Tear Down These Walls (11 page)

“I will pick you up at 1:45,” Teagan declares, trying to
change the subject. “All right?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Victoria sighs. “I still think you
should call him.”

“Bye Victoria!”

“Bye
Teagan
,” Victoria emphasizes and then
laughs. 

Teagan shakes her head and hangs up the phone. She walks
over to the refrigerator and opens it up. “Dishes are done. What do I want to
eat?” Biting her lip, she finally decides on a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. She takes out the peanut butter and then looks for the jelly. “Oh
yeah,” she says. “I have a new jar.” Turning, Teagan goes to the cupboard. She
grabs the jelly and starts to open it. It won’t move. She tries with all her
might. It still doesn’t budge. Frowning, Teagan sets the jelly on the counter.
“Damn it, I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” She smirks and thinks of
Trent. Teagan looks down at her phone and goes back and forth. Finally, she
picks it up and texts:
So, about that opening jars thing. I think I spoke
too soon. I can’t get my grape jelly open.
Hesitating for minute, Teagan
finally presses send.

A minute or two goes by. She exhales, turns back to her
jelly and tries to open it again.  Suddenly, there is a whistle. Smiling
she goes to her phone. The text reads:
I am not coming over there just to
open a jar of jelly.

She responds:
Batman would.

Batman would not go to someone’s house to open a jar.

Yes he would.

No, he wouldn’t.

Whatever, you are no help.

Flip the jar upside down and hit the bottom of it
with the palm of your hand. It helps pop the top.

Teagan looks at the jar. She picks it up and does
exactly as he says. Turning it back around, she tries to open it. With a pop,
the seal breaks. “Yeah!” She cheers. Picking up her phone, Teagan texts:
Well,
aren’t you handy?

Yes, I am.

She hesitates for a second and then types:
Can I buy
you a beer for your help?  Not fraternizing, strictly consumption of
liquor.

Are you asking me out again?

We are going to the pub to shoot pool. I figured I
could buy you a beer.

Can you play?

Yes, very well, thank you. So, are you
game?    

I can’t today, sorry, but be safe and don’t drink and
drive please.

Disappointed, Teagan writes:
I won’t.

Good.

I guess I will see you tomorrow.

Yes, you will. Have fun and be safe.

Okay, see you later.

You too.

Frowning, Teagan puts down her phone and goes back to
making her peanut butter and jelly sandwich before studying and heading to pick
up Victoria.

The smell of falling leaves fills the air as Teagan
drives over to Victoria’s place. The weather will soon stop being pleasant. She
pulls up in front of the apartment, and at precisely 1:45, Victoria gets into
her car. “Are you ready to school the guys?” She looks cute in her jeans and
light green puffy jacket with UGG boots.

“Yup,” Teagan replies.

“What’s wrong?” Victoria asks.

“Nothing,” Teagan mumbles. “I’m fine.” She starts to
pull into traffic.

“No, you’re not,” Victoria counters. “What’s wrong?”

With a heavy sigh, Teagan taps the steering wheel. “I
texted Trent.”

“Seriously!?” Victoria exclaims in excitement. “What did
he say?”

“He couldn’t come,” Teagan replies, shrugging.

“Like wouldn’t or couldn’t?”

“I don’t know. I think couldn’t. He didn’t say anything
about fraternizing this time.”

Smiling, Victoria says, “That’s getting somewhere!”

“I guess,” Teagan sighs.

“You sound really disappointed,” Victoria suggests.

Teagan shrugs, “I don’t know if disappointed is the
word.”

“Then what are you feeling?” Victoria inquires quietly.

She thinks about it for a minute and then Teagan
answers, “Okay, disappointment.” She maneuvers between two cars. The sounds of
traffic fill the space between them as no one says a word for a while.

“You like him, don’t you?” Victoria breaks the silence.

“As boyfriend material? No, but I liked hanging out with
him. It was fun.”

“You seriously wouldn’t date him?” Victoria quips.

“I didn’t say that,” Teagan says, shooting her a look.
“I just know that isn’t going to happen, but I could see being friends with
him.”

“Text him again,” Victoria urges. “Keep up a
conversation.”

“I don’t know,” Teagan exhales.

