Dancing in Circles (Circles Trilogy) (8 page)

Behind Robert, two doors led off to different areas. A girl exited the second door. She adjusted her blouse. When she saw Julie, she scowled, picked up a beer and joined the others.

Robert led her to a dimly lit bedroom. The bed was unmade and clothes lay in piles. Robert straightened the sheets and blanket then glanced around. "I had a shirt?"

He wandered into the kitchen and returned, pulling on a sweatshirt. He turned on the overhead light and closed the door. He motioned to her to sit on the bed, while he picked up his books from the floor. "Sorry. This is the only place we can get some privacy."

She fumbled through her books while desperately trying to think of something to say. She was alone in his bedroom - sitting on his bed. Her heart pounded. Was it because she was afraid he'd try something or that he wouldn't?

"Who was that?" She opened her math book and tried to find the right chapter.

He picked up a pad of paper and a pen. "Lauren."

"I'm sorry if I came at a bad time."

Robert's brow wrinkled.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted you two."

He shrugged. "You didn't interrupt nothin'. I was in the shower."

Julie picked up a pen, fumbled and dropped it. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"Naw, she's Mike's girl." He turned a couple of pages in Julie's textbook and pointed at a question. "What don't you understand?"

What don't I understand? I don't know why I'm here. I don't understand about Lauren. And I can't figure out what's going on inside of me when you sit so close.
She could almost touch his leg with hers.
But you probably mean, what don't I get in calculus.
"Okay, when Mr. Ross said…."

Robert helped with her questions until they reached the end of the chapter. "Got it?"

She closed her textbook. "I think so."

"Good. Now maybe you can do me a favour?"

"Sure." She held her breath. What sort of favour would a boy from Shore want?

"Poetry. I can handle Shakespeare and his funny way of saying things, but poetry…. I'm lost after roses are red and violets are blue."

"Poetry is easy."

"Calculus is easy."

"Uh, I don't have copy. Do you?"

He put down his calculus text, picked up his notebook, and sat just a little bit nearer. He rustled some papers until he pulled out the English assignment.

She put her book and pen next to her feet. "What don't you understand?"

He held up the page. "Poetry. Don't like it. Don't get it. Why do we have to study it? Nobody speaks like this."

"Okay." She chuckled. "My turn to play teacher. Read me a line."

They worked their way to the end of the poem then Julie slipped the paper from his hand. "Think about everything we discussed. So what's the poem saying?"

"No hints?"

She shook her head.

Robert fell back on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

She glanced up. "I don't see the answer there."

"I'm lookin' for inspiration. Divine or otherwise."

She lay alongside him and stared up. "What do you think the odds are that the last tenant studied this exact poem and inscribed its meaning on the ceiling?"

"Not very good, actually." The mattress shook from his laughter. "This is my brother's apartment, and he's not the brightest person in the world." Robert rolled onto his side, then propped himself on his elbow.

Her pulse raced. He was inches away. If she lifted her head, she could kiss him. She shivered. Or he could kiss her.

With a small grin, he leaned a little closer. "So how about you give me the answer, and I'll write it on the ceiling for my not-too-intelligent brother?"

Julie didn't answer. She was still lost in imagining his mouth moving closer to hers as she stared into those splendid, dark eyes.

"Studying?" Lauren burst into the room. "Studying what? Her anatomy?"

Robert fell back on the bed. "Shut up and get lost."

"What's she tutoring you in? Beginner sex? She's probably never been kissed, definitely never been fu—"

"Lauren." Even Julie froze from the snarling wolf tone of Robert's voice.

Lauren snapped her lips closed and stood at the foot of the bed, not looking in Julie's direction.

Julie sat up to explain when Robert touched her arm. "Shut up and get out. Now!"

Lauren turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, mumbling under her breath. She didn't shut the door.

"I gotta do something about her." Turning his attention to Julie, he half-grinned. "Sorry 'bout that."

Julie grabbed her purse, dug out her cell and pretended to check messages as she composed herself. "So…the poem?"

"Crap, you remembered." He grinned. "I think Edwards-Smythe is sayin' that a person's gotta accept the situation they're in, but that it's up to each individual to change their circumstances to improve their future."
Which is basically my life. And that sucks.

"You've got it. Now just write it out and you'll be done."

"It makes a lot more sense, but I'm not ready to go solo yet."

She picked up her books and stood. "I'll make you a deal. I'll help you with poetry, and you help me with…." She tapped her calculus textbook.

"Deal." He reached over, took her book, and led the way out of the room. "I'll walk you to your car."

The tension was thick when Julie walked past Lauren. She considered saying goodnight but decided against it; Lauren seemed fascinated with the label on her beer.

When they reached her car, Julie hesitated. She wished she could send him a telepathic message: Please kiss me, please. Please, please.

She clicked the car locks open, he held the door for her and handed her the books. "Thanks again. See you tomorrow." He walked around the car to the curb.

As she drove away, Julie glanced at the rear view mirror. Lauren came out the door and wrapped herself around Robert.
Damn!
She hit the steering wheel with her palm.

What is it with me? Do I want to get to know him as a friend or more than that? Am I ready for sex? Why is my brain even going there?

She understood how Tricia allowed herself to be seduced by Robert, but Julie wanted more than a one-night fling. She wanted a friend then a lover.
The question is.
She parked the car.
How do I get him to go from a classmate to friend to a lover? How do you get a wild animal to trust you?

