The Coolest Manny

The plan was simple in theory, terrifying in execution.

They had to move Toby from the library to the Home Ec room without being seen by Mr. Grist, the patrolling teachers, or the three hundred students currently playing a violent game of dodgeball in the central corridor.

"Coast is clear," Archer whispered, peeking around the corner of the library entrance.

Penny had Toby strapped to her chest in a carrier, concealed under her oversized Crestview High hoodie. She looked like she had gained thirty pounds in her torso, or was smuggling a very large turkey.

"Walk fast," Penny hissed. "If he cries, cough loudly."

They moved into the hallway. The fluorescent lights hummed.

"Hey, Archer!"

They froze. A group of sophomore girls was walking toward them.

Archer immediately shifted his body, blocking Penny from their view. He leaned against a locker, striking a casual pose that screamed *nothing to see here*.

"Ladies," Archer nodded, flashing a smile. " Shouldn't you be in the gym? I heard the sophomores are getting crushed."

"We were looking for you," one girl giggled.

"Well, found me. Now go win one for the class of '28." He pointed down the hall.

The girls giggled again and scampered off.

Penny exhaled. " smooth."

"Occupational hazard," Archer muttered, turning back to her. "Come on."

They reached the Home Ec room. It was locked.

"Dang it," Penny cursed. "I don't have a key."

Archer pulled a bobby pin from his pocket. "I do."

Penny stared at him. "Why do you have a bobby pin?"

"Tiffany leaves them everywhere. And I watch a lot of LockPickingLawyer on YouTube. Don't judge."

He jiggled the lock. *Click.*

They slipped inside. The room was dark, filled with the shadows of ovens and sewing machines. It smelled of vanilla extract and stale popcorn.

Penny made a beeline for the fridge. She grabbed the bottle of milk she had stashed there earlier (labeled 'SCIENCE EXPERIMENT DO NOT TOUCH') and put it in the microwave.

Archer sat on one of the sewing tables. "So. Does he have a name? Or do you just call him 'The Asset'?"

"Toby," Penny said, watching the microwave timer. "His name is Toby."

"Toby," Archer repeated. "Solid name."

The microwave beeped. Penny tested the milk on her wrist. Perfect.

She unzipped her hoodie. Toby was awake, his eyes wide, lip trembling. He let out a whimper.

"Shh, shh, buddy," Penny rocked him. "Dinner time."

She sat on a stool, feeding him. Archer watched. The silence in the room wasn't awkward; it was surprisingly companionable.

"You're good at that," Archer said softly.

"I have to be," Penny said, not looking up. "Mom is... Mom. She loves us, but she’s not great at the details. Like feeding schedules. Or rent."

"That sucks," Archer said. He didn't offer pity. Just validation.

"What about you?" Penny asked. "Why are you hiding from Tiffany? She’s the head cheerleader. Isn't that the dream?"

"It's the script," Archer sighed. He picked up a spool of thread, tossing it hand to hand. "Everyone expects me to date the cheerleader. To play football. To be the guy who peaks in high school. I'm just... tired, Penny. I like history documentaries. I like cooking. But if I say that, everyone looks at me like I grew a second head."

Penny looked at him. Really looked at him. Beneath the varsity jacket, his shoulders were slumped.

"For the record," Penny said. "I think cooking is cool."

Archer smiled. It wasn't the player smile. It was smaller, realer.

Toby finished the bottle and let out a massive, resonating burp.

Archer laughed. "Nice form, dude."

"He needs to be burped properly or he'll scream for an hour," Penny said, shifting Toby. "Here. You hold him while I clean the bottle."

"Me?" Archer panicked. "I don't do babies. They break."

"He's not glass, Archer. Support the head. Pat the back."

She thrust the baby into his arms.

Archer froze. He held Toby like he was holding a live bomb. Toby looked up at him, grabbed Archer’s nose, and gurgled.

Archer relaxed. He shifted Toby to his shoulder and patted his back gently.

"Hey there, little man," Archer whispered. "I'm Archer. I'm bad at calculus."

Penny turned from the sink. The sight of the "player" gently rocking her baby brother hit her in the chest with the force of a dodgeball. It was... adorable. Terrifyingly adorable.

"You're a natural," Penny murmured.

Archer looked up, meeting her eyes. The air in the room suddenly felt very thin.

"Maybe I just needed the right motivation," he said.

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