Fears To Face

∞ Chapter 23 ∞

~ Kayley ~

“So, how were your weekends?” Mallory said in a high pitched voice, clapping her hands once in excitement before her locker. After a second she said, not waiting on a response, “Well, mine was amazing. Have I ever told you about Juan? We dated this weekend and he was so – ohmygod – so wonderfully perfect! He’s handsome and naturally tanned and he has abs, holy shit, I wanna touch those…” She sighed happily, her thoughts in the clouds.

When she kept quiet for three seconds Gwyn softly poked her elbow in my side, asking me, “So, any difference with you?”

I nodded, a smile immediately playing on my lips. “My mother wanted to meet him and he was in our house yesterday. She is more okay with him now.”

Gwyn started smiling. “Really? Oh that is great! I’m so happy for you.”

Mallory cleared her throat, wanting, and getting, the attention back on her again. “Anyway. You guys really should meet Juan. I mean, he is different. He is so much better than all the others. His dark eyes and his dark hair, did I tell you he is from Texas?” She rambled on and on, not stopping on the way to class, or inside, only shutting up when my biology teacher shot her a threatening look. How handsome he was, how sweet, how his brown skin made his teeth look extremely white. Gwyn shot me a bored look every now and then, rolling her eyes. We both knew it would be some other guy she talked about like this a week from now anyway.

During lunch I kinda felt bad for Gwyn, having to leave her alone with still a rambling Mallory to head off to Rayne’s car, but not enough to stay. I told Rayne the good news that I could see him again without being scared my mother would find out about our secret meetings, that didn’t need to be secret anymore. He was glad, back to his carefree, cheered up self, always a small smile playing on his mouth when I was close. Way too soon he told me he had to leave because he had to work, leaving me while the break still lasted for another ten minutes.

Gwyn was incredibly relieved to find me back, asking me when Mallory went to her locker, “Where were you Friday?”

“Home. Mom was sick and my dad had a meeting he couldn’t cancel, so I took care of her when necessary.” I smiled to convince her I wasn’t lying. Well, only about my father anyway. She didn’t need to know the complete truth. I could never tell her.

Out of nowhere she said, “I’m worried about Sam.” When she saw my puzzled expression she added,  “Since he told me he is… well, you know, I noticed he doesn’t look as energetic as before.”

I shrugged. “He’s busy. The finals are coming up and an old friend got back in touch.”

“You say friend, but it sound more like you mean enemy.” She rose an eyebrow.

“It’s complicated. The dude bailed on Sam for who he is and now he claims that wasn’t his intention. But don’t worry, Sam will work it out,” I smiled.

Gwyn seemed relieved by that, switching to another subject. “I’m searching for a job. I wanted to go to some place this afternoon. Do you – uh – want to go there with me?”

“Sure,” I smiled. It had been a long time since I hung out with Gwyn after school, so I was in for a bit girl time, whether that meant watching a movie or going to an application didn’t really matter to me.

So after school I followed her to the end of town, past the shops in our small town, past  Adan’s to Noyo point, where we stopped in front of a small shop with light brown curtains and vases in front of the window. From what I could see on the outside, it fit perfectly with Gwyn. Not outstanding, beautiful, peaceful and calm.