CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Beyond the beauty, the sex, the titillation, the surface,
there is a human being. And that has to emerge.
-Jeanne Moreau
CALEB
I wasn’t happy about leaving Gianna up in the mountains with Jared there. Especially since we hadn’t gotten everything completely resolved between us. Hailey did do me a favor by telling Gianna the truth, however reluctantly she may have done it. I owed it to her to get her home after dragging her around all day.
Before we reached the bottom of the mountain, Hailey started bitching. “She isn’t right for you, Caleb.”
“Oh really, and what makes you the expert on relationships?”
“She’s just having her kicks with you. A girl that beautiful will only dump you when someone better comes along.”
Hailey started messing with the radio and I slapped her hand away, turning it off. “How would you know? Have you been dumped by a girl like Gianna?” Hailey had no right judging Gianna when she didn’t even know her.
“Of course not, dumbass. What I do know is that girls like that don’t end up with guys like you. They may date them for awhile, but in the end she’s going to end up with the quarterback or the class president. The type of guy who’s going to go to college and make something of himself.”
“Thanks a lot. I’m not exactly an idiot, you know,” I told her, stung and strangely worried she was right.
She rolled her eyes. “I know you’re not an idiot, Caleb, but you don’t have the dedication to do things like finish college.”
“Perhaps being with Gianna is what I needed to inspire me. Maybe I want to be a better person for her. I don’t even want any other girls anymore, Hailey.” From the glow of the dashboard, I could see a pained expression on her face. “Besides, Gianna sees me as more than just a fling. She’s opened up to me in a way she does only with those people you met tonight. Maybe even more so with me and that has to mean something.”
“Maybe that’s so, but let me ask you something, Caleb. Have you done the same with her?”
I realized what she referred to. “There’s no reason to tell her about anything in my past.”
“If you can’t do it, she isn’t the right girl for you,” Hailey said confidently.
Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I thought about her words. “She knows I was no angel before I met her.”
“But does she know the worst things you’ve done? What got you expelled this last time?” Hailey questioned with a knowing look on her face.
“She doesn’t need to know.”
“Are you afraid she won’t accept you, Caleb?” She kept talking before I could respond. “Are you worried she’ll realize she can do better?”
“She wouldn’t think that,” I said hotly. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Turn on the radio.”
She laughed derisively, but didn’t talk anymore of it until I parked in front of her house. “You don’t belong with a girl like her, Caleb. You belong with someone more like yourself who won’t judge you for wanting to have fun.”
“Someone like you?”
She grinned, taking off her seatbelt to crawl on top of me. “Now you’re getting it.”
I tried pushing her away gently, but she had a tight grip around my neck. “Hailey, what are you doing?”
“Let’s fuck, Caleb.” She swooped down for a kiss.
I dodged it, attempting to force her off my lap without breaking her arms. “This isn’t cool, Hailey. I have a girlfriend.” With her in that short skirt, it’d be so easy to impale her on my dick. A few minutes and I’d get physical relief after a stressful day.
But if I did, I wouldn’t get the girl I really wanted.
She huffed in annoyance. “Minor detail. It’s not like you haven’t two-timed girls before.”
“None of them were actually my girlfriend,” I pointed out, getting pissed.
“Is she that great in bed?” Hailey asked disdainfully.
“I wouldn’t know.”
Hailey laughed. “You aren’t even getting laid?” She ground down on my crotch. “I’d be happy to help you out, Caleb. It’s been two years since we last fucked and I’ve only gotten better at it.”
Even after several weeks of abstinence, the offer wasn’t tempting. I pushed her roughly off my lap, causing her to bump her head on the passenger window. “Someone has a high opinion of herself,” I joked.
She tried climbing on top of me again. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”
I held her back before she could get on me again. “Hailey, quit acting like a slut. I don’t want you. I’m only interested in sex with my girlfriend and refuse to cheat on her. People change and I don’t have to be like that anymore.”
