Peppermint Tea-part 2

The memory of meeting Joey was locked in my mind as I floated through the final week at school. Once the week was through I could lose myself in summer break. A summer I could spend with him. Joey became wallpaper in my brain-always there, covering the interior. I didn’t tell any of my friends about our meeting. Those moments were a treasure I wanted all to myself. Garth and Steve didn’t go to my school so I didn’t have to worry about them telling anyone. I replayed those moments laying in the grass over and over again. Remembering how brightly the stars shone, the feel of the ground beneath me, the temperature of the air, his scent: cigarettes and old spice. I savored every detail as I reimagined those minutes. Playing it back in slow motion. 

  “Where’s your head today girly? You seem out of it.” my friend Holly said

Holly had been my best friend forever in middle school but now we were drifting. In 9th grade we turned into a trio when we became close friends with a girl named Julia. We had a large group of outcast friends in 9th grade and moving into 10th grade I wanted space to get to know some of the other people in our group. I still liked Holly but I wanted the freedom to develop into whoever I was turning into. It felt like Holly wanted to hold on, not let me evolve out of her grasp. I couldn’t be fully myself and remain close with her. The image she had of who I was always pulled me back from the brink of exploration. Her vision of me held me locked in time.

  “I guess I was just daydreaming.” I replied

  “Daydreaming about WHO? I know you, there’s always a guy you’re thinking about.” she laughed. I stayed silent. I didn’t want to tell her. Not yet. I wanted to have this secret.

  On Saturday I took the bus to meet my secret new best friend, Aurora. The relationships of teenage girls are intense. They mirror romantic love relationships (and then sometimes they do turn into romances). All the jealousy, drama and deep emotions swirling around. I’d met Aurora on the bus a few months before, she went to an all girls catholic school and lived about 15 miles away. Holly and Julia didn’t know about Aurora. I knew Holly would get jealous and I didn’t want to deal with it. Aurora was skinny and pale, almost sickly looking, but in a delicate English sort of way. She had bright blue eyes and light blonde hair that was straight and long. Aurora wore skinny black jeans or a long black skirt and always a cardigan, usually burgundy or black, over some kind of band t-shirt. I’d ride the city bus for a half hour to meet her in Encinitas. We’d look in the shops, record stores and get lunch or go to the health food store. I felt a little guilty telling Holly and Julia I was busy Saturday doing “family stuff”. I always met up with my school friends Saturday night so they’d just have to get by without me during the day. 

moonlight beach

  When I got off the bus on first street Aurora was waiting for me. She was holding a handful of wildflowers that she placed in my hands saying “For you my darling!”

  We embraced and began walking down the street arm in arm. 

  Walking down First street with Aurora as she was telling me about her week, my thoughts were swirling. Joey, Joseph, Joe. What did I know about him? Bits & pieces I’d picked up from Holly’s older sister who couldn’t stand him and told me he was a “total asshole” when I mentioned meeting him. He drank his coffee black, smoked generic cigarettes because he was broke. His hair, falling into his eyes, was bleached with fading hot pink. Just like Kurt Cobain on the cover of Sassy magazine. Looking back, I’m aware of how unoriginal his style was. He just copied his idol and most people in San Diego had no idea who Kurt Coabin was so Joey seemed unique. If Kurt wore a black and white striped shirt, so did Joey. Even in the Southern California heat, he rocked the ripped jeans with long johns under them. But I was still impressed. Even though he was a copy of a grunge God, Joey was more exciting than any of the boys I knew. He seemed different. The way he carried himself, with a carefree confidence. I knew it would end badly. I knew he was going to be difficult and I didn’t care. I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stay away. I wanted to race into the unknown and not worry about what could go wrong. I wanted him. Aurora needed to know.

  I interrupted her mid sentence.

“So, I met someone last saturday.” 

“What? I need details!” she squealed, pulling me to a bench so we could sit down.

  Every moment was retold, I noticed a nod of recognition when I said his band name. When I finished my story I heard her take a deep breath before speaking.

“He works at that record store.” she pointed to “Lou’s” at the end of the block, “I think he’s supposed to be a bit of a player. I’ve heard that…” my heart sank. 

“Really? Well that sucks.”

“It could be a rumor but I guess he cheated on his ex Melody and now he dates a new girl every week. My friend Allie’s older brother knows him and told us.” 

“Let’s investigate and walk by Lou’s anyway. It’s on the way to the juice bar.” I said

“Ok! Yes, let’s be girl detectives!” Aurora hopped up and grabbed my arm. 

  We walked down the street arm in arm. There were 2 blocks of First street that made up the “cool” part. This was the strip where all the teens and early 20 year olds hung out. I could feel my stomach tightening as we approached Lou’s. Aurora was saying silly things to make me laugh because I “should be laughing and carefree” as we passed by Lou’s. I was giggling and couldn’t bring myself to turn and look inside but I could see his pink hair at the counter as we got close. I heard Aurora say “He’s there and he stared right at you.” as we walked on by.

“I couldn’t look at him.” I said. It felt like I would throw up if I did. I felt awful and beautiful at the same time, pissed that Joey was probably not boyfriend material but also elated that I knew where he worked and he noticed me. 

  Aurora and I walked back towards First street with our Pineapple Dream juices. Silently I sipped my drink. It felt as if a wave was crashing on me, threatening to pull me under. Joey was dangerous. He was exciting, like a man in a movie or character in a book. My teenage heart sought the drama that I knew he would bring. I wondered what it would be like to know him. 

