Dating Down Read Free Page A

aren’t together!
    George: sm You aren’t together!
    Gavin and George make goofy love eyes at each other
for their same response.
    Me: sm Can somebody clue me in here?
    April: sm Ralph’s doing—
    Gavin: sm Things.
    Me: sm Things?
    Gavin: sm Bad things.
    Me: sm Bad things?
    I sound like a parrot.
    April: sm Drugs, okay? Ralph’s a druggie!
    George: sm Honey, please! It’s just pot!
    April: sm For now, it’s pot.
    George: sm Plenty of people smoke pot.
    Gavin: sm You do pot?
    George: sm Sure! Now and then.
    Gavin: sm Oh? And what else do you keep from me?
    Gavin deflates.
    Up next— The Problem with George , perhaps?
    April: sm Hello! Can we focus on me?
    I focus on April,
    tell her it’s not a shock
    really
    Ralph being one of the most
    unmotivated guys I know.
    Me: sm You’re dating someone beneath you.
    Gavin: sm Date up, honey, not down.
    Me: sm You could do better, perhaps.
    Gavin: sm Sam’s right.
    Ralph’s not so high on the dating scale.
    Get it?!
    Gavin laughs at his play on the word “high.”
    George rolls his eyes.
    April looks pained.
    I finish my Twizzlers.
    April: sm Well, when I get ahold of his supplier …
    George: sm When you get hold of his supplier, give me a call.
    He finishes his tuna casserole
    winks at Gavin
    walks out.
    Gavin: sm People who do drugs are lame.
    Me: sm People who deal ’em are lamer.
    April: sm Is “lamer” a word?
    The usual suspects all leave.
    Then it’s just me,
    my Chex Mix,
    and my thoughts
    of April and Ralph.

Dating Down
    Meet a guy
    butterflies
    then come lies
    systemized
    feeling low
    can’t let go
    loss of spark
    deep in dark
    wonder how
    this fell down
    Once was great?
    Break-up fate!
    lesser highs
    louder cries
    greater price
    major vice
    loser guys
    make life
    a
    sadder life.

Relationships, Pt. I—The Good
    Gavin and George aren’t afraid
    to hold hands after class.
    They share hats
    and split chocolate bars.
    They study together
    and text all day long.
    Gavin boasts about George’s singing voice
    George brags about Gavin’s knack for math.
    They smile a lot, flirt a ton,
    and joke with each other constantly.
    Gavin never seems out of sorts
    when George is around.
    Love.

Relationships, Pt. II—The Bad
    April’s mad about Ralph.
    She follows him down the hall after class
    bakes him brownies when it’s his birthday
    and sugar cookies when it’s not.
    She’s sweet on him.
    Ralph gives her a smile
    gives her a hug
    gives off no indication that he’s as crazy about her
    as she is about him.
    Just enough interest
    to reel her in.
    I like your hair like that.
    You been working out?
    April’s caught on his line.
    She studies him instead of Chemistry
    leaves him love notes
    and donuts for breakfast.
    Ralph runs off with his friends,
    promises to call.
    She waits for a ring when we’re
    at the mall
    at a show
    getting manicures
    making dinner
    listening to music
    on the bus
    out and about
    settled in
    Longing.

Relationships, Pt. III—The Lonely
    My mom used to tell me stories
    love stories
    stories of her youth
    her courtship
    how she and Dad ran around
    two peas in a pod
    a daring duo
    paramours
    birds of a feather
    lovebirds
    fanning the flames
    falling in love
    forever and ever linked
    together.
    How she told it:
    sm eyes sparkling
    smiles emerging
    memories bubbling
    up from a place
    deep within her heart.
    Will I find this?
    Can I have this
    with X?

Back in My Bedroom after School
    Me,
    my canvas,
    and thoughts of X’s
    russet-brown eyes
    mahogany lips.
    Will he call me before Saturday?
    It’s only Wednesday.
    Does he miss me?
    Do I miss him?
    Did he ask for my number?
    Maybe he’ll
    go online, look me up.
    Maybe I’ll
    go online, look him up.
    Round and round I go
    red paint hits my canvas
    lines begin bold,
    feather off.
    It feels good,
    controlling color.
    The playlist on my computer
    s h u ff l e s
    swift sounds
    LOUD, bright!