"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
Mrs. Kirkwood's Thursday, English class started with this most famous quote. She went on to ask, "What is meant by these words? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?" The squatty teacher peered at the class over her wide, thick eyeglasses.
Ava could not believe no one was jumping to answer the question. People, this is an incredible, magnificent work of literary genius! Come on! Huffing out a breath, she realized it's her duty to answer. She owes it to Jane Austin.
Just as she had worked up the courage to raise her hand, an unexpected voice spoke. "Plainly speaking it means rich, available men, want to be married." She turned her head to look at her neighbor. Blue eyes stared back at her. Feeling in a Jane Austin mood, she noted he had a quizzical brow.
He wasn't finished yet, though. "If you ask me that's a bunch of garbage." Rich, single men wanting to be married? Ha! There's not one guy he knows who's jumping up and down to get married. That's a chick thing.
As Johnny disagreed with the book's opener and called it garbage, Ava's mouth dropped open. Shaking her head, she had to turn away from him. Her pen tapping began. He called it garbage! Like he would know what a masterpiece is. He probably reads karate magazines. Garbage...
"Mr. Lawrence, those are harsh words for a highly praised classic work. Please explain your thinking," Mrs. Kirkwood articulated.
Ava agrees. Yes, Johnny do explain. Garbage... He probably looks at girly magazines also. Those are garbage. Not Pride and Prejudice!
He could feel the hostility rolling off Ava from where he sat. Her pen tapping is a dead giveaway. Not caring to choose his words wisely, he declared "Men don't care about marriage." Shocked gasps were heard around the room. Chicks... seriously. "We don't. What we care about is love, respect, and sex." More gasps were heard.
Oh well, he tore off the bandAID. "That opening line has nothing to do with men. It's just words on paper used to describe chicks. Single women are desperate. They're in need of a rich man to be their husband. And their mothers want the same, for their daughters. That's the truth universally known." Putting his head down, he doodled in his notebook.
What a bold statement. Of course, he would have the guts to back it up with an equally strong statement. Her ex is nothing if not authentic, a true original. And yet... "I disagree with you." Ava decided to be brazen too.
Eyes turned to her, including those deep blue ones she knows so well. Mrs. Kirkwood grew excited. "Now we have a real discussion here. Please do share with us your dissent Miss Green."
After letting out a deep breath, she explained herself. "Single women want more than riches. They want care, strength, love, and companionship with a partner who encompasses all of those things. And if he happens to be rich, then that's all the better. They're not all desperate either. " She felt his eyes on her. "With that opening line alone you can discern the book is going to have elements of marriage, gossip, miscommunication, and love."
She was going to be quiet, but then another thought came to her. "And also the words in want of a wife doesn't necessarily imply a wanting, but a lacking. The man lacks that which might be wanted. So, this opening line could also foreshadow the man on a path to find that which he lacks. While Pride and Prejudice is more feminine in nature, it's also descriptive of the men in the story obtaining what they want too. And it's the journey of the finding that set the two main characters apart, on their similar but different paths of change." That's it. She's met her bold quotient for the day.
There's that word again, change. He's tired of hearing this word. Change denotes something, or someone, to change for. He has no one and nothing for that. Change also implies hopes and dreams. He can't think past the tournament. All of his hopes and dreams lie wrapped up there. It's all he has. It's who he is. Sure it's still August, and the All Valley isn't until December, but if he wins again... then maybe his own worth would finally be realized, validated even.
With his hand on his chin, doodling in his notebook, he glanced over at Ava. If only life had a rewind button, then maybe he could get it right. Life has taught him to never get attached to people. Attachments lead to expectations and expectations lead to major disappointment. Looking at Ava's lush brown hair, he realizes she's more than unfinished business. She's an unfinished feeling. And that's the worst kind.
Before the bell rang Mrs. Kirkwood assigned a written summary of the first four chapters, due tomorrow. Ava packed up her belongings and reached for her bag. She slung her tote onto her shoulder and noticed Johnny waiting for her. "You didn't have to wait."
