Invisible Me

I take my time unlocking my bike from the lamp post.

"Nice to see you, Portia," Randy says.

"Can I ask you something?" Quick, before you leave.

"Sure."

"Do you . . . have a girlfriend?"

Randy turns to face me. "Yeah, pretty much. You know Denise Laughton, right?"

Who doesn't? "Of course."

"Denise and I have been, like, going steady for a year or so. But things have not been good lately. Denise hasn't been happy. She won't tell me why. But I guess we're still going steady."

Oh, my God, Randy! If you only knew. If I only knew, for that matter. But you are so nice.

I remind myself that Randy and I are nothing more than friends.

"Portia? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I turn from Randy and stow my bike lock inside its fitting. I'm getting out of here now.

"Portia?" Randy places his hand on my arm. I want to shake it off, but don't. "What's wrong?"

I'm frozen. I want to answer and I have no idea where to start.

"Are you pissed off at me?" he asks.

"No." Not you, Randy. Anyone, but you.

"Is it because . . . of Denise?"

That stops me cold. "I'm not angry. Just confused."

"Listen, Portia," Randy says. "Denise and I have our own friends. She has guy friends, and you and I can be friends, too. She knows that. Understand?"

I nod.

He smiles. "Take it easy, Portia," he says then turns to leave.

"Wait," I say, grabbing his arm. "I need to tell you something. First, I want to thank you for being such a great guy. Denise is lucky to be going steady with you." Randy starts to speak, but I raise my hand. "I also want to thank you for helping me out with Zack's granddaughter."

Now I have to tell him that I've been spying on him. And all I want to do is hug him.