Divergence

Note-taking is such an important thing for me in the middle of classes because it keeps me actually concentrated on the class. Unfortunately, my pen ran out of ink, and no one around me had a spare. I had pencils though, but they aren’t as good because I can doodle with pencils. I don’t doodle with pens because even though they are doodles, I would like them to look good and if I make a mistake with a pen, I can’t erase it. But I can erase pencil scribbles, so I am not only wasting time and attention making scribbles, I am wasting even more time and attention erasing and redrawing them so that they look good.

The school bell tolls the end of the day.

Everyone starts packing their bags and filing out one by one. I take another look at my scribble-ridden pencil notes, grimace and then begin packing as well. Dan came and found me like we always do.

“Any work to collaborate on today?” he asked.
“No. Well… there could be, but with Melinda joining us tomorrow, I think it would be better if we all meet up and get started on our work then.”
“Oh yeah, that is happening tomorrow, isn’t it?” he said.
“Mm-hmm, you excited?” I asked fully expecting Dan to either smile or blush.
Instead, he just looked up with a thoughtful face. “Hmm, I guess.”
I looked at him, slightly confused, I figured he would be excited to see and chat with Melinda everyday. “Hey, is everything okay?”
“What?” he said breaking out of his pensive look and turning to me with his full attention. “Oh yeah, everything is good. I think I didn’t sleep well last is all.”
“Really?” I pressed on.
“Well… Yeah… It’s fine I can figure it out myself.”
I looked at him again, but he made no change in his expression. “Okay then.”

We started to leave and were on our way down the stairs when someone caught up with us.

“Hey, uhm... Manas!”
“Oh, hey Melinda,” I replied turning around to face her.
“Yeah, I was wondering what your agenda is for today. I know I was supposed to officially start tomorrow, but I figured one day early is not a problem.” She said enthusiastically.
“Oh… Well, we had no plans to work as a group today, and I still haven’t figured out what work needs to be done for the month yet,” I said, “so I figured we could just meet up tomorrow and start then.”
“Ah, bummer. I was hoping to get working as soon as possible. But I guess it’s nice to get some solid time off as well.”
“Well, we get a lot of time off, I feel like. So, if you came here to work yourself to death, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed. That’s not to say work is going to be easy of course.” I said with a little chuckle.
“Oh, it’s fine. It’s nice to have something where I can be a little relaxed. Anyway, thanks for the heads up, I guess. I’ll see you guys tomorrow then.” She said waving goodbye.

We watched her skipping away.

“Chomping at the bit. She really is something isn’t she?” I said as I once again started down the stairs.
“Yeah…” Dan trailed off again, with another thoughtful look on his face. He was looking at where Melinda disappeared from view.
I looked up at him again. “Hey… Are you sure everything is all right?” I asked again.
Dan furrowed his brows before turning to me. “I don’t know any more man…” he replied.
“Did something… happen between you and Melinda?” I pressed on, fully prepared to drop the topic if it hit a nerve.
He sighed, turned back to where Melinda left, and then turned back to me. “Did Melinda seem different in away way to you?” he asked.
“Now?” I said, almost glad it was a rather inane issue on his mind. “No… she seemed the same old person she always is.”
“And what is that?” he asked.
“What?... Well, confident, enthusiastic… friendly? What are you looking for?”
“Enthusiastic?” He asked, almost incredulously.
“Well, yeah.”
“Enthu- Okay, forget today, how has she been before today?”
“Same as today?” I replied, now unsure of where he was going with this.
“… Really? Do you really think that?” he asked, sounding ever so slightly desperate.
“Did the two of you have a falling out?” I asked, no longer apprehensive about hitting a nerve. Whatever Dan is so troubled by is more important than that, especially when I know he is never this stuck up about anything.
“What? No! I just… I…” he looked over again to where Melinda left before sighing again and putting his head into one of his palms. “You know what?” he said, his voice muffled through his hand, “I’m just confused. I definitely didn’t sleep well last night. I’m probably just overthinking… whatever it is I’m thinking.”
“What is it?” I said pressing on. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Yeah… I’m good.” He said walking down the stairs now, a small smile on his face. “Sorry if I worried you, but I’m good, really.”

I looked at him. He was lying, and he knew I knew. But I was apprehensive about pushing any further.

“If you say so,” I said finally backing off.
“Let’s go home. I need a nap,” he said shuffling down the stairs past me.
“Yeah. Let’s get you some rest.” I said following him down.

We parted ways as we boarded our buses and they ferried us home. All the way, the entire affair that we had was playing through my head. I had no clue what that was all about. I have never known him to be this emotional about anything or anyone. Well, there was that one week after Sam’s weird disappearance. But that aside, I’m blank. I’m inclined to believe that nothing happened between the two, but this seemed like a lot more than just some sort of snap due to sleeplessness. So, I had nothing to go off of anymore.

As for what he could have meant by Melinda being different, I racked my brains again for anything but nothing was coming up. She seemed like her studious and committed yet enthusiastic and cheerful self. It’s how she has always been, right? What was Dan so focused on and confused by then?