smile appreciatively at her directness.

Then she looks at me and points to the guy. “Danny. Pig, a-hole, BF.”

Danny bows his head in mock courtesy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you me-lady,” he says, gives me a wide grin and then goes back to his chomping.

I smile back at him. “Where did you get the tattoo?”

He swallows down the bite in his mouth and answers, “Chicago.”

“Chicago?!” I ask.

“Yup. I worked in an ad agency there for a year before starting college.”

“Wow. That sounds awesome.”

“Yeah. It was.” He nudges Tatiana and she bites down on her lip to keep from smiling.

“What?” I ask, feeling left-out of their private joke.

“I met him during that year. I was visiting my Gramps and I rescued him from the experimental chicken casseroles she was inflicting on her handsome new neighbor. I think my Gramps took the ‘love thy neighbor’ decree a bit too seriously.”

Danny hugs her to himself. “My knight in bling and boobies.”

I laugh as Tatiana elbows him in the chest. “Stop it! I’ll puke on you!” Then she suddenly turns towards me. “Hey, you got a boyfriend?” My laughter dies abruptly and she notices it, even though I try to recover the situation with a smile.

“Uh, no.”

Sensing my discomfort, she deflects, “Oh, trust me. You’re way better off without one. Just unnecessary distractions.” Danny tightens his hold on her and she swats playfully at his shoulder. Yup, way better off.

After an uneventful subway ride back home, just as I’m about to enter the shop, a hand lands on my shoulder.

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