She made a frustrated sound and opened her car door. “Good luck with Princess Barbie. Don’t come crying to me when she dumps you for Ken!” Slamming the door shut, she took off for her front door.
Wow, did she really just say that? That was the stupidest line I’d ever heard. What the hell did Barbie dolls have to do with anything? It must have been a girl thing.
It was late but I drove all the way back to my dad’s house because I wanted to be there when Gianna got home tomorrow. I wasn’t in the best of moods with my girlfriend camping with that douche Jared. Now that I’d taken Hailey home, I was tempted to drive back up into the mountains to bring Gianna home. I’d just have to trust her like she trusted me to drive Hailey home.
I didn’t even want to think about Hailey right now. What she tried tonight changed our friendship. She wasn’t the cool female friend anymore. She’d turned into the other girls I’d slept with and now had to avoid.
She was also wrong about Gianna. Josh was the type of guy Hailey thought Gianna would end up with but Gianna was never happy with him. That type of guy was all wrong for her. She needed someone who wouldn’t bore her out of her mind.
Gianna wouldn’t break up with me if I told her the bad stuff I’d gotten into trouble for and all the stuff I’d never got caught for. She’d still want to be with me. It wasn’t like I did any of those things anymore. Not since I’d met her, anyways. To stay on the safe side, I wouldn’t go into detail for her. She understood I’d been a troublemaker in the past and that was all she needed to know.
Walking through the front door, the house was quiet. Everyone was already in bed. Up in my room, I took out the drawing I’d been working on. I finished it and started a new one before falling asleep.
I woke up the next day to the sound of a lawnmower running in the backyard. Lifting my head enough to look out the window, I saw my dad pushing it around the backyard. It was past eleven and Gianna could already be on her way home. The thought woke me up the rest of the way.
After getting showered and dressed, I tried calling Gianna’s phone but it went straight to voicemail. I left the message, “Hey, this is Caleb. Just wondering when you’re going to be home. Call me.” Jeez, I hoped I didn’t sound as pathetic as the girls who left voicemails on my phone.
Having nothing better to do, I went downstairs to see what the food situation was. Chance played video games as usual. I found Julie in the kitchen making pies. Every time I encountered this woman she was doing some stereotypical housewife thing. Even when she watched television she had knitting needles in her hands.
Julie chided me while I made a bowl of cereal, “Caleb, you should’ve told me you were hungry. I could’ve made you chocolate chip pancakes.”
Chocolate chip pancakes? “Uh, no thanks, Julie. You seem pretty busy there, with that pie.”
“Are you sure? It’d really be no problem.” Her smile reminded me of the freaky housewife in that Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” video.
“I’m fine with cereal,” I assured her. Was this woman on happy pills or something? She was like a Stepford wife.
“Have you talked to Gianna? I’ve been calling her all morning but her phone isn’t on.” Julie asked while rolling out dough.
?
??No,” I answered, feeling like I was doing something wrong. Could she just stop talking to me?
“Those cheerleaders she went camping with are good girls, so I know she’s safe with them. I wonder if that nice Josh boy went with them. I still don’t understand why they broke up. He’s the type of guy who’ll really make something of himself.”
“Yeah, he’s wonderful,” I agreed bitingly. It went right over her head. How would she react when she found out the truth about me and Gianna?
“I hope she comes home with the good news that she’s back on the squad.” Julie was delusional. Gianna used to love cheerleading but Julie was the one who ruined it for her. Gianna’s old life and old boyfriend were the last things she needed.
“I’m going to go play video games with Chance,” I muttered, escaping her company.
That evening, it was getting late and still no word from Gianna. I’d called her several more times and her phone was still off. I hadn’t left any more voicemails, but did text her twice. It wouldn’t do to come off as obsessive or possessive. The lack of communication had better not have anything to do with Jared. Maybe she was avoiding me on purpose. Maybe she’d changed her mind and planned on breaking up with me.
