CHAPTER 36

For a guy that was getting as much unexpected sex as a nerdy, shy guy could get, I was pretty happy with having at least a little bit of routine in my life. Unlike everyone else in my classes, I was invested. For my teachers, this meant I was a joy to teach, although with teachers like Mr. Graves, it was hard to tell if he even knew what a 'joy' was.

Despite knowing that Carson and May were basically together, it was hard to get me to stop staring at May in English and Science (during drama, I had other things to distract me). Once or twice she'd catch me staring, but thanks to my new friendships in high school my confidence was actually building. Instead of looking away and suppressing yet another panic attack like my old self would have surely done, I'd seize the opportunity and flash her a smile and a friendly wave hello. Each time, she'd give one back, without any hesitancy or other signs she thinks I'm a creep in her eyes. We would barely talk, except in drama.

Drama usually was business talk. We were usually paired up for a makeshift scene or even an improv duo. Improv still wasn't my style, especially since it was hammered into the class' heads that improv needed to be funny. At one point in drama class we were playing 'Strangers on a Train,' which is apparently a classic improv game. I never heard of it. All I knew was that if you were in the center, there was someone on your left and someone on your right, and if you were talking to one person, you'd have to keep your hand on the other person's leg without knowing it. Most people took this in funny ways, making the situation bizarre or sexual. In fact, usually sexual.

However, on Tuesday's class, I decided to play a blind man. I didn't exactly want to even be on stage, but Salvador called for me to be in the middle. I guess he noticed I hadn't participated yet. Once I was onstage, May was on my left, and the guy with the goatee, Callum, was on my right.

There were a few giggles in anticipation of what hilarity would ensue, but once the scene started, I just sat staring up. Eventually, I realized I had to start the scene and grumpily called out, "Ethel."

No one said anything. No laughter came from the audience, except for one distinct chuckle, which I think was still in preparation. I called out louder, a little more desperate. "Ethel."

I could see May sneaking a glance to Callum behind me, confused. "Ethel, are you there?" I called out in a slight panic. I began to breathe more loudly, more erratically.

May recognized that breathing, and thinking it was a panic attack, whispered to me, "Adam, are you okay?" She gingerly touched my shoulder with her hand. Her touch felt electric and amazing, and made me happier just from feeling her warmth, but I wanted to focus on my scene.

"Who's there?!" I said in a panic, turning to her. My arms went out and moved around, indicating that I couldn't see. Eventually, my hand found Callum's leg. I pawed at it for a second, trying to make sense of what I was touching as the character.

"What the…" Callum as his character called out. He looked at me and cleared his throat. "Sir, could you please get your hand off my leg?"

May caught on in the nick of time. She turned to Callum. "I think he's blind."

"That's right, kid, but I ain't deaf." I snapped back in a raspy voice. "Have you seen my wife?"

Over the course of the scene, which lasted much longer than it was supposed to, there was no laughter. Just either boredom or attention. I found out that Callum was a great actor from working with him in this scene, particularly when he added the twist that 'Ethel,' the character's wife, had been dead for a few years and I was on this train purely due to my dementia. His reactions to me and to May were incredibly real, and he really carried the two of us through the scene.

"Good." called Mr. Salvador after our scene had, apparently, passed its climax. "You may sit down."

After we seated, Mr. Salvador glanced at the audience. "Adam's taught us something about improv: you don't always have to be funny. This scene was by far the most meaningful."

I sat back in my chair and enjoyed the sensation of my ego inflating. Knowing Mr. Salvador, I should not have savored it for as long as I did.

"He also taught himself something along the way. If your piece has meaning, you need substance to back it up." He turned to me. "If Callum wasn't in that scene with you, your idea would have fallen flat. If you're going to make a decision, don't do it half-heartedly. Commit to it."

Ooooof course. I hated how Mr. Salvador always had something to say to me, that he couldn't ever just let me win. It wouldn't have killed me to hear his criticisms if he weren't always right.

"Callum, you're showing great progress with being a versatile actor. I'm impressed." Mr. Salvador continued.

Oh, come ON.

***

"What made you make it all serious?" May asked me after the bell rang.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm not really funny, so I decided to make it serious."

May giggled. "Well, I think you're funny." she told me. "I thought it was cool! You think all different. It's really cool."

I shot her a sarcastic look. "Yeah, right. You probably just watch Doctor Who and Wes Anderson movies and think I'm quirky and weird."

May's expression turned serious as we began to walk out of the aud. "Wait, how'd you know I like those things?"

I thought about it, and realized myself I don't know. I thought back to how effortlessly Nicole explained herself.

"I know a few grade 11s." I answered her.

"What does that have to do with this?" She asked me.

"I don't really know myself." I told her, shaking my head.

May giggled again. "You're weird." she replied, as we neared the doors.

"Bye, Mr. Salvador!" I called out as we exited the aud, expecting not to hear a response from him.

"He doesn't care, you know." She commented a tad bitterly as we walked down the halls. "You heard what he said to you. He's just a dick."

"Well, I don't like to admit it, but he's not wrong." I said gingerly.

"Whatever." She replied as she approached her locker. "Do you need something from your locker?"

"Hmm?" I realized I was just standing beside her. "Oh, um, sorry. No, I was just enjoying talking to you."

She turned back to me and gave me a warm smile. "I'm enjoying it too." she said, before turning back to her locker. "Although I won't be here for long. I've got to go in a bit."

"Oh yeah? Why?" I asked her, still awkwardly standing behind her.

She smiled slightly and blushed. "I've actually got a date in a bit." She told me quietly.

Ah yes, joy. That. Still, I had to keep up appearances. I acted shocked. "No way! Who with?"

"His name is Carson Carter. You know him?"

Sure freakin' did. "Sure do!" I replied enthusiastically. "Well that's cute. I hope you enjoy yourself!"

May was all too enthusiastic to respond. "Oh, I totally will. He seems like a really cool guy. First off, he's really into weight-lifting and stuff, so he looks really good."