Why was he holding my hand when he had been so clear that nothing could happen between us? The worst part was that I let him. Hadn’t Nyx warned me?
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” I gazed at our hands still joined.
“You will,” he said, and then he placed his hand on the curve of my neck.
The tip of his nose touched mine, and the joints in my body locked in place. He was so close that I could taste the sweetness in his breath. Somehow, I reacted.
“Wait!” I said. “What are you doing?”
“Plotting a new beginning.”
I set my hand flat against his chest and pushed him away. “Thank you for a lovely afternoon.”
“Right,” he blinked, and took a step back. “My pleasure… always.”
He was half way to his car when he stopped and turned to look at me. “Good night, my lovely.”
“Night.”
My dress swayed in the breeze as I watched him leave, and I wondered what could be if he was just as plain as I was.
I staggered into the kitchen and sighed a little too loud—Claire heard me.
“I’ll bet anything that sigh is worth one thought.” She slid tomatoes off the cutting board and into a skillet. “And I bet I know that thought’s name.”
As usual, she was right. But I’d never admit to it. I leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her chopping away.
“Need some help?”
“Fix us some salad, would ya, hun?”
“Uh, Mom… I’m not hungry. Nyx prepared this ginormous spread of pastries, canapés and some other stuff. It was deee-licious.”
“Better than my cooking?”
“Um… not better, just different.”
“Hmm.”
I picked out some vegetables from the fridge and started making a salad for Claire. My mind wandered off to David and his brothers as I sliced and diced. They’d be enrolling tomorrow. Boy, were the girls at school in for a treat.
“By the way,” Claire said. “Dr. Jameson called. Wanted to know how you were. I forgot to mention to him you were having daydreams about some good looking kid you picked up at the library.”
“Would you stop with that already? What do you want to know?”
“Is his mother younger or older than me?”
“About the same.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Yes.”
“What about his father?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t met him yet.”
“Why not?”
“He’s never there.”
“Well, where is he?”
“Mom, I don’t know. I don’t ask David such personal questions.” Actually, I did, but I couldn’t tell her about Caelum.
***
Monday, I woke up half an hour earlier than usual. The sun wasn’t out yet, but the street lamps provided enough illumination for me to see the stillness of the waking day ahead.
For obvious reasons I was still denying, I took extra time to doll myself up. I put on a fitted black top and blue jeans and a pair of low, wedge heels. I sprayed on my favorite perfume, followed by the scented body lotion—jasmine and gardenia. When I was done, I looked at the girl staring back at me in the mirror. She looked kind of pretty.
Coffee was already brewed courtesy of Claire, who had left about ten minutes earlier; I grabbed a pastry bar from the pantry.
Before walking out the door, I got a text from Andy: “Walking?”
“Yup,” I texted back.
I had only walked three houses down from mine when David pulled up in his car alongside me. He rolled the window down on the passenger side.
“Can I drive you to school today?”
“Can I say no?”
“I’d prefer you said ‘yes’.”
I tugged on the door handle. Big surprise—it was locked. He stepped out and opened the passenger door. When I moved to get in, he closed the car door and pinned me up against it. I took in a sharp breath.
“What? Are you frightened of me now?” His lips were centimeters away from mine.
I hesitated before I answered, “Yes.”
David sniggered. He kissed my cheeks and reached for my waist. The muscles in my stomach contracted. He moved me aside and opened the car door. My cheeks were burning.
I stepped in the Maserati. As soon as he had shut the door, I reached for the visor mirror to inspect my face. Sure enough, I was as red as Rudolph’s shiny nose. David climbed in the driver’s seat.
“That was uncalled for,” I said. “Your mother would disapprove.”
“My mother isn’t here, is she?”
“You shouldn’t play around like that, David. It’s not nice.”
“Why would you think I was playing?”
“Because of your laws, your family… your life?”
He turned to look at me. He was speechless for the first time.
“Well?” I said.
“I would rather we changed the subject.”
***
What had brought on this sudden change in him? Nyx probably told him I thought he was exceptionally good looking. But who wouldn’t think that? He wasn’t oblivious to the fact that I was nervous around him, and he was using it to his advantage. He couldn’t be serious about pursuing me. Or could he?
“Wait.” I grabbed David’s arm before he stepped out of the car. His firm muscles tightened under my fingers. For a second I lost my train of thought.
“Yes?” David asked.
“Oh… if anyone asks, I met you at the library.”
“Right.” He turned to get out of the car again.
“Wait. Where am I supposed to tell my friends you’re from?”
“Why don’t you leave the talking to me?” He winked and stepped out of the vehicle.
Low whispers and stares from the kids sitting on the brick benches followed us as we walked up to the school entrance. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the girls staring in disbelief or envy as David strode by. Too bad I didn’t have any tissues on me to hand them so they could wipe off their drool.
David seemed to grow tense as we walked down the hallway. I wondered if he was nervous to start school. We turned the corner near the cafeteria, and I saw Andy and Bill waiting for me at our usual table. We waved at each other.
“Hey, Isis!” Simon, a football player, greeted me as we passed each other.
“Hi, Simon. See ya later.”
