Chapter 5 Rounds of Forgiveness

Apologies weren't really my thing, probably because I've barely had anyone to apologise to. Before Brian had moved, we had this thing where none of us ever needed to say "I'm sorry" to the other when we offended each other, we just agreed to always forgive each other until a person's round of forgiveness runs out then they would have to apologize and buy a present for another round of forgiveness.

It was something my dad and I used to do until I grew older and realized he was using it on me because it was easier than apologizing for the countless times he hurt my mom and I. That's besides the point anyways, what I'm trying to say is that I don't think Kylee would go for the Rounds of Forgiveness stuff.

This actually isn't what I'm just saying now, all this was what was going through my mind as Economics class was going on. I totally bypassed the entirety of the class and I was unaware of myself or what was going on, until I heard my name.

"Mr Ackley!"

I jerked instantaneously, causing my notebook to fall over of my desk, there was an eruption of laughter in the class.

"Yes, ma'am?" I replied to Mrs Howard, our Economics teacher.

"You seem to be thinking about a lot," she said as she relaxed on her desk, "Care to share any of those thoughts with us?"

I squeezed my lips. "No ma'am, I prefer my thoughts remain... right here." I nervily tapped on my head as the class laughed again.

"Nothing you like to share with us?" Mrs Howard asked again, adjusting her awkwardly large round glasses.

"How about how you got rejected by Sloane Galloway!" A male voice yelled from the back and everyone cracked up again, their laughter filled up the room that it almost felt solid. I turned to see it was Bryce Scofield, one of the school jocks with golden blonde hair and a big forehead.

"Shut up, Bryce," I heard myself say, "You got rejected by your own hairline."

"Oooohh!" Someone yelled at the back as the class even laughed harder than before. There were murmurs of "burn," "jesus," and "damn" across the room. I turned back to face Mrs Howard.

"Alright, enough of that!" She ordered, "Dagwood, since you don't want to entertain us with the thoughts of your mind, perhaps you won't mind answering the question of the discussion then."

I nodded my head slowly.

"Why do sports players and television stars tend to make more money than doctors and politicians?"

I scowled in surprise, "What?"

"You didn't understand the question?"

"No, I'm just surprised by it," I replied, "This is the question of the discussion? So nobody could answer it? Even given the fact that we're all actually the ones that cause it?"

There was a loud silence in the classroom, no one was laughing anymore and I could hear someone's pen fall to the ground at the back.

"Do you know the answer to the question, Dagwood?" Mrs Howard asked.

"Of course I do," I answered, "Sports players and television stars make more than doctors and politicians because entertainment has been made to be more important than medicine and the government. Entertainment is valued more than medicine and public leadership even more when the line of entertainment are strenuous and dangerous ones such as football, soccer and wrestling. No matter how important doctors and politicians are, the work is mostly with the head and doesn't put them at any injury risk for the most part and I can also add that doctors and politicians still want to be entertained and even though sports stars and movie stars also go to the hospital, nobody sees the doctor as much as they watch watch Netflix."

"Mhmm," Mrs Howard said, trying not to look impressed, "Good answer Mr Ackley, you can sit down now."

The silence in the classroom seemed to get louder while I sat, I felt their eyes gawking me even though I didn't look at any of them.

"Badass, Dag," Dave whispered to me as I sat.

"Nerd!" I heard Bryce Scofield yell from the back and then everyone started laughing again. I didn't look but I stretched my hand backwards and gave him my middle finger.

The bell rung for recess.

Everyone sprung from their seats, packing up their books and hanging up their bags, when I say everyone I mean including me, I was in a hurry to meet up with Kylee and recite the apology that I had made up in my mind only two seconds ago. I felt someone shove my shoulder with a lot of force, causing me to hit my thigh on my table. I groaned slightly and checked who it was. Sloane Galloway passed beside me a split second later, holding her bag with one hand and carrying a smug, sassy look on her face. Her friend, Tiffany Woodward laughed as they walked away.

"Pay no attention to the evil witch, Dag," Dave said as he hung his bag, "We've got work to do, remember?"

"Of course, I remember," I said, "I just don't know if it will work."

"Hold on, what are you gonna say to her?"

We both walked out of the classroom, I took off my blazer and loosened my tie. "Uhm, something like; Kylee I'm really sorry I didn't listen to you."

Dave frowned, "That's it?"

"I mean, that's pretty much what I'm meant to say."

