The Gentleman of Yorke

Chapter 3: Which Fork To Use

His eyes closed, Toby drools on his desk as the second hand hits six. Kwan was talking about courtship in Romeo and Juliet.

" Idealized love was notably nonsexual," stated Ms. Kwan. "Sometimes a courtship would go on for years in which a gentleman would wait for his lady, a wait that would earn his lady's love."

"That sounds like a stalker or something," said Nate, causing a few people to laugh.

"No," said Miss Kwan. "Well, you see in between the gentleman would engage in certain methods to make himself more desirable, whether it was through puns or sonnets or spending time with her family."

I glance at Liberty, who looks really interested in the discussion. The sunlight coming in through the window brings out the blonde tints in her hair, and I noticed she was wearing a silver hoop necklace I bought her for our two month anniversary, the only thing I could afford after putting the rest of my commercial money in the bank. She smiled at me, and I got those same butterflies I did in detention, but then I felt a sharp pain, which I knew had to be a reflection of the guilt.

"I think it's sweet," said Manny.

"Man, I'd rather take her out for a burger or something," mumbled Chris.

Nate gives him a high five. "And if I'm covering the food, she's covering the movie. Equality of the sexes fo' sho'."

"Fo sho'," agreed Chris.

Toby's eyes immediately opened after the ringing stopped. Lunch. Toby patted me on the back, and started to exit Kwan's class.

"Meet you in the caf," he said, before going out of the door.

"Toby and his bottomless stomach," I mumbled to myself, collecting my books.

Liberty helped me pick up the rest, then arranged them from earliest to latest class. She always did that, and I let her even though I never keep the order.

"I missed you yesterday," said Liberty, giving me a kiss on the cheek, and following me out.

"Oh...yeah, got caught up in the game," I said, feeling that sharp pain again. "You know how competitive Toby gets."

Liberty nodded. "Well, I hope you're still coming to my debate next week. You can see me get competitive."

"Just as long as you're not competing over some guy," I said, holding her hand. "And yes, I'll be there. I'll even bring a foamy finger with a big L on it."

"I like foamy fingers," said Liberty.

We walk into a caf, and see a booth in the middle. Hazel and Paige were sitting behind it, both of them filing their nails. Once in a while, Paige would look up and wave at someone she knew.

"Odd," I said.

"It's for some talent show," explained Liberty. "I interviewed Paige for the Grapevine. It's to raise money for the Spirit Squad's trip to the regionals."

Toby waved us over, and Liberty and I joined him, Danny, Emma, and Manny at a lunch table. Normally, Emma and Manny went off to eat by themselves, so I gave Toby a look of surprise, and he just shrugged.

"Getting lunch," said Liberty, dumping her bookbag on the floor.

"Don't get any extra desserts," yelled Danny after her. "You know how you break out!"

"Cram it, Danny," I said, taking a seat next to Emma.

Emma played with the straw in her Diet Coke. "Okay, Heather Sinclair just signed up," said Emma, a disgusted frown on her face.

Manny sighed. "She'll probably dance," she said.

"What are you two fine honeys doing here, anyway?" asked Danny, smoothing his curly mop of a hairdo.

"Checking out the competition," said Emma, peering over a couple tables. "Manny's entering so we're keeping a lookout."

"If Ashley enters, I'm dead," moaned Manny, sticking a fork in a piece of broccoli.

Manny drags her fork around the rest of her salad, the leaves crunching. Her parents insisted that she bring lunch from home, and she usually had the best food, and the only real silverware, which she shared with Emma occassionally.

"Um, that's more of a dessert fork, Manny," I said, then immediately cover my mouth.

Emma and Manny give me a blank stare. Danny's mouth hung open, a blob of peanut butter rolling around on his tongue. Toby arched his eyebrows, then silently uncapped his juice.

"Okay, Martha Stewart," said Emma. "Do you know how to pick out china patterns too?"

Manny laughs, her back hunched over. "Seriously, what was that about?"