David grabbed my hand and stopped walking. I tried to pull away, but his grip was too tight.
“You’re hurting me,” I said. He loosened his grip but didn’t let go.
“Who—was—that?”
“He’s a guy in my class. Let me go.”
“Do you fancy him?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said, trying to pry his fingers from my hand. He took hold of that hand too. Giving up on the custody battle for my limbs, I looked up at him. Why was he acting this way?
“David?” Eryx’s voice startled me.
David let one of my hands free.
“Hello, brother. Have you enrolled?”
“Yes,” Eryx nodded. “Galen is waiting for his class schedule.”
I glanced over to Andy and Bill who were watching us. Bill stood up and tugged on Andy’s hand to follow.
“My friends are coming,” I said. “Eighty-six the formal talk and act like teenagers… if you can.”
I smiled at Andy as she and Bill approached. Suddenly, everyone noticed David and I were holding hands. David seemed to enjoy the attention.
“Hi,” Andy said.
“Hi,” I said. “Andy, Bill, this is David and his brother, Eryx, and that guy coming out of the office is their other brother, Galen.”
Bill and Andy turned to see Galen strutting toward us. While they were distracted, I elbowed David in an attempt to dislodge my hand, but the blow didn’t seem to faze him.
“Hello,” David said.
“Galen,” Eryx said and put his
hand on Galen’s shoulder, “this is Andy and Bill. They’re friends of Isis’s.”
“Bill,” Galen said.
“’Sup, Galen?”
“Andy.” Galen cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Hi!” Andy said with a bit too much of enthusiasm, and Bill noticed. “Let’s all go sit at our table.” She pulled on Bill’s arm.
“Let me go,” I whispered as we followed Bill and Andy.
“Why?” David asked. “You didn’t seem to mind it yesterday.”
“Well, I mind it today, okay?”
“Is this part of your ploy, little brother?” Galen asked, but David ignored him.
“I’m sorry.” He released my hand. “You have no idea how… different this is for me.”
“I don’t really care,” I said. “You stay away from me.”
“Isis, please⎯”
“Shh…” Eryx hissed. We were nearing Andy and Bill.
The cheerleaders at the next table gawked at the Chios boys. I sat next to Andy. David sat between the twins on the other side of the table a few feet away from me. His brow was furrowed.
Andy and Bill started questioning the brothers, but it was Eryx who did most of the talking. Galen seemed too intrigued by the exchange of stares between David and me to answer any questions.
I knew Andy was dying to know what the deal was between David and me, because she kept kicking me under the table every time she noticed us scowling at each other.
“But why not live in a big city? Why Los Fresnos? The town is almost invisible, it’s so small,” Andy said.
“We prefer the quiet and tranquility,” Eryx answered. “Something of which there is an abundance of here.”
“Abundance of boredom is more like it.” Galen decided to put in his two cents. “Tell me, are there many suicide-related deaths in this place? Because I can certainly see how anyone would resort to death over living here.”
“Galen isn’t into small town living,” Eryx said.
“Solitary confinement is more populated than this town.”
Eryx shot us an apologetic smile. “He doesn’t deal well with change.”
“And I don’t think this place could be called a town at all.”
“Galen…”
“A village, maybe.”
“Galen.”
“Or perhaps a six-person book club.”
Eryx glared at him.
“Hell, I’ve seen leper colonies with more life.”
“Galen!” Eryx snapped. “We get it.”
***
Several minutes passed, and David’s face reflected remorse. When he stood up, I had a feeling he’d be coming to sit by me. I pulled Andy out of her seat.
“We’ll be right back. Ladies’ room.”
We were half way to the restrooms when Andy asked, “What’s the deal with you and David? You two are together already? You met him like five minutes ago.”
“We’re not together,” I said. “He’s just a friend.”
“A friend who holds your hand and looks into your eyes the way he does? Yeah right.”
“Andy, it’s nothing. Really. We just hung out a little over the weekend, and that was it. Innocent, friendly socializing.”
“Where’d you guys go?”
“Sunday morning we had breakfast in town, and then his mom invited me over for tea in the afternoon.”
“You met his parents for tea? Fancy.”
“Only his mom. His dad is out of town or something.” I shrugged casually.
“Isis, he introduced you to his mother. Girl—don’t take this the wrong way—but you are either blind or stupid. This guy is into you. Don’t tell Bill I said this, but David is gorgeous. What are you waiting for?”
“He’s not my type.”
“Do you need glasses? What do you mean he’s not your type? Those three boys are every girl’s type. Have you seen them? And Galen…” Andy fanned her light ebony face. “Don’t tell Bill I said that either.”
“Galen? Are you serious? He’s—”
“Oh, I already have a list. Don’t get me started. But that still doesn’t make him any less hot.”
“I can’t believe you.” I shook my head. “Let’s head back. It’s almost time to get to class anyway.”
***
From the hallway, I spied Jean Murphy talking to Galen. Marie Shannon, the co-captain of the cheerleading squad accompanied her. Galen looked annoyed. I wouldn’t blame him. Jean’s high-timbre voice was an acquired taste. Eryx and Bill were deep in conversation, ignoring the cheerleaders. David looked over his shoulder at us on the edge of his seat. He was waiting for me.
