Charlie
Chapter 6
"So, you've sent your application to Byron Phelps A & D... that's awesome," I said wondering if they'd take Harper next year considering they were one of the biggest art and design institutes.
"I know it's hard to get in, but I've got to try," he said scratching his head.
"Yeah, if you get in it's smooth sailing from here-on-out," I said biting a particularly dry potato fry.
Harper and I had made up, but I still kept a secret the words he had said and the kiss we'd shared. He couldn't remember anything from his binge-night and I was glad that the incident had somehow just been fully forgotten.
Sometimes the duplicity felt overwhelming when I thought that he was in love with me, and that there was nothing he could do with those feelings except keep them to himself.
"Hey guys, mind if I join you?"
Was I hearing my own things now?
"Jules, what are you doing here?" I asked lowly so that the other kids in the cafeteria near us couldn't hear as she moved away from me.
"Hanging out over lunch?" She answered sliding her tray full of greens onto the table and plopping down next to Harper. "Hey, Harper," she said before turning to face me across the table.
"Hey babe," she said biting her lower lip.
"Hey," I said flashing her a quick smile since I was about certain everyone was curiously watching her wondering why she was at our table.
"I hope we aren't making you uncomfortable," she said to Harper who was adding chili powder to his burger.
"It would've been uncomfortable if you were both boys. Lesbians are somehow interesting and sexy," Harper replied without looking away from what he was doing.
"Really?" Jules asked laughing.
"Basically yeah, save for the manly Ellen types -we don't like those- but we like Portia any day," he said replacing the top part of his burger.
"That sounds a bit odd," I said dipping a fry into my yoghurt pack.
"It's just a fantasy thing. Every guy wants to do it with two girls at the same time, and two cooperative girls are naturally a pair of lesbos." Harp said.
"Would you like that too?" Julie asked naughtily.
"Maybe," he said looking straight at me.
"Can we talk about something appropriate?" I asked dismissively.
What was wrong with these people?
"There's going to be a party down at the beach on Friday; seniors only," Jules said selecting a bunch of salad dressed leaves with her plastic fork.
"I don't think I'll be able to make it," I stated early.
"Why?" Jules asked scrunching her nose beautifully.
"I'm not fond of swimming," I answered lamely.
"Well, it's a good thing that swimming is the last thing we'll be doing," she said wiggling her brows.
I didn't want to go to the beach party because I'd have to put on some top-notch swim suit or sexy soul baring bikini. I also didn't see the fun of it when it was just essentially easy girls sluttying it up for boys whose sports scholarship letters were streaming in by the day.
"It will be fun," she said again when I didn't reply.
"I guess it can't be too bad." I said agreeing to Jules' plans. "How about you Harp, will you be coming?"
"I'll be working on something," he said vaguely. "But you should go and have fun."
I seriously doubted it would be fun, and would've preferred spending time alone with Julie rather than the 'seniors'.
"I'll try to 'have fun' and 'enjoy' myself," I said sticking out my tongue in distaste.
"If you come I'll give you a surprise; a real good surprise," Jules said hinting at something that was probably not for public consumption.
"So, you guys do stuff?" Harper asked obviously having sensed the nature of the intended 'surprise'.
"Not really," I said feeling myself blush.
"There's more to a relationship than just the physical aspect," Jules said proudly.
"Then I guess yours must be a good one, coz it's almost always about sex or money," Harp said pessimistically and I added for myself -or the one you can't have.
"Yeah, I'm really lucky I found myself such a rare jewel!" Jules said with gusto.
"I know what you mean," Harp said wistfully.
I don't think they had a clue, but I was severely uncomfortable and emotionally stretched as far as I could go in my attempts to split my affections between the two of them.
"I gotta go," Harp said starting to get up.
"Wait! You can't leave me and Jules alone; people would get suspicious!" I whispered urgently.
"Fine, let's go," he said waiting for me to rise.
"I was thinking it would be better if you left with Jules because it's not clear what she was doing at our table, and if we leave her here alone it-" he cut me off.
"I get it," he snapped in a 'whatever' kind of way.
As I watched Jules and Harp walk away, I knew it would reach a point I would have to choose; and that either way, my heart would break.
