We can probably cut her some slack.
I smile, even though I know I’m not living this down for a while. If they’re shit-talking me, they’re talking to me. It’s like a sign of affection. (That’s possibly quite a fucked-up viewpoint.)
Yeah, she never had to juggle more than one
before.
Harsh, Nicole. But completely fair.
As it happens, Gertie, drinks in Collingwood
already booked for Friday at 6.30. Be there.
I know I’m smiling stupidly at my phone. It’s confirmed when Arthur says, ‘All fixed?’
‘Yep. I just need to get a bit better at having more than one friend.’
‘Excuse me. Two friends.’ Then he points at the TV. ‘Now put your phone down, shut up and watch the movie. The sex-ed scene is my favourite.’
‘Of course it is.’
When Drew is waiting on the pitcher’s mound, I break the silence again. It’s proper silence now—no rogue thuds and creaks from down the hall.
‘I want that.’ I point at the TV.
‘You want your teacher to lust after you even though you’re a student but it’s okay because you’re actually in your twenties and he must have somehow sensed that, and didn’t he have a girlfriend somewhere oh well it all worked out fine and he’s definitely not a cheating predator?’ He pauses for a moment. ‘Actually, this movie is pretty messed up.’
‘It is, but that’s not what I meant.’
He pauses. ‘Youhavebeen kissed, right? I feel like we’ve discussed previous boyfriends, so if you haven’t been kissed, I think Imighthave identified the whole problem.’
‘Your sassiness does you no credit.’
‘We both know that’s not true. Now get to the point; Drew’s clock is counting down.’
‘I dunno. Just that whole thing when a man grabs your face and justkissesyou. Like really kisses you.’ The creepy teacher does just that. ‘It looks really hot. Like, I reckon you can feel that all the way to your toes.’
‘Hmm,’ he says, his focus not on me but on the movie pash.
‘Have you ever been kissed like that?’
‘I’m not sure anyone has. I think it’s just movie magic.’
‘Surely that’s not true.’
He doesn’t say anything again. Which is weird. It’s unlike Arthur not to be ready with a retort in a way that makes conversation with him a bit of a challenge—not like a chore challenge but like a want-to-put-my-best-foot-forward-at-all-times challenge.
Then I feel his hand on my cheek.
He’s turning my face towards his.
When my face has turned, his is much closer to it than it had been a moment before.
Then his lips are on mine. Although, that’s not entirely accurate. It kind of feels like our teeth clash together. I take stock for a moment, and it doesn’t sound or feel like anything has cracked. The fact that I have the presence of mind to take stock says a lot.
He is holding my head against his and moving his mouthover mine. He must have gone to the William School of Kissing because there is way more tongue and saliva than I find appealing.
In short: not a good kiss.
