Sometime towards the end of my first month of medical school, Mark caught up with me as I was leaving Kung Fu and offered to walk me home. My car was only steps away in L2 and I didn’t have the energy to come back for it later. Especially since I needed it to go to practice on the cadavers in three hours.
“Thanks, but my mom’s going to pick me up in a bit. Why don’t you join me on that bench instead?”
When we were seated, Mark asked, “Abby, are you ok?”
“Sure. Why do you ask?”
“You’ve been distant lately. It’s been weeks since you’ve made me do any extra push-ups during plank and you stopped making fun of me.”
“Maybe I’m trying to be nice?” We both had a good laugh at that.
“I’m just tired, Mark. Putting in lots of hours and getting only broken sleep.” Mark seemed relieved by this answer and I couldn’t see why.
“I didn’t realize that running the foundation would be so draining.”
“Oh, it’s not. I barely spend any time there these days, except for working with Sister Clara on the weekends. I’m working on a different project now.”
“Does it involve taking over the world or destroying the moon?”
“No. Not the entire world. Just the tri-state area.”
“Dr. Abby Doofenshmirtz. Has a nice ring to it. You’ll have to watch out for Perry. He’s very tricky.”
“I’ll be sure to set up a few traps in case he comes by.” There was an awkward pause after this, neither of us having a good follow up. I took the opportunity to ask, “When I told you that I was exhausted from working, you seemed relieved. Why?”
“I thought that you might be…” Mark paused to consider his words. “Pining for Bobby.”
“Pining? As in longing for or yearning? Seriously? People don’t use that word anymore unless they’re quoting Monty Python’s dead parrot sketch. Do you spend hours at the library looking up obscure words? It would probably be easier for you to just take up Latin or Sanskrit if you’re trying to become a walking, talking anachronism.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“There’s my Abby! I’ve missed you. Caustic as ever.”
“You looked that one up, didn’t you? Just so you wouldn’t have to use acerbic again.” I shook my head in wonder.
“Well, I’m just glad you’ve stopped your pining.”
“I wasn’t pining! Bobby’s a great guy and I miss him sometimes, but if he hadn’t been leaving this summer, I doubt we would have made it to prom as a couple.”
“That’s a bit counterintuitive. Please explain.”
“Bobby and I had a good time together, but whatever it is that makes for a great relationship wasn’t there. We both saw it and decided to stay together a few more months until he left. Besides having fun, it also gave Eva and James a chance for some guilt free PDA. They didn’t have to be on their best behavior because there was two ‘singles’ hanging out with them and I didn’t have to feel like a third wheel.”
“I see. You were being noble. Sacrificing for the good of your friends.”
“Oh, it wasn’t a sacrifice at all.” I gave Mark my best sleazy smirk, along with a few slow nods, and I made a gun gesture with my fingers. I was going for the Burt Reynolds look.
I got a head shake from Mark, but failed to get the coveted face-palm. I knew I should have gone with the Monty Python ‘Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean’ line instead.
“Anyways, I thought that you might be pining and decided to cheer you up with an early birthday present.” He handed me a thick envelope and continued, “But there’s a catch. You’ll have to take me along with you, since I’m your ride there.”
I crinkled my face in confusion and he motioned for me to open the envelope.
“Oh my God. Four VIP access passes to Comic-Con in San Diego???!! Thank you!!” Despite being sweaty and gross from Kung Fu, I leaned over and hugged him. By now I was dry, mostly, and I don’t think I got him wet. Thank God for deodorant, though.
“Eva and James are going to die when I show them. How did you get these?”
“I asked Jake. He knows a guy who knows a guy who knows the mayor of San Diego.”
“Wow! Thank you. I can’t believe it. I’ve always wanted to go but I couldn’t afford the trip. Now that I can, I just didn’t think of it. Old mindsets are hard to break sometimes. I’m so excited. Am I babbling?”
“A little, but it’s nice to see again.”
“I guess I have been working too hard. This is perfect though. I’ll be forced to take some time off. Wait, the show is just nine days away. I’m going to have to go see Eva right after I shower. I need to be there in person so see her reaction and she’s going to need as much time as possible to prepare her costume.”
“Costume?”
“Of course! Eva wouldn’t go to her first comic-con without dressing up. That’s half the fun. She’ll go as Wonder-Woman. James will definitely go as Batman. I’ll be Super-Girl. Who are you going to go as?”
“Mark McKenzie?”
“That won’t do. Eva would have a fit. Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea and it won’t be too embarrassing for you wear in public.”
“I really don’t need a costume. Really.”
“Trust me, Mark!”
Now I got the face-palm.