Victoria nudges her. “It would be a good thing for you
to get close to a guy. Maybe starting off having a close guy friend would get
you to open up to dating again.”

“I date,” Teagan replies.

“No, I meant seriously dating. Testing the waters to
have a boyfriend.”

“I guess,” Teagan exhales. “Justin really messed me up.”

“I know, maybe Trent will mess him up,” Victoria laughs.

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” Teagan sighs happily.

Victoria grins, “You know you will have to take him to Michigan.”

“Yeah, I think I have come to that conclusion, too. It
will keep Justin away from me. I don’t want him to ruin the wedding for me.”

“And you shouldn’t let him. Trent will keep him away,
and you may have fun with him. Maybe he dances!” Victoria claps her hands.

Teagan turns and looks at her. “Do you really think he
dances?”

“Maybe,” Victoria replies, shrugging. “You never know.”

“I don’t take him as a dancer,” Teagan states. 

“You could teach him how to dance. You can teach him how
to dirty dance,” Victoria points out.

“I DO NOT dance like that in front of people, only by
myself or around you. Don’t you dare tell anyone, especially Trent!”

Laughing, Victoria puts up her hands. “I have always
promised to not tell a soul. Relax.”

She glares at her friend. Finally, Teagan says, “You are
evil.”

“My halo hangs off my horns, girlfriend,” Victoria
declares, with a big smile. They both burst out laughing.

When they get to the pub, they find Mike, Isaac, and
Emily already playing pool. Mike is taking a shot. “Don’t mess up!” Teagan
jeers.

“Well, you are such a distraction,” he retorts, hitting
the cue ball.

“Whatever,” Teagan snorts. “Who’s winning?”

“I won one, so I am playing whoever wins this game,”
Emily declares in her soft voice.

“Em, the pool shark,” Victoria snickers. Emily shrugs
and gives a bashful smile. “I want a beer!”

“It’s two o’clock,” Teagan laughs.

“Eh, it’s five somewhere,” Victoria retorts. “Should I
buy a pitcher?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Isaac says. “Do you want money?”

“Nah, I got this round,” Victoria declares. “Be back in
a bit.” Teagan follows her to the bar.  Victoria smiles at the bartender.
“A pitcher please.”

The guy replies, “Sure,” but his eyes don’t leave
Teagan. She can feel his eyes looking down her form-fitting blue sweater. She
turns red and looks away.

Victoria looks at the bartender and then back at Teagan.
“You need to text Trent and tell him you miss him.”

“What?” Teagan laughs. Victoria gives a little head nudge
to the bartender. “Oh,” Teagan exhales in understanding. “Yeah, well I think he
is working out. I will text him.” She pulls her phone out.  The bartender
finally turns away from them. Teagan rolls her eyes at Victoria.

“You should really text him,” Victoria states. “Go on.”

“What should I say?” Teagan asks, exasperated.

“I don’t know, think of something. You’re the writer, oh
wordy one,” Victoria counters.

With a heavy sigh, Teagan takes out her phone. She taps
it with her finger and then texts:
 At the pub, what kind of beer
should I have in your honor?
Teagan looks at Victoria. “He is going to
think I am a stalker.”

“Nah, I doubt it,” Victoria retorts.

Her phone goes off. She reads, “Do you like light beer
or dark beer?” Teagan looks at Victoria.  “Isn’t beer just beer?”

“No, to guys there is a difference. Anyway, you like
light beer,” Victoria says in return.

Teagan writes:
Light beer.

Then get Stella.

The bartender sets down the pitcher. Teagan looks at him
and asks, “Do you have Stella?”

“Yeah, on tap,” the guy replies.

“Can I have a glass of that?” Teagan asks. The bartender
nods. She looks at Victoria. “What if I don’t like it?”

“Then you have something more to talk about,” Victoria
answers.

When the bartender sets the glass down, Teagan picks it up
and takes a sip. “Hey, that’s really good!”

“Tell him that!” Victoria commands.

Teagan picks up her phone.
Very good choice sir.

I am glad you like it. It’s a good beer.

Are you sure you can’t join me for one?

I would come and have one, but I can’t today.
Responsibilities and all.

On the job?

Sort of, you can have one for me though.

Okay.
“What else do I say to him?” Teagan asks
Victoria.

