"Yeah?"
"Whoa, you answered that before I even got to hear a ring."
Zoe sighed when she heard the familiar voice of her friend on the other end. "Well I have to answer it quickly because this damn ringer is so fuckin' loud. It echoes in my ear every time the phone rings."
"I see," came the response, already sounding like she lost complete interest.
"Anyway, what's up?"
"Just calling' to ask the same thing. You ready for the big move?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Did you pack?"
"Um... no... but I will."
"Zoe! You're leaving tonight!"
"Yeah... I'll pack... soon."
"How soon?"
"After this rerun of The Cosby Show is over."
"You are such the couch potato, Zoe."
"Ha! Do you remember that kindergarten play we were in, and you played the mommy couch potato? I was so jealous because you got to hold the stuffed baby couch potato and even had some lines to say."
"Yeah, I remember that, but what did you play?"
"Um... I don't remember, actually."
"Hm, well, what do you think about moving back here? This shit hole will be a lot different than your suburban paradise."
"Juliet, I can not wait to get out of here. Anywhere is better than being with my dad right now."
"...And it'll be a nice escape from you know who."
Oh, she just had to bring it up, didn't she? Juliet couldn't go more than five minutes without reminding her of what happened more than a year ago. "Yeah, I won't have to think about running into him ever again. Odds are, no bike race ever makes its way through the streets of your beloved 'shit hole' half way across the country."
"Well, I'm determined to get you a real guy. Just you wait. I've got the perfect one in mind."
"Oh, no, Juliet, you know I don't want to go out with anyone. Don't set me up with your friends."
"Come on, Zoe. He's really handsome. He's got girls dying to get him, but I promised him you'd be perfect."
"Juliet, don't you dare do this to me. You know how much I don't like people."
"Yeah, I'm helping you to get past all that. Move on with your life, Zoe."
"No thank you."
"Well, whether you like it or not, you're gunna meet him. He's best friends with Austin, and you'll obviously meet Austin."
Ah, yes, Juliet's latest boyfriend. She finally snagged the the "coolest" guy in school.
"Austin and Leo are the two most amazing guys in school, and they just so happen to be best friends. Get this, Zoe, in the fall, Austin is the captain of the soccer team while Leo is the captain of the football team. Then, in the winter, Leo is the captain of the swimming team, and Austin is the captain of the Wrestling team. And in the spring, Austin is the captain of the lacrosse team, and Leo is the captain of the baseball team. Isn't that so cool?"
"Weird," was the nicest thing she could think to say at that moment. That was way too funky. Everything Juliet just said went straight over her head. Zoe was sure this new school was just about the size of her fist, and selection of "captains" were scarce. Those boys sounded like sport freaks to her. That wholesome, all-american boy wasn't exactly her type... Yet they were exactly what Juliet loved. Always in the spotlight.
"Oh, you'll love them, Zoe. And they can't wait to meet you. I've been so excited this past week for your arrival that you're the only thing I've been talking about."
"Oh, no."
"Oh, it's cool, Zoe. I didn't tell them anything too personal. I'm good like that, you know. I keep secrets to the grave."
That was a laugh. "Sure you do." Juliet was the gossip queen. She sucked up dirty secrets about everyone, and was so happy to trade them for more information.
"Well, anyway, I can't wait for you to finally meet my sweet Austin. Oh, Zoe, he's just so perfect. He's sweet, loving, thoughtful. Zoe, he adores me. He treats me like a queen."
Sounded like the type of guy that fit all her requirements. Especially the part about making her feel like a queen. That was a big must for any and all guys in Juliet's life. "Sounds divine," Zoe mumbled.
"Okay, you fart. Enough of the gloom. Remember, you'll be seeing me real soon, right?"
"Yup." Zoe flopped sideways on the couch and stretched.
"The Cosby Show must be over by now, so go pack."
"Right."
"Do it, Zoe! Go pack!"
"Okay!"
"See you soon!"
"Yup. Bye, Juliet."
