The Girl Next Door

43.

"Graduation's almost 2 months away, Stacy. When are you going to put in some applications?" Daddy pestered me almost as soon as I walked into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. Eventually he was going to find out I wasn't going to college but I didn't feel like telling him today. So I played along like I did every time he asked about school.
"I dunno dad, this weekend."
"We don't want to wait until the last minute to get them in the mail. Estelle made breakfast, are you hungry?"
"Nope." My smile didn't appear until Gisella sauntered downstairs oblivious to how beautiful she was. Her hair was straightened down her back and platinum blonde again. The baby blue sweater she wore hugged her breast and gave me butterflies. By the time my eyes reached the black skinny jeans gripping her curves, she was smirking at me.
"Good morning."
"Hi." I blushed and put my head down so daddy couldn't see my red cheeks.
A few seconds later, Estelle entered the kitchen, kissed Gisella's forehead and then planted one on daddy's cheek. When she glanced at me as if she was thinking about kissing me too, I sent her a death glare cold enough to chill the room.
"So I was thinking, Stacy. Since I won't be home tonight, I thought it would be nice if you, Gisella and Estelle spent some time together today. Maybe go to the mall."
I stared at my father with a blank expression and then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gisella nod her head and smile.
"Okay."
"Really? Maybe I can meet you guys for dinner before going back to the station." He said happily. I rubbed the back of my neck and nodded.
"If that's what you want dad, sure."
"This is going to be so exciting!" Estelle gushed.
******
School flew by and I feel like it was because I didn't want to spend a minute, let alone the rest of my day and evening with Estelle. Gisella wasn't excited either. Instead of walking home like we wanted so we could get a moment alone, Estelle picked us up not even 5 minutes after the final bell rung.
"How was school?" Gisella's mom asked as soon as we were inside the car. As I buckled my seatbelt in the backseat, I took a deep breath. Thankfully, Gisella spoke first.
"School was good." She smiled and then turned the radio up. Estelle turned it down instantly.
"And school for you, Stacy?"
"Oh, it was fine I guess." I mumbled.
After a while, Estelle turned the radio back on and let us enjoy the ride to the mall without speaking. I couldn't stop myself from stealing quick glances towards the passenger seat.
Gisella was so beautiful. Her confidence oozed from her body every time she smiled and I loved it. She wasn't cocky or arrogant and that made her that much more attractive. A smile sat on my lips until I forced myself to look away. 
Once we were inside the mall, Estelle was like a child in the candy store. She liked to shop, I learned. It was harder than I thought it would be not holding Gisella's hand while we were out because I was so used to the contact when we were at school but I didn't complain. At least not yet.
Two hours passed before I was ready to go home but Estelle had other plans. We walked through the food court with my stomach growling loudly but I didn't want to eat here. Gisella's arm rubbed against mine and made my cheeks turn red but Estelle wasn't paying attention. I almost reached out and grabbed her hand but I stopped myself.
"That isn't right. It's disgusting." Estelle said sourly, pulling my attention away from how beautiful her daughter was to me. Her focus was on an older lesbian couple and their young daughter holding hands. They were a beautiful family, oblivious to Estelle's judgement. She scrunched her nose up and shook her head.
"Americans."
"Mamá..." Gisella started but stopped quickly.
"I don't see anything wrong with them. They're happy." I said, trying to get under Estelle's skin. It worked like a charm. She turned quickly and glared at me.
"Everything those two women are teaching that little girl is wrong. She will grow up confused." Estelle's English was perfect and her face was turning a dark shade of red. A small part of me smiled on the inside to see her so worked up. The embarrassment on Gisella's face made my stomach flop.
"I don't think she'll be any more confused if her mom was with a man or multiple men at that."
"Okay, I am ready to go home. My feet hurt." Gisella cut through the tension in the air and pulled Estelle's attention away from me and the family standing ahead of us.
I didn't want to wipe the small smile from my lips, so I didn't. Estelle was beyond upset and disgusted and for some reason, knowing I had gotten under her skin filled me with so much joy. Suddenly, I didn't mind a dinner with her and my dad tonight. Gisella's grin filled my stomach with butterflies and gave me enough confidence to make up my mind. I was going to make it my mission to make Estelle as uncomfortable as she had made me and that was a promise.