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The following Monday, at school, we got all kinds of reactions to Jules defensive action on the football field, some of disgust, some with humor, and some with awe. Funnily enough, even Taylor Williams decided it was a good idea to leave Jules alone for awhile and Jules said she lived peacefully without Taylor’s cruelness for at least two days.
“That’s a record,” Jules said, laughing. “I think I might have scared Taylor.”
“Yeah, I think so too,” I agreed. “Who knew you were a lion masquerading as a mouse.”
“Very funny. Listen, I’m not proud of myself but after enduring the fight at Tanen’s, after the knot it made in my stomach, I promised myself I’d never have to see something like that again and not at least try to do something about it.”
“Well thanks Jules, but next time a two hundred and fifty pound lineman socks me one, it might be best your skinny butt stays out of it.”
“Try and stop me,” she joked.
We both chuckled as we walked to AP English together. It was an exceptionally exciting day, not because of Friday’s game, but because Mr. Cray would be handing out our packets for our trip to London. Jules was all giddy as she sat in her seat and I couldn’t help but be affected by her happiness.
“I’ve got the packets you’ve all been waiting for. It’s taken me a bit longer than it would normally this year because we were short two adult chaperons and we finally found two volunteers. You wouldn’t believe how unenthusiastic people can be about a trip of a lifetime when they find out it’s with sixty eighteen year olds.”
We all laughed.
That evening Jules and I sat sprawled out on my living room floor in front of the television sifting through the packet and reading its fine print.
“I feel like a million bucks Elliott,” said Jules.
She dramatically rolled over the papers spread out on the floor and I laughed at her.
“You’re an idiot,” I joked.
“Takes one to know one,” she replied, facing the ceiling, staring at me through ornery eyes.
We grinned at each other. I leaned over her beautiful face and kissed her lightly.
She whispered, “I love you,” but paused, “despite your being an idiot.”
I pinned her shoulders to the ground and kissed her neck aggressively. She frantically laughed and tried to squirm away. My mom came in and cleared her throat.
“Oops, sorry mom,” I said.
“Sorry Shelby,” said Jules, red as a lobster.
We knew she wasn’t stupid. We just didn’t want to offend her.
“Yeah, yeah,” my mom said. “Next time, I’ll make a shuffling noise with my feet.”
All three of us howled with laughter.
My dad got home thirty minutes later and my mom asked if Jules wanted to stay for dinner. All five of us squeezed around our little kitchen table and only Maddy complained. There was more room in the dining room but we never ate there. Too stuffy. We preferred homey and overcrowded, I guess.
“Hush your mouth Maddy Gray unless you’re interested in going to bed hungry,” my dad threatened.
Jules ignored it. For some reason she loved Maddy even though she was such a brat to her. We prayed over the meal and dug in. My mom made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and rolls with cinnamon butter.
o;Oh, well. Thank you.......This is so thoughtful,” Jules said.
“No problem. You ready?”
“Yup.”
She stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.
“Bye sweetheart,” she said, turning her eyes onto mine.
