Modern Girl
I’m not wrong to say that last week felt like a season finale of Survivor… but after Steve’s party, things have started Coming Up Milhouse.
I got close to Robin.
Like, really close at Casa Harrington-Munson, only to get slapped across the face with a realization that hit me like that question Elle asked me in the Art Corner about true love…. and if I had one.
At that moment all eyes were instantly on me. It felt like spotlights of greens, blues, and browns burned holes in my head as I stuttered to admit that stupid response of “Maybe?”
Maybe was simply not enough for the Byers girl and her BFF Red, who so fortunately recollected my ex from last year, and just had to bring up Frank.
The look on her face was like when you watched My Girl for the first time and you get to the bee stings part.
The way she said “You mean true love isn’t forever?” still gets me. Oh, the way I want to protect this young girl from the world. Protect her innocence from all the stupid things that come along with dating and relationships as you get older. “There’s more to life than stupid boys.” Max said to her.
But I think I’ll take those words of advice too.
I just need to tell myself lately that there’s more to life than stupid boys and pretty pink haired girls that make you question things about yourself. Even if things have started Coming Up Milhouse.
I spent the entire weekend at Steve and Eddie’s (royally fucking up my entire back on their fucked up futon by the way.) Of course, the price of their hospitality being me picking up the keg… and an unplanned passenger.
Leave it up to them to leave everything until the last minute, running around like two headless chickens. Steve forgot he was supposed to pick up Robin. I was already at their place when he asked for the favor. I could’ve either set up chip bowls or make the drive across town to Robin’s place.
Obviously I took the latter. Hell would have to enter an ice age before I let them stick me in their dingy kitchen and listen to them fight over which music they were going to play.
Plus… I had my own selfish reasons.
I got to see where Robin lived.
She was still getting ready when I arrived so she invited me in.
Everything she wore was oversized like they must have belonged to her older brother. I thought she still needed to change but apparently that was what she was wearing to the party, his Beastie Boys tour shirt with ‘GET OFF MY DICK” right between her shoulderblades staring right at me as I followed her into her room for the summer.
She told me her younger sister called dibs on her old one when she went off to school in Oregon.
“Her old one,” she said, kind of confusing me for a second. She used to live here? I’ve lived here my whole life, I would’ve definitely remembered her.
Before I could even attempt to ask more questions, that cherry red Magnavox on top of the dresser caught my eye. It was playing Crimson and Clover when I walked in. the Joan Jett Version.
She sprayed that Elizabeth Arden perfume and it was like pure heroin. I swear my arms went limp as I sat on her bed and watched her fix her hair, shaking out that faded raspberry that now looks like cotton candy.
There was a container of manic panic in a Sally Beauty plastic bag right next to her stack of CDs she brought along for the summer.
Hot Hot Pink.
I knew it.
In the car she handed me something that I’m going to cherish until even after CDs become obsolete.
Robin Buckley made me a playlist.
Not just any playlist. A “Songs that remind me of you” kind of playlist….
though she didn’t really specify that it was.
She just can’t put two Sleater-Kinney songs on a mix and then expect me not to fall in love with her.
Especially since once we got to the party, she stayed by Steve’s side and laughed with that stupid snorting cackle when he nearly toppled over after trying to show off to everyone he’s still the Keg King.
Eddie said there must’ve been something in the beer- never in his six years of high school did he think King Steve and Bucktooth Buckley would be hanging out like this.
Then it hit me.
Bucktooth Buckley? Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
That brace-faced band geek with a permanent bad bleach job who always tried showing off how she was taking Spanish while learning French on her own free will? She never talked to anyone except maybe Nancy’s old friend Barb before Holland jetted off to San Francisco immediately after graduation.
That’s MY raspberry swirl?
No way…
No fucking way, right?
After everyone left and Steve made a new stain on Eddie’s mattress by puking on his bed because he was passed out in the bathroom, Robin and I shared a cigarette and just talked until the sun came up.
So much for quitting.
I guess she only gives Eddie shit for smoking.
There was something about seeing my Revlon on her lips from my cigarette that made me want to flick it off the balcony and give her a full transfer.
I’m surprised with how crossfaded was
I didn’t kiss her.
I’m surprised I even remember her telling me about that job she’s taking back in Oregon after summer.
Booze before weed gets you higher indeed, I was too focused on her teeth to say something when she mentioned I’m a lot nicer now than I was in high school.
I think lately, I really needed to hear that.
Over late afternoon breakfast when the boys finally woke up Robin kept talking about that Research Translator job.
She’s really excited about it and it sounds like a cool job! I’m really happy for her… though hearing her talking about it made my migraine worse and make want a second giant donut.
Hunger makes me a modern girl.
Since the party Robin’s been popping by the Art Corner. I want to selfishly think she’s coming by to see me, but she’s most likely checking in on Max.
She actually has been spending a lot more time in there this week… on account of twisting her ankle during that bet she had with Steve.
He’s gonna be on her shit-list for a while, even after he bought her that Fall Out Boy album and a box of sour patch kids to say he was sorry.
I feel bad for her. She’s gonna miss out on almost all the events she signed up for because of that big boot she has to wear.
I know Lucas is going to miss her.
Lil Romeo’s already planning all the things they’re going to do on the camping trip at the end of summer. Last year they spent that entire weekend on the lake with their paddle boards and going after Dustin and Mike.
I remember that only because Eddie got a wicked sunburn while keeping an eye on them. His poor, poor nose. I’m gonna buy him spray-on sunscreen for the trip.
He actually likes that Max’s hanging around. She may not make all those fantasy drawings like Will does, but she’s got talent.
Is there anything she can’t do?
She’s good at soccer, but I really think she joined because of her brother.
Now that he’s gone (again- surfing in Santa Monica, Not Dead) she was actually having fun this year.
I know I sure don’t miss the constant screeching of drill sergeant and whistleblowing when I’m hosting Garden Club.
Today we germinated some of the pansy seeds Robin actually donated. They take about three months to actually bloom, so she’s not going to be able to see them after she goes back when the summer’s over.
I think I let that get to me a bit too much. I almost didn’t want to plant them because she wouldn’t be there to see them mature.
Speaking of mature-
After our… talk… about how he needs to watch how he speaks to the kids, Eddie’s been acting more like a big brother to everyone.
Even though Max can’t use her board, he helped her unscrew the trucks and wheels off. He brought in some sandpaper for a clean slate and he’s helping her plan out something to paint and seal on her deck.
It always takes a bit for Eddie to drop that whole too cool forced-to-be-here act. If he didn’t like being here then he wouldn’t have turned down that higher paying position at Spencer’s when summer started.
Munson in Management? Who’d of thought.
I understand. I’d rather hang around these guys instead of blacklight sublime posters and phallic bachelorette party shot glasses, too.
They’re good kids.
I hope high school’s not too hard on them.