Two Worlds

Chapter 11

Cecilia:     “Griffin, where do you live?”

“Near,” came his tired reply. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall.

“Can you show me?”

“Are you um, implying anything?”

“No.”

“Ah, um, well, ok” I heard the soft click as he hung up. Luke looked at me accusingly.

“Who was that?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

“A friend.” I said, shrugging my shoulders. He raised one eyebrow.

“Is that all?” he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Are you jealous?” I retorted. There was something different about Luke. He seemed more possessive and harsh. He glared at me and raised his head, looking down at me.

“I don’t need to be, I’m already going out with someone.” He sniffed. “So is that all he means to you?”

“He won’t be anything more then you’ll ever be.” I replied. Luke flinched, but only slightly.

“So, what are we going to do today?” he asked, pushing our other conversation smoothly aside. I shook my head, this guy. I adored him so much, yet he was really annoying at times.

“I’m busy. See you later.” I mumbled, grabbing my things and leaving. It was after school and many kids were still lounging about, chatting and doing a bunch of things. I weaved through the crowds itching to get back home; or at least to the gate where Griffin would be waiting. It was always more comfortable and fun around us. He would even be showing me where he lived. Though he was a boy, and I was a girl, we could just be friends.  I frowned, it used to be like that with Luke, but Luke was changing. I accepted those changes, but it didn’t mean I had to like them.

Griffin waved at me as I approached where he stood. I beamed and skipped right over like a child. I didn’t care what people- or Griffin- thought. I honestly didn’t think of Griffin as a boy- not that he was gay, but I wasn’t shy around him like Luke. “So, where do you live?” I asked.

“Near.” He said, smiling. I frowned at him. “Ok, I’ll, um, just show you.”  He slowly reached out to hold my hand, as if he wasn’t sure if it was ok, or safe to do so.  It was kind of silly, how nervous he was, but I was nervous too, though I’m pretty sure for a different reason.  As we walked along the sidewalk I could’ve sworn I felt butterflies flitting around in my stomach. Griffin pretty much had a girl, and I pretty much had a guy, so I always felt so guilty when this feeling aroused inside me.

“That’s um, ah, well… that’s um, my house.” He said, breaking through my thoughts. He shifted uncomfortably as I stared, mouth agape, at the grandest house I’d ever seen. It was even better than Kat’s house. It had floor to ceiling windows, about four floors, three balconies, a luxurious front yard, two flower beds, and so much more. It was painted an overall pale yellow with whit frames, reminding me of my room.  There was a winding pathway, with-unbelievably- stones that had carved images and crystals that led to a pale blue door. “Fancy,” I muttered. Griffin flinched, as if that was the worst thing I could say.

I carefully stepped on the stones, in fear of cracking the delicacies. Griffin gave me a gentle push, causing me to step a little harder on a stone, and tripping. I yelped. “Griffin! The stones…” I knelt down, inspecting each one for cracks.

“You do not know how silly you look” he muttered. I shot him a glare. “Ah, um… sorry. You don’t have to check them…” he added quickly. I looked at him quizzically and stood up, brushing dust and dirt off my cargo pants. “Why not? They look like the cost about, $50 each!” I cried out. He shrugged.

“They don’t; they cost um, $100- or 100 card spaces- each.” He said, smiling.

“WHAT?!?!” I cried out. Griffin burst out laughing, it was the first time I had ever seen him do so. He toppled over in his laughter, clutching his stomach, tears springing into his eyes. I kicked him, hard in the shins. “What’s so funny?!” I demanded.

“Ow! I was um, just kidding. Besides, cards don’t run out so it doesn’t matter.” He muttered. I blushed, ashamed of myself. I had forgotten we were now using the simple Zerian way for buying. And I had ruined a rare moment of seeing Griffin laugh. “Come on, let’s go in.” he limped over to the door and I felt ashamed of kicking him, when he was so nice to me too.

As soon as we came in a thin, tall woman bustled to the door, if thin women could do that. She ushered Griffin and me in, without saying a single word, but it felt like she was saying much. She seated me down on a stool, dark cherry wood with intricate carved designs. I felt very out of place and wished I had dressed more appropriately. “So, you must be Cecilia, Griffin’s girlfriend right? Do you go to Laurel Academy too? ” she asked, her voice shrill, yet deep at the same time.

“Actually-“ I began, the woman cut me off.

“Griffin! It’s so nice to see you’ve finally moved on from that filthy Kat!” she beamed, turning to her son.

“Mom!!!” Griffin said shifting his weight. “She’s not-“

“Milk or juice?” she asked me putting a plate of cookies before me. I squirmed in my seat, trying desperately not to scream in frustration. “No thank you, and ma’am? I’m not date-“ I started.

“Well, you need to grow those puny bones! I’ll get you milk anyway, if you don’t want it just leave it there. I feel as if you’ll be much sweeter than that Kat.” She said Kat’s name bitterly and shuffled her way out. Griffin glanced at me, his face a mix of dismay and apologies. I am so, so sorry. He mouthed and walked out to confront his mom. I put my face into my hands .

“This can’t be happening…” I groaned. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I almost fell out of the beautiful stool. I whirled around.

“Ah, um, sorry.” Griffin stuttered. “I couldn’t convince my um, mom…” he said hopping up onto the counter, which was, by the way, made of pink, stainless marble. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “Want to go somewhere else?”

“Sure, you’re house is pretty cool though, “ I said, trying to cheer him up. I felt as if it was my fault that all that had happened. Now his mother was confused, and she was really mean about him liking Kat (though I won’t deny I agree with her). I felt really bad as he steered me out and to somewhere else, far, far away.

“It’s not your fault.” He said, as if reading my thoughts. “That’s how my mom’s always been.”

“What?” I asked.

“Oh, um, never mind.” He muttered. He ran his fingers through his brown hair and slouched in the park bench we sat in. I realized it was the one I sat in when I first met him. I stroked the arm chair.

“Maybe we can come back when my mom is on a business trip?” he offered. I shrugged.

“Where does your mom work?” I asked. He seemed to slightly curl up, like a hedge hog stuck in time, or at least as if he didn’t want me to see his reluctance to tell me. I poked him in the arm. “Come on it can’t be that bad, were friends right? So it’s ok to tell me.” I chided.

“You’ll think I’m um, ah, weird…” he whined. I rolled my eyes when I knew he wasn’t looking.  “Um, well, my mom’s a model.” He muttered quietly, but loud enough for me to hear. I jerked back on instinct. A model?! No wonder she was so thin and tall! Not to mention fancy…

Actually, with a swipe card, work was optional. Except, though your swipe card had so much room it seemed endless, it could fill up. That’s why people worked. Having a job gave you more room on your swipe card. Mama told me the job of a model gave you the most room out of all jobs.

“ See, your already weirded out.” He groaned.

“It’s not that weird at all.” I said gently, feeling guilty for hurting him, with Luke as such a jerk, Griffin was my best friend, I couldn’t lose him. Wait- did I just call Luke a jerk? My heart was farther away from the person who was my best friend since I was what? Six? I shook my head, what was I thinking? Luke was still the sweet boy who had rescued me when I was lost a couple of years ago, and I still loved him- right?