"Is there a chance you're pregnant?"
"No!" Julie said, trying to look shocked.
I sat next to her on the sofa but there was a small distance between us, one that would never usually be there. Dating for three years since we were sixteen, Julie and I hadn't the chance to be with anyone else. Unless we cheated. Julie had cheated.
I couldn't flat out get angry. I had once too. There was a girl at a dance I was with, out on the floor. There hadn't been much to it, just kissing mostly, but a dance floor is hardly discrete. I had decided to tell Julie myself, and it was lucky I did. At school on Monday the rumor had gotten around.
But that was ages ago, back in high school. This was different. Julie had just kissed a guy who had been trying to wrest her away from me for years. "Nat's just a friend. You need to trust me."
How many times had I heard that?
I knew. I knew what he was up to. Chip away, chip away. By being a good friend, he had plenty of opportunity to grow on her.
"You're not pregnant?" I asked again.
"Of course not, how could I be pregnant? It was just a kiss!"
"Just a kiss?"
I was not surprised when she countered, "You did it!"
"That was years ago."
"You still did it."
The conversation stopped and we both sat brooding.
********
Julie's phone rang on the floor next to her bed several times. Eventually it was easier to answer it than keep ignoring it.
"What?" she groaned, no idea who was on the other end.
"Is it true?"
It was Sally, a friend since high school.
"What?" Julie growled.
"You and Nat?"
"What?" Julie asked in a different tone.
"I heard you hooked up with Nat at Billy's barbecue."
"Don't be silly. Fuck off. I'm sleeping."
"It's after lunch."
"I don't care," Julie complained, eyes closed.
"So did you or didn't you?"
"What?" Julie was getting grumpy.
"Hook up with Nat."
"Of course not. Don't be stupid. Go away. I'm going back to sleep."
Julie hung up and rolled back under the quilt. After a few minutes her eyes opened wide and she sat bolt upright.
"Shit!"
She scanned then searched the room. Clothes were dumped across the floor; she pulled her jeans inside out. What she was looking for wasn't there.
"Shit!"
No panties.
********
Julie had finished her exams before her boyfriend Cyril. Almost everyone did, his med school was on a different level of intensity (or insanity?). She had gone to Billy's party in a playful mood. Lots of her girlfriends were there. They screamed, they danced, they drank. Boys came in to try and pick off the ones they could from the edge of the group. For a time the girls held steadfastly together. Boys are like sharks, though. They have patience and determination when they smell food. Once the pack was split, defenses crumbled. One by one Julie's comrades fell into the clutches of a guy (or guys). In the end only she was left. Most people knew Julie was in a long-term relationship, so they either respected it, or knew it was too hard to break. Julie and Cyril were famous for their loyalty.
"Hi beautiful."
Julie turned to see a stranger holding a beer for her. He was handsome, but not entirely cute.
"Who are you, do I know you?" Julie asked teasingly.
"I'm Rocket."
"Rocket?"
"Yes. Rocket. Don't look now but there's a guy over there that said I had zero chance of picking you up. Less than zero. Hell freezes type zero."
"Who said that?"
"Don't look!"
Julie saw enough to know he meant Nat. Typical prank from him.
"So...," the guy begged, "can you help me? You don't have to like me...just help me to not look silly. Pretend you're speaking with me a few minutes? Pretend like I'm interesting. Will you help?"
Julie looked at his face. He seemed sincere, and she'd had enough to drink to play along. She reached out to touch his arm and laugh heartily.
"Oh, you're so witty!" Julie yelled out.
The guy jumped at the touch, surprised at Julie's outburst.
"Sorry," she whispered. "Too much?"
"No. No. Not at all. Just...wasn't ready. Go on!"
Julie laughed, and held him by the bicep, squeezing. She asked him if he knew the recipe for Thousand Island dressing. She asked whether guys really liked girls who liked it in the ass, and what he thought about North Korea, all to give the appearance from across the garden she was chatting happily. When she spun him around to check out his butt, then returned the favor, Nat couldn't watch. Julie saw him disappear back inside.
"That does it," Julie said. "He's gone. You have your victory."
"Ha! Thanks for that. Really appreciate your help."
"You're welcome."
"Can I ask a question?"
"No, I don't take it in the ass," Julie preempted, laughing.
"No, no, nothing like that. I was wondering if you know that guy. You must, right? Why did he say what he did?"
"Say what?"
"That I had no chance to pick you up. That no one did. Why is that?"
"I'm gay," Julie teased.
Rocket frowned at her. "No. I've got friends, girls like that. You're not like them."
"Hmmm, you need a different reason? Okay. I'm obsessively self-conscious about my body."
Rocket looked her up and down.
"Which part?" he said with a disbelieving look on his face.
"I'm skinny."
"You're not skinny. You're just not fat."
"My ass is too small."
"Ha! Squeezed in those jeans looks pretty hot to me."
"My blonde is dirty," Julie continued, fingering her long hair.
"It's beach-chic cool," he countered.
"My nose is too cute."
Rocket laughed out loud at that. "Yes, I agree with that one."
"Brown eyes with this hair is weird."
"Your eyes are gorgeous, you know that, don't be silly."
"My breasts are too small."
"Is your bra padded?"
"No."
"Then you're more than a mouthful."
"Is that a compliment?" Julie asked, hitting his arm. "Am I meant to be happy with that measuring scale?"
"Sorry," Rocket grinned. "But you are perfectly shaped and stunning looking...hot as...hot as...how vulgar do you want?"
"Try me," she dared.
"You gave me a boner," Rocket said, turning and pointing to the other end of the garden, "from over there."
Julie laughed, thankfully.
"So it's not self-consciousness. You had a bad experience? Coming off a love disaster?"
"It's not that interesting at all. I have a boyfriend."
"A serious one?"
"Almost three years."
"Wow. Wow, that means..." Rocket said, and then stopped.
"What? That means what?" Julie insisted.
"You know..."
"I know what?" Julie asked, puzzled.
"Only him. You've only ever been with him."
"Oh. That." Julie finished the beer. Politely Rocket took the bottle back. "We did it a lot though. I'm not...like a, you know, I'm not some kid, I'm experienced. Oh shit. That sounds awful. I'm sorry."
