we have pizza
and popcorn
and championship matches
on the air hockey table
in her basement

Angie is the only one missing
of the usual suspects
TJ avoids me like
I have a communicable disease
and when I ask Mel what’s up with him
she tells me
melodramatically
that I have broken his heart
and I laugh out loud
since he barely knows me
and she spends the rest of the night
flirting with Ryan
who she has already
muscled into taking her
to the dance

I watch movies
and throw popcorn
and laugh
still
feeling
wonderfully
normal