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I arched a brow, waving my hands as I spoke, really getting into it. “Heck, another moral we could pull from the story is that maybe kids should listen to their parents. After all, it was their defiance that ultimately resulted in their deaths. Maybe it’s a show in how infatuation is never a good thing. But even if R & J truly were a romance, the ending of the story is the most indicative of theme, and the end of the play certainly does not point toward love. Instead, after their deaths, the prince basically points out to the families how their feuding resulted in tragedy. The senselessness of their deaths exacerbates this. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, sure, but I think it’s more a family drama and an exercise in what happens when we allow the pettiness of grudges and feuds to fuel our actions and emotions. It shows the destructiveness of allowing hate to live in our hearts.”
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. My chest heaved with emotion as my mind flashed back to the text I’d sent him earlier that day and guilt tiptoed up my spine.
It shows the destructiveness of allowing hate to live in our hearts.Isn’t that exactly what I’d done? I allowed my anger, my hate for Topher and his friends, and all they’d done to me over the years to fuel the ugly text I sent. What would happen if it consumed me? Would I self-destruct?
I suppressed a twinge of shame, if only for the sake of proving him wrong. Because in this instance, in regard to literature, I was right.
Topher simply stared at me, one corner of his mouth turned up in a smile, his eyes slightly wide with surprise. By my literary analysis or my ability to argue, I wasn’t sure, which only increased my annoyance.
Did he think I was dumb? Had no spine? Was there no end to his arrogance?
“Okay, then,” Topher said in a voice so smug I wanted to punch him. “How about we get—” he turned to my tutee “—I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Um, Jen,” she said, nervously licking her lips.
“How about we get Jen’s opinion,” he said, meeting my gaze once more. “So, which is it? A romance or a ‘family drama,’” he said, making air quotes with his fingers like it was ridiculous.
Jen picked at the corner of her notebook, her forehead creased, looking slightly uncomfortable until Topher turned his gaze to hers and smiled.
And just like that, I lost the battle. I saw the moment it happened, like a key releasing a lock, and it started with his Crest-white smile.
I scowled as I watched Jen’s expression transform like putty. She practically had stars in her eyes.
Talk about infatuation.
“Romance. Definitely.” She nodded in affirmation while Topher let out a whoop of victory, and I fought the urge to gag.
Five minutes later, Jen was on her way out the door as I scowled at her back.
Turning, I glanced at him. Now that we were alone, I couldn’t help but wonder if he got my text and what he thought about it.
Did it bother him? Did it affect him at all? Or did it bounce right off his bulletproof ego? Because he sure seemed unaffected.
Since I was tutoring him in math, I pulled out my math book and he followed suit while I shook my leg underneath the table. Apparently, my conscience and I were not friends because I could feel his eyes on me, and I was sure he knew what I’d done.
I glanced up at him, confirming his gaze, and I almost opened my mouth and confessed with an apology when he said, “Hey, I uh, wanted to say sorry for this morning. Mikey and the guys can be jerks sometimes.”
I raised a brow, surprised at the admission. I hadn’t expected that.
“Sometimes?” I asked, and when he laughed, I flinched at the sound.
“Good point.” Topher grinned.
“What about you?” I asked.
“What about me?”
“You’re not a jerk sometimes?”
He winced like the words hurt. “Hey, you have to admit, you were staring pretty hard.”
“I was not. I was—”
“You were,” he crowed.
“I didn’t realize it was you.”
“What’s that mean?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying our exchange.
