The Stars // Yoandri Cabrera

17 | Secrets

Chapter Seventeen

Yoandri's POV

"Angelia?"

She stirs in her sleep and her mother shuts the door behind me. I slip off my shirt, sliding into bed with her, and sighing slowly. Angelia pops an eye open and mumbles, "Is this your way of apologizing? Seducing me?"

I give her a smile and wrap myself around her, her arms wrapping around me as well. "I'm very mad at you. I've accepted it a little but I'm still mad at you."

I smile as she cuddles into my side and I whisper, "Wanna know a secret?" I look at her long eyelashes, her full lips shaping into an 'O', and her smooth caramel skin. A piece of hair falls on her face and I whisper, "I love you."

She snorts and says, "Doubt it." I frown and sigh, "You shouldn't." Angelia smiles and sleepily says, "Stop seducing me, Yoyo."

I smile and cuddle into her side, curls tickling my face, "I really love you, Angelia." She shakes her head and whispers, "I love you too. Now shut up."

My breathing stops and I gaze at her face, she loves me. I let out a breathy laugh and kiss her cheek, "You love me." Angelia smiles as I butterfly kiss her whole face. "You love me, you love me."

She giggles and I hug her tightly, "Yeah. Now I need sleep. It is just about to be 6:30. Now shush."

I nod and I snuggle her tighter into my arms. "Goodnight." I hear her whisper, "Yoandri. It's morning." I smile at her and murmur, "I know."

***

"You suck a lot."

I smile at Angelia as she glares at me, "I hate you. You know that?" I smirk and Joel comes to her side, "Hey, babe." She hugs him before grabbing her last book and shutting her locker door. "Let's go."

I walk next to her and suddenly it's as if everyone remembers her secret. "I can totally see it now," says a jock. I turn around and respond, "Shut the fuck up and get a life, Justin."

Joel grabs my shoulder and Angelia looks at me confused, "Weird how the person who causes the problem, tries to fix it when it's too late."

Angelia tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and I open my mouth, trying to stop her but only end up with unsaid words in my mouth, and an empty hand.

And maybe a twinge of heartache too.

***

"Lillian you fucked up."

I glance at Angelia and Lillian who were currently fighting in the middle of second period. "I told everyone it was a joke. I'm trying to say I'm sorry."

Angelia snorts and says, "Well having an eating disorder is not fun. Especially when you only tell the one person you think you can count on and they end up telling everybody."

I take a deep breath and repeat, "She loves you. She's just mad. She loves you." I sigh and rub my fingers through my hair yet again. "Yoandri didn't do anything wrong, Angelia."

I hear her breathily laugh and she says, "Yes he did. He made me trust him. Look where that got us."

I turn around and stare into her fiery eyes, "Angelia, I'm sorry." The teacher stops speaking and Angelia fumes, "Just tell me why you felt the need to tell another person."

I immediately rush out, "I saw you and Joel that night at your house, I assumed the worst, I fucked her," I point to Lillian who looks between us, "and afterwards I told her. But I felt bad and if I could take it all back," I look at her and she takes a deep breath. 

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me, I'm sorry for causing you stress."

The class is silent and I continue, "I'm sorry for not being the person you want, for not being good enough for you. I knew I messed up when I left."

I get choked up a bit but keep going, "And I should've kissed you Angelia. I should've kissed you like I loved you, like you were the only one I wanted to be with."

It stays completely quiet and I lick my lips, avoiding Angelia's impassive gaze, "But now you're with Joel, and I don't get to have the privilege of hugging you, or kissing you, or hell even holding your hand. It sucks, and I'm sorry."

I turn back to the board and the teacher clears his throat, "Well, that's what you call a declaration." The class laughs and all I hear is Angelia's uneven breaths, and her pen tapping gently against the table.

The bell rings and I turn around to see her staring at me with a peculiar look in her eyes, "You're forgiven. But I don't want to see your face. I can't-I don't want to jeopardize the one stable relationship I have left."

I nod after a long while and whisper, "He's pretty great, Angelia. Joel is pretty great." She weakly smiles and nods, "Yeah. I know."

Greater than me.

***

"Yoandri, why would you give up on her?"

Joel stares at me and I simply respond, "Because I want her to be happy. And if leaving her alone is what I have to do," I click my pen and scribble an answer down on my worksheet, "then so be it."

Joel sighs and says, "She's going to get worse if she doesn't see you. Angelia is fragile and I told you to handle her with care."

I frown, "I did." Joel glares at me, "No you didn't because if you did she wouldn't be sending me angry texts about you."

I close my eyes and whisper, "She doesn't have to choose anymore, Joel. Be happy." He laughs shortly and says, "That's besides the point. The point is that if she is more happy being around you than me, I rather for her to be with you. Her happiness is mine and I think you should talk to her."

I shake my head and he responds by saying, "Fine. But she loves you and you tend to take that for granted." Joel leaves and I contemplate his words, knowing that they weren't true.

I did not take her love for granted. I sigh and put my homework away, "I do not." I frown at the wall and think about this morning and how I left before she even noticed I was there.

But she loves me.

I smile to myself and cover my face, blushing terribly, my heart beating hard.

She loves me.

______________________________

a/n

See?

It got a little better.

Double update 'cause I love ya.