Sunday afternoon, Julie relaxed in her bedroom window seat, overlooking the yard. The gorgeous colours of the summer were gone; just a few bright chrysanthemums flashed their brilliance. As her father and Jason raked the first of the fallen leaves, Ashley ran around, tossing handfuls into the air. Her mother sat in a lawn chair, enjoying the sunshine.

Julie contemplated how different her life was from Robert's. She lived in a big house with a warm, loving family while he lived in a squalid little apartment – alone. Was his emotional distance because of his embarrassment of his living standard? Why was he there and she here? What made them different? Was it the economic racism of which he accused her?

An idea formed. She mulled it around in her head. Sitting at her desk, she listed the pros and cons. As she scanned her heart-shaped pink paper, she clicked her fingernails on her desk. Jumping up, she raced downstairs, grabbed the car keys and shouted out the back door, "Taking the car. Back in an hour or so."

Her mother waved.

***

She turned off Davis and stopped at the light. Across the street, a group played football in the vacant lot. Even from a distance, she recognized which player was Robert. She liked the way he ran with smooth, controlled movements. He'd make a good dance partner. Watching him play, she witnessed a side of him not seen at school. He was relaxed and laughing with his friends. Waiting for the light to turn green, she compared his neighbourhood to hers.

North Shore once was industrial, but now most of the factories were abandoned. Westland was urban and rich. There was an old saying about the two cities: Westland smells of power and wealth. North Shore just smells.

Julie parked her car, climbed out, leaned on the door and waited for Robert to notice her. He hadn't yet, but other players had. "Who-a, look at that."

"Hey pretty baby, what'cha lookin' for?"

"I'm looking for a man." She grinned.

"Take me."

"No, me."

"All yours, little chica."

The chorus of catcalls made her cheeks flush as she wandered among the players until she found Robert. She stopped in front of him, grabbed his shirt and pulled his face close to hers. "I want this one." It was an impulsive kiss and over in an instant, but it made her toes tingle. A chorus of catcalls came from the crowd of players.

Robert grinned as he looked between Julie and his friends. "It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta be the stud."

Julie grabbed his hand and led him towards her car. "I have to ask you something."

"Great." He rolled his eyes. "Here I thought my animal magnetism had finally gotten to ya, and all ya wanna to do is talk."

What was I thinking? I kissed him. I want to do it again. And maybe again
. She bit back a giggle. "Sorry about the kiss. It just sort of happened." She stopped by her car.

Robert's grin brightened his face. "Never apologize for kissin' someone. 'Sides, I liked it."

Julie's cheeks flushed.
That little grin of yours makes my knees weak
. "I have an idea for my English essay."

"Thought ya handed that in Wednesday."

"Yes. No. Not that one. I mean the one that's due in January." She leaned on the passenger door. "I know what I want to write about – you and me. You know, us. Well, not us in the sense of us as a couple, but us as how we're different."
Did that make any sense? Try speaking English.
"I want to do a social analysis of the differences between North Shore and Westland. What do you think?"

Robert blinked then shook his head. "I think your creative brain is in overdrive." He had trouble concentrating on what Julie said. She looked gut-wrenchingly sexy in her shorts and T-shirt. Her legs were long and tanned and her hair pulled back into a bouncy ponytail that swished like her hips when she walked. Her face glowed in the sunshine. It wasn't covered in layers of makeup, just a touch to add color. He didn't dare look at her T-shirt. The curves were too enticing. "Everybody knows the differences between us. I'm male. You're female. You're rich. I'm not. What else is there?"

"Let me worry about that. I want to do this, but I need your help. I need to understand you. To analyze you. I want to discover why you're who you are. Remember that enigma stuff at lunch?"

"The lunch with the wonderful mushrooms? Who could forget?"

Julie giggled and her laughter brightened Robert's day.

"I want to delve into that situation. What was it that made me assume you'd be a stupid, tough, crude punk, and why aren't you that stereotype?"

"What do ya want me to do?"
Not that I could ever refuse ya anythin'.

"Talk to me." She placed a hand on his arm and felt his muscles tense. "I want to ask you stuff about your life. Get you to explain what it's like in North Shore, in a gang, so I can understand the differences between us. How did you become you? I know my story. How does it compare to yours?"

He didn't move. He didn't want to break the spell of her touch. "Can I decide what I don't wanna tell ya?"

"Sure." She released his arm and brushed a stray strand of hair off her face.

Julie's touch lingered on his arm. "No, I mean, I say I don't wanna talk 'bout something, and ya don't pester me on it." Parts of his life were so ugly that if she discovered the truth…. Robert shook his head. He didn't want to consider that moment.

"I'll try not to be a pain. But there's so much about you I want to know. Too many secrets I want to invade." She wondered how far she could press before he walked away.

He looked over to where the game had resumed. "If we're goin' to be hangin' around together, I'd better introduce ya to the guys." With one last lingering glance, he turned and walked back to his friends.

A voice from the crowd asked, "New wide receiver or tight end?"

Robert shook his head. "Ignore them. They can be crude. Guys, this is Julie. And these are the guys." He pointed. "Estes. Pete. Franklin. Paul and the rest."

His friends checked her out – some with smiles, others with leers. With shorts and a T-shirt suddenly too revealing, Julie wished she wore her long, bulky winter coat.

An unnamed player moved closer. "Listen chica, what'cha doing hangin' 'round with him?"

Julie stood back, eyed Robert up and down, turned and winked. "Enjoying the view."

Loud snorts and guffaws erupted from the group. A mixture of emotions swirled through Julie. Joy because she'd been instantly welcomed by Robert's friends. Sadness as she wondered if her friends would ever accept him.