Juliet - Chapter 7

I quickly closed the blinds and turned off all the lights. With the sun about to set, the room was fairly dark. Next, I went to the kitchen and turned off the circuit breaker switches. Finally, I scoured Youtube for spooky sound effects.

I found a ringing phone sound just like what was in a scary Japanese movie we saw when we were kids. In it, if you answered the phone, you died. it seemed to affect Luke as he avoided ringtones that sounded like crackly music boxes and the like ever since.

Nice! After connecting the wireless TV remote to my phone, I took off the cover and hid my phone under the sofa. I planned to watch Luke’s horrified jump scare from the dark.

I soon heard the keys in the door and zipped behind the couch. The anticipation was killing me! I heard the door open, followed by a light switch clicking a couple of times. I stayed down, not not taking a single breath.

“…”

I quietly pressed the remote, holding back a laugh from knowing how confused he must be. The music box ringtone started playing, and it even creeped me out to the point that I wondered if Luke would pass out from fear.

He stood still for a moment, then started toward where the music was coming from. Even now, I was still holding my breath.

I grabbed his wrist as he reached for the phone, but he didn’t give the reaction I’d hoped for.

“Staying crouched must be hard on your feet, no?”

“Huh…” I gave him a look of defeat, having been robbed of my excitement.

“How’re you not scared of that?”

“We saw that movie back in elementary school, it’s been no small while,” he replied, handing me the phone so I could turn it off.

I took it and asked: “And you knew I was here, how?”

“I can see behind the couch.”

“Gah, what a major fail!” I moaned.

“So, why’s this not working? Is it broken?” Luke asked, flipping the light switch.

“I flipped some breaker switches off.”

“You thought to do that, but not about picking a better spot to hide?” Luke asked with a chuckle.

“It’s where Izzy always hid, so I thought I could get away with it.”

Luke let out another laugh as he rustled my hair, and put out his hand as I started to get up. Using the light from the phone, I worked my way back to the box and flipped everything back on.

He followed, heading for the fridge. He took out a root beer and offered me one. Seeing me nod, he brought out a glass and poured the soda into it, then took a second for himself.

“It was hot today, I nearly passed out on the way back.”

“What about the car?”

“Engine’s acting up, so it’s in the shop. I’m stuck with the bus for a while.”

Luke lowered the empty root beer can and asked: “So, why’re you here alone?”

“Miss Jane and Izzy went to the ballet performance while I stuck around to see your ugly mug.”

I relayed the house chores to Luke and added: “So your mom specifically said to wash and dry all the laundry today. Oh, how about a muffin? She made some, and they’re really good.”

“I already ate, so I’m full. Our supervisor bought dinner as an apology for keeping us late.”

He continued with a voice that sounded nothing like he was full:

“Besides, I need to finish working out the algorithm. There’s not much time until the competition, and it overlaps with the biology test… I may have to pull an all-nighter.”

“Need any help? If it’s repetitive work, you can just have me do it,” I asked with a shrug.

Luke shook his head. “It’s fine, I’d just write a loop for something like that. This is something I have to do myself, anyways… Unless you can write the test for me.”

There wasn’t a need for him to work so hard. I swallowed the bitter root beer and said:

“You know, your parents aren’t likely to pull you out if you don’t get a scholarship this term.”

“I know.”

Luke got into West Milford on a full ride and kept his grades up so it wouldn’t be removed. To top it off, he’s written apps and programs that have pocketed him extra cash. Why he felt the need to do all that is odd considering his new father, Mr. Morris, owned the biggest drugstore in Kansas, with locations ranging from Topeka to Wichita to Overland Park. He could not only pay off Luke’s private schooling, but also put Luke through college.

I could only guess Luke didn’t accept him as his new father.

I can sympathize. It must be hard when, even after a little over a year, your new stepson still hasn’t accepted you. This is evidenced by the fact that Luke hasn’t taken the Morris name. Luke still calls him Mr. Morris because, to Luke, Mr. Morris is just his mother’s husband.

“Say,” I stopped him as he was on his way upstairs.

“Do you know a Jasmine at the center?”

“Jasmine? Jasmine Lee?” He stopped and asked. “How do you know her?”

“She goes to my school. She said she couldn’t make it today and asked me to give this to you.”

I walked over to the stairs and handed him the paper bag.

“Ya don’t say? Must be the handkerchief she borrowed last week,” Luke responded as he trudged up the stairs.

I was about to ask if he’d ever told Jasmine we were neighbours, but he looked far too busy to chat about her. it really wasn’t important, anyway.

“Let’s pop in a movie when you’re done.”

I said that as a way of saying work hard, to which he waved in acknowledgement.

***

September weather goes all over the place. It’ll be cold one day, to wearing short sleeves with your arms feeling sunburnt the next. I circled the school parking lot a few times to look for shade, but eventually just secretly parked in the teachers’ lot.

