Release (Ezzy's Education: Part 23), by Garrett Murch
Another Friday afternoon, another drive up to camp for Ezzy, and this time with her new friend, Link. She was concerned Link had been showing signs of infatuation, telling her she looked nice first at the end of school on Thursday, then today after English class.
He has that look of interest in his eyes. He’s been so nice. Should I just tell him I don’t like him that way, or wait and see how it goes?
They rode with the top down under shiny clouds allowing peeks at blue sky. A dark-pink hair band matching the dots painted on her nails held Ezzy’s ponytail, which dangled and quivered behind her brown, wax-coated hat. The loose threads on Link’s old Boston Red Sox cap waved like so many kite tails and they were listening to Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird” when a pair of does crossed the road near the end of the long straightaway they were on.
“So much wildlife up here!” Link yelled. Ezzy nodded.
When the song ended, Link looked at Ezzy and said, “I like you.”
Shoot.
Ezzy feared—she knew—this was coming. “I like you as well,” she said. “We’ve become good friends, and fast.” The dreaded “friends” line. Why did you say that, Ezzy? This may not go well.
“I know, it’s crazy,” Link said. “I didn’t know fishing dates were a thing, but they’re pretty awesome.” He smiled at her.
“Fishing dates?” Damn it. She turned the music off.
“Well—”
Ezzy cut him off. “Link.”
“Yes?”
“I have to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
Ezzy tightened her grip on the steering wheel. How did you get yourself into this? It was so predictable and preventable.
“What is it?” Link asked.
She sensed his nervousness. Sympathy began to overcome her frustration with herself. “You’ve got to promise you won’t tell a soul.”
“I do. I mean I promise. What is it?”
“Okay.” Here goes. Ezzy turned the radio off. “I like you, Link.”
“That’s great!”
Shoot. That didn’t come out right, either. Just tell him, Ezzy. It’s the only way. Okay. Here goes. “Link. I-I don’t like boys. If you know what I mean.” The hum of the Jeep’s V6 engine seemed louder with each passing second in which Link did not reply.
Did he understand what I meant? Eventually Ezzy asked, “Do you know what I mean?”
“Sorry,” Link replied. “I-I think so? I-I had no idea.”
“No one does except my dad.”
“Oh.” Link paused. “Not even your mother?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Um. Wow.” Looking at Ezzy, Link adjusted his sunglasses.
“Wow what?” Is he upset? Surprised? Angry? Disgusted? Ezzy glanced at Link.
“Just, wow, like, that totally took me by surprise. But I think it’s great.”
“You don’t think it’s great.” There’s no way he thinks it’s great.
“Well, it’s great you told someone other than your father. I’m-I’m kind of honored. I mean, the most amazing person at Ebbing High School—you—just told me a deeply personal secret.”
Interesting. And nice. Definitely not what I would’ve expected from a Patriot; I shouldn’t lump them all together like that. “I didn’t want to tell you,” she said. “But I sort of had to. You’re my friend.”
Link did not reply right away. Eventually, he said, “Honestly, I’m glad you told me. In a way, you know, I feel relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“Well, yeah. I guess the pressure is off now. And it’s not like you rejected me because you think I’m unattractive. Well, I guess you do think I’m unattractive, but—”
“Shut up.” Ezzy laughed. “I know what you mean.” Poor boy, but he seems to be handling this okay. Maybe he wasn’t as into me as I thought? Her grip on the wheel relaxed.
“Thanks,” Link said. “Yeah, I didn’t really know how to say that.”
“It’s fine. But the pressure is most definitely not off.” Ezzy grinned while keeping her eyes on the road.
“What do you mean it’s not off?”
“You still need to catch your first fish on a fly.” “Ha! Damn straight I do.”
Ezzy pulled into a gas station to fill up. “These prices are killing me,” she said. “I may have to pick up another cleaning job.”
“I know,” Link said. “I’ve been thinking about getting another shift at the restaurant. Or trying to become a waiter.”
“You pump, I’m going to put the top up on the Jeep. It looks like we might get showers. See those clouds?”
Several minutes back into their drive, Link asked, “So I know this is sensitive, but why don’t you let anyone know that you, uh, like girls?”
I knew he’d ask me that. “Why would I?”
“I guess so you could have a girlfriend?”
”There’s no girl at Ebbing I’m interested in. Well, none who would be interested in me, too.” The sky continued to darken.
“Trinity Williams seems pretty cool.”
“I knew you’d mention her. Knew it.”
“Well, what about her? She’s super pretty, seems smart.”
“Yeah, I know. Trinity’s great, but there’s a problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Well, you might think this is silly, but I just can’t imagine Trinity being into fly fishing. She doesn’t seem very adventurous. And she’s so nerdy and she might not like the outdoors.”
“You’re so nerdy.”
Ezzy laughed hard, causing her to cough and causing her eyes to moisten with the start of happy tears. “Fair point,” she said, feeling a scratchiness in her throat. “I know she’s very pretty. I hoped she’d be my lab partner this year. But for me to be serious about someone, she’d have to have some serious fly fishing potential. It’s my thing.” Large raindrops started showing up on the windshield.
“Ah,” Link said.
He probably thinks I’m crazy. “You’ve got to think ahead about things like this, Link. Potential to be a good partner matters. I’m not just looking to get a piece like you guys are.” They laughed. “In all seriousness, though, looks are not enough.”
“Fair point and I agree,” Link said. “But hear me out on this.”
“Go.”
“Then let me go.”
“I am.”
“Okay.” Link rolled his eyes and smiled. “Maybe you’re using the supposed unsuitability of Trinity Williams as an excuse not to test the waters with her. Call me crazy, but maybe you’re afraid to like someone? Or maybe you’re afraid how other people would react?”
“That is crazy,” Ezzy replied. “Both suggestions.” Maybe I am a little afraid—of both.
“Something to think about.”
He doesn’t know how much I have to think about. “It’s nobody’s business. Here’s something for you to think about.”
“Go.”
“I was about to but you interrupted me.”
“Sorry.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Ezzy's Education, the first novel by recovering Washington, D.C. political professional Garrett C. Murch, can be purchased here as a paperback or an eBook.