Wait until after class

“I guess it was too much to ask you to help out your best friend,” said Xabar, putting on a look of resigned sadness. “I didn’t really expect repayment for all I’ve done for you, but I did think perhaps you would have a speck of loyalty for a friend in need.”

Hager rolls his eyes. “For all you’ve done for me? You mean like all the times you got me in trouble?”

“Why must you focus on the negative all the time? Didn’t you get a handjob from Madeline Argoblast last week? Who do you think led her to suspect you would help her with her term paper in exchange for a little action? And unless I’m mistaken, Sarah Deckwilder wants you to tutor her this weekend for her Charms final; I wouldn’t be surprised if she comes prepared for some ‘oral examination,’ if you know what I mean. Who do you think put her up to that?”

Hager looks doubtful. “You don’t have to help me with girls. I can do fine with them on my own.”

“Of course you can.... But what are friends for if they don’t help each other at every opportunity? So I’m homeless right now, and you have a slutty — I mean, friendly — aunt.... “

Hager sighs. “Ok... I’ll take you there after class, but if I get in trouble for being out past curfew—“

“Don’t worry about it,” said Xabar, with a dismissive wave. “You won’t get caught. And if you do, I’ll take care of it.”

“I hope you are right,” said Hager, doubtfully. “When we got caught at the Nelson twins’ house, you ‘took care of it’ by convincing their dad that you were rushing me to a doctor for a bowel obstruction. I spent the next three days in the hospital getting one colonoscopy after another. I still don’t know how that doctor was able to do a colonoscopy on me when he had both his hands on my shoulders....”

“Never mind that,” interjected Xabar. “You just hurry off to class while I wait here in your room. We will leave as soon as you get back.”

Hager grabs his books and takes one last, dubious look at his friend, who has sprawled out on the bed, resting his hands behind his head. “Promise me you will stay here and not get into trouble?”

“Why would you even need to ask that? Just run off and fill your brain with school stuff. I’ll just lay here and think about your Aunt Lucy.”

Hager sighs, and hands his friend a box of tissues. “Please clean up after yourself when you have finished ‘thinking’ about my aunt.”

He leaves for class, closing the door behind him, and Xabar smiles. It’s good to have a plan. Now he just needs to pass the time until Hager returns.