Keep it Secret (10 page)

“Seriously?” He asked
searching for the answer in my eyes. I knew he wouldn’t find
anything; my eyes never gave anything away.

“You told Talon, didn’t you?
About that night?” I quickly changed the subject not wanting to
focus on me. He looked at me exasperated. Sighing heavily before he
answering.

“No, I’m not that type of guy.
I don’t ‘flaunt my conquest’ as you so eloquently put it.” He made
air quotation marks as he said ‘flaunt my conquest.’
Super adorable.

“Well…well good. I’m glad
you can keep a secret because you're going to have to keep another
one.” I took in a deep breath. “Vanessa likes you. I didn’t know
that you were the guy she talked about during summer break. When we
met I had no idea who you were until today at lunch. What I’m
trying to say…what I’m saying…basically, you're off limits.” His
eyes widen. Anger spreads across his majestic baby
blues.

“Are you kidding me,
Ava?”
Ooh he’s mad
. “I tell you I’ve been thinking about you nonstop for the
past week, hoping I’d see you again. Replaying that night over and
over again in my head. Then by some freaking miracle I see you
again, but you tell me to forget what happened that night.
Now
, you say I’m off
limits because your cousin likes me?” Unreal, I’d manage to piss
him off twice in one day.

“Gabriel, please I’m not the
type of girl you want to become associated with. I’m no good for
you. You and Vanessa would be great together she’s the type of girl
you want. You and I can be friends or whatever.” Why did this hurt
so badly? I hated myself for seeing more than just sex with this
guy.

“You’re unbelievable you
know that? How the hell do you know what type of girl I want? You
know nothing about me.” He stormed away before I could get a chance
to say anything. It was like my heart had been ripped out, put into
a blender and force fed to Katy Anderson.

I need a fucking
drink.

Vanessa

This was the silliest thing
I’ve ever done. Why did I sign up for swimming knowing Gabriel was
the TA? I didn’t think things through the fact that I’d be half
naked in front of him never crossed my mind until this very
moment.
What had I done?
If I was to be thankful for anything, it was the
school issued black one-piece bathing suits everyone was forced to
wear. At least it wasn’t a two-piece. While I fixed my hair up to a
high ponytail Viola and Gretchen cautiously near me.

“Hey, Vanessa.” They both
said tensely.

“Hi girls, I didn’t know you
guys were in this class. Didn’t you say the thought of swimming in
the school pool was revolting?” They both giggled. Giggled, like
hyenas in heat.

“Well, when you find out the
hottest guy in school is the new TA you make an exception.” Lord in
heaven. Is this how Ava saw me? Like a love struck idiotic fool? My
Gabriel bubble popped. I no longer wanted to be in this class. I’m
glad it took me seventeen years to actually have a big crush on a
boy because God only knew what kind of shenanigans I would have
gotten myself into.

“Vanessa, are you okay?”
Gretchen’s voice snapped me back to the present.

“Yeah. I’m sorry did you say
something?”

“The bell is about to ring,
we should get going.” Viola was already at the door.

“Yes, right, let’s go.”
Maybe I should leave. Could I leave? I could skip class, but then
the school would call mother and I’d be in bigger trouble. Why? Why
must you be so cruel? Stupid heart and its need to crush on the
hottest guy in school, oh, no we had to go for Gabriel. Not a
normal looking guy with an average social life. No, it had to be
Gabriel Mason. Damn over achieving heart, curse you! Inside the
poolroom, I noticed Gabriel right away. ‘Play it cool’ Ava’s words
of wisdom chanted in my head like a well needed mantra, he was
surrounded by girls all in their black one-piece bathing suits
giggling, hanging on his every word. The display of teenage
hormones in action was cringe worthy. Shudder. I decided fairly
quickly that I would not be part of all that mess. On the opposite
side of the pool, I sat on the edge away from the group of
chattering birds and Gabriel. I dipped my legs into the water
waiting for Coach Beau to start the class. Staring at the small
waves my legs were creating I didn’t even notice when he stood next
to me.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I
gasped not expecting him to be so close to me.

