“Tell me again how you and Mia met? I don’t think we talked about that either.”
Juliet is now picking apart her barbecue sandwich and eating only the insides, leaving the bun at the side of the plate.
“She and I met in college—we lived next-door in the dorms. And then our sophomore year we became roommates, but still lived in the dorms because my parents wouldn’t let me live in an apartment. She used to drag me out on Thursday nights to party; she can be credited for getting me out of my shell.”
“You were in a shell?” I tease.
“Ha ha, very funny.” Juliet rolls her eyes. “But yes, I’m not the most outgoing person you’ll ever meet—I would consider myself more of an observer than anything else. Every once in a while I let my hair down and cut loose, but for the most part…” She shrugs.
It’s true that she’s not all that outgoing.
The side of her that leans more cautious toward strangers has definitely been gleaned by me; she was in no rush to welcome me with open arms the day we met. No rush to welcome Thad, either, which explains our presence here—although the douche has completely abandoned us.
“There’s nothing wrong with being on the quiet side,” I say, knowing full well that I’m the same way, too.
I’ve never been outgoing; not like my buddies, who shine in the spotlight.
Wracking my brain for something else to ask her, I chew on my barbeque, then nibble on the corn—I grabbed two cobs so I’m sure as shit gonna eat it though I’d rather talk than eat at the moment.
I want to know more about Juliet and for whatever reason…I want her to know more about me.
Weird, right?
Swallowing the corn in my mouth, I’m preparing something new to say when she beats me to it.
“What do you do exactly in finance, Davis?”
I rest my plate on my lap and use a napkin to wipe my fingers. “I’m in investments. It’s not very exciting, but it pays the bills.”
I want to roll my eyes at myself. It’s not very exciting, but it pays the bills? I sound like a tool.
“How can you say it’s not very exciting? I bet it has its moments and it’s way more eventful than what I do for a living.”
My ears perk up. “What is it you do?”
“I’m a teacher.”
Is she being serious? “What grade?”
“Middle school English and social issues—sixth, seventh and eighth grade.”
“Um—were you being sarcastic when you said me being in investments is more eventful than what you do because the last time I checked, middle schoolers are the literal worst.”
Juliet tips her head back and lets out a laugh. “They have their moments, but for the most part they’re respectful.” Pause. “Mostly.” She lets out a long, drawn out sigh. “Okay fine, they’re the worst, especially the boys because they’re at the age where they’re discovering what sex is and what certain things mean and sometimes it’s a nightmare.”
“How’s that?”
She, too, puts down her plate to give me her full attention. “Well, for example, do you have any idea what it’s like having to give a twelve-year-old boy detention because he is telling other students what a boner is in the middle of English class? Two weeks ago, I had to intervene during a discussion because this kid Evan was telling this kid Nick what sixty-nine-ing was. These boys have absolutely no self-control when it comes to word vomit and what’s appropriate or not appropriate in class because they’re just figuring out what all of this stuff means.”
My mouth hangs open. “Stop it right now.”
Juliet nods enthusiastically. “Question: Do you want to talk about things that make a grown woman blush? The answer is: twelve- year-old boys.”
“That shit does not happen in middle school, does it? How are these kids so…” I search for the right words.
“Perverted?” she supplies. “The internet. Television. Video games. Social media—do you need me to list more reasons? Kids these days are nothing like we were, they’re growing up so fast. Way way too fast. It’s terrifying. No one wants to overhear a student say the word cocksucker during an English class. Or ask what it is. God, it’s a nightmare sometimes.”
“You actually give detentions for that?”
She shrugs. “Sure—they know it’s inappropriate. Sometimes they’ll go as far as googling things right then and there, and they’re not supposed to have their phones in class. Basically, being a middle school teacher in this day and age isn’t for the faint of heart.”
“Would you care to retract your statement about it being un-eventful?”
Juliet nods. “I probably should, shouldn’t I?”
“Yeah—I have a desk job, more or less. Lots of being on the computer, watching stocks and reading legal documents. It’s mind numbing most days.”
Unless I watch porn or something…
Or exercise.
“You’re shaping the youth of America.”