Second Helpings_ A Jessica Darling Novel - Megan McCafferty [92]
Scotty and P.J. nodded their heads in agreement.
“Ignorance isn’t the problem,” he said. “Some very smart, informed people make some really stupid decisions about sex.”
“You should know, Krispy,” said Sara, who was immediately highfived by Scotty.
“You’re absolutely right,” he replied, looking her right in the eye. “I do know.”
Even though the bell rang, the discussion wasn’t over for Len.
“So. Um. Do you really think I’m kidding myself?”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” I said. “I just—”
Then Len walked away without bothering to hear my explanation.
“He’s really narrow-minded about his beliefs,” said Marcus, who had overheard the exchange. “You’re either with him or against him.”
“I know.”
“That’s how I knew he really liked you,” he said. “When he forgave you for New Year’s.”
“Yeah, I know. Marcus?”
“Yes?”
I wanted to ask him if he regrets his stupidity.
“Nothing,” I said instead. “Forget it.”
“Don’t worry,” Marcus said with a small, sympathetic smile. “Len will let it go.”
“Yeah.”
But Len had a difficult time letting it go today. He was huffy for the rest of the afternoon, and didn’t stop by my locker after tenth period.
You know what? I wasn’t nearly as worried about our first fight as I should’ve been.
the twenty-Seventh
So guess what I’m thinking about right now? Yes, sex. Good guess. But more specific.
I’m thinking that there is only one other person I know whose name could have also made the last line of my birthday song rhyme. I know he’s not saving himself for marriage. Last night, I had a bodice-ripping daydream that he was a stable boy and I was a countess. Inside my mind, I’m a way bigger whore than Manda. The Mystery Muckraker is destined to find out about this somehow, and expose my secret, skanky dreamscape to the whole school.
February 1st
Dear Hope,
I appreciate your advice. Truly, I do. Though yoga has helped me show a marked improvement in the sleep department, it hasn’t helped my sex problem. Think about it: Any method that showcases heavy breathing and increased flexibility will be of little help in getting one’s mind off getting laid. My chakras are quaking and I’m hornier than ever.
Sorry. Too much information. I know. I crossed the line.
Where is the line, anyway? Wearing a tank top to school is a dress-code violation because it’s a “sexual distraction.” Yet it’s perfectly acceptable to use class time to fill out a sexually explicit survey? You should have seen this questionnaire Brandi passed out on the last day of Health and Human Sexuality class. “An anonymous survey designed to provide information to more effectively identify resources to assist our community’s youth to grow in a healthy, caring, responsible way.” Yeah, right. Check out some of these questions:
Do you think someone who gives or receives oral sex is a virgin?
Have you ever engaged in sexual activity with a legal adult (over the age of eighteen)? If so, were you a minor (under the age of eighteen)?
Have you ever engaged in sexual activity under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
Off-the-charts ack factor. Not only did I resent a reminder of my nonsexed status, which had the administration’s approval, I was totally offended by the potentially incriminating nature of the questions. For all its anonymity, it screamed entrapment to me. What’s worse, we all had to fill it out because it was mandatory to pass the class. (I can’t help but think about the editorial that could’ve been: “Pervy Survey: Stopping School-Sanctioned Smut.”) Even though I know it’s totally irrational, I filled it out because I don’t need a third-marking-period senior-year failing grade to keep me out of the Ivy League. Imagine me failing Health and Human Sexuality. Ha! How appropriate.
I lied about everything—including the personal info—just to screw up the results. Masturbation? Ten times a day. Threesomes? Hell, yeah! It was pretty funny. Len, of course,