waved her hand to shut him up, it made me wonder ... what on Earth was she trying to hide from me? I asked her about it on Friday during a session, and her response kind of left me a little jipped.

"I mean, I honestly didn't think you'd be interested." 

Honestly, not even an off response at all. This response should make sense in the grand scheme of things, right? Both times I went to her meetings, I'd watch for a bit on how they did the game, then I would either start a homework assignment or doodle. At the same time, though, I figured we'd come to a point in our ... friendship (it still needs work to roll off the tongue), that she would at least have a thought that I could be interested. Perhaps she believed that she'd been sparing me the trouble, but it's been eating away at me. Do I come off too uninterested? I see no problem in being a stand-in audience ... it's not like it's so mind-numbingly boring. And it's got me thinking: Havana has put in a lot of effort to build on something here, whereas I've been more reserved. Now, obviously, it's been established that Havana is a social butterfly, but even from day one of the tutoring, she's been eager to take me on. Actually, even all that time ago when I went over to Mallory's and she had come over to help Jhene decorate,  she'd been just as friendly then. Huh. Now that I think about it, that was our first interaction together ... how did she know who I was?

The next few days go by as they usually do, except with the added stalling I've had to do with Mal as to why I haven't drawn her designs yet (every time I try to, I start to cry), until Wednesday rolls around. Mal and I exchange our goodbyes, then I make my way to the library to meet with Havana. When I walk in the Purgatory Room, she's helping Mrs. Loren load a few more boxes in the back room. How is that Havana's always the jock that's around to assist the feeble lil' librarian ... oh, wait. 

"Ah, what up!" Havana greets me, almost falling over with a heavy box in her hand. I lunge to help her in the in case, but luckily she picks herself right up before she can do any damage; great for me, because what did I think I was about to do trying to play hero? Why would I even attempt to?!

"Hey there ..." I wave slightly. "What's the uh, hot ticket item this time?"

"Oh, just some manuals or something," Havana explains. "I think it's for --"

"Aht-ta-ta!" Mrs. Loren wags her finger at Havana. "Sorry, but I gotta keep this one under wraps!"

"Aw, what?" I sigh. "Even to me?"

"Hey, only reason this one knows is because one of the boxes busted up in the delivery truck," Mrs. Loren shakes her head. "Dang thing spilled all the books out! Ah, but that's okay because if all goes to plan, you all will know about the manuals and its product soon enough!"

"If you say so," I raise my eyebrow, then take my seat. 

"That's my cue!" Havana claps her hands. "You know where to find me if you need any more help!"

"Ah, thank you, Ms. Sommers," Mrs. Loren smiles and wipes her forehead. "What would I do without you?"

"Aw, ma'am you flatter me," Havana accepts shyly. There's something I've come to know about Havana, too; she doesn't know how to take compliments at all. It's the way she becomes awkwardly sheepish with any bit of praise in a sort of hilarious way that makes one think, "How is this esteemed temple of teendom such a compliment weenie"? 

"Right then," Havana clears her throat sitting next to me. "How's it hangin'?"

"I could ask the same about you," I quip. "Hangin' in there yourself?"

"Huh?" Havana blinks, then looks down. She gasps an "oh!" once she notices her feet pushing her up from the chair, making her raise ever-so-higher above me. "Heh, my bad. Now then?"

"Eh, I suppose I'm doing alright," I shrug. "Nothing new. You?"

"Oh, I'm marvelous," Havana answers, because of course she is. "Tomorrow is the decathlon's first practice match, we're almost on fall break ... feeling great!"

"Fall break, eh?" I look at her. "Figured a school buff like yourself lived in the school." 

"Oh, if that's not a pot-and-kettle statement," Havana scoffs amused. "You mean you aren't just kicking and screaming at the idea of being away for a week and a half?"

"As if," I huff. "I save that for the summertime." We both have a hearty chuckle over that one. 

"Anyway," Havana simmers. "You ready for the test yet?"

"Ah ... am I ready ... am I gonna have to just deal with it over wanting to run away, same thing," I answer. 

"Oh come on, you got this!" Havana cheers. "No test can hold you down!"

"I guess," I slightly smile. It might take a bit more work on my end to be fully convinced, but it's nice to have a dancer-footballer-cheerleader on the ready these days. I eat away at my lip for a bit on how to bring this up, then.

"Hey, question."

"Shoot," Havana says as she looks over my newest homework, which is just some review papers. I tap my feet anxiously.  

"Uh, about the other day," I start. "About your practice meet tomorrow."

"Yeah?"

"D ..." I trail, then breathe in and out deeply to calm my nerves. "Did you really think I wouldn't be interested?"

Havana twiddles her thumbs. I suppose I've posed a difficult question. "I mean, well, you know ..."

"I know...?"

"Well, the whole reason we're in here, you get me?" Havana waves her hands.

"I mean, sure the dyscalculia makes things harder which does make it hard to get excitable," I tease. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't be supportive of your endeavors."

"Yeah, I get that," Havana responds. "I didn't mean anything by it when I, you know --"

"No, no for sure," I chime in. "It's still a bit odd for me to admit it."

"You? Hard time admitting things?" Havana puts her hands on her face in 'shock' and 'awe'. "Say it isn't so!"

"Oh, pipe down," I roll my eyes. "Seriously, I want to be there -- I will be there ... that is, if you want me to still come?"

"You're kidding, right?" Havana grins. "Of course I want you to come! That'd be so cool!"

"Cool ... applied to me?" I pout. "Hm, wrong person."

"I'm serious! The whole team would be so excited to have you there," Havana goes on. The display of gratefulness on her face is not one I'd yet seen from her. I've seen the giddy face, the comedic face, the proud face, and just the overall friendly one. But this one is ... soft. A softness that's just wholly appreciative, and all from me wanting to watch her play Human Calculator: The Game. It's sweet. Ah, but then that's just Havana.

"Well then, great," I say finally. "Would it be okay if I hitched a ride with you?"

"Oh, for sure," Havana agrees. "Hey, invite Mallory too! Bigger audience, and you won't be bored!"

"After I just explained to you how supportive I'd be?" I ask, not hiding the confusion in my voice. 

"Hey, I get invited to cheer games all the time -- love supporting the girls, but I'd be lying if I said it was easy to keep my eyes open," Havana confesses. I hold my hand over my mouth, surprised, then laugh. Oh, wait until Mallory gets a load of this! Maybe I'll tell her at the meet tomorrow, just so the two of us can hold in our laughter through the day in case we run into Medusa. Ah, but then I wonder ... the first time Mal and I got invited to one of these, she totally bailed on me. Well, you know, she forgot and I get that, but even when I told her about the rapid-fire meeting, she seemed to listen but wasn't so ... interested? I think I've talked her head off too much about math-related happenings when she isn't a math head, either. Hell, I've already committed to the bit; why make her go with the act as well? Besides, I've got to see one of these matches, even a practice one, with my own eyes without any distractions. I gotta make sure everyone in these things is just as geeky as Havana when it comes to this. 

It's not like I've ever needed to wait on Mal to go out, even if rarely. What's the damage?