Sam rolls her eyes.“Just shut up and listen.”
Trish shuffles through the doorway and into the kitchen.“Sounds like you’re all having a rollicking good time in here.What are we talking about?”Her eyes are sparkling.
“Sam was about to tell us all about the typical roles in guy groups so that Vanessa can impress Jack’s teeny-bopper friends.”Natalie tilts her head and glares at Sam.
“I have two brothers, you know, and they each had their own friend group.And I had a boyfriend, and same.So I do know?—”
“But we’re in Ireland.”Natalie quirks a brow.“They call trash rubbish here, and they think napkins are maxi pads.”
“Trust me,” Sam says.“This is universal.”
I laugh.“Alright, out with it then.”
“Each group has a jock, someone who’s more athletic than the others.”
“They’re all on the hurling team,” I say.“I’m not sure that really applies.”
“Wait, then Jack’s the jock,” Natalie says.“I’d put a tenner on that.”
“I won’t take that bet.I think he is, too,” Sam says.“That’s why I started with it.And then there’s a joker.He’s always lightening the mood, and he makes jokes whenever he’s uncomfortable.”
“Shoot.That could be Jack too,” I say.“He’s quite funny.”
Natalie pulls a face, and Sam laughs.
“What?”I glance around.“He is.”
“Sure,” Trish says.“Your young and stupidly hot jock’s also funny.”
I frown.
“Anyway, there’s always a nerd, usually also a gamer, and then there’s a bully.”
“A bully?”I’m not sure I buy this.“Why would everyfriendgroup have a bully?”
“Not a real bully, but the one who kind of pushes the others around.If it were a horse herd, this would be the top horse.Everyone else is a little afraid of them and keeps their heads down.”
“Wait,” Natalie says.“Which of us is the bully?”
“Are we guys, now?”Trish asks.“Pretty sure this doesn’t apply to us, because none of us are jocks either.”
Natalie and I both point at Samantha.
Her jaw drops.“I’m not the jock.”
“You are so,” Natalie says.“And I’m the nerd.”
“Does that make me the bully or the joker?”I ask.
“Actually, there’s one more,” Sam says.“The punching bag, the one the other guys pick on.”
“Geez, you make boys sound like they’re just a pack of hyenas who wear pants,” Trish says.
“That’s not a bad analogy,” Sam says.“So once you get there, you need to figure out where your boyfriend is in the group, where the other girl’s boyfriend is, and then you take your position from his.If Jack’s the punching bag, which I doubt, then you might want to skip future get-togethers.But if he’s anything else, just fall in line with how he behaves around the others, and you’ll be just fine.”
“If he’s the bully, I’m going to cry,” I say.“Surely he won’t be the bully.”
“Oh, please.”Natalie laughs.“Sam’s full of crap.This isn’t even remotely true.”