For the next few hours I continued to play video games then watch a movie with Chance while pathetically waiting around the house for my girlfriend to show up. I never thought I’d be in this situation. Finally, at eight o’clock, Chance had to get ready for bed. I was starting to get really worried about Gianna and a little pissed. Either something happened to her or she’d dumped me for Jared.
I went upstairs and grabbed a six pack of beer I’d hidden in my closet. Sneaking past everyone, I exited the house through the front door. I drank my warm beer while sitting on the side of the garage.
Gianna had better have a good explanation for not being home yet. Lots of horrible images ran through my head. Gianna dead on the side of the road somewhere. Gianna kidnapped by bikers. Gianna doing another dance for Jared, this time without clothes.
Many dark thoughts, three beers and an hour later, I spotted headlights coming from down the street. Gianna pulled her Jeep into the garage and I slipped inside before the garage door closed. As she climbed out of her Jeep I grabbed her from behind, making her yelp.
“Where the hell have you been?” The three beers had only fueled my anger.
With her back to me, she said, “I told you I needed time alone to think.”
“You haven’t been with Jared this whole time, have you? Why haven’t you answered your phone?”
“Because my phone died last night and I didn’t have my car charger because it’s in your car. And, no, I haven’t been with Jared this whole time. I dropped him and Cece off at home hours ago.”
“Then where the hell have you been?” I was no longer angry, just annoyed.
“Here and there, nowhere special,” she answered vaguely.
Her evasion pissed me off all over again. “Did Jared try anything last night after I left?”
She turned around slowly, giving me a guilty look. “Caleb, I have to tell you something.” Taking a big breath, she continued, “I’m not a virgin anymore.”
I grasped her shoulders and yelled, “What? I’ll fucking murder him.”
She started laughing. “Oh my god, you should have seen your face. Of course nothing happened with Jared. He may be all for making moves if you and I aren’t together, but he’s a good friend. He waited until I broke up with Josh to kiss me for the first time and he’ll respect our relationship as long as we’re together.”
“Do we still have a relationship?” I asked warily. “While you were getting your thinking done, here and there, what conclusion did you come to?”
She looked thoughtful, tilting her head in an adorable manner. “I don’t know. I need an answer about something from you first.”
Crap, what could she want to know? “What’s the question?”
Her gorgeous eyes studied my face. “When Hailey threw herself at you last night, what did you do?”
“How the hell did you know about that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Quit looking at me like I’m psychic. It was so obvious she was desperate and going to try something to steal you from me. You didn’t answer the question, Caleb.”
She should be happy with my answer. “I pushed her off me and told her I didn’t want any girl but you. I’m not sure that we’re even friends anymore.”
Gianna threw her arms around my neck. “Then I totally forgive you!”
“I don’t know if I forgive you,” I told her sternly.
She pulled back with her mouth open. “What did I do?”
“You worried the crap out of me, not coming home or calling all day.” I gave her a fake glare, making her giggle.
“My mom!” she squeaked. “I need to go inside and let her know I’m home.”
Before she could move away I grabbed her arm. “Your mom thinks you’re with the cheerleaders. You could come home next week and she wouldn’t care. I, on the other hand, need to kiss my girlfriend.” My kiss was filled with the relief of finally having everything fixed between us.
“What did you do all day?” I asked when it was over.
She took a step back from me. “You know, this and that.”
“No, I don’t know. Why don’t you explain it to me since I don’t speak cryptic?”
She smiled mischievously. “I hooked up with some street dancers down on 16th street. Then I went to see Donna.”
“What’d you go to see her for? Your design is still upstairs.”
Gianna took another step back. “Oh nothing, I just got a piercing.”
She quickly lifted up her shirt, flashing a pierced belly button. When she brought her shirt back down, my eyes went to her face to see her enticing grin. I reached for her, but she dodged me and ran into the house.
The little tease.
How long did it take for a navel piercing to heal? I’d have to look it up on the internet because I was gonna need to lick her there. Soon.