Staring off in the distance, he replied "I know. Where do you go next?"
She saw he has a thoughtful look and a smile, that doesn't quite reach his eyes. Something's bothering him. "I have AP History. What about you?"
Shuffling his feet, he thought it strange. "Same. It's weird. We go for years not having any classes together and now we have two." They have two classes together, three if you count PE. This does nothing to help his mood. In fact, it only bothers him even more. At least karate practice is this afternoon. He can take his frustration out there on Gilbert, the chubby guy.
They walked in an awkward, yet companionable silence all the way to Mr. Harris's classroom. Since it's on the other side of campus, closer to the gym, they had a ways to go. Ava had chosen to wear a flouncy tiger print skirt, a fitted black T-shirt, and a fitted cropped denim jacket. She had zhuzhed up the sleeves and worn her favorite purple heels.
As the two walked, across the lawn, her heel got caught on a tree root. She stumbled and almost fell, had it not been for her walking partner's lightning-quick reflexes. He caught her before she could totally embarrass herself. Except now there's a huge problem.
His hands are on her waist. Hers is around his neck. And currently, their eyes are locked in on each other. Both hearts fluttering wildly and matching beat for beat. Their breathing is fast and ragged. Her free hand itched to stroke his cheek, but she didn't dare. Sometimes he's like a scared cat. One wrong move and he'll claw your eyes out. You have to be careful with him.
But it was in that tense moment she seriously wondered why she did it. Why did she dump him? Her motives had been true, or so she thought. She knew it would end in tears, but she did it, anyway. And now she's stuck between throwing caution to the wind and wondering what if.
Across the way, they heard Dutch yell out his name. Just like that, the spell was broken. Taking their eyes away, their hands were removed from each other. Ava collected herself, smoothed her skirt, and told him "Thank you for catching me." Not bothering to stay, she began to speed walk, off to class. She could feel his eyes on her as she left.
Well crap! That's not at all what he wanted to happen. But if his idiot friend hadn't called out his name, then what did he think was going to happen? She'd realize she cares for him? Fat chance. Expectations suck. It's why he doesn't have any.
"Hey Man, hot babes at three o'clock," Dutch greeted with a chipper voice.
His eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry. Did I roll my eyes out loud?"
Bobby tried to keep the peace. "Alright let's just get to class." Johnny's so angsty these days. It sucks. He's either going to blow up and do something reckless, or he's going to hold it all in and still do something reckless. Either way, he's going to do something reckless. He always does when he's in moods like this. It ain't gonna be pretty either. Hurt people, hurt people.
As the three Cobras walked side by side, Bobby mentioned "So I saw you and Ava. Are you ever going to talk to her? I mean really talk?"
With a blank expression, he stated "No. And would you stop asking me about it? If I do, then I do. If I don't, then I don't."
Dutch made a suggestion. "Why don't we go over to Tommy's after practice? His parents are out of town. You know his dad keeps a fully stocked beer fridge, in the basement game room."
Seeing the merits of this idea, Johnny agreed. "Alright. Why not?" For one, he wouldn't have to put up with Sid any longer than he had to. For two, his friend lives across the street from his unfinished feeling. And three, no parents plus beer equals...
At lunch, the girls were going to eat inside but changed their minds. "It's too crowded. And the smell of the cafeteria food makes me want to barf. Gag me! Who actually eats this?" Charley felt grossed out. She shivered.
Scanning the room, Rachel clutched her yellow crossbody bag and agreed. "Yeah. Let's just eat at the picnic tables by the side courtyard." All the usual suspects were in this room. Jocks, geeks, total freaks (really is that? No, she can't even), preps, and the snakes.
Linking arms, they backed out of the cafeteria. "Fresh air! Which I got way too much of in the mountains." Joy could breathe easier now.
