The rest of the day was reasonably uneventful. Every time Jon tried to approach "Karyn," either Kyla or Monica or Gladys or Courtney were close by enough to subtly stop his efforts. And "Biff" didn't share any classes with Jon at all.
So Jon made his way through his afternoon classes, and made his way to the school parking lot after final bell, over to the big, shiny, navy blue Ram 1500 pickup with a custom-painted bald eagle spreading its wings across the hood that everyone in school knew belonged to Biff Meadows.
"Jon?" The quarterback approached his truck with some surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because I want to talk to my friend, Karyn." Jon hissed.
Biff, Karyn, whoever it was, blinked. Stood stock still. Like a sleeper agent being triggered.
"We are still friends," Jon said in a very pointed manner. "Right?"
"Yeah." Karyn took a breath. "Yeah, we're still friends, Jon."
"Then why haven't you talked to me since this morning?" The sting of accusation unsheathed its hooks from Jon's words.
"Jon," Karyn held out her hands in caution. "You're my best friend, but Sarah's my girlfriend, dude. She takes priority."
"Sarah McMillan is not your girlfriend." Jon took a step forward. "She is Biff's girlfriend. And you. Are not. Biff."
Karyn furrowed her brow and blinked a few times. Looked off into the distance. Looked back at Jon. "She's my girlfriend, Jon. I've been spending all day with her, I would know."
"She thinks she's your girlfriend because you look like Biff Meadows. But you are really Karyn Black. And Karyn Black hates Sarah McMillan."
Karyn flinched at this declaration. It sounded like the truth, but it felt somehow wrong. Karyn didn't hate Sarah, did she? She brought a meaty set of fingers up to touch Biff's temple. "Listen, Jon, I know we have to get this all figured out, but if you're trying to cock-block me--"
"You're not supposed to have a cock!"
That sounded true. But then the memory of Sarah's laughter echoed in Karyn's ear. And that sounded truer.
"Listen, I'm not sure what's going on right now," Karyn unlocked the door to the truck. "But I think I just need some time alone. I'll call you when I'm ready to talk."
"Karyn!" Jon called as his alleged friend hauled herself up into the cab.
"Go home, Jon," Karyn grunted, settling into the seat. "I'll talk to you later."
The door closed. The engine revved. And then the shiny blue truck with the bald eagle painted on the hood pulled out of its space, and left Jon in the dust.