"Bye bye!"
"Whoa, you answered that before I even got to hear a ring."
Zoe sighed when she heard the familiar voice of her friend on the other end. "Well I have to answer it quickly because this damn ringer is so fuckin' loud. It echoes in my ear every time the phone rings."
"I see," came the response, already sounding like she lost complete interest.
"Anyway, what's up?"
"Just calling' to ask the same thing. You ready for the big move?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Did you pack?"
"Um... no... but I will."
"Zoe! You're leaving tonight!"
"Yeah... I'll pack... soon."
"How soon?"
"After this rerun of The Cosby Show is over."
"You are such the couch potato, Zoe."
"Ha! Do you remember that kindergarten play we were in, and you played the mommy couch potato? I was so jealous because you got to hold the stuffed baby couch potato and even had some lines to say."
"Yeah, I remember that, but what did you play?"
"Um... I don't remember, actually."
"Hm, well, what do you think about moving back here? This shit hole will be a lot different than your suburban paradise."
"Juliet, I can not wait to get out of here. Anywhere is better than being with my dad right now."
"...And it'll be a nice escape from you know who."
Oh, she just had to bring it up, didn't she? Juliet couldn't go more than five minutes without reminding her of what happened more than a year ago. "Yeah, I won't have to think about running into him ever again. Odds are, no bike race ever makes its way through the streets of your beloved 'shit hole' half way across the country."
"Well, I'm determined to get you a real guy. Just you wait. I've got the perfect one in mind."
"Oh, no, Juliet, you know I don't want to go out with anyone. Don't set me up with your friends."
"Come on, Zoe. He's really handsome. He's got girls dying to get him, but I promised him you'd be perfect."
"Juliet, don't you dare do this to me. You know how much I don't like people."
"Yeah, I'm helping you to get past all that. Move on with your life, Zoe."
"No thank you."
"Well, whether you like it or not, you're gunna meet him. He's best friends with Austin, and you'll obviously meet Austin."
Ah, yes, Juliet's latest boyfriend. She finally snagged the the "coolest" guy in school.
"Austin and Leo are the two most amazing guys in school, and they just so happen to be best friends. Get this, Zoe, in the fall, Austin is the captain of the soccer team while Leo is the captain of the football team. Then, in the winter, Leo is the captain of the swimming team, and Austin is the captain of the Wrestling team. And in the spring, Austin is the captain of the lacrosse team, and Leo is the captain of the baseball team. Isn't that so cool?"
"Weird," was the nicest thing she could think to say at that moment. That was way too funky. Everything Juliet just said went straight over her head. Zoe was sure this new school was just about the size of her fist, and selection of "captains" were scarce. Those boys sounded like sport freaks to her. That wholesome, all-american boy wasn't exactly her type... Yet they were exactly what Juliet loved. Always in the spotlight.
"Oh, you'll love them, Zoe. And they can't wait to meet you. I've been so excited this past week for your arrival that you're the only thing I've been talking about."
"Oh, no."
"Oh, it's cool, Zoe. I didn't tell them anything too personal. I'm good like that, you know. I keep secrets to the grave."
That was a laugh. "Sure you do." Juliet was the gossip queen. She sucked up dirty secrets about everyone, and was so happy to trade them for more information.
"Well, anyway, I can't wait for you to finally meet my sweet Austin. Oh, Zoe, he's just so perfect. He's sweet, loving, thoughtful. Zoe, he adores me. He treats me like a queen."
Sounded like the type of guy that fit all her requirements. Especially the part about making her feel like a queen. That was a big must for any and all guys in Juliet's life. "Sounds divine," Zoe mumbled.
"Okay, you fart. Enough of the gloom. Remember, you'll be seeing me real soon, right?"
"Yup." Zoe flopped sideways on the couch and stretched.
"The Cosby Show must be over by now, so go pack."
"Right."
"Do it, Zoe! Go pack!"
"Okay!"
"See you soon!"
"Yup. Bye, Juliet."
"Bye bye!"