you should know what you're falling for

nineteen

"Now, I'm assuming you both know why you're here." says Ms. Girard, the guidance counselor with the bleached-blond hair and red glasses that have slipped down to the tip of her nose. Neither of us makes a noise. 

"...The whole curtain fiasco?" she prompts.

Josh sits up with a smug grin on his face, 

"Ah, yes. That would've been quite somethin' if that little bit-" I kick him under the table. "-...bitter ball of hatred didn't rat us out?" he tries to cover up his language.

Ms. Girard eyes the boy skeptically. Meanwhile, I found the whole thing incredibly hot - probably because I'm beginning to realize that I find Josh incredibly hot - and have to fight off a snicker.
Trying to keep her composire, the guidance counselor crosses her legs and taps her shoe on the ground. 

Any other girl in this school would've been able to tell the designer, price, and probably everything else about the particular piece of footwear, but being raised the way I was, I have no clue. It's faux alligator skin maybe? I don't really know or care, but the sound of the toe hitting the tile cuts through the silence like my old pocketknife. 

"Well," she continues, "I know that your age you're going to-"

My face flames absolutely fire-truck red. Josh snorts at me and begins to laugh hysterically, then cracks sarcastically, 

"She's a little slow. You might need to explain it to her." My eyes widen in humiliation and shock and I bury my face in my hands. But, I can't help but laugh despite my embarrassment.

I return to my solemn, serious self again a few moments later. 

"No, i-it's fine...It won't happen again."

Ms. Girard eyes Josh through her red, plastic glasses, 

"This isn't the first time you've been caught canoodling with girls on school property, young man." I clench my jaw. "Care to explain yourself?"

Josh seems irritated at the question and fires back. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He barely finishes the sentence before he's cut off once more.

"Oh, you know. I think you've brought a few girls backstage before. That's most likely how Sierra found you. We know you're going to have urges-"

He moans, understandably so.

"-But you need to learn to control yourself around girls. Keep it legal everywhere, and keep it PG on school property, yes?"

Both of us squirm.

The counselor has a few ending words of warning for us, "One more offense and you'll be talking about stuff a lot more awkward that kissing behind the curtains, boy." She calls after us as we make our bashful escape.