Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Chapter One

Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Chapter One

With a sigh, a young boy, no older than seventeen, allowed his head to fall back against the trunk of the tree he was currently sitting under. With olive green eyes and an air of bored impatience, he looked up and down the pathway that his tree, along with many others, bordered. The path had many students on it, chatting and hanging out. He recognized a few of them from his classes, but none of them appeared to be who he was looking for. Bored, and running quickly out of patience, the boy started swinging his legs back and forth impatiently, allowing his heels to knock against the brick wall that constituted the perimeter of the tree-lined median. He sighed upwards, using the gust of breath to blow shaggy brown bangs off of his forehead.

‘He’s late,’ sighed the boy internally.

“Oi, Eshan,” said a voice to his left. Eshan turned to look at the speaker, but it wasn’t who he was waiting for. Instead, it was a slightly short, chubby boy who waved slightly as he approached.

“Oh, hey Carter. What’s up?” was his uninterested reply.

“Nothing really. My sister forgot one of her books, so she had to run back and grab it, so I’m stuck waiting for her out here.”

“Oh,” came the uninterested response. The two lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, and the other boy fidgeted slightly.

“So are you waiting for someone, too?” he asked, more out of discomfort than curiosity.

“Yeah, Jacob. We’re supposed to go to my house after school.”

“Oh, I see.” With no response coming from Eshan, Carter quickly continued so as to avoid another awkward lull in conversation. “Ya know, Jacob’s seemed really different lately.” Eshan turned to the other boy, his interest piqued somewhat.

“Different? How do you mean?”

“What, you haven’t noticed it? He just seems, I don’t know… more self-assured lately. I can’t really describe it. He just seems more confident. Magnetic, almost. People notice the change, and everyone likes it.” Eshan was silent for a moment, mulling over this new information.

“I guess I hadn’t really noticed it,” he murmured thoughtfully.

“Yeah, and it’s not just that. It’s his new girlfriend, too. I mean, no offense to him, he’s a nice guy and everything, but I think a lot of people were wondering how the hell he got a girl like her. If you would’ve asked anybody a couple weeks ago, everyone would have agreed she was out of his league, but they seem pretty happy and compatible now.”

“I hadn’t really thought about that,” Eshan said, wondering just why he hadn’t noticed that.

“Haha, yeah. Ah! There’s my sister. I gotta go. Catch ya later!” with that, Carter hopped off of the median and joined the girl who was approaching him.

“Later,” replied Eshan as the other departed. Now left with nobody to talk to, Eshan sighed and leaned against the tree as he waited for his best friend to arrive. He didn’t have to wait long.

“Heeeeyyy!! Eshaaaaan!” the named boy looked up and saw Jacob, a tall, lanky boy with pale skin, freckles, and an unruly mop of red hair, running towards him, waving wildly. He jumped down from the median and, after brushing any grass and dirt off of his jeans and t-shirt, went to join his friend.

“You’re late, Jacob” he said as they started to leave the school grounds.

“Haha, sorry man. I was with Kara.”

“Yeah, yeah. I shoulda figured. You’re always with her now.”

“I know, right? It’s so great!” Eshan scoffed at his friend, but grinned.

“You’re whipped.”

“What? I am not! Hey, just because you’re lonely and single doesn’t mean you have to attack my relationship.” Eshan laughed.

“Sure,” he said.

“Hey, did your mom make any of those peanut butter fudge brownies again? I’ve got a craving for some,” asked Eshan, changing the subject.

“People who make me wait don’t get any brownies.”

“Heeeey!” whined the other, pouting. “It wasn’t my fault, it was Kara’s. Besides, your mom loves me more than you. She’ll definitely give me some no matter what.”

“Yeah right,” Eshan snorted, and the two fell into silence as they walked on.

“Oi, Jacob… I was talking to Carter before you got here,” began Eshan, somewhat hesitantly.

“What did he want?”

“He said something interesting about you.”

“Does he have a mancrush on me? You can tell him that I don’t swing that way, sorry.”