“Oh my God! You startled
me!” I cried, slamming my hand on my chest.

“I’m so sorry I thought you
heard me walk up.” Gabriel said with an apologetic
laugh.

“Oh, it’s alright. I scare
easy.” Seriously Vanessa? ‘I scare easy’ is that the best thing you
can say?

“Good to know. I’ll remember
that for next time.”
Next time?
“Listen, I wanted to apologize for Katy. She can
be a jerk sometimes.” Jerk was the simplest way of describing her.
She obviously held a place in Gabriel’s heart if he was defending
her actions.

“Oh, you don’t need to
apologize for her. It was all a bunch of BS anyway. If she feels
she was wrong she should apologize.”

“True, but I feel I’m
responsible for the way she treated you and Ava.” He said sitting
next to me. My Gabriel bubble was begging to re-inflate
itself.

“I see. Is she your uh…your
girlfriend?” Smooth, Vanessa real smooth.

“Ex, she’s my ex-girlfriend.
We dated off and on for a few years. After we broke up for good,
she started dating Talon. They broke up this summer. She’s been a
little crazy ever since.” Right. I knew that.

“That all sounds
very…complicated.” Laughing he replied, “Yes, it can be.” If you
could take a piece of the sun transform it into sound waves it
would sound like Gabriel’s laugh, full of joy and warmth. That was
the result of his laughter you felt joyous and warm, it was lovely.
Taking a chance to look up at him, his electric blue eyes were on
me, like really on me, gazing at me. It felt like he was looking
straight into my soul, his stare was both unnerving and familiar
all at once. In this tiny moment in time I knew deep inside I would
never be the same after today, something in me burst open spilling
shooting stars out into the world. I inhaled suddenly as my face
instantly grew a bright shade of pink. “What?” I asked shyly
looking at the water once again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to
stare, you’re very beautiful. It’s distracting.”

Um…wow. Your life wasn’t
complete until Gabriel Mason called you beautiful. “Ah…thank you.”
I whispered not knowing how to respond. From his gaze to his words
I had no idea how to react in front of him.

“You’re welcome.” His voice
hoarse, suddenly he shot up to stand. “I’m glad you’re okay I
should get class started before Coach Beau flips out.”

“Oh, all right, bye.” I
watched his perfectly chiseled back walk away. The navy blue swim
trunks he was wearing hugged his bottom in the most amazing way.
Sports do the body good.

Vanessa, get ahold of
yourself.

Before I knew it class was
over and I was exhausted, swimming really took the energy right out
of you. I tried my best not to watch Gabriel during class but
failed miserably he was too irresistible not to take a peek. In the
shower room I washed off the chlorine from my body dressing back
into my uniform. The entire time I tried my best to avoid Gretchen
and Viola, I didn’t want their fake friendship anymore. Since Ava’s
arrival I’ve found a new sense of freedom I guess it stemmed from
her making me feel safe, not in the way that I knew she would kick
someone's butt if they hurt me, but in a manner that regardless of
what I did she would have my back, she would be on my corner no
matter what. Sad to realize I’ve never felt that safe with anyone,
neither of my parents or big brother had ever provided that for me.
Self-awareness really sucks doesn’t it?

Just as I stepped out of the
locker room doors, I heard my name being called.

“Hey, Vanessa?” I spun
around. Gabriel was waiting for me just outside the
doors.

“Hey, Gabriel” I said
pleasantly surprised.

“I was wondering. Would you
like to go out after school for some pizza, uh today?”

Oh my, was he
nervous?

“Um, sure I would love to
but I can only stay for an hour or so my mother’s pretty strict.” I
replied adjusting the strap of my backpack.

“Yeah, that’s cool, I’ll
wait for you out front? I can drive us there.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you
soon.” I wanted to leave before he saw me blushing.

Wait.

What about Ava?

Crap
.

“Hey, Gabriel, can my cousin
come too?” I twisted back around. He slowly turned
around.