"Dag, don't you ever learn from movies and TV shows?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, of course, I learn a lot from movies and TV shows."

"Then you should know that girls... girls, ohhh girls are needy creatures, Dag. They liked to be wooed, they like to know that you created a hundred words of poetic literature just for them, they like to be reminded that you are thinking of them every second-"

"Every second?"

"Every second."

"Dave, that's a ridiculous amount of time, the amount of seconds in a day is eighty-six thous-"

"Dag, you don't have to be a nerd about it."

"Oh."

"You see the key to winning a girl's heart is not just by saying the truth," Dave smiled cunningly, "It's by exaggerating the truth."

I raised my eyebrows, "I see. Doesn't that just make it a lie?"

"No, take for example, I'm in love with a girl named Emily-"

"Are you? There's a girl named Emily in our class who sat directly behind y-"

"You're ruining my story, Dag."

"Oh my bad, go on."

"Take for example, I'm in love with a girl named Emily, Emily Perkins."

"Okay, Dave, her name is Emily Parkings, she was literally just sitting behind you in Economics class. This cannot be a coincidence, you obviously like her, you can say it, you don't need to use a fake name."

"I don't like anyone by that name, Dag, now shush and listen to what I have to say."

"Oh, okay."

"I'm in love with a girl named Emily Parkinson..."

I rolled my eyes.

"And I'm trying to find a way to tell dear Emily that I love her," Dave continued, "So when I get the chance what do I say? Do I say 'I love you, Emily Parkinson" or do I say, 'I cannot get the blinding beauty of your elegant face out of my head, dear Emily Parkinson. The thought of you brings sunshine to my rain and happiness to my sorrow, my heart beats to the sound of your voice and my body moves to the rhythm of yours. You are the one I truly love.' See?"

"Mhm, and why would I say the latter?"

"Because it's not a lie and it's not exactly the truth, it's an exaggeration of the truth and in such it is poetic," Dave answered, "Every girl would want a man who says such things to her."

"First of all, you're mixing things up," I said as we both sat on a table in the cafeteria, "I don't 'want' Kylee, I just want Kylee to forgive me, where the hell are you getting this idea from?"

"Wait, I thought you liked Kylee?"

"No," I replied, then I thought about it for a moment, "uh, well, I don't know but that's not what is in my mind right now, I just want to work things out with her so we can be friends again."

"So, why didn't you just say that from the start?" Dave asked as he bit into his massive cheese sandwich.

"I don't think I ever said anything else other than that, Dave," I replied, forcing emphasis on every word.

"Well, there's your chance," Dave said with his mouth fulled of cheese and bread, "Kylee's over there."

"Where?"

I tilted my head to the side following Dave's eyes and I saw her, laughing calmly as she ate what looked like a salad. She had packed a bit of her hair to a ponytail and let the rest fall over her shoulder and her back, she didn't wear as much lipstick as she did the first time I saw her and-

"Well, what the fuck are you waiting for?" Dave asked me silently as some other kids joined us in the table, "Go over there and talk to her."

"I don't know, Dave."

"Hold on, you were more prepared to ask Sloane out but you're not prepared for this?"

"That was more of a 'whatever happens' situation but this is like, I'm actually in the wrong you know and I want her to forgive me."

"Or... and I'm just saying this because personally I kind of like the idea of both of you... you actually like her and you don't want to screw this up."

"Eat your sandwich, David," I said to him and got up from my seat then walked slowly to where Kylee was sitting with her friends.

She froze for a mini second when she saw me then brought her face down before bringing it back up again.

"Hey, Kylee," I greeted her.

"Hey," she said.

"Can I sit?" I asked. Her friends looked at me for a moment then moved to create space for me.

"Hey, this is that guy, mister smarty pants from History and Economics class," one of her friends said, "He has a fast mouth too, burned Bryce Scofield today in class." If I remember correctly, I think her name was Jazmine, with a z.

"You're popular now?" Kylee asked.

"Ha, not even close," I replied, "Uhm, Kylee, I wanted to apologize, it's been bugging me all day since yesterday and I just don't want you to think I'm an idiot."

Kylee almost smiled, "You don't mind that my friends are here."

I turned to the two girls beside me and they both smiled at me menacingly.

