Page 38 of Run
“Saycheeeese!” Fonz hits the screen, taking a picture.
“Dude, something is seriously wrong with you,” I say.
“Whatever, you know you want me to send it to you.”
“Of course.”
Chuckling, he mumbles, “It’s on its way.”
A moment later my phone buzzes, letting me know I received the photo he texted. Except, when I open it up I get a shot right through the chest as I stare at a picture of Fonz and a familiar red-headed spitfire. Someone who, although she looks just like her old self, also looks like a young woman. And that’s definitely Fonz from a recent time, not from back when he and I were in high school. My mouth goes dry, my ears ring, and my heart knocks around erratically in my chest.
“This, uh …” I have to stop and start over again. “This picture, Fonz, that’s um …”
“Hmm?” He looks away from his own phone to see what I’m talking about. “Oh, shit! Sorry, I must’ve sent the wrong one. Damn fat fingers. Here, let me try again.”
“Who’s that?” Jules’ looks over my other shoulder at the photo.
I’m speechless, but thankfully Fonz jumps in. “Oh, that’s a friend of ours from way back. She stopped by the other day unexpectedly to visit so, obviously, we took a selfie. It was the most recent pic on my phone and I must’ve selected it by mistake when I went to send you the one we just took. Here, I’ll send the right one.”
Fonz is blubbering on and not looking at me.
“Do you know where she lives now?” I ask, trying to keep my cool.
“Did she move away or something?” Jules asks.
“No. Well, I mean, sort of. She lived right next door to me, and she had an abusive stepfather and had to go to foster care. But, for years we played together and hung out as we got older.” I decide to try something. “I think she’s a senior in high school now?”
“She graduated last year,” Fonz answers without hesitation. Then freezes.Busted! He’s definitely been talking with her.
“Uh, anyone else want another drink?” he asks, shaking his empty glass in gesture.
“I can get another round!” Jules cheers, scooting out of the booth.
I turn to Fonz. “Spill it.”
He curses under his breath as he rests his head face-down on the table. “We went to dinner the other day,” he mumbles against the wood.
“That was the first time you’ve seen her?”
“Yes?” Fonz offers pathetically.
“Bullshit!”
He lets out a long, heavy breath, then sits back upright. “You really want to know?”
I lick my lips, then nod.
“You sure?”
“Oh, for hell’s sake, Fonz.” I rub hand down my face and glance over to see Jules at the bar, talking with some fellow students. “Yes! I want to know!”
“She still lives in the neighborhood. You know, with …”
My eyes almost bulge out of my head. “What?! Since when?”
Fonz looks up at the ceiling. “Oh, I dunno, since about four months after you moved away.”
“Wh— You told me you hadn’t seen her. You told me she was still in foster care.”