As I turned on my phone getting out of the car, I saw Abigail had texted:

[Jules, I’m just outside the classroom.]

[Where’re you?」

I responded quickly.

[Just got out of the car.]

[Wait for me in front of E103.]

[Let’s go together.]

As I walked towards classroom E103, Abigail was perusing her Facebook feed. Her two tone gradation nails sparkled as her fingers moved.

“Did ya wait long?” I asked.

“No, I just got here,” she said, glancing up from her phone.

As she put her phone in her bag, she looked me over from top to bottom. “I like the wraparound skirt. Where’d you get it?”

“Dashwood 30% off sale for a cheap 40 bucks,” I replied as I put my bag in my locker across the hall. “Is it time for today’s fashion inspection?”

“Yup. Today’s grade is about an A-.”

“Wow, generous score. What’s the critique?”

“I like the retro color scheme from the top down, but you wore that shirt last week. However, you also made it feel fresh, so there’s some points back. All in all, A to A-. Well done, I approve.”

I took out my American history textbook, shrugging at Abigail’s overly thorough assessment.

“It seems being friends with Abigail De La Cruz for five years has its benefits.”

That seemed to make her smile.

“You have a good body and a knack for fashion, so it’s a shame it’s not your thing.”

“Why’s that?”

“Remember the green sweater you wore when I first transferred here? I loved it. A red-headed girl who can find a matching light green sweater in the shopping mall devoid backwoods of Kansas is fit to be my bff.”

“Oh, and here I thought we were friends because we’re about the same height.”

“Huh? Who becomes friends because of that?”

I met Abigail in 7th grade, at a time when I was depressed from Luke being gone off to another school. She transferred in from Cali in the first semester. Despite me being one of the tallest girls, she was right up there with me. So, both of us sat in the back together and became friends. Or, I guess I thought that was why we became friends.

I haven’t grown much since, but she kept right on going, passing me up at 5’ 6”. With her tall figure, if her skin was nicely bronzed and she dressed just as well… Honestly, even as a woman, I wouldn’t be able to keep my eye off her.

With my height and red hair, I always stood out, and that wasn’t because of my clothes, so I tried but never made any headway with fashion. So, I never had the same interest for it that she did. Perhaps she saw something in me I don’t, and that’s why we became friends.

“Hey, Juliet!”

While we were talking in front of my locker, someone called my name as they walked by. Abigail looked without much thought. When she saw it was Grey who called out, she scrunched her face up like a piece of paper.

As I shut my locker, I glanced at Grey standing closeby.

I found a ringing phone sound just like what was in a scary Japanese movie we saw when we were kids. In it, if you answered the phone, you died. it seemed to affect Luke as he avoided ringtones that sounded like crackly music boxes and the like ever since.

Nice! After connecting the wireless TV remote to my phone, I took off the cover and hid my phone under the sofa. I planned to watch Luke’s horrified jump scare from the dark.

I soon heard the keys in the door and zipped behind the couch. The anticipation was killing me! I heard the door open, followed by a light switch clicking a couple of times. I stayed down, not not taking a single breath.

“…”

I quietly pressed the remote, holding back a laugh from knowing how confused he must be. The music box ringtone started playing, and it even creeped me out to the point that I wondered if Luke would pass out from fear.

He stood still for a moment, then started toward where the music was coming from. Even now, I was still holding my breath.

I grabbed his wrist as he reached for the phone, but he didn’t give the reaction I’d hoped for.

“Staying crouched must be hard on your feet, no?”

“Huh…” I gave him a look of defeat, having been robbed of my excitement.

“How’re you not scared of that?”

“We saw that movie back in elementary school, it’s been no small while,” he replied, handing me the phone so I could turn it off.

I took it and asked: “And you knew I was here, how?”

“I can see behind the couch.”

“Gah, what a major fail!” I moaned.

“So, why’s this not working? Is it broken?” Luke asked, flipping the light switch.

“I flipped some breaker switches off.”

“You thought to do that, but not about picking a better spot to hide?” Luke asked with a chuckle.

“It’s where Izzy always hid, so I thought I could get away with it.”

Luke let out another laugh as he rustled my hair, and put out his hand as I started to get up. Using the light from the phone, I worked my way back to the box and flipped everything back on.

He followed, heading for the fridge. He took out a root beer and offered me one. Seeing me nod, he brought out a glass and poured the soda into it, then took a second for himself.

“It was hot today, I nearly passed out on the way back.”

“What about the car?”

“Engine’s acting up, so it’s in the shop. I’m stuck with the bus for a while.”

Luke lowered the empty root beer can and asked: “So, why’re you here alone?”

“Miss Jane and Izzy went to the ballet performance while I stuck around to see your ugly mug.”

I relayed the house chores to Luke and added: “So your mom specifically said to wash and dry all the laundry today. Oh, how about a muffin? She made some, and they’re really good.”