“Shut up, idiot. He said you’ve changed lately. He said that it seems kinda weird how you and Kara got together.”

“Haha, that’s a little insulting.”

“No, I started thinking about it, and he’s sorta right. You are kinda different. And it is weird how you got with Kara.” Jacob laughed, but the sound had a nervous edge to it.

“Haha, not really, man. But if you say so.”

“No, seriously. How did it happen? How did you do it? You’ve had a crush on her for forever, but she barely even noticed you before. How did you two suddenly start dating?” Jacob continued to laugh, but it was starting to sound forced. He clapped Eshan on the back soundly and smiled at the other.

“Hey, things just happen. We just somehow started talking and getting to know each other better, and dating kinda just followed. Nothing more.”

“But—”

“Seriously dude, that’s it. Now let’s get to your house! I want brownies and I’m really excited about that new fighting game,” Jacob said, quickly cutting off his friend with an anxious change of subject. He sped up and began nearly sprinting down the house-lined street. Eshan frowned, but shook it off as he sprinted after his friend, allowing him to terminate the conversation for the time being.

--

“Ahahaha! That makes the score 13 to 6. Man, I am destroying you, and at your own game, too!” cheered Jacob gleefully.

“Yeah, yeah,” grumbled Eshan, irately glaring at the screen of his TV, on which the words “Player One Defeated” were written in blood.

The two were currently sitting on the floor of Eshan’s room, a decent sized space with light blue walls and a tan carpet. The walls were decorated with posters and pictures of bands, busty, attractive women, and athletes. Dirty laundry littered the room, strewn haphazardly over the floor and Eshan’s furniture. Most of the space was taken up by the boy’s bed, along with a bookshelf, a desk, a dresser, and a chair. The two boys were sitting against the foot of Eshan’s bed, and were directly in front of an entertainment center complete with TV, gaming system, DVD player, and stereo. On the bed above them, a half-empty plate of brownies sat enticingly. Reaching up blindly, Jacob groped around for a moment before finally landing on one of the tasty confections.

“Another round?” he asked as he shoved the dessert into his mouth.

“Sure…” answered Eshan, but he seemed rather distracted.

‘I can’t get what Carter said out of my head,’ he thought, frowning slightly, almost oblivious as his friend started up another round and proceeded to beat the crap out of his character. Suddenly, a look of determination swept over to his features, and he looked over to Jacob.

“Seriously Jacob, how’d you do it?”

“You gotta press down the “X” button while holding “L” and moving the joystick up,” answered Jacob, still completely focused on the game and not all understanding Eshan’s question.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“What, are you talking about the headlock, then? Or was it the spin kick? Dude, it’s your game, you should be the one who knows how to play it.”

“I’m not talking about the game.” Jacob turned to his friend with eyebrow raised, confused. “I’m talking about Kara.” Jacob visibly grimaced.

“Oh, that again. Dude, I already told you to drop it.”

“I can’t! Seriously, how’d you win her over?”

“I just did, what does it even matter, anyway? Why do you care?”

“Because I need advice! If you were able to get someone like Kara, then why can’t I?” he exclaimed as he looked at his friend intently.

“Oh, you’re talking about Melissa, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m talking about the other girl I’ve had a crush on for years,” Eshan grumbled sarcastically.

“Yeah, yeah, I got ya. But really, I can’t give you any advice. Kara and I just sorta happened.”

“Things don’t ‘just sorta happen.’ You had to have done something.”

“Not really,” Jacob replied, but he was acting suspiciously and failing to meet his friend’s inquisitive gaze.

“Can you just think, please? What kinda stuff did you say? How’d you get close to her?”

“Look, like I said earlier, just drop it,” he said nervously.

“No! Why are you being such a shitty friend?! I can tell that you’re purposely avoiding the question!”

“I’m not trying to be a shitty friend, and I’m not avoiding the question. I’m being honest!”

“Bullcrap! Why won’t you just give me a little advice? What, do you want me to be happy or something? Why the hell won’t you tell me?” Eshan shouted, glaring angrily at his friend.