The girls walked around to the courtyard and claimed a picnic table. They had just sat down when Kara came up. She plopped her lunch down. "OK, today's life lesson. Do NOT hula hoop without a bra on. Period. End of sentence."
Heads turned her way. "Explain," was all Joy said. The other girls looked at their friend waiting for an explanation.
Kara could not believe she had to explain this. It's mentally a huge DUH. But she did. "In PE, we had to do some silly circuit. Hula hooping was one of them. Tara Armstrong hula hooped. You know she's totally built." Her friends all went "Oh". "Thank you. Now you understand. It wasn't pretty. And of course all the boy's mouths drooled. Disgusting." She shook up her salad dressing.
After sipping her cherry soda, Charley spoke. "I have news. Real news." Now, they all looked at her. "Brent Davis is back in town. I heard it from a friend whoâ-" She was interrupted.
"Heard it from a friend who, heard it from another you've been messin' around," Ava sang. She couldn't help it. It was meant to be sung.
"But I don't believe it. Not for a minute. You're under the gun. So you take it on the run," sang the rest of her friends.
Charley rolled her eyes. "OK now that you're all done with the musical interlude, let's get back to the story." They all smiled and giggled. "The word is his band is performing tonight at that dive bar on the beach. You know? The one where there's karaoke. We should go."
With a dreamy look in her eyes and the same expression on her face, Joy agreed. "Yes. We should. What do you think? Are we all in? If we're not all in, then I'm out too." Brent Davis is just the most. He's the most handsome, friendliest guy to ever walk the hall of West Valley. Not to mention, super talented in musical ability.
All the girls went around the table voting. When it got to Ava, she paused. Her eyes caught sight of Johnny rushing from the cafeteria, red polo shirt in hands, like a bat out of a cave. The Cobras followed. They're coming over to the courtyard. Her heart fluttered a little.
"Ava? Earth to Ava please come in for a landing? Where's your mind at? It's your turn to vote," Charley reminded.
Clearing the cobwebs from her head, she announced "Fine. I'm in."
The girls squealed. Rachel is pumped up. "This is going to be so amazing! Ava, can we meet at your house and go from there?" She hopes her friend says yes. Her house is closer and a central location for all of them.
Ava continued to follow Johnny with her eyes. Not taking them off of him, she said "Yeah sure." What could've happened to make him upset? Whatever it is, it won't end well, either for him or the other person.
That's when she decided he needs a hug, a good hug. Not one of those fake kind, with a pat on the back. A real, long, authentic hug where you hold the person close. A hug can solve a lot of things. That's what Johnny needs. But his walls are so high around him. Always have been. It's like her Dad stated once, "The guys with the highest wall have the deepest love." And that's something best not thought about too hard, right now.
Putting those ideas out of her mind, she turned her attention to her pbj and chips. Joining the tail end of the conversation, she laughed along with her friends.
But Johnny wasn't laughing. He was mad as hell. No. Mad is too nice a word. Rage. Rage is flowing through him like lava. There he was sitting at the table with the guys, minding his own business. He and them we're talking over their plans for after practice.
Tommy told them, "Yeah. You guys can come over to my place. The parents are gone. I'm babysitting my little sister and brother. Like they can't take care of themselves. She's fourteen and he's ten. Anyway, there's beer in the fridge and we can order pizza. Let's rent a movie, like Scarface, Sleep Away Camp, or Risky Business."
"Alright. I'm in Man," Bobby said with a bit of excitement. It's been a while since they've hung out and done nothing worthwhile. "I vote Scarface. Saw Sleep Away and it gave me the creeps. Period." He's scared for life. There's no unseeing that, once you've seen it.
Jimmy one hundred percent agrees. "Either Risky or Scarface. No to Sleep Away." He picked at his... what the heck is this? Meatloaf?
As the guys were discussing girls, Dutch thudded his tray down. "I have news." He popped the top on his soda.
"Oh, you saw Tara Armstrong in PE too? Four words hula hoop no bra." Tommy could not believe his eyes, but he was oh so thankful.
