Chocolate

See You Soon

"So me and Manny went and saw that Fast and the Ferocious or Furious I don't know whatever movie last night and even though the movie sucked, I had such a good time. Plus he said he would take me to see whatever movie I want next time. Isn't that so sweet?" Maya cooed to Serena and Noelle, who were both elsewhere. Serena nodded along enough to make it seem as if she were listening, but her eyes glazed over when thoughts of Gabriel came to mind. Noelle couldn't even as much as look at anything other than her plum colored nails or the clock, praying for the bell to ring. "Hey Serena," Maya said.

Serena snapped out of her daydream, returning to reality. "Yeah?"

"You have work today?" she pulled a small pocket mirror out of her cheetah print purse, glancing at her pin straight black hair in it.

"Yeah, until 9, why?" Serena asked.

"Thank God. Look Manny wants me to come over tonight but he said I can only come at 7 and I told him, Manny I have work, and he got all mad and said is it because I'm hanging out with that Spinner guy, you know him right? And so I said no babe, but I'll see if I can get there somehow and so I was wondering if you could take over my spot from 7 until closing?"

"Sure," Serena watched as Maya combed her bangs straight down into perfect position.

"You're the best white girl," Maya patted Serena's hand, as if watching over the dead shop (as it always was on Mondays) was a huge task. Anyway, Serena was expecting Gabriel. If he followed through with her offer. "What's up with you, Noelle?" Maya spat at Noelle next. The brunette popped her head up swiftly.

"Nothing." Her answer was quick and defensive like blocking a punch to the face.

"Boy trouble?" Maya prodded. Serena couldn't help but focus on how she was close to the spitting image of her father, which became more evident each time she looked at her.

"No," Noelle answered quick again. "It's just my parents."

That sparked Serena's interest.

"Are they fighting?" Maya asked.

"No."

Serena leaned over, asking, "Are they together still?" Please say no. Please say no.

"Yes and they're kind of fighting I don't know I don't want to talk about it," she quickly dismissed the girls, not wanting to reveal any of the things she'd discovered. She didn't want to think about it and she couldn't think about it without wanting to die.

Serena on the other hand wanted to know more. Gabriel was in fact still married and she didn't know if she was repulsed or intrigued.

Day passed to night and Serena was alone, aside from the cook and Polly in the back. Maya secretly skipped out, claiming to Polly that she felt sick all of a sudden and exchanging a sly smile with Serena on the way out. 120 ticks of the clock and 5 times of readjusting her ponytail and Gabriel walked in.

"I came," he strutted up to the counter with confidence in his walk.

"You don't look too happy," she noted his faraway expression.

"You're 17."

"You're married."

They were both silent for a moment, taking in the obvious roadblocks from their clear attraction for each other.

"I think it's fucking hot," Serena finally spoke up, staring him straight in his alluring grayish eyes.

"I think you're fucking hot," he welcomed himself to the back of the counter, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing their lips close.

"My coworkers are in the back," she whispered. He kissed her and kissed her and she felt like they'd known each other forever, not hooked up once without knowing each other's names. "I'm turning 18," she said with his arms still around her and their lips still only centimeters apart.

"When?"

"Soon."

"I'm getting a divorce," it was his turn to add.

"When?"

"Soon."

"When is soon?"

He threw in a kiss.

She threw in a smile.

"I don't know."

They kissed again and his mouth was like chocolate on her strawberry lips.

"How about we put this thing on hold until soon comes around," he said, still holding her tight. She held him with arms around his neck.

"I can deal with that," Serena slid her hands down his arms, backing away.

"Until then Serena," he backed up too.

"How do you my name?" she asked, an eyebrow cocked.

"I asked my daughter," he smiled coyly, his footsteps leading him to the door.

"See you soon, Gabriel," she mumbled under her breath. Soon couldn't come soon enough.