“Wonderful,” Dr. Hill said, clapping his hands together. “Julia, first period’s about to begin, you can go straight there.”
Julia stood from her chair, a little sad that she’d have to back off. She wanted to run straight to Dave to tell him what happened, but homeroom was over and her English teacher was way too intense about tardiness, so it would have to wait. Julia went to her locker to grab her copy of Heart of Darkness, which she’d read exactly zero percent of. She rummaged around until she found a half-filled crossword puzzle she could entertain herself with, then shut her locker and turned down the hall to get to class. Halfway there, eyes already searching the crossword clues, she ran right into Dave.
“Hey,” he said, his arm on her shoulder to steady her from the impact. He pulled it away slowly. “I saw you walk out of Hill’s office. What was all that about?”
The hallway filled with the sound of people talking, making their way to their classes. Julia didn’t know how anyone could be so chatty and loud that early in the morning. People pushed past them, their backpacks hanging off their shoulders, phones in their hands. Dave looked so great in the morning. She wondered how he did that, how he always seemed ready for the day as soon as it arrived. Maybe it had something to do with sleep cycles, or it was just the softness of the morning light that worked with his features. He was probably having completely normal thoughts, and here she was trying to figure out why her best friend looked good in the morning. Maybe she was still hungover. She shook the thought away, wanting to get to the apology, to make sure he knew she stood right where she always had. “Marroney finally ratted me out. Never hook up with a teacher might officially be off the docket.”
“That’s too bad.” He shifted the weight of his backpack and put his hand on the back of his neck like he always did when he was nervous. Were things awkward? Had the fight been that bad? “Are we going to talk about the other night?” Dave said.
“God, yes, please. Sorry I didn’t text. The dads had me spit-shine the whole house, which I probably deserved. Also, sorry about our fight. I guess I was a little drunk. I remember you telling me about Gretchen and that’s about it. Was I a bitch about it?”
Dave smiled in that cute, sheepish way he often did and shrugged. “Maybe a little bit.”
“Well, that sucks.” Julia stepped out of her shoes, feeling the comfort of the floor on her bare feet. “Whatever I said, I’m sorry I said it. Did you yell back at me?”
“There was some yelling.”
“David Daniel Davis, get the hell out of here! You yelled? I’m so proud of you. Tell me more.”
Dave blushed. “I was mean.”
“Wow, I brought the mean out of you? I’ve never seen you be mean. What did I say?”
“You made fun of me for liking Gretchen.” Dave’s hand was still clutching the back of his neck and she chuckled as she pulled it down for him. The mention of Gretchen made Julia’s heart sink for some reason, but the touch of his skin on her fingers was solid and reassuring.
Julia grimaced. “I’m sorry I was a drunken asshole. That was very cliché of me. I remember that part, and you’re completely right. It’ll never happen again. Except for the five or six times I still have to be a cliché to live out the Nevers. I’m happy for you, Dave. Now Marroney and I have someone to go on double dates with!”