"No, I don't," I said and turned back to her. "I'm really sorry, Kylee. You were right, I shouldn't have listened to you and I didn't and I'm an idiot... for that part, just that part only. But mostly I'm just a typical nerdy guy who has no idea about girls as you saw with Sloane but I really... really don't want to mess things up with you Kylee, on that note, I'm sorry."

You know, personally, now that I look at it, I think I nailed that pretty well.

Kylee got pink as she smiled and then looked at her friends. "I had actually already forgiven you, Dag. I wasn't really like mad, I was just a little riley about it at first but I get why you did it."

"Oh," I exclaimed, "so you're not actually mad anymore?"

"Yep"

"Oh," I wasn't sure if what I felt was relief, disappointment or confusion.

"But I will say that judging by your apology, I think you absolutely know how to act and talk to girls," she said.

"Yep, that's a women's man, right there," one of her friends said.

I smiled, "Well, uhm thanks for letting me off the hook I guess."

"You're welcome?" Kylee replied. I nodded my head and was about to stand up to leave.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

I sat back, looking at her in slight confusion.

"Uhm, back to my seat," I replied.

"Are you kidding?" Kylee giggled, "Come on, sit with us, we've got a lot of space. Right guys?"

"Oh, yeah yeah, uhm, plenty space."

"My bad," Kylee said, "Dag, this is Rachel and Jazmine, her Jazmine is with a z and guys this is Dag."

See? I was right.

"Hi," I said awkwardly to them.

"Dag is short for Dagwood, right?" Jazmine asked.

"Yes."

"That's a super awkward name."

𝘚𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘢𝘻𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵?

"I have to get my lunch from my other seat though," I said to Kylee.

"No, yeah, go ahead."

I didn't want to stand up so I called to Dave and motioned on him to bring my lunch. He got up with both mine and his lunch and walked towards us.

"I was eating with Dave so he might have to join us," I said.

"Oh," Kylee said.

Dave dropped my lunch in front of me and sat beside Kylee.

"Hello, everyone. Oh, hello Kylee, you look beautiful today."

I looked at my tray and something felt off.

"Did you steal from my fries?"

"Oh, I am appalled that you would accuse me of such a heinous thing."

I facepalmed, "Guys, this is Dave."

He smiled gaily at everyone and then took another bite of his sandwich.

"Isn't this nice?" Dave asked, "the five of us eating together?"

"Is that cheese in your sandwich?" Jazmine asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Kylee's vegan," she replied, "you're eating cheese directly close to her."

Dave froze and then slowly dropped what was left of his sandwich in his tray. "Uhm, I'm done with that," he said and then slowly picked up his bottled drink. "Apple juice," he said pointing at it, "it's apple juice."

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. Was what I kept thinking as I sat there.

☞✧☜

Kylee and I walked together after school that day, as usual she rather kept her books in her hands instead of the backpack she carried behind her and she continued smiling a lot.

"So, what do you do after school?" She asked.

"Uhm, I dunno, the usual?" I replied.

"What's the usual?"

"Well, I play a little Fortnite, do homework, help my mom with stuff at home, study for a little while and go to bed?"

"That's the usual?" She laughed.

"Yeah, isn't it?"

"Oh my God, you really are such a nerd aren't you?" She said, "That is not the usual."

"Oh," I scratched my hair, "Well, what is the usual then?"

"I can show you if you want," she replied, "Maybe you can come over to my place or I can come over to yours."

My heart stopped for a brief moment, 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦?

"You've stopped talking for a moment, Earth to Dagwood? Are you still there?" She said, smiling.

"I'm just a little surprised," I replied, "This is the first time a girl is actually inviting me to her house, so..."

"Oh, I'm not trying to be pushy or anything."

"No, it's fine it's fine," I said, "I actually really do wanna come."

"Oh, is there a but?

"It's not a but," I said, "I promised my mom I'll help her with some stuff today, she's pregnant so she can't really walk around that much."

"Oh," Kylee nodded. "So tomorrow?"

"Yeah, definitely," I smiled, "Definitely tomorrow."

"Okay, then." She smiled back. We looked at each other for a while then she laughed. "Bye, Dag."

"Bye."

I stood and watched her walk away for a while before I jumped and shouted "Yes!" And then fell someone's books in the process.

"What the fuck?"

"I'm sorry," I said, helping her to pick it up, "My bad."

I turned around to see Kylee laughing at me as she walked away, I smiled.

And that's when my pessimistic side hit me.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘋𝘢𝘨𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘱?

And you know what? My pessimistic side had a point.