Absolute Beginners(36)
“It’s an action movie. Sword fights, kung fu, and other stuff like that. I can’t believe you’ve never seen it.”
“I guess I’ve missed a few things on account of studies and work. Put it on.”
“Awesome!” she jumped off the bed. “Oh, you’re not squeamish about blood, right?”
“No, why?”
“There’s a lot of that in it, and I wouldn’t want to scare you.”
“I guess I shouldn’t bring a copy of Arachnophobia next time, then, huh?” I teased her.
Did I just say “next time”?
“No way, I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week,” she said, shuddering.
She found the DVD, and I was thankful that she either didn’t notice my comment about there being a next time, or else simply ignored it. We started the movie, and while it wasn’t one I would have chosen, I liked watching her enjoy it.
Julia wolfed down half the pizza before the first scene was over, which was impressive given her small size.
“Wow, you can eat a lot,” I blurted out.
“I know,” she said. “Thank God I have a killer metabolism. I don’t think I’d ever be able to live off salads.”
“You don’t exercise?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I do yoga a few times a week, and I’ve taken some dance classes. But I don’t work out like you obviously do.”
She looked at my body and I shifted nervously under her gaze.
“Why do you hide that fuck-hot body of yours under those loose-fitting clothes?” she asked. “I never would have guessed that you’re so ripped.”
“Um, I don’t know, really,” I said, taking a sip of my beer. “I don’t know a lot about, uh, fashion, and I guess I just dress like the rest of the male faculty.”
“Yeah, but most of them are old enough to be your father, Stephen. I mean, the bowtie?”
“It was my father’s,” I said quietly.
“Was?”
“He passed away. It was a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have made fun of it.” She looked contrite.
“It’s all right,” I assured her. I didn’t feel quite right teaching a class without the bowtie, and I didn’t fully understand why. I was sure a psychologist would have a lot to say about it. I wasn’t blind, and I could see that in a lot of ways I had adopted my father’s traits, ranging from his taste in music to clothing. He’d taught English in high school, so I had even followed in his footsteps careerwise. I’d also inherited some of his personality. My mother would sometimes tell me I was exactly like my father, but I could tell she didn’t always mean it as a good thing. From what I remembered, my father was a solitary man, and most of my memories were of him reading or working on some sort of project in his study. I hadn’t meant to, but I had become solitary as well.
“Stephen?” Julia’s voice brought me out of my musings. “Are you OK?”
I nodded, turning toward her. I found myself thankful for her company. I wasn’t alone right now. I was with this pretty girl, having pizza and conversation. The movie on the screen was forgotten for the moment and she gave me her complete attention.
“I really am sorry,” she said. “I get why you’d wear something of your dad’s. But you still shouldn’t be afraid of showing off your goods a little more. You’re young and hot.”
While I thought her compliments were a bit forward, I couldn’t help but like them.
“Oh, I…thank you,” I said, looking down.
“I’m serious,” she insisted. “I can take you somewhere out of town and give you a makeover. Although then I probably couldn’t keep you to myself anymore.”
“That’s very kind of you to offer.”
That’s certainly a step up from having Mom as a shopping partner.
“Think about it,” she said, turning her attention back to the screen.
It seemed that I had a lot of offers to consider after tonight. I glanced at Julia. She was so, so pretty like this, looking fresh and natural. She must have noticed me watching her because she paused the movie and turned to me.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Why do you hide your beauty when you’re at school?”
“My…beauty?” she asked slowly, arching an eyebrow.
I nodded. “You’re so beautiful like this,” I said, reaching out to run my fingers through her hair. Rather than answer me, Julia put the pizza box on the floor and crawled into my lap, kissing me passionately.
“Take your clothes off,” she murmured against my lips before moving off me.