Toxic Bad Boy (10 page)

“
Dude, just pick me up at
my house in an hour, we’ll go together.”

Even better. “Alright, but
you gotta get a ride home from Cece, ‘cause Gianna is probably
going to want alone time with me.”

He scoffed at that.
“Whatever you say, man.”

Forty-five minutes later,
after eating my mom’s horrible cooking, I climbed behind the wheel
of my baby. My dad had done the upkeep on it for me, oil changes
and car washes, but mostly the poor girl had been sitting here
neglected. I could practically hear my car purr
Welcome back, old friend
as I
started her up.

Seeing Dante’s clothes
when he ambled out to my car made me glad I wore something nice.
Although, he looked like he’d bought one of the old man shirts from
Gap. On the way there, Dante complained about having to suffer
through the last two nights’ performances. I told him he took for
granted the access he’d had to his girlfriend for the past eight
months. That shut him up.

I was strangely looking
forward to watching ballet.

Walking into the
auditorium was a weird experience. The closest I’d been to
something like this was a concert or seeing a comedian on tour.
Before it even started, people were talking quietly in hushed tones
and the atmosphere was subdued. I carefully placed the bouquet of
roses I’d chosen for Gianna on the seat next to me.

When Dante shouted, “Hey
man, over here!” everyone in our vicinity turned to stare at him.
Jeez, way to keep a low profile. Turning to look in the direction
he was hollering in, I saw Gage winding his way down the aisle to
us.

I’d forgotten he might be
here. When he took a seat next to Dante, his eyes widened comically
at seeing me. He nodded in acknowledgment and reclined back into
his seat. As Dante and Gage chatted, I realized they’d become good
friends. It was bound to happen since Gianna and Cece were together
every weekend.

When I saw Gage pull out
his phone and start tapping on it, I reached over Dante and put my
hand out to stop him. “Don’t text Gianna, it’s a
surprise.”

He put it away with a
blank look on his face. “Are you sure that’s a good
idea?”

“
I think
I know
my
girlfriend a little better than you,” I growled in
annoyance.

In a disbelieving tone, he
slowly said, “Okay.”

I leaned forward to look
directly into his face. “Hey, I got this now. You’re not getting
paid anymore.”

Dante chuckled between us. I decided to ignore Gage’s
presence because I didn’t want to get pissed off right before I saw
my girl. When the lights shut off and the curtain spread open, I
looked toward the stage for my first glimpse of Gianna as a free
man.

“
The truth may hurt for a
little while but a lie hurts forever.”

-Anonymous

CALEB

Cece had one of the lead
roles in the ballet they were performing,
The Firebird
, playing the firebird
herself. She danced around the stage wearing an elaborate red
costume in bursts of energy fitting to her personality. Her curly
black hair was up in a sparkling headpiece. I was alternately
impressed and amused by the dancing onstage. The opening scene
between Cece and the guy playing the prince seemed to go on
forever. From the giant grin on Dante’s face during her
performance, it was obvious he was proud of his
girlfriend.

Gianna had played down her
role in the ballet. According to the program, her role was one of
thirteen princesses, but not the main princess the prince fell in
love with. It still seemed an important part and she’d dyed her
hair back to her natural blond color before the first night’s
performance.

The princesses dancing
with the prince were slightly more interesting because my girl was
up there looking beautiful. To me, she was the best ballerina
onstage. If she hadn’t missed so much class over the winter months
I was sure she’d have been cast as the main princess.

I wouldn’t ever admit it
to anyone but her, but Gianna looked hot dancing up there on point
in a flowing light blue dress.
Really
hot
.

At intermission I was
ready for it to be over. Walking back to my seat after using the
restroom, I spotted Julie talking to an older woman. Not wanting
her to see me, I ducked behind a pillar until she went back into
the auditorium.

The ballet droned on, only
perking my interest when Gianna was onstage or when the creatures
danced. I could understand why Dante had been to every night’s
performance, but why the hell was Gage here tonight?

Finally
it was over.

Half the crowd was intent
on getting backstage. Dante and I weaved past little girls and old
women. Dads carried flower bouquets in an array of appealing
colors. Many of the little girls, probably ballet students in the
younger classes, wore tutus or frilly dresses.

“
Cece got invited to train
at the Colorado Ballet Academy,” Dante informed me.

“
Is that a big deal?” I
asked, wondering if Gianna would be interesting in something like
that.

“
I guess so,” he replied.
“She’d have to drop out of regular high school and work with their
tutors so she could train full time at a pre-professional
level.”

“
Do you think she’ll take
the offer?”

Black eyebrows drew
together as he frowned. “She hasn’t decided yet.”

From his demeanor, I
suspected he didn’t like the idea much. It sounded as if that type
of commitment would cut down on Cece’s free time. Time currently
dedicated to her relationship with Dante.

He hadn’t mentioned Gianna
getting a similar invite, so I assumed an offer hadn’t been made to
her. Selfish relief coursed through me. After eight months of being
deprived of my girlfriend, I wouldn’t be thrilled about her taking
on professional ballet training.

Glancing around, I didn’t
see Gage any longer. I’d thought he was right behind me, but he
must have took off. His
friendship
with Gianna was no longer necessary and if he
hadn’t already gotten the message, I’d make it clear to him in the
near future.

“
Which way?” I asked
Dante.

Dante pointed in the
direction of a dim hallway. “Cece and Gianna should be changing
down there.”

As we waited outside a
wooden door, girls now devoid of their costumes began streaming
out. Cece came out, blinking in surprise when she noticed me.
“Caleb! What are you doing here?”

