Jake studies me attentively, one eyebrow raised and his hands planted onto his hips.
“You’re actually not so different, the two of you.”
“I really doubt that.”
I go back to sorting through the end-of-semester tests and reach for my red pen.
“You like that, don’t you?”
“Mmm?”
“Marking things in red…” He nods down at the piece of paper on top of the pile. “You’re a sadist.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
“Don’t you have principles, too?”
“Of course.”
“And you believe in values.”
I already know where this is going.
“Friendship is one of the most important, fundamental values in everyone’s life.”
I roll my eyes.
“He just needs a date for that one evening.”
“Can’t he find one for himself?”
“I told him I’d take care of it.”
“He needs your help, now? I thought he was a go-get-em kind of guy.”
“What would you know?”
“I listen when you talk – even when you’re talking about him, despite the fact I don’t care. It’s called being polite.”
“Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn’t have told you all those things about him. I’m scared I’ve contributed to your wanting to stay away from him.”
“It’s not obligatory, you know, for all your friends to know each other.”
“But you two are my best friends, and I just want you both to give it a chance.”
“What do you mean ‘both’?”
“Did I say ‘both’?”
“You did.”
“I just meant…”
“Does he not want to meet me, either?”
I feel a little offended now.
“Does it matter?”
