I’m a little uncomfortable that Sydney brought up the topic.
“We were at the theater,” I start, “and I told Sydney I’d be right back while I went to the bathroom. When I was done, I decided to go to the counter and order some candy.”
The girls all nod like,Of course you did.My sugar addiction is legendary.
“I was at the counter,” I continue, “practicing greetings with the guy working the concessions. He was very friendly. He asked if I would sit outside with him because it was a nice night. I didn’t want to be rude, so I said yes.
“We sat on a bench a little off to the side and shared a box of Junior Mints. I tried to follow the rules of etiquette, ask him about himself, but he kept interrupting me, commenting on how ‘hot’ I was. When he asked if I had a boyfriend, I told him I wasn’t allowed to date. He laughed.
“Then he told me he had to get back inside,” I say. “Before he left, he grabbed me by the shoulders and kissed me hard, smashing our faces together. It was... surprising,” I say, thinking about it. “Especially when he stuck his tongue in my mouth.”
Lennon Rose gasps, horrified.
“It only lasted a few seconds,” I say. “It was wet, and although I’d been curious about kissing, it wasn’tsexy. I mean, it’s supposed to be foreplay, right?” I ask, and Sydney nods emphatically like she’s the consulting sexpert.
“He must have been doing something wrong, then,” I say. “Because the last thing I wanted to do was find out what was under his clothes. If anything, I wanted him to put more on.”
“Ew, Mena,” Annalise says, disgusted. “You’re making me hope I never kiss anyone.”
“Maybe it just wasn’t for me,” I say. “I wanted to hear about his life. Hear about the world. Instead, I nearly choked to death on his tongue.”
Sydney puts her curled fist to her mouth and pretends to barf into it.
Marcella stares at me and slowly shakes her head. “Mena,” she says seriously. “That’s... That’s not how kissing works.” She looks at Brynn who agrees. “In fact, when Brynn and I first kissed—”
“I asked her to,” Brynn adds, finishing the thought. “She didn’t just shove her face in mine.” Brynn smiles softly. “Iaskedher to kiss me.”
Marcella returns the smile and takes her hand absently. “Exactly,” she says.
“But it’s different for men,” Lennon Rose says, glancing at Marcella and Brynn. “They don’t have to ask. One time, Professor Levin told me that if my skirt was any shorter, a man would expect me to behave improperly.” She looks at me. “Maybe your skirt was too short?”
“I don’t think so,” I say. “I keep it regulation length.”
Marcella tilts her head, trying to figure it out. “Did you tell Anton about this guy?” she asks. “What did he say?”
My cheeks heat up with shame, remembering why I don’t like this story. “He wasn’t upset, but Anton told me I shouldn’t have gone outside with the guy in the first place.”
Boys will be boys, Mena,Anton said that afternoon.What else would he think when you left the theater with him? Be better next time.
“So what happened to Guardian Thompson?” Annalise asks, still seeming disgusted by the idea of another person’s tongue in my mouth. “How did he get involved?”
“After the guy left, I went back into the theater,” I say. “Guardian Thompson saw me walk in, and he must have noticed that I looked... uncertain. He took me by the arm and led me out into the hall. I told him what happened, and he demanded I go into the theater and not tell anyone. He was clearly upset, so I did as he asked, but I noticed him walking toward the concessions counter.
“I’m not sure what happened after that,” I continue. “Guardian Thompson was gone from school the next day. Anton told me during therapy that the Guardian had been let go for threatening a theater worker. Anton said he hoped I’d learned my lesson. I’m still not totally clear on which lesson got Guardian Thompson dismissed, though. Luckily, Anton didn’t tell my parents about the incident. They might have pulled me from the academy.”
“Good on Anton, I guess,” Sydney says with a nod. “He’s always looking out for us.”
“He’s the best,” Lennon Rose says dreamily. We’re all quiet for a moment, staring at her.
“Keep it in your pants, Lennon Rose,” Annalise announces, and we all just about die laughing.
Lennon Rose turns five different shades of red, but to be fair, she’s the youngest of all of us. And she’s definitely the most innocent. She’s confided in me many times that she can’t wait to be married. It’s sweet, really, the way she loves love.A true romantic, Anton said once.
Sydney hits her bare knee against mine. “Well, if the lesson was to cease luring young men with your candy addiction, I’d say you’ve learned nothing.” Sydney smiles and looks at the other girls. “You should have seen Mena today,” she announces. “She had that boy in the gas station wrapped around her finger.”
“Stop!”I tell them, even though I keep smiling.
“I’m just saying he was into you,” Sydney replies for the benefit of everyone. “And I’m almost certain he would have liked number four on the oral-sex checklist. He seems the type.”
