Page 96 of Friends with Benefits

“Comeon,” Annabelle groans.

“Stop cheating,” Kaia exclaims, on the verge of tears.

Milo frowns. “Sorry we’re so good at this game?”

“No one likes a sore loser, Kaia,” Jeremiah adds.

Evie runs her hand through her hair. “It isn’t agame.”

The entire point of the exercise is not to correctly guess, but for them to use their imagination. Before she has a chance to tell them this, the tide turns against her. “It’s astupidgame!” Evie is useless in this moment. Completely overwhelmed. Out of her depth, she mouthsHelp me!to Theo who is… trying not to laugh? Seriously? His eyes shift to his screen and she is going to murder him if he doesn’t—

Ooh hoo hoo!

The opening notes of “1985” by Bowling for Soup blast through the speakers.

It sparks a visceral reaction.

“Mr.Cohen!”

“Uuuugh!”

“We kind of deserve it…”

He cuts the music and there is a moment of sweet, sweet silence.

“What thef—” Evie cuts herself off. Why? Would it be the worst thing, really, if Theo doesn’t ever let her enter his classroom again? “What wasthat?”

“The worst song in theentire universe.”

“You’ve never heard it?”

“Mr. Cohen tortures us with it.” Kaia marches up to the dry-erase board. Under today’s date is written13 DAYS SINCE “1985.”Kaia erases the13and writes0. “Our record is twenty-four.”

“Ah.”

Evie processes this information as twenty-two kids rush back to their assigned seats like some sort of reverse musical chairs. Processes that Theo doesn’t raise his voice to get his students to quiet down.He plays Bowling for Soup.

I love you.

She barely registers the thought; it enters and exits her overstimulated brain so fast. It sounds like a sucker punch, but the feeling lingers listening to Mr. Cohen, who’s only capable of being stern for, like, thirty seconds. He has a devastatingly handsomeI’m not mad, I’m disappointedface. Milo, Jeremiah, and Tyler apologize for ruining the activity. Jeremiah is having a rough day. After everyone pinky-swear promises to be on their best behavior, Evie continues the presentation.

“Okay. Who wants to watchSurvivor?”

And the enthusiasm of their response?

Well.

She should’ve just started with this. Evie plays a short, iconic clip featuring one contestant building a spy shack. Challenges each group to re-create the sounds using classroom items. Theo offers an advantage in this week’sSurvivorFriday challenge to the most creative and collaborative teams. The kids get into it. Practice their footsteps. Search for the perfect substitute for leaves and palm fronds. These kids! Evie’s so relieved she could cry. Not because this whole endeavor was only a minor shit show, but because she stillcaresabout Foley. Loves it, even. Guiding Theo’s students to the perfect sounds. Seeing the looks on their faces when it clicks. She must’ve looked so similar at their age. Evie wants to pocket this feeling and remember it every time she questions why she married her best friend.

Thisis why.

She approaches Theo at his desk and asks, “‘1985’?” His eyes don’t shift from the monitor. “You know they think that’s the year you were born, right? Milo was like, ‘We get it, Mr. Theodore. You’re old!’ I’m…” Her voice trails off because Theo isn’t listening. He’s lost in whatever he is reading. If his furrowed brow is any indication, likelySurvivorReddit. “Theodore?”

He blinks, then looks at her. “Sorry. Hey.”

“These kids are terrifying.”

“I know.”

---