“I already ate, so I’m full. Our supervisor bought dinner as an apology for keeping us late.”

He continued with a voice that sounded nothing like he was full:

“Besides, I need to finish working out the algorithm. There’s not much time until the competition, and it overlaps with the biology test… I may have to pull an all-nighter.”

“Need any help? If it’s repetitive work, you can just have me do it,” I asked with a shrug.

Luke shook his head. “It’s fine, I’d just write a loop for something like that. This is something I have to do myself, anyways… Unless you can write the test for me.”

There wasn’t a need for him to work so hard. I swallowed the bitter root beer and said:

“You know, your parents aren’t likely to pull you out if you don’t get a scholarship this term.”

“I know.”

Luke got into West Milford on a full ride and kept his grades up so it wouldn’t be removed. To top it off, he’s written apps and programs that have pocketed him extra cash. Why he felt the need to do all that is odd considering his new father, Mr. Morris, owned the biggest drugstore in Kansas, with locations ranging from Topeka to Wichita to Overland Park. He could not only pay off Luke’s private schooling, but also put Luke through college.

I could only guess Luke didn’t accept him as his new father.

I can sympathize. It must be hard when, even after a little over a year, your new stepson still hasn’t accepted you. This is evidenced by the fact that Luke hasn’t taken the Morris name. Luke still calls him Mr. Morris because, to Luke, Mr. Morris is just his mother’s husband.

“Say,” I stopped him as he was on his way upstairs.

“Do you know a Jasmine at the center?”

“Jasmine? Jasmine Lee?” He stopped and asked. “How do you know her?”

“She goes to my school. She said she couldn’t make it today and asked me to give this to you.”

I walked over to the stairs and handed him the paper bag.

“Ya don’t say? Must be the handkerchief she borrowed last week,” Luke responded as he trudged up the stairs.

I was about to ask if he’d ever told Jasmine we were neighbours, but he looked far too busy to chat about her. it really wasn’t important, anyway.

“Let’s pop in a movie when you’re done.”

I said that as a way of saying work hard, to which he waved in acknowledgement.

***

September weather goes all over the place. It’ll be cold one day, to wearing short sleeves with your arms feeling sunburnt the next. I circled the school parking lot a few times to look for shade, but eventually just secretly parked in the teachers’ lot.

As I turned on my phone getting out of the car, I saw Abigail had texted:

[Jules, I’m just outside the classroom.]

[Where’re you?」

I responded quickly.

[Just got out of the car.]

[Wait for me in front of E103.]

[Let’s go together.]

As I walked towards classroom E103, Abigail was perusing her Facebook feed. Her two tone gradation nails sparkled as her fingers moved.

“Did ya wait long?” I asked.

“No, I just got here,” she said, glancing up from her phone.

As she put her phone in her bag, she looked me over from top to bottom. “I like the wraparound skirt. Where’d you get it?”

“Dashwood 30% off sale for a cheap 40 bucks,” I replied as I put my bag in my locker across the hall. “Is it time for today’s fashion inspection?”

“Yup. Today’s grade is about an A-.”

“Wow, generous score. What’s the critique?”

“I like the retro color scheme from the top down, but you wore that shirt last week. However, you also made it feel fresh, so there’s some points back. All in all, A to A-. Well done, I approve.”

I took out my American history textbook, shrugging at Abigail’s overly thorough assessment.

“It seems being friends with Abigail De La Cruz for five years has its benefits.”

That seemed to make her smile.

“You have a good body and a knack for fashion, so it’s a shame it’s not your thing.”

“Why’s that?”

“Remember the green sweater you wore when I first transferred here? I loved it. A red-headed girl who can find a matching light green sweater in the shopping mall devoid backwoods of Kansas is fit to be my bff.”

“Oh, and here I thought we were friends because we’re about the same height.”

“Huh? Who becomes friends because of that?”

I met Abigail in 7th grade, at a time when I was depressed from Luke being gone off to another school. She transferred in from Cali in the first semester. Despite me being one of the tallest girls, she was right up there with me. So, both of us sat in the back together and became friends. Or, I guess I thought that was why we became friends.

I haven’t grown much since, but she kept right on going, passing me up at 5’ 6”. With her tall figure, if her skin was nicely bronzed and she dressed just as well… Honestly, even as a woman, I wouldn’t be able to keep my eye off her.

With my height and red hair, I always stood out, and that wasn’t because of my clothes, so I tried but never made any headway with fashion. So, I never had the same interest for it that she did. Perhaps she saw something in me I don’t, and that’s why we became friends.

“Hey, Juliet!”

While we were talking in front of my locker, someone called my name as they walked by. Abigail looked without much thought. When she saw it was Grey who called out, she scrunched her face up like a piece of paper.

As I shut my locker, I glanced at Grey standing closeby.