“Ava? Uh, yeah sure if she
needs to be there.” Oh, this was a date-date. I wasn’t ready for
that having Ava there would make me a lot more
comfortable.

“I don’t want to leave her
alone. She’s had a rough day you know.” I looked down hoping he
would understand.

His voice softened. “Yes, of
course. I feel like an ass. I’ll have Talon join us
too.”

“Great, I’ll let Ava know.
See you later.” Eek! I was going on a semi-pizza-date-thing with
Gabriel and Ava and Talon and I said yes to him without throwing up
or rambling away. This day was turning out better than I
expected!

Ava

Heading into seventh
period—the last class of the day—my phone vibrated alerting me of a
text message.

Van: Gabriel invited me for
pizza aftr skol. Come w/me plz

Shit. Seriously?

Me: Van its a date. Im not
goin

Van: He invited Talon 2.
Plz Ava I need u

Aye yai yai, what a fucking
mess, I rubbed my temples before texting her back.

Me: Fine wer do i meet
u

Van: YAY! out front c u
soon!

Seventh period flew by,
unfortunately. I dreaded the end of the school day I was looking
forward to it but now, I just wanted to stay in class. Stuffing my
locker with the unwanted books I grabbed my gym bag. Plan was to
get out of this ‘date’ as soon as I could. I wanted to hit the
tracks tonight no I
needed
to hit the tracks. Outside, Vanessa and Gabriel
were already waiting for me looking like two middle-schooler’s all
giddy and cute. They made a lovely couple. Now if only I could
figure out a way to yank the knife out of my heart I’d be good. We
drove in Gabriel’s black Mercedes in awkward silence it was obvious
Baby Blue didn’t want me around. This was what I wanted I wasn’t
going to go back on my word. I told him to kick rocks, he did and
now it hurt like a bitch. Women: we say we want something but
really feel the complete opposite. Once we arrived Gabriel informed
us that Talon wasn’t able to make it, of course not. Awesome, I
love being the third wheel. Smell that? That’s sarcasm.

The pizza place was cute;
they served authentic New York style pizza equipped with an
authentic New York owner, as we approached the hostess podium a
middle-aged waitress whose name was Maggie, that or her name tag
was lying, seated us in a booth towards the back of the restaurant.
Gabriel sat across from Vanessa and I. Van was all smiles as we
sat, but it quickly faded as she looked down into her hands with
disappointment.

“My mother’s calling, I need
to take this. I’ll be right back.” She slid out the booth to take
her phone call outside.

“You know, you could at
least pretend being here isn't that bad.” Gabriel said, reading the
menu.

“No, you're right. It could
be much worse you could have your tongue down Vanessa’s throat.” I
rolled my eyes snatching a menu off the table.

“What the hell is that
supposed to mean? You’re the one who suggested I to talk to
Vanessa. Turns out, I do like her. Now you’re mad because I took
your advice? What goes through your head? What does it matter if I
start dating her?” He glared at me. People around us started
looking over at our table, quietly I grit my teeth.

“What? You think I don’t
fantasize about that night? How, before bed I touch myself thinking
about the way you touched me. The way your lips set my skin on
fire. Or how your eyes haunt me in my dreams? I don’t know how to
act around you Gabriel. This is all so fucking twisted.” As soon as
the words came out of my mouth I regretted them.
Holy shit why did I just say that?
If I weren’t so freaking annoyed with myself, I
would have thought Gabriel’s expression was hilarious. Jaw meet
floor.

“Hey, sorry about that
guys.” Vanessa apologized sliding to take her seat. “Looks like I
only have about thirty minutes before my mom picks me
up.”

“Really?” Gabriel sounded
disappointed. “Can I…um at least—” He sheepishly looked up at me
like he was embarrassed to ask Vanessa his next question

“I gotta go anyway” I
interrupted, I knew what was coming and I didn’t want to witness
it, I nodded signaling Vanessa to slide out the booth to let me
out. She looked confused but still moved out of the way.