“It’s not that! I’m not allowed to tell you!” shouted Jacob, but immediately looked horrified and clapped his hands over his mouth, as if to prevent himself from speaking further. Eshan, of course, had heard his last statement and was immediately intrigued.

“You’re not allowed to tell me? Just what is going on here, Jacob?” he asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

“Nothing, nothing! I didn’t say anything!” Jacob denied.

“You can’t take it back now! Tell me what’s going on.”

“No! I can’t!”

“Just tell me! I won’t tell anyone else.”

“I can’t!”

“I thought I was your best friend,” said Eshan softly, looking away as if hurt. His ploy worked, because Jacob’s barriers quickly broke down at those words.

“You are… it’s just… alright fine, I’ll tell you—But you have to swear never to breathe a word of it to anyone! Ever!” Eshan grinned.

“I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Stick a needle in your eye?”

“Yeah, yeah, all that good stuff, now tell me already.”

“Okay, fine,” sighed Jacob, resigned. He leaned closer to Eshan and looked around nervously, as if searching for any spies or eavesdroppers. When he spoke again, his voice had lowered considerably in volume, and Eshan had to lean in even closer to hear the barely audible whisper. “I might have had… a little help.”

“Help?” echoed Eshan at a normal volume. Jacob immediately looked horrified and shushed him.

“Not so loud!” he hissed.

“Dude, who’s going to he—”

“Hush!” whispered Jacob fiercely, glancing around again nervously. Eshan raised an eyebrow in amusement, but humored the other.

“Alright, go on. Who’d you get help from?” he whispered.

“They… they call themselves WAM. They run a special service at the school to help people get what they want. They claim they can do anything.”

“They? Who is they?”

“That, I can’t tell you. Their identities have to be kept secret. Anyway, they refer to themselves as wishmakers, and they’re the ones who made it possible for me to go out with Kara. Once I hired them, they coached me, trained me, and gave me advice on how to win her over. It’s all thanks to them that we’re dating now. They can make the impossible possible.”

“What? Are you serious? There can’t be people like that.”

“It’s up to you if you want to believe it or not, but it’s the truth. Anyway, I’ve said too much,” said Jacob as he stood up. “I need to be getting home. Thanks for having me over, and tell your mom the brownies were great,” he added, already heading for the door. Eshan jumped up after him.

“Wait! You can’t just leave after saying all that. Do you think that these people could help me, too?” Jacob sighed.

“They said they can do anything, and after working with them, I believe them.”

“Well then I want to meet them! I want to talk to them! How can I speak to them?” Eshan asked, excited in his hopefulness. Jacob simply sighed again.

“Look, they work by referrals from previous customers. I’ll talk to them about you and see if they’re interested.”

“Interested?”

“They only take on jobs that they find personally interesting.”

“Well, how will I know if they’re interested? How do I contact them?” Jacob laughed slightly at that and shook his.

“Eshan, you don’t contact them. They contact you.”

--

Eshan sighed as he readjusted the straps of his book bag. The morning sun was much too bright for his still sleep-filled eyes. On many occasions, the boy often had a bad tendency to stay in bed as long as possible and only give himself five minutes to get ready for school, and this had been one of those instances. The path and courtyard in front of the school were mainly empty, as most students had already gone to their classes to avoid being caught by the tardy bell. Eshan, one who frequently arrived late, was well-versed in the timing of the bells, and knew he had plenty of time to make it to class, even at his leisurely pace. Entering the school, he moved through several nearly empty hallways and corridors until he reached his locker. Two girls ran by, and he scoffed as only a senior could when he heard one of them say to the other, “Hurry, we’re gonna be late!” in a frantic voice.

Puling his books out of his locker, he slammed the thing shut and was about to set off towards his class when he was distracted by the beep of his phone, indicating that he had a new message.

“Huh?” he said, pulling out the device. ‘Everyone who would text me should be in class.’ Flipping open the phone, the screen read “One New Text Message.” The dark-haired boy pressed the “Show Message” button, and his eyes widened considerably when the actual text popped up.

[Room 100C. 3:39PM. Non-negotiable. –WAM]