  I grabbed Aurora’s hand pulling her to the crosswalk. I didn’t want to walk by Lou’s again. I was so good at acting disinterested, that I became avoidant.

“Aurora, let’s cross.”

“Ok, but I saw him walk out and stare our way when you grabbed me.” she said. Without thinking I turned and looked at him. He was leaning against the entryway of Lou’s with his arms crossed, smiling. A man in total control. He lifted his arm and waved. I felt a flush of heat move through my body. I couldn’t breathe. Aurora held my hand tightly and we continued walking. Not looking back.

“He’s not as special as you.” Aurora said. “He’s just a guy, he’s kind of a jerk.”

“But he seemed so interesting and magical when I met him.” 

“I think he just wanted you to think he was cool.” Aurora laughed. 

“It worked.” I said

  10 minutes later we were sitting on a wall near the 7-11 finishing our juices. A warm breeze came up from the waters edge, I could smell salt in the air. Wind blew my hair back from my face and caressed my neck. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. I opened my eyes and there he was. Joey was standing in front of me.

“Oh wow, it is you. The Poet. I saw you walk by my work and my heart skipped a beat.” he said. 

  I saw Aurora roll her eyes. I was too stunned to speak. I couldn’t believe he talked that way. I laughed uncomfortably. He moved in close to me. There was faint black stubble on his chin, he wore a chain with an antique looking key around his neck.

“So, what’s your name Angel girl?” he smiled at me, blue eyes blinking with long black lashes.

“My name’s Mindy Sue.” 

“Oh nice, you must be a Southern Belle.” he put his hand on my shoulder and slowly moved it down my arm. I could feel every hair on my arm stand up, electrified.

“Hey so I gotta get back to work but you should come visit me.”

“Maybe I will before I head home.” I said quietly knowing I definitely would

“That would be awesome! Bye girls.” with that he winked at me, turned and walked back to work.

  I sat quietly, too stunned to form words.

“Well it’s obvious he’s into you.” Aurora said. “He looked at you like you were a steak and he was a hungry dog!”

“He’s so… confident. He didn’t seem nervous at all.” I said. 

  I thought of Kenny. The cute skater boy I used to date. Kenny was my boyfriend the summer before., always timid and his voice would shake sometimes when he talked to me. Once he gave me a necklace and his hands shook so badly as he handed me the box. I broke up with Kenny 2 weeks into sophomore year. I didn’t want my “cool” friends to know about him. I was going to see the Cure and I wanted to be wild and flirtatious at the concert.

“Well he’s a lot older than us. I think he’s 21. You’d better find out.”

“I’ll stop into Lou’s before I get on the bus.”

  We went into a vintage shop and tried on silky slips. I tried to imagine what Joey would like as I tried on white and petal pink babydoll slips. I decided on a white shortie slip with pink ribbon details. I put my short floral dress on over the slip. I took a package of strawberry poptarts out of my bag as I slipped a pair of black skull buckle boots in. They were size 9 and I wore a 10 but I figured the pain would be worth it. Our friend James was working behind the counter. He wasn’t really a “friend”. He seemed like a 25 year old perv but we tolerated him because his roommate was Rick Farr and we loved Rick. I set the poptarts down on the counter.

“Merry Christmas.” It was May

“Oh thanks! I was just sitting here thinking about how hungry I am.”

“You’re welcome. Later!” and we walked out, our bags full of stolen treasures.

  Aurora and I walked the 2 blocks down to the beach in silence. Warm, salty air rose up to meet us. This was our routine, our ritual. We always stole things, together and alone. When we first met, months ago, we bonded over how easy it was to slip lipsticks down the sleeve of an oversized sweater “You must have a banded cuff, that’s key, so they don’t fall back out!” Aurora had said.

  We collapsed in the sand near the water's edge to review our haul. I took a 60s choker made of white plastic flowers, the skull buckle boots and the slip. Aurora snagged another grandpa cardigan, a silver ring with an amethyst and a purple peasant skirt. 3 each, we always stole in 3s. The holy trinity, 3 was our lucky number.

“Hey, I really love you so just be careful with Joey. I have a bad feeling about him.” Aurora said

“I will. I’m just curious, you know? I want to see what his deal is.”

“His deal is, he wants to get you naked.” she laughed

“You think?” 

“It’s obvious. Be careful.” She turned and hugged me tightly.

  The waves moved in and out, sparkling as we sat and watched them. I felt scared at the idea of going into Joey’s work but I knew I would go. My heart was pulling me. I was ruled by a naive belief in the power of love, informed by fantasy and reading too many novels. The Brontë sisters and Jane Austen had instilled certain virtues in me. I sat on the beach wondering if Joey would be more Heathcliff or Rochester. What manner of man would he turn out to be?

  Aurora started collecting her things, stood up and dusted off. 

“I gotta get home, my Mom is insisting on a family dinner tonight. Walk me up to the bus stop?” she asked

“Of course.” I stuffed everything into my bag and Aurora pulled me to stand. I shook the sand from my dress and linking arms we made our way up the hill.

  I embraced Aurora like she was going off to war as we stood at the bus stop. I could see her bus coming up the street.

“I love you Aurora.”

“I love you more fairy girl!” We both laughed as the bus pulled up and opened its door. Aurora grabbed a window seat then said out the window,

“Don’t be scared! You're better than him!” as the bus pulled away.