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I nod, knowing from my relationship with Gabi what it looks like when parents let you down. Her mom up and left her when she was only a few years younger than Justin, and some of the armor she wears is a direct result of that.
“Well, hopefully he figures out how not to take it out on his teammates.”
“Or his coaches,” Rush volleys back with a smile.”
I shake my head. “I’m gonna head out. See you tomorrow?”
He drops down into his desk chair. “Yep. You go ahead and have a nice evening while I sit here and grade papers.”
“Grade papers?” I ask, laughing. “For a PE class?”
“We just started the health component,” he grumbles. “It’s scantrons, but still…”
Chuckling, I give him a wave. “Sounds lame. Glad I’m not you!” I joke.
Rush flips me off as I leave his office behind, still laughing while I stroll down the hallway toward the parking lot. When I come to the door leading outside, I see Gabi emerging from the main entrance, eyes on her phone as she makes her way to her car. For a minute, I just watch her, taking in the way her long hair whips behind her in the breeze.
Then I bring out my phone and open up a new text thread.
Me: So, when did you want to have our meeting?
I look up, watching her out the window.
She slows to a stop, still looking at her phone, and stands there for a long minute before she begins texting. When I look at my phone, I see the gray bubbles pop up before a short message comes through.
Gabi: Thursday?
I respond quickly, trying to grab her before she drives away.
Me: Not today?
Gabi: I’m already on my way home.
I let out a long sigh then wait until she drives off before responding.
Me: No worries. Want me to just swing by your classroom?
Gabi: Sure. See you then.
It’s not surprising that she wants to wait until Thursday. I’m sure in her mind, it’s a future Gabi problem, but I wanted to at least try to see if we could chat today.
That conversation we had on Saturday night, where she told me she thinks we might be able to be friends again? I don’t want her to forget that. I don’t want her to change her mind and realize I still have that plague she was so sure I had when I first got to town.
The truth is that Gabi was just putting up a wall because I hurt her, something I swore I would never do. Any chance she’ll give me to try to be her friend again, I’ll take it. I just don’t want to strike out before I even get to the plate.
I knock twice on Gabi’s classroom door before I push it open, finding her sitting at a pottery wheel, a lump of clay spinning in front of her.
I’d heard she picked up pottery during art school from someone a few years ago, though I don’t remember who. Watching her sit at that wheel, I can tell she enjoys it just from the way she’s so focused on what’s in front of her, not to mention the fact that she’s teaching the class.
Somewhere in my head, I had just assumed if Gabi ever taught, it would have to do with drawing or sketching. When we were younger, she carried this sketchbook around with her everywhere. Seeing her now is a reminder of how much has changed over the years.
“Hey,” I say, walking toward her, the thick door closing behind me with a loud thud.
“Hi,” she replies, glancing up at me briefly but then returning her attention to whatever she’s working on. “We can get started while I work on this, right?”
I nod, a little disappointed.
I imagined us sitting and chatting, not trying to cram this in while she’s distracted by something else, but I shake it off. I said I wanted any chance to talk with her, to be a friend again, and this is it.
