Holed up in her room, Kate and Julian sat with their drinks in their laps, listening to records. Neither spoke much. She watched him, tall and handsome with his back against the wall, his long legs stretched out toward her at the other end of the bed. She sipped her beer, listening to the soft crackling of her record player, and downstairs she could hear her the nasally voice of her roommate's girlfriend, and she rolled her eyes.
"You're jealous," Julian said.
"That's not true."
"Sure it is. You want to be everyone's number one girl."
"Fuck off," she said. "What should I put on after this?"
"I don't care."
"You do. You've complained about every record I put on."
He leaned forward, smiling. "I don't understand why you don't just play your damn music on your computer like a normal person."
"I like records. They sound better."
"They don't. Sometimes I think you're stupid. Put anything on, I don't care." He was quiet as she changed the record. Then, "Why are you jealous of Mark's girlfriend?"
"I told you. I'm not jealous. She's just awful."
"She's not awful."
"You can't stand her."
"No. But I can't stand anyone."
Kate nodded. "True."
"Fuck you. You're a bitch."
"What? You're the one who said it."
"I happen to be very friendly."
"You're not. You're a terrifying presence."
"Shut your mouth."
She did. A few minutes went by, the two of them nursing their drinks, listening. She wasn't jealous and he knew it -- he just liked getting her worked up.
"Stupid bitch."
"What the fuck, Jules."
"Get me another beer."
"Get it yourself."
"No. Get it for me."
"You're a jerk." But she did it; she got up and padded across her room the mini-fridge that held her emergency stash of beer.
"Now dance for me."
She laughed as she handed him the drink. "Fuck yourself."
"Come on, dance for me. Give an old guy a thrill."
"No. Shut up."
"You're supposed to say I'm not old," he muttered.
"Ah, but you are." She hopped back onto the bed. "Practically thirty. It's disgusting. Everybody's talking about it."
He was quiet, listening, watching her speak. Then, "I should strangle you."
"You're sweet."
He said nothing. Again, a quietness settled between them. She grabbed another beer for herself, flipped the record, sat back down. He could tell she was tipsy. Such a lightweight, like a little girl.
"You want to take it easy?" He said.
"No, do you?"
"Maybe you should slow down."
"I'm fine."
"You're tipsy."
"Barely."
"Come on, kid."
She glared at him. "Don't call me kid."
"I'll call you whatever the fuck I want to call you, kid."
"You know I hate it."
He nodded. "I do. You hate it. But I don't give a shit."
"So."
"So get me another beer, kid."
She grabbed another, opened it and, standing just out of his reach, took a sip.
"Give it to me," he said.
"No."
"Bitch." He didn't get up. She continued to nurse his beer, forgetting eventually that it was not hers. She took a step closer to the window, gazing outside now, distracted, and Julian took this opportunity to grab her by the skirt and yank her toward him. She stumbled, falling onto his chest, but barely spinning a drop before he snatched the drink from her hands.
"Clumsy little girl," he said. She was still leaning over him, and as she righted herself he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down again. "Why don't you give me a kiss."
She pulled away, upset now. "Stop it. You're teasing me."
"No."
"You are. You're teasing me, Julian."
"Don't be upset, kitten."
"Really." She shook her head. "If you're going to act like this I'd rather if you just left."
"Act like what." He turned, swinging his legs off the bed so he was facing her. "Huh? Act like what, little girl?"
"You know."
"I don't."
"Yes." She wouldn't look at him. "What I told you the other day. So just stop, okay?"
"
Oh
." He feigned surprise, more for his own benefit than for her, as if he had actually forgotten the fact that she'd confessed her feelings for him. He had forced that out of her as well.
Her face felt hot and she gazed down at the floor, humiliated. How like him to rub that in her face. As if she could help it.
Julian downed the rest of the beer and placed the bottle on the window sill, then got to his feet and took a step toward Kate. She stepped back. Again, he stepped toward her. Again, she stepped back. This continued until he had her backed up against her desk, and he stood over her, quietly looking down, amused at her inability to meet his gaze.
"Come on, kiddo."