Driftwood

Jay was amused by the havoc of Job Seek Week. (This campus has way too many people and is way too big. It' s noon How could I have already seen 6 drag-out battles since seven. There's a battle every hour plus one. There goes another couple of guys rolling about on the grass. He snickers. At this rate, it will be 2 to an hour.) "Where the hell is security?" He laughs aloud.

“Jay, you love all of these duels way too much. Haven't you heard it's the demon who enjoys the Chaos." His friend quips.

He throws his arm around his shoulder. Then lowered his voice as he pulls him close. "My dear Tim, you know my character so well. I am a demon and this demon knows that in chaos there always lies opportunity." He quips back.

“Hey, guys look over by the table." Jay's other companion calls out.

“Patrick couple's french their heart out is not so interesting with all the action scenes today." His mouth scolds his friend as the eyes follow the direction of his hand. He lets out a whistle. " This may get ugly, that muscle train coming up on some poor guy. We better get over there someone needs to call the ambulance."

Patrick side-eyes his friend. " Right? I'm sure medical care is your utmost concern."

Tim walks over to him and patted his shoulder. “That right Pat. You have found the path. It’s not important to believe the lie, but to pretend to believe the lie.”

Jay turns back. "What's that? I miss it."

Tim spoke up. “We were saying we need to get a detailed account of the injuries, so they can be prepared when they arrive.”

Jay smiles. “Good be careful not to miss anything.” As they move closer the voices got louder, he recognizes one of the voices immediately. “Driftwood?!” His fist clenches. (Big mistake!) “Move it!” He orders.

“I know exactly what you mean.” All humor completely lost from Mack’s tone replace with harsh bluntness. “I’m asking why? Why the hell would I give up any opportunity I may have, because of a word from a useless ass like you? Ordering me around is generous, if you feel your chances suck so much you should have begged instead.”

The bully rushes Driftwood. Grasp him by his shirt, pulling him in. “You little punk! Do you have a death wish.”

“Oh! I have a death wish alright, but it’s not mine. OUT OF MY FACE!” BAM! He shoots out the first Punch.

Jay stops in his tracks. “Wow, Nice shot Mack.” He said proudly, clapping his hands. He gave his next order. “Go handle those jerks over there. I’ll keep an eye on Mack. Two can play their game.” They nod and went to it. (Can’t have those jerks ruin my man time to shine.)

The bully was feeling a bit dizzy. That little punk fist hit him right between the eyes. He flew into a rage, clumsily charging towards him.

Mack dodge spinning a kick to his back between the shoulder blades. The hit the ground passing out.

“Woo!" He runs over to the victor. "Mack you were great! No, not just great. You are fierce, wild, sexy, awesome."

(This guy is ridiculous.) “What? Try repeating the second part”

“Which word? Sexy or awesome.” Muse warmly.

“You really are a little off.”

The river laughs. "Just a little but you'll get used to it." He tosses his arm around him. “ But before we can get to that. We need to take care of your troubles first.”

“Troubles?”

“No worries. Leave everything to me." Jay had one of his friends hack into the school security logs and delete everything up to three hours ago. Then he proceeded to remove the two cans of beer he stashed in his bag.

“You actually risk bringing beer on campus?" (Is this guy daredevil or a fool?) "What if you get caught?" Mack criticize.

He eyes his friend with fondness. " I'm not a fool." He responds answering his new friend's unspoken question. He throws the towel it was wrapped in back into the gym bag. "I don't bring them every day, only on practice day, and never when a game is coming up." He leans in to whisper near his ear. "Minimal risk with guarantee thrills. You wanna try?"

(There was definitely a hidden meaning there.) He grimaces. (He’s the devil.) Mack side-eyes his friend harshly. “What do you want to do?” The pair of eyes drop to the cans as they were open.

“Make some breathing room.” Jay pours the content on to the three guys. “Later when they come to, they will be in a little trouble. “That will help out a little if they try to drag us down with them.” He turns to Tim. “Make sure your code keeps deleting the data files for another hour that will give us enough space for deniability. " Mack, walk back with me, I'll give you a ride."

“I don't need … Wait how did you know my classes were over for the day?"

He slowly walks toward him leaning in again, eyes fixated on Mack's mouth. Jay whispers before walking away. "I'm not telling you. Guys, I'll catch up with you later." The last sentence calls out to his friends already moving down the path to the parking lot.

As they walk along, Jay waits for Mack to say something, anything. Only silence comes from the guy who quietly follows from behind. (No problem I'll start.) " Why did the jerk look for a fight with you?"

“He’s pitiful.” A short statement with no attempt to elaborate.

“Pitiful?”

“ He heard that a few companies were interested in scouting and want me to back out of any offer I may get.”

“Like?”

“Time Keep the tech company that went international last year. They manage to achieve international fame in three months.”

“Sounds like you know a lot about them. Are you planning to apply?”

“Yeah. I would be stupid not too. The pay is very competitive and I get to be a part of its huge beginning. Still, I’ll apply to other places as a backup.”

Jay hands Mack his helmet. “ That guy wanted to hurt you really bad. I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting what you want.”

“ What about you? What do you want?” Driftwood climbs onto the back of the bike.

Jay grins as Mack's arms wrap around his waist. " Don't worry I'm working on it." He was about to turn the motor then pause. "Hey?"

“Hmm?”

“That day in lit class. Why did you call yourself ‘Driftwood’? Everyone laughed but I felt like you weren’t joking.”

“ That's because I wasn't."

“So? Why did you choose that name?”

“ Like the driftwood in the water, I like to go with the flow. Instead of struggling and resisting, I prefer to ride the current.”

Jay nods. “ Good answer.”

Mack smiles at him. “ I liked your answer too, ‘The River’.”

“Um!” He laughs nervously. (He remembers.) “W-We better get going.”(That’s a start.)

They arrive at Mack building a short time later. " Thanks." He says handing back the helmet before he turns to leave.

“Hey driftwood?”

“What’s with that name again?” Mack bit his lip as if to keep from swearing.

He happily corrects himself. "Mack?"

He rolls his eyes completely unimpressed. “ Just spit it out, so I can go?”

“Date me?”