“
Busted out,” I teased
her. “Now, where’s my girl?” Pulling her petite body into a hug, I
blew curly black strands away from my face.

“
Does she know you’re
here?” she asked.

“
It’s a
surprise.”

“
Oh.” She still seemed
confused. “Gianna checked her phone when we got back here and said
she had to go. She didn’t even change out of her costume or wash
off her makeup.”

“
Well in that case, I’m
going to check out the parking lot,” I told her and Dante. Winking
at Cece, I added, “Gianna and I will be missing the after
party.”

“
There isn’t one!” she
called out after me.

Going out a back door, I
circled around the side of the building. The parking lot was dark,
but I spotted her white Jeep from a distance. Nearing it, I saw
her. She still wore her princess costume and Gage stood next to
her. He gripped her upper arms as if to hold her in place while she
said something to him.

“
Get your fucking hands
off her!” I yelled as I ran towards them.

Gage released her,
spinning to face me. By the lack of surprise on Gianna’s face, I
knew he’d already told her I was here.
Stupid bastard
.

“
Caleb,” Gianna said
softly, making no move to come to me. People passed by, getting
into their vehicles or chatting outside of them, but my eyes
remained locked with hers.

“
You can leave,” I ordered
Gage.

Panic entered Gianna’s
eyes and she put up a hand. “Stay, Gage.”

Reaching out for her, I
took her into my arms. She felt perfect, right where we both
belonged. “Missed you, princess.”

“
I-I missed you, too.” Her
body trembled in my embrace.

“
Then tell that fucker to
go away,” I whispered into her ear.

She jerked out of my arms.
“You don’t understand.”

A weight settled in my
gut. She was acting strange and Gage wore an expression of
anticipation, as if ready for action. “Understand what,
Gianna?”

“
You didn’t tell me you
were getting out early,” she said in a rush, her words
jittery.

“
It was a surprise,” I
explained slowly and held up my arms. “Surprise!”

She moved over to Gage,
grabbing his hand as if in support. He glanced down at where their
hands were joined before meeting my glare. “You see,” Gianna began
quietly, “I couldn’t tell you while you were locked up because it
was my fault you were in there.”

Even though it was
apparent where this conversation was heading, I prayed she wouldn’t
go there. This was one of those worst nightmare scenarios I’d
considered frequently while locked in my cell at night. “Tell me
what?”

The first tears streamed
down her cheeks. “It’s over, Caleb. Gage and I have fallen in
love-”

My fist flew at his face.
“Fucker!”

Knuckles met his cheek,
causing his body to slam against her Jeep. Gianna cried out in
shock. Stupid, since she had to know how I’d react. I’d thought
Gage would take it like a man, but he straightened to rush at me. I
allowed it, eager to beat the shit out of him.

As we landed on the
ground, I quickly flipped him onto his back, getting in two more
punches before a crowd began to gather. He kneed me in the thigh,
just missing my balls.

“
Dante!” I heard Gianna
yell. Seconds later, someone was grabbing a hold of my shoulders to
yank me off Gage.

I heard my dad’s raised
voice over the thunder in my ears. “Settle down, Caleb.”

Dante helped Gage to his
feet as Cece handed him tissue from her bag to wipe off the blood
on his cheek. I stumbled away from my dad, catching my mom’s
disappointed gaze where she stood a few yards away.

Gianna leaned against her
Jeep, arms crossed, face contorted in pain. “Why?” I asked
hoarsely.

Her head shook, tears
flowing as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Caleb.”

I got closer, pressed my
body against hers as I caged her with my arms. “Tell me you love
me, princess.”

She shook her head again,
refusing to look me in the eye.

“
Tell me.”

“
Caleb, let’s go,” my dad
said from somewhere behind me.

“
Tell me!” I screamed in
her face.

“
Caleb, now!” My dad’s
hand gripped my shoulder roughly, urging me to leave with
him.

I wanted to take my girl
with me.

“
I-I don’t love you
anymore, Caleb.” Her sweet voice was strained but the ugly words
were clear.

In a daze of disbelief, I
let my dad drag me away with Dante’s help. “Some of those parents
looked pissed,” my dad said. “Let’s get you out of here before the
cops show up. Hopefully that boy won’t press charges or you’ll be
right back in youth corrections.”

“
I’ll take him, Mr.
Morrison,” Dante offered, likely guessing I wouldn’t want to be
around my dad right now.

“
Give me your keys.” My
dad waited until I’d dug in my pocket and handed them to him. “Your
mom can drive your car home. Call if you need us.”

Dante ushered me to his
car and I numbly got into the passenger side, burying my head in my
hands. Seated behind the wheel, he messed with his phone. Cece
showed up a couple minutes later, climbing into the backseat. “I’m
so sorry, Caleb! I had no idea that was going on!”

“
Shit, me either,” Dante
muttered.

My head snapped up. “I
have to go back!”

“
No!” they shouted in
unison.

Reaching for the handle, I
was stopped when Cece said, “She already left with
Gage.”

“
Well, I’ll fucking find
her.”

Dante put the car in gear
and pulled out of the parking lot. “Not a good idea, man. She made
her choice.”

And it wasn’t
me.

“
I
liked
Gage,” Cece said in a shocked tone. “But I did not see this
coming
at all
.”

“
Wait till I find that
girlfriend-stealing fucker.” I rubbed my chest, surprised it wasn’t
oozing blood like my knuckles were. It felt like my heart was
bleeding to death and I was sure I’d throw up at any
second.

“
I thought Gianna was
crazy in love with you,” Cece said in a shocked tone.