“So, Greece, huh?” Jean giggled in a deafening pitch as we reached the boys.
“Yes,” Galen said. “May I ask you for a favor, Jean?”
“Anything.”
“I was wondering if you’d please be so kind as to leave us now?”
Jean wrinkled her nose, her mouth tight. She turned her attention to Eryx. “Eric, what languages do you speak?”
“The name is Eryx. E, R, Y, X.”
“I was gonna ask you about that,” Bill said.
“It’s unique, isn’t it?”
“Uh… Eryx?” Jean said. I don’t think she was used to being ignored. It was sort of entertaining to watch.
“Yes, please excuse me, Jean. I speak Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, Latin and a few other dialects,” Eryx said.
Galen tapped Eryx on the shoulder.
“Brother,” Galen said. “If you feed the cats, they’ll keep coming back. Please. I beg you. Stop.”
Bill and Andy broke out in laughter as Jean and Marie took a hint and walked away.
David hadn’t stopped staring at me the whole time. He stood and walked over to me.
“Can I speak to you… in private?”
I glared at him. I hoped he was smart enough to interpret my silence as a no.
“Please.”
“Fine.” I knew he wouldn’t stop if I didn’t talk to him.
I moved several seats down to the end of the table. Andy turned away, pretending she wasn’t paying attention.
“Isis,” David whispered. “I’m not the type to act out like this. Please accept my apology.”
“Apology accepted,” I said, standing up. “Is that all?”
“No. I have to confess something.”
“Just say whatever you need to say so we can be done with this already.”
“The thing is…” David took a deep breath. “I’m jealous—jealous of every boy that sets his sight on you. And if I could, I would tear out their eyes.”
David didn’t look like he was kidding. I glanced over my shoulder to see if the others were watching. I knew he was capable of not only tearing eyes out, but of tearing limbs off if he wanted to.
“Jealous?”
“I can’t control it.”
I studied his perfect face. Part of me felt flattered and pleased to know that he liked me. But another part of me knew better than to give either of us false hope that there could ever be anything between us.
“I think you’re confused,” I said.
“No.”
“Hey, David…” Bill interrupted. “What’s your first class?”
David glanced at Bill, then back at me. The moment had passed.
“English Literature, A.P. But there seems to be a mistake. There are only four classes on my schedule.”
“That’s the way the school system works here,” I said. “Four classes, one semester, and then another four classes the second semester. What classes do you have?”
He handed me his schedule.
“We’ve got two classes together—first and fourth,” I said, knowing I would have to find a way to keep my distance from him.
I saw a hint of a smile form on his lips when I looked up at him again.
“You have all advanced placement classes. You should’ve taken a study hall. You’ll be up to your neck in homework and projects with the
se.” I handed the paper back to him.
“I doubt that,” he said arrogantly, folding the sheet and tucking it into his pocket. “Now, as I was saying…”
“Oh, David, c’mon,” I said. “We’ve just met. We hardly know each other. Plus, whatever you’re thinking can’t exist. It’s unthinkable.”
“And if there were a way?” He searched my face for an answer.
“But there isn’t, and I’m not interested, so you might as well forget any hypothetical angles.”
“I see.”
I felt horrible, being so cold with him, but the fact of the matter remained; we weren’t allowed to be together. I couldn’t set us both up for heartbreak. I’d have to be the strong one, just like Nyx had warned me.
“We’d better get to class,” I said.
David shrugged.
I turned to signal Andy that I was headed off to first period. She grabbed our things, pecked Bill on the lips, and joined us.
“May I?” David said, offering to take our book bags.
“Thanks,” Andy said.
David led the way out of the cafeteria. I wondered just how much I had hurt him.
“He’s no Gabriel, I’ll tell you that,” Andy whispered.
“Who’s Gabriel?” I asked.
“Gabriel Betancourt—your ex-boyfriend?” Andy nudged me. “The one you’re clearly over.”
“Oh. Right,” I murmured. But I wasn’t sure I was over Gabriel. I still sometimes wished he hadn’t graduated and moved away.
***
David sat behind me in English Lit. We were handed pop quizzes right as the class started. It was short, so it didn’t take more than ten minutes before I finished answering the questions. I had just set my pen down, when David leaned his desk forward.
“I won’t stop until I’ve claimed your heart,” he whispered into my hair. “And that’s both a promise and a threat.”
“I told you, I’m not interested.”
“Trust me… you are.”
Andy cleared her throat to warn us that Mrs. Lopez was watching. I flipped my notebook open and started scribbling. A couple of minutes later, when the teacher didn’t call our names, I let out a sigh of relief and tried to concentrate on the class again.
After the lecture, Jean Murphy and two other cheerleaders made a huge effort to get David’s attention. Jean asked Andy for a pencil, and then reached over in front of David to take it from Andy’s hand—very unnecessary, might I add.
As she took the pencil from Andy, Jean’s charm bracelet got caught in my hair, pulling about twenty hairs out of my scalp. She didn’t even apologize. Typical. David helped her untangle it, and Jean was all giggles. My curls were ruined. I was furious.