Johnny

Johnny was playing pool with Chris and their friends. He joined them every Saturday even though he didn’t like pool. He just liked to stand around and pretend he belonged. He knew a little bit of everything but not much of anything. You could ask him about tennis, and he’d tell you there’s a backhand and forehand, but he couldn’t explain the point system. You’d ask him about cars, and he’d impress you with what he knew, but the truth was he couldn’t fix a car. Just like he couldn’t fix himself.

Chris got a ball in and pumped his fists like what he’d accomplished meant something. Johnny nodded and looked over at the girl across from them. She was blonde with skinny jeans, giggling at the guy sitting in front of her. He seemed like the type to go on and on about nothing until someone laughed at something he said. And she seemed like the type who was easily humored. But the girl had caught Johnny’s eye. Maybe it was the way she leaned in toward the man, fully engaged. Or the way she had h…