Page 9 of You Float My Boat (Oxbridge #2)
9. Violet :
(Every day’s a school day. Or, Charlie Masterson learns something new)
Charlie:
Did you know Shakespeare wrote 39 plays?
Violet:
I did.
Charlie:
Did you know Twelfth Night has two titles? It’s also called What You Will …
Violet:
I did.
Charlie:
Did you know Twelfth Night was written in 1601?
Violet:
Are you reading Wikipedia or something?
Charlie:
Might be.
Charlie:
Gordon can’t be the only Shakespeare know-it-all in the physics department
Charlie:
Anyway, Shakespeare also wrote 154 Sonnets. What’s the difference between a sonnet and a poem?
Violet:
Charlie what are you doing?
Charlie:
Just trying to get a full grasp on the role I’m helping with, plus – you know – as you theatre people like to call it, gain an immersive experience.
Violet:
Do we call it that?
Charlie:
Pretty sure you do. I think you said it to me the other day ‘Charlie, Shakespeare’s an immersive experience’.
Violet:
idntswqythat
Charlie:
What?
Violet:
Sorry, I was typing one-handed and brushing my teeth with the other. Didn’t mean to press send.
Violet:
I didn’t say it was an immersive experience.
Charlie:
I think you did. But we’ll agree to disagree. Although it could be our first fake relationship fight.
Violet:
You want a fight?
Charlie:
No, not with you.
Charlie:
It says here Twelfth Night is in the First Folio (looks up what is first folio).
Charlie:
Oooh! There’s a first folio in The Bodleian. We should go and see it.
Violet:
You want to go to the library with me?
Charlie:
I do!
Charlie:
Did you know Shakespeare died on his birthday?
Violet:
Yes. Did you know his dad was a glove maker and they lived above a glove shop?
Charlie:
No, I haven’t got to that bit in Wikipedia yet.
Violet:
Did I ruin the ending?
Charlie:
Maybe. We’ll see.
Violet:
I’m sure you’ll get over it.
Charlie:
I dunno, I’m quite sensitive.
Charlie:
Violet?
Charlie:
?
Charlie:
Says here a sonnet is a poem of 14 lines …
Charlie:
Have I bored you with my Shakespeare facts already.
Violet:
No, sorry I jumped in the shower quickly. Still enjoying the facts.
Charlie:
Oh. Shower before bed? Me too.
Violet:
I went to the gym earlier.
Charlie:
Good workout?
Violet:
It was thanks, Stella and I had a HIIT class. Then we ate our bodyweight in noodles.
Charlie:
So, you’re noodled out?
Violet:
Hey, I didn’t know you and my brother shared a joke book …
Charlie:
Everything he knows he learned from me.
Violet:
Oh dear.
Violet:
How was your day? Aside from all the Shakespeare reading?
Charlie:
It was good. Tuesdays are a light day class wise. I took a nap.
Violet:
A nap?
Charlie:
It was accidental, but yeah. Training was exhausting this morning and more so tonight. I’m already in bed with my bedtime reading.
Violet:
I’m also in bed with my bedtime reading.
Charlie:
Shakespeare reading?
Violet:
No, Victorian Women.
Charlie:
Oh. I draw the line there, I’m afraid. I’m not Wikipediaing Victorian Women. You might actually have to rely on Gordon for that.
Charlie:
But out of interest, what are you reading?
Violet:
The Mill on The Floss by George Eliot.
Charlie:
Um …
Violet:
George Eliot was a woman.
Charlie:
Really?
Violet:
It was her pen name.
Charlie:
Wow, every day really is a school day.
Violet:
Don’t tell me I’m teaching you something. Mr *I can change my grades*.
Charlie:
I’m only clever when it comes to totally useless things, unfortunately.
Violet:
Hmm. Not sure changing grades is useless. I’d love a First in astrophysics.
Charlie:
I’ll see what I can do, then.
Violet:
That’s all I’m asking. I kind of need it if I want to become an astronaut.
Charlie:
You want to become an astronaut?
Violet:
I’d like the option at least.
Charlie:
Did you know there are more stars in the Milky Way than there are humans that have ever been born?
Violet:
Are you back on Wikipedia again?
Charlie:
Nope. I just know that. Told you I’m pretty useless.
Violet:
I wouldn’t go that far.
Charlie:
No?
Violet:
No.
Charlie:
Well, that’s good. A not totally useless fake-boyfriend
Violet:
I think it has a nice ring to it, if I’m honest. I can write it in your references for the next time you need a fake girlfriend.
Charlie:
No need. You’re the only fake girl for me.
Violet:
Awww. Shucks.
Charlie:
I should probably let you get on with your floss book. I’ll let you know the rest of Shakespeare’s interesting facts tomorrow.
Violet:
I’ll look forward to it.
Charlie:
Good night, Violet Brooks x
Violet:
Good night, Charlie.
Carefully, I placed my phone on the nightstand.
Tucking my hand underneath my head, I lay there and watched to see if the screen would light up with one more message. Just one more. Skippity skippity skip , went my heart as we waited.
The screen stayed dark long enough for me to know another message wasn’t coming, so I picked it back up again and scrolled to the beginning. There was something about the way he used my full name with the x on the end, and as I reached it, I went right back to the top again.
After the fifth time, my cheeks were aching so much from the width of my smile, that I had to put it down and go fetch a glass of water. Slipping back into bed, I put the screen face down and turned off the bedside lamp. George Eliot would have to wait, a new author had taken my attention tonight, and if I was lucky I would meet him in my dreams. The only place Charlie Masterson had ever been.
It didn’t occur to me that perhaps my dreams were starting to become reality.