Dominoes 102b: A punch in the nose

“Jump in,” Robert said, his window down and his favorite classical music station playing, loudly, “we’re late.”
“Thank you so much for driving me,” Jenny said.
“No problem, I can work on my play,” Robert said. They drove in silence to the hall, where he let her off in front and she ran in, looking very cute in her uniform skirt. Robert parked and picked up his cell phone, shook his head, and walked in.
“Studying?” A voice came from his left shoulder, and his heart pounded. He looked up, closing the script.
“What is it to you?” He asked, staring at Jervis. He had known Jervis from track in high school, but seeing him here, exactly as in the dream, was bizarre.
“Just asking,” Jervis said, backing away, “Just being friendly.”
“I’m busy,” Robert said.
“Fine, fine, whatever,” Jervis said, settling himself several chairs away and picking up a book.
Robert stared at him. How on Earth could his dream have predicted that he would see Jervis here today? Had Jenny talked about it? Any more of this and he would be believing the dream-Caleb’s silly hypothesis about multiple universes and mind transplantation.
Something certainly seemed to have happened though. He could almost feel the cramping that, he now knew, his mother, sister, Grace, and all the girls he knew suffered from every month. Why, he could probably manage to keep up a running conversation about purses or something!
Robert shook his head several times and then, picking up his backpack, went outside and opened his cellphone.
“Grace, how are you doing? Yeah, well, I miss you too. Are you free at lunch today? Can you come to town? I know it is a bit of a drive, but I am crunched for time. I am taking my sister out for shopping right after lunch, and I would like to take you, too. Yes, shopping, my credit card. OK, great. I will meet you at the steakhouse, OK? Say, 11:30? Great.”
He shook his head again and walked back into the hall, stopping at the vending machine on the way to get himself a Cherry Coke.
He loved his part, but it was going to be tricky. First of all the accent. He had listened to all sorts of British speakers and picked out his favorite, approving it with Mr. Grumman, of course. And then he had listened to it, over and over, until he thought he had it.
But the part itself, while great, was so not him. Freddie Threepwood was a foppish, spoiled, diffident… idiot, really. A great part, but hard to imagine doing well. Not that he wanted the lead. Psmith would be impossible.
“Studying?” Robert looked up. Jenny was standing in front of him, hand in hand with Suzy.
“Yes, wow, you startled me,” he said, packing up his script. “You girls have a good practice?”
“It was great,” Jenny said, and began prattling on about her part and all. Robert listened with one ear, scanning for Jervis. But Suzy saw him first, letting go of Jenny’s hand with a ‘bye’ and dashing across the parking lot.
“What are you staring at?” Jenny asked.
“Good question,” Robert said, watching Jervis open the door for his sister and then walk around the drivers side.
“That’s Suzy’s brother,” Jenny said, “he’s kind of cute.”
Robert rounded on her, “Don’t even think about it,” he said. “If I hear as he so much as talks to you, I will punch him right in the nose!”
Jenny paled, “What did he do?”
“Never you mind. He’s not a good person to hang around with, and I am NOT kidding.”
“OK, Robert, if you say so. It’s not like I liked him or anything.”
No, Robert knew who she liked, and who she pretended to like, and he was going to do something about that.
“Home, change, and Caleb is coming by,” Robert said. “Dress nice.”
“For you and Caleb?” Jenny said, with a grin.
“For Caleb,” Robert said, causing Jenny to stare at him.
“What, what do you mean?” She asked.
“Dress. Nice. For. Caleb.” Robert said, pronouncing each word deliberately. “You do have some idea of what he likes you in, no? And lose the makeup. He hates it.”
“What? He never said that to me!”
“Like he is going to? ‘Hey, Jenny, I really like you but your makeup turns me off and makes me scared of you.’?”
“What has gotten into you, Bobbi?” Jenny asked, quietly.
“I love you. I am taking you out shopping this afternoon. Before that you are going to be eating lunch with Caleb. I want you to dress nicely, and dress for him. Is that OK, or should I cancel?”
“Oh, Bobbi, I don’t know what has gotten into you, but no, don’t cancel. It sounds wonderful. But I thought you were coming to lunch?”
“I have to eat with Grace. There is something we need to discuss. But, don’t worry, I will pay for lunch.”
They rode on in silence and, when they got to the house, Jenny ran upstairs without another word.