Pol's Tale

I love doing stuff like that.
After I tossed Steve's stuff, I left the bathroom to go to the library. I had an appointment there with a good book or two.
"Hi, Pol!" Angie, the freshman on duty, smiled and said.
"Hey," I said, and found my private table in the back.
There waiting for me, just as it should be, was Volume IV of Solephslkie's Treatise on WaterFowl Misuse. This was a great place to be. I spent as much time as I could in the library, away from the distractions of modern life, in silent reflection. It was not all that hard to find ways to spends days at a time in the company of librarians and interns, with the possible exception of having to take classes. With a sigh of pleasure, I opened my book and studied in quiet solitude.
For about three minutes.
"Thanks, man," Arnie said, pulling a chair to the left of me, "That's one I owe you."
"That's ten you owe me," Steve grumbled on my right, "Why didn't you just ask for the money?"
"I did. From Eric. He gave me bupkus."
"So you stole from me."
"Hey," Arnie said, "What about those vows of brotherhood and fealty we swore? We said we'd always be there for each other, to help in times of need, and crap like that?"
"We didn't swear that, I did. To John. He held me at gunpoint."
"Six of one, Stevie, six of one."
Steve, clearly exasperated, sighed to my right. "What was the money for, anyway? Arnie was about to say, but, realizing my big book was blocking his view of Steve, leaned behind me, pulling Steve torward him, and whispered whatever he wanted to say.
Steve stood, outraged. "I do not believe you!"
Arnie, comfortably back in his seat, yawned. "I exist, Steve."
"Swear," I added.
"Hush, you!" Steve said to me. I did.
He tousled his own hair, and said. "I gotta go. I'm supposed to call John's mom, to tell her what's up. He'll be stuck in the tank until she comes to get him."
"So why're you calling?"
"So he can -- oh." Steve colored a little. Had he been less flustered from the robbery, he'd have gotten that much quicker. He started walked away. "Ah, I gotta go. See you later."
"Later, Steve."
"Later," I said. I turned to Arnie. "What'd you whisper to Steve."
He leaned in and repeated it.
I shrugged.
"What'd you really need it for?"
He laughed.
"I lost some money to this girl in a bet. She did this thing with a quarter --"
I put the book right in front of my face. "I don't want to know about it."
"She got it from under a notebook. Here, I'll show you."
"No," I said, as he dumped the contents of his bag, "I really don't want to know about it." Then I thought for a second. "This Kristen?"
"Yeah, Kris." Arnie said, "She's pretty cool."
"Whatever," I put my head well into page 483. Engrossing.
The bell rang. Third period. Arnie got up and packed his books. "What do you have now?"
"Study Hall," I said.
"What did you have last?"
"English."
"Mr. Black?"
I nodded.
"He's the greatest," Arnie said, walking away.
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