The Only Exception

Chapter 3: Part 2

                Before I could even question Mia, a pair of restful hands blocks my vision. “I like to think of myself as more of a saint.” Andrew takes he hands away from my face, and rests his chin upon my head. “How are you, beautiful?” Hilary scoffs, “You sick, disgusting people; with your kind words and sensual touching.”

                “I’m sensing some jealousy. I mean a lot of jealously. Like if the Pacific ocean was actually liquid jealousy, that’s about how much jealousy is fueling your body right now.” I say.

                “Maybe, I’d be less jealous if I got some action!”

                “I’ll take it was you mean hot slobbery make out sessions against flag poles, and not engaging in coitus at sketchy hotel rooms, on the night of the winter formal.”

                “I mean, I wouldn’t mi—“

                “Can we not talk about this?” Mia frowns, looking as bewildered as humanly possible. Poor innocent soul, I think. We couldn’t even bring up bra sizes around Mia, without her begging to change the subject.  “Right, sorry. But bottom line is I need to find cute boys. So help?”

                “I think I should leave.” Andrew seems almost as disturbed as Mia. “Talk to you later, I guess.” He bends down and lays a soft kiss on my lips, before making his way back into the school. I lick my lips, and can still taste the bitter-sweet savor of Sour Patch Kids, which is the only thing that Drew eats these days besides Mountain Dew and Mr. Noodles.

                “He’s kind of cute!” I feel Hilary aggressively prodding my left shoulder, while she directs her hand towards the far end of the campus where a tall and scrawny, dark-haired boy in red skinny jeans is slouching against an old ash tree. He gazes longingly towards the sky, pursing his spider-bit lips. “No.” Mia and I deviate almost in comprehensive unison. “What?” Hilary seems visibly perplexed and to some extent; offended. “Why not?”

                “Because he looks like he belongs in a band?” I reach into my lunch bag and pull out half of a tuna melt sandwich and a bottle of Essential vitamin water. Hilary snatches the vitamin water from my hand and twist the lid off. After taking a lengthy gulp, she passes it back to me, “I still don’t get what the big problem is. So what if he’s in a band! I like 5 Seconds of Summer.”

                “Okay first of all; it is recognized as common courtesy to ask before chugging down half a bottle of your friend’s vitamin water and; you obviously do not understand. They are not like 5 Seconds of Summer, at all.”

                “Then what are they like?”

                “I don’t know, they just seem…”

                “Emo? Is it the lip piercing? Are you saying I shouldn’t like him because his lip piercing? Because I am totally okay with him being emo.” Hilary upholds as if she knows even the slightest idea about what she is upholding about.

                “What? That isn’t even a thing anymore”

                “Yeah it is! Of course it’s still a thing. To have a lip ring?”

                “No to be emo.”

                “It is a lifestyle.”

                “Are we still talking about the same thing?”

                “Wait, what are you talking about, ‘cause I was—“

                “Guys!” Mia interjects with pure perplexity, “This is besides the point! The guy is in my homeroom. And yes, he’s in a band.”

                “Okay, so what if he is in a band?” Hilary seems unfulfilled and irritated.

                “The bands is called ‘The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir’”

                Hilary blankly stares at Mia, no emotions clear upon her face. “Next.”