There’s no sleep for the focused. It’s after 3 am, and I’m still up. The term paper for my bowling class is due and still needs editing. If I can complete it in the next hour, maybe I’ll get a few hours of rest before my first class. I never would have thought that a bowling class would keep me up all hours of the night.
Another hour in, and my darn screen crashes. There’s no way I’ll be able to start from scratch and complete this paper on time because I also have an entire presentation for my other class. I hold my breath and restart my computer. Luckily, my draft autosaved, and I continue where I left off. It’s almost 5 am before I finish. I turn the paper in before anything else happens and hurry to bed.
I’m up again with only a few hours of shut-eye. I receive some bad news from my boss. He noticed I didn’t complete my assignments, so I received no money. I’m due to work again today, but I am taking some personal time off because I have classes today and that presentation to complete. There’s no way I will try to work on top of all that.
Besides, after checking how my 2nd video performed, I see that I make double the money on my videos than I would ever make on my job and with less work. Quitting time is officially around the corner. But that’ll have to wait; I have to hurry off to my classes right now.
I arrive home after my drama and bowling classes, but there’s no time to chill. I get started on my presentation immediately. I do my best to organize my ideas and get some up on the board, but when I look at it a few hours later, I can already see that it’s not my best work. I’ll let it marinate for a while and return to it later. Right now, my body is begging for a workout.
It’s raining when I arrive at the skills academy, hoping to avoid Maia. But when I get there, she’s standing at the top of the stairs, holding an umbrella, looking my way with a smile. Is she smiling at me or at something that happened earlier in her world? It doesn’t matter; a smile is a smile and, as far as I’m concerned – an open door for me to shoot my final shot.
Wade: Hi Maia.
Maia: Hi
I push away all my anxieties and say what’s on my mind, not wasting time with small talk like I did yesterday.
Wade: I wasn’t going to bother you again, but now that you’re here – I can’t just walk by without speaking. I’m new to town, I don’t have any friends, and I’m just looking for someone to show me around. I was hoping that would be you. I’m not trying to be your man or anything; I‘m just asking for a little bit of your time. I won’t even ask you for your phone number, but if it’s okay – I’d like to give you mine, and you can decide whether I’m worth that time. I wanted to tell you yesterday but froze up – so there it is.
Maia smiles again, closes her umbrella, and pulls out her phone.
Maia: What’s your number?
I give it to her as she types it into her phone.
Afterward, she presses her screen a few more times, and moments later, I receive a text from her.
Maia: *text message* You’re worth my time.
I’m excited and don’t even try to hide it.
I’m on a roll; should I push it? Hell yeah, I’m giving it all I’ve got.
Wade: I was going to do a quick workout and then go and get something to eat. But I can skip the workout if you’re hungry and want to join me – my treat.
Maia: I can stand to eat. But I’ll pay for my own food.
Adding that last bit must be her way of clarifying things – this is not a date. I can respect that.
Wade: Yeah, right – uh, whatever you want. Ready to go now?
Maia: Sure
My day is suddenly going so well. Is luck finally on my side?
I only know one restaurant in town, so I take her to The Shack on the docks near my house. I’m so excited that she agreed to join me that I forget all about the gangsta birds that usually block my way. I pass them without giving them a second thought.
I request a table, and after we are seated outside, we glance at the menus. I know this isn’t a date or anything, just two people who live in the same town, having lunch – but I’m still nervous to be seated next to her.
We sit in silence for a while before she speaks up.
Maia: Do you mind if I get a few questions out of the way?
What type of questions?
Wade: No, not at all.
Maia: You’re not married, are you?
Married? The question surprises me. Do I give off married vibes or something?
Wade: No
Maia: Separated? Divorced?
What? Why is she asking?
Wade: No, and no. I’ve never even had a girlfriend.
I asked her if she had a boyfriend yesterday, but it never occurred to me until now that she might not even be into guys.
Wade: Do you have a girlfriend?
Maia: No, and I’m sorry about the strange questions. I ran into an issue the last time I agreed to hang out with someone.
That explains it.
Wade: Oh, well – I’m completely unattached.
She relaxes in her seat as the waitress takes our order.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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