“What have you said so far?”

“Just that it’s a good beer and that he can’t come
because he is working or something,” Teagan answers.

“I don’t know. Ask him if he wants to get a beer
sometime this week,” Victoria suggests.

Giving her friend a look, Teagan says, “That’s like
asking him out on a date.”

“Not really a dddaaattteeee,” Victoria draws out, twirling
her hair between her fingers, looking dreamily off in the distance.

“Yes, it’s exactly like a date,” Teagan snaps her back
into reality.

“Whatever,” Victoria groans. “Come on, let’s go watch
them play pool.” Teagan grabs her beer and follows Victoria back to the pool
table. “Who’s winning now?”

Looking down at her phone, Teagan pauses and then texts:
Well, if you feel like having a beer this week, let me know, I will buy you
one.

FRATERNIZING.

Nooo, not fraternizing, just having a beer. We can
even sit a few bar stools away from each other.

Do I smell?

Yes.

Really (said with a lot of sarcasm).

I don’t know. I am not allowed to fraternize with
you, so I haven’t been close enough to smell you.

And it’s going to stay that way.

I smell nice, very sexy.

Tell me, how does one smell very sexy?

It’s the name of my perfume. It’s from Victoria’s
Secret.

I didn’t realize they sold perfume. I thought it was
all thigh highs and bras.

Nope, lotions and perfumes too.

Girl crap.

Hey now, guys like a girl to smell good.

True.
I am an
acqua di gio sort of guy.

Teagan smiles.
I love that stuff. I will have to
smell you now.

Good luck on that.

I do like challenges.

“Who are you texting over there so enthusiastically?”
Isaac asks.

“Tttrrreeennnntttt,” Victoria sighs.

“Who’s Trent?” Isaac asks, with tension in his voice.

“The guy who saved Teagan,” Victoria answers. “Tall,
hot, steamy, and built.”

Isaac frowns. Teagan interjects, “He is teaching our
self-defense class.”

“That is awesome!” Emily exclaims. “Every girl should
know that.”

“You should come and take the class with us,” Victoria
offers happily.

“I already know all that,” Emily says nicely, “But it’s
good that you are going.”

“Oh come on, I bet he could teach you something,” Teagan
prods her friend. “You should come.”

“You should come on the sole basis of seeing how hot
this guy is,” Victoria giggles. “I mean he is HOT.”

Emily smirks, “Maybe I will then.”

“Oh geez,” Isaac groans. He moves to take his shot.

Teagan picks up her phone.
Can I ask a favor?
She
sends to Trent.

He replies:
Uh oh, depends on the favor.

Can one more friend come and hang out at your class?

Sure. Just one more though. I do need to make a
living.

I thought you made enough money from the security
business.

Well, okay, that’s true. So yes, you can bring
another friend.

Thanks!

Suddenly, Teagan hears, “Oh crap!”

She looks up and gasps, “What the hell!?” Teagan watches
as Emily’s ex, Franco, comes walking over to them.

“Hello guys,” he sneers with an evil smile.

Teagan steps to him and says, “Get out of here.”

“It’s a public place,” he counters, looking her up and
down. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Well, we want nothing to do with you,” Teagan snaps,
putting her arms out to her sides. “So, go find somewhere else to park your
slimy ass.”

Franco looks at her and sneers, “Watch your mouth.”

“What, are you and your loser frat brothers going to
intimidate us or something?” Teagan retorts, not backing down.

“I think you have roles reversed; you are the bunch of
losers. I always told Emily that.”

“Shut up Franco!” Emily yells, standing up. “Go away!”

“Oh come on baby,” Franco laughs. “I wanted to talk to
you.” He sidles up beside Emily.

“Back off buddy,” Teagan growls, getting in between
them. “Leave her alone.”

“What are you going to do about it
Teagan
?” He
snips, the alcohol on his breath lingers between them in the air. “I don’t
think you should be telling anyone what to do.”

“Get away from us,” Teagan seethes.

He looks over at Emily. “Come on baby, I wanted to have
a good time. I figured you were easy enough.” He makes a sexual motion with his
hands.

“You son of a bitch!” Teagan yells. She brings her hand
back and slaps Franco across the face really hard, making her hand throb.