His eyes bore into his friend. "I have three words. Zero percent interest. Now as I was about to say, Brent Davis is back in town." The guy's eyes looked shocked. "I know right? Anyway, the lowdown is, his band is performing tonight at Coconut Rum on the beach. I say we go to Tommy's, then load up and go there."
Everyone agrees that's a better plan. While Johnny examined the student body for a particular girl in a tiger skirt, he felt something cold and wet running down his back. "What the hell?" he shouted. The whole cafeteria grew quiet.
Jumping up he turned to where Jimmy is pointing and Bobby is angrily staring. The guys stood too, with annoyed expressions, arms crossed. When he saw who had done it, the anger mounted. His jaw clenched and fists were forming in his hands. Of course, it's Ali's new boy toy.
He spoke then. "Oh, I see. You wanna be tough?" Daniel started backing up. Johnny entered his space, but before he could do anything Mr. Kinsey walked over.
"It's there a problem Mr. Lawrence?" he asked none too amused. Johnny Lawrence is bad news. Always causing problems and fighting. He doesn't see how the other teachers can't see through him.
Shaking his head, Johnny pulled a fake smile on his face. "No problem Sir. This guy here just tripped and spilled his drink. I was telling him how to clean it up."
Mr. Kinsey didn't buy this for one second. However, there is a big mess on the floor. "I see. Well, you better clean it up." He led the other kid away from Lawrence, to the janitor's closet.
Looking around the cafeteria, Johnny caught Ali's eyes. They were filled with loathing and disgust. She turned away and started in the direction of the idiot. Fine! What does she know anyway?
Pushing his anger, frustration, and hurt down, he picked up his tray. Like a man on a mission, he dumped the tray and exited the room. Upon his exit, he took off the polo. It's sticky and wet, the undershirt needs room to dry.
His feet carried him outside to the courtyard. Drawing nearer the sound of tinkling, wholesome laughter filled the air. It sets his soul on fire and drives him crazy. There's only one person whose laugh sounds like that.
Glancing in the direction of laughter, eyes caught eyes. He's holding on, but barely. Gripping whatever he can to keep it together, and not lose his shit right now, he did the only thing he knew to do. Putting the headphones in his ears, and turning the music up, he walked away.
When the Cobras came to sit at their table, Ava picked her half-eaten sandwich up. She took her bag and put it on her arm. The girls gave her curious expressions. "I have to go grab some things before my next class. But I'll see you later when you come over." They said goodbye to her.
She didn't really have to get anything. Her next period is study hall and her interest lies in following a blonde guy. Trailing him to his locker, which is apparently not too far from her own, the want to make good on an earlier thought surged through her veins. He needs a hug and she's going to give him one.
The beat of her heart pounded in her ears. She's not taking it back. She's going to do it. When did a hug mean more than a hug? And in the middle of her thinking he needs one, she wondered if maybe she needs it too? Maybe they both do.
But when she rounded the corner, her feet stopped cold. There he is with his arms around another girl, and his lips locked with hers too. And not just any girl, Vivian Drexler. A preppy, popular, brown-noser, who's a tad on the slutty side, a Junior. Fantastic.
A lump in her throat formed. What an idiot! How could she have been so stupid? Stupid Ava. Stupid, stupid girl. For a moment she tripped and fell into feelings. Brushing those off, she carried on walking. Past the ridiculous lip-locked pair, straight to her locker. Where she grabbed her copy of Pride and Prejudice and a big notebook.
It's obvious from his bold statement earlier, in Literature class, he does just want sex. Well her statement was true too. She wants care, strength, love, and companionship with a guy who possesses all of those traits. King Karate is clearly not it. Ignoring the small voice saying he is, she slammed her locker shut and headed to Study Hall.
Never did she notice, the blonde in question shove the girl away looking disgusted. Never did she notice those blue eyes follow her every move. Sometimes honest feelings and bad timing are the perfect painful companion.