No Regrets Page 2
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Linder watched David and Wasso out of the corner of his eye. The two of them were flirting and goofing around. Linder was still a bit amazed at Wasso and David. They seemed to be completely different and yet, they looked so happy together. Linder still got a bit nervous around Wasso, when there was no one else around, but Linder was starting to see the kind side of Wasso. Linder was starting to see why David liked Wasso. But they were still a strange couple.
Linder snapped out of his thoughts when Mark shook the arm he had slung around Linder’s shoulder. Linder looked up at Mark and couldn’t help but bask a little in the smile Mark gave him. Linder could feel Mark’s love in the smile and see tenderness in Mark’s eyes.
“What you thinking about, love?” Mark asked.
“Oh. David and Wasso actually.” Linder admitted.
“David and Wasso? Why?” Mark asked.
Linder laughed a little at the puzzled look on Mark’s face, “No reason really. I just noticed them flirting.”
Mark hugged Linder closer. “That’s the first time in a week I’ve heard you laugh. I’ve missed the sound.”
Linder laid his head on Mark’s chest and hid his frown. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a long week.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I haven’t seen you much this week, you’ve been so busy and I’m hoping that we could spend some time together tonight.”
“Sure, sound’s great” Linder replied before remembering the packages, “But…”
“But what?” Mark asked.
“Ah. I have to work with David a bit after school...” Linder trailed off.
“No problem, I get it.” Mark said, “You didn’t know about my plans for tonight so you already made plans. That’s okay. I’m sure we’ll get another chance soon, hopefully, if you can find time in your busy schedule.”
“No. No.” Linder said fearfully, “I can cancel with David. I will. It’s alright. We can do whatever you want. Really. I didn’t mean it like that. I want to spend time with you. I do. Really.”
Mark closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Linder. I over reacted. How about this? You do what you need to do with David after school and I’ll head home and take a nap or do homework or whatever. You can come over when you’re done and we’ll just relax and watch a movie or something.”
“Yeah.” Linder said relaxing against Mark. “Sounds good.”
***
David spotted Linder waiting by the gate after school. He glanced over at Wasso. Wasso had already spotted Linder and nudged David’s shoulder before walking off.
“See ya later kid. Hey Linder,” Wasso said as he passed Linder on the way out the gate.
Linder shyly nodded at Wasso and watched him walk away. Turning to David, Linder shifted nervously.
It was obvious that Linder wasn’t sure what to do, so David started walking towards home. “I thought we’d go to my place. Wasso’s heading to the garage and my parents are out. There’ll be no one around to interrupt or anything.”
“Ok,” Linder said falling in beside David.
The walk to David’s house was quiet as Linder was obviously too nervous to speak and David decided he’d keep quiet until they got to his house. Once at home, David led Linder through the house to the kitchen. He nodded Linder towards the table and got out drinks and a pack of chips to snack on.
David sat across the table from Linder and let Linder take his time before talking. Finally Linder got up and grabbed one of the packages out of his bag.
“Here.” Linder said shoving the package at David.
David took the package and ripped open the brown paper. He looked at the cassette then looked up at Linder with a curious expression.
“They’re all like that.” Linder explained, “And they’re all the same song.”
David got up and got the old cassette player out of his room. He plugged it in and popped in the tape. As the Eels started singing, David wondered if Linder knew who was giving him the tapes.
“Do you know who they are from?” David asked giving into his curiosity.
“No. There’s never anything on them other than my name.” Linder said, “There’s no clue as to who’s been leaving them. I’ve gotten six in total now, that’s including the two from today. This is the first time I’ve found two in one day.”
“Where was the first one?”
“On my front step at home, then in my locker, then my gym bag, then in my jacket pocket after I left it in math, now English and lunch.”
“Wow.” David said, “Someone’s obviously trying to get your attention.”
“But why?” Linder asked, “Why me? Why always the same song? Why not tell me who they are and what they want?”
“I don’t know Linder.” David replied, “Maybe they are just too scared to say anything to your face. Maybe they don’t know any other song that expresses how they feel. Maybe they’re scared of Mark or one of his friends finding out. Not very many people would admit their crush on someone who’s dating someone Wasso hangs out with, not to mention that Brute and Nick are around sometimes.”
“Crush? You think someone has a crush on me?” Linder asked bewildered.
“Linder, it’s obvious someone does. The lyrics are all about wishing they could be with you instead of Mark. The entire song is about liking someone.” David explained.
“What do I do?” Linder asked close to panic.
“First off Linder, relax. It’s obvious that whoever is leaving these for you is too shy to do anything else. It’s obviously someone from school and even if they know where you live, they’ve only gone there once when no one was home.” David said gently, “For now, I’d just ignore them. But, I will tell you one thing: I think you should tell Mark.”
“Tell Mark? I can’t tell Mark! It would kill him.” Linder cried.
“Linder, if you don’t tell Mark and he finds out, he’ll think there’s something to these tapes. If you tell him now, before he finds out himself, he’ll know you don’t like it and you have no idea who it is.”
“No. I can’t tell him. I’ll just throw them all out and throw out any new ones that come along.” Linder decided.
“If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine. I still think you should tell Mark but you know him better than I do. If you think he couldn’t handle it, then maybe you’re right. Just, be careful. Let me know if you find out anything, and let me know if this whole thing is getting too much for you. I’m sure we can work something out so whoever this is leaves you alone.”
“Okay.” Linder replied.
“Come on, let’s get you on your way. Wasso told me Mark said you were heading to his place after we ‘finished our work’. I know you’d rather be with him than me.”
David held the door open for Linder. Linder looked up at David and suddenly gave David a hug. Squeezing tightly, Linder said. “Thanks David. Thanks.”
David was a bit surprised at the hug but managed to return it. “It’s no big deal Linder. You’re my friend and so is Mark, I want you guys to be happy.”
“Thanks David. And, I’m sorry. I mean, I know you liked Mark first. I know we hurt you when we got together. It was mean of us, especially me since I knew. I don’t think Mark ever knew, but I did. I was mean. I’m sorry.” Linder said quickly before he fled out the door without looking back.
David stared at Linder’s retreating figure. David was completely shocked at Linder’s confession. David always thought that neither Mark nor Linder knew about his crush on Mark. Since Wasso, David hadn’t even thought about how he once liked Mark. Why would Linder say all that? Why now? David closed the door and puzzled over everything as he waited for Wasso to come home.
***