"J.T., the man of manners?" asked Emma, trying to hold in a laugh.

"That's so classic," giggled Manny.

I glanced around, then stood up and walked over to Paige's table, eager to get away from my so-called friends. What if Emma and Manny told Liberty about what just happened? I couldn't believe I just said that, and even more, I couldn't believe I remembered the place setting from Mrs. Trellis' class. Sure, we went over it after the dancing, but I was too busy grimacing at the thought of Spinner's arm around my waist. I shuddered at the thought, then went to the booth.

"Okay, put a talent booth in a middle of the room and actors come to it like moths to a flame," said Paige, snapping up the clipboard and grinning at me. "Sign away, muffin."

I smiled at them, and sign my name, my body moving and my mind blank.

"Um, hon, you forgot to say what talent you'll be doing," pointed out Paige.

"A monologue?" prompted Hazel.

"Uh...sure," I said. "Shakespeare, probably. You know, one of the first great actors."

I went back to the table, sweat sliding down my back as Hazel filled out the form. What was I thinking? I'd never memorized anything like Shakespeare before. Liberty had helped me with all the lines for Dracula, and they weren't even that difficult, not to mention that it was Liberty's writing so I had the motivation to do it. Here I was in yet another sticky situation.

"Hey, J.T., what spoon should I use for my pudding?" asked Danny, then he doubled over in laughter.

"I wouldn't know," I answered.

"I don't know either," said Toby. "Can I have your pudding, though?"

Danny, unpleased that I didn't know the answer, handed the pudding over to Toby, who greedily scooped it in his mouth.

Liberty arrived with her tray, which looked pretty full, so much so that her milk was wobbling. I got up and put the tray down for her. She gave me a wide smile and sat down.

"Thank you, J.T.," she said. "That's very nice of you."

"Well, it wasn't very nice of you to sign up for the talent show," says Manny quietly, pouting.

"I think J.T. needs a lobotomy," says Danny, shaking his head.

After lunch, I walked Liberty to her home economics class, which she had tried to get out of by offering to take the less popular Advanced Geometry class that ended up being cancelled due to disinterest. She shook her head, the necklace gleaming on her neck.

"We're sewing today," she said, burying her head in my chest.

"Hey, just remember what I taught you last time," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"That was so long ago, though," moaned Liberty.

"It's not like you're doing embroidery, which is really hard and probably over your head," I tease.

Liberty gives me a playful shove. "Don't tease me. I don't know a lot, but I'm pretty sure I could assault you with a needle."

"Don't kill the guy who can make the best pillows at Degrassi," I said, kissing her forehead. "So I'll see you tomorrow."

"Not after school?" questioned Liberty.

"Um...yeah, I've got this thing," I said, avoiding her eyes. "It's this...umm...just this thing."

"You're being very evasive, J.T.," said Liberty, giving me a curious look.

"It's good evasive, though," I replied, hopefully seeming sure of myself. "Almost a sexy kind of evasive?"

Liberty chuckled. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt... this time," she said.

"Just think of those guys that waited a year to finally be with their girl," I said. "You just have to wait 'til tomorrow."

Liberty runs a hand through my hair, straightening it out. I wanted her to be proud of me like I was of her. She had all these things in her life that she did well: debates, writing, being a good friend, especially being a good girlfriend (I could say that with a 100 confidence). No wonder her father is so proud. But all I could do was put down her lunch tray and try not to do anything stupid.

"If I remember correctly, it was a four year journey to get here," said Liberty, blushing a little. "Four years for both of us to land in detention, four years for you to come over and use the hot tub, four years..."

"Four years for me to realize this was right," I interrupted her.

Liberty kissed me, then backed away into the classroom, bumping a desk. I smile, and those pesky butterflies come back.

"And I have to make sure I get this right," I said to myself.

"You see, he's a freak," I heard a voice say behind me. "Totally used to be cool, though."

It's Danny, walking with a couple of his friends, who are staring fearfully at me.

"I'm never dating just one girl," said Danny. "They make you lose your mind."