Until Her...

Chapter Five

"So how was your first day?" Eli asks as he sits down next to me in the common room, with a huge bowl of spaghetti in his hands.
"Shit" I frown and he watches me as I stuff a large handful of popcorn into my mouth, trying to stuff my feelings away.
"I can see that" he gives me a soft giggle, "What happened?"
"Senior Studio was a complete disaster. Apparently, I have to participate in all of our classes, giving feedback and showing my work. And there's this guy in class who completely hates me"
"Oh god, what did you do?" he raises his eyebrows to give me a disapproving look.
Why does everyone think I'm the problem all the time? "What makes you think I did anything?" I snap at him, but he continues to give me that look.
"Seriously?"
"Fine" I huff because he's right, "My teacher forced me into giving feedback on his artwork, and I was a little honest about it"
"When you say a little?"
"I told him I hated it" I blurt out, then stuff more popcorn in my mouth.
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I hated it"
"And now he hates your guts?" he tries to stifle his laughter but he's failing, obviously finding this all so amusing.
"Yeah kind of, he screamed at me at the end of class" Eli stops, and looks at me concerned, "It's fine, honestly, I think I just hurt his feelings"
"You think. Are you planning on apologising to him?" he asks.
"Gabriel doesn't seem like the type to forgive and forget"
"Gabriel?" he tries to copy the high pitch I just had, wanting to embarrass me.
"I doubt he'd accept my apology anyway. So how was your first day, any more dramatic than mine?"
"Nothing that dramatic" he tells me, laughing at my bad luck.
"Do you want to go out and catch a movie with Avery and me?"
"Yeah sure, I could really use a distraction from today" I say.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING outside the movie theatre for over twenty-minutes, wondering when Avery's going to finally arrive. An expensive vintage classic convertible rolls up with its bright red paint, and it looks like it would cost more than my house and a whole year worth of dorm rent combined. Avery's sitting in the front seat with her hands high in the air, laughing along with the people sat in the back. Maybe they're the college friends Eli and I are waiting to meet. I don't recognise any of them except...
"Oh, shit" suddenly shrills out. My eyes go wide and I can't believe this is happening to me again.
"Do you know them?" Eli asks gesturing to the group of people with Avery. Gabriel's climbing out of the driver's seat. Of all the people in New York that she could be friends with, it had to be him.
I turn to Eli, hoping I can hide from Gabriel, I whisper "That's him"
"Who?" Eli's confused and looks around trying to see who and what I'm talking about.
"That's the guy from class...the one with the leather jacket and a stick up his ass"
"You're not serious" he laughs way too loud and now people are looking at his. I nudge my elbow into his ribs and start playfully hit him in the arm.
"I don't think I've ever met anyone with worse luck than you" he says fending me off.
"What's so funny?" Avery asks us as she approaches.
"Nothing" we say simultaneously, we both look at each other continue to laugh gently. Avery looks at us feeling slightly left out.
"Okay, well these are my friends James, Emilia and Gabriel" she gestures to the group, placing a soft hand on Gabriel's arm. Having the exact same reaction most girls seem to have around him.
"I hope you don't mind them tagging along" she says more than asks. I mean it would have been good to know that Gabriel was coming, as I'd have definitely stayed at home. How was she supposed to know when she's got no clue about what happened today?
"More the merrier" Eli says trying to make her feel better and knowing my discomfort at this situation.
"You must be Norah and Elijah. Avery's told us a lot about you both" James says, clearly very polite.
"All good things don't worry" Emilia tells me specifically, sensing my discomfort. Her long blonde hair falls against her tall and willowy frame, and her fake tan and harsh makeup make her eyes look a dark shade of brown. The group engages in conversation while I stand silent and uncomfortable avoiding looking at Gabriel while he eyeballs me with that angry look still fixed on his face. He's just as surprised to see me as I am him. When everyone walks into the movie theatre I realise I'm going to have to talk to him whether I want to or not, because I don't want to be the one to cause any issues for Avery.
"I'm really sorry for what I said earlier, I shouldn't have said it and I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings" I'm rambling the way I do whenever I'm in an uncomfortable position, and I should just learn to keep my mouth shut. "It really wasn't that bad. I mean... I kinda liked it when I first saw it. Clearly, you have a certain style, which is cool I guess... I just mean that —"
"Are you done yet?" he snaps, having no patience for me.
"Sure" I let him storms off and catch up with the rest of our group while I sulk behind. When I follow them inside the cinema there's only one seat left in our row and of course, it's next to him. I mope into the seat and give Eli the meanest glare I can muster, he really should have saved me a seat. I should have bailed when I had the chance, except now I'm stuck next to him for the next two hours.
"Can I help you?" Gabriel catches me staring at him, and I didn't even realise I was doing it. I look back towards the screen knowing that I'm blushing and I hope that this movie will start so I can leave as soon as possible.
"Sorry"
"You apologise a lot, you know that?" he seriously doesn't like me. Argh, he's trying to antagonize me and I refuse to let him get under my skin.
"I've been told... sorry" I slap my forehead and turn a deeper shade of red. A slight smile appears on his lips, but it fades as quickly as it appears. Why did I even agree to come to the movies? This whole day has become a total nightmare. Avery and Emilia decided on a stupid rom-com, and of course, Eli agreed too. I tried to persuade them to watch something else, anything else, but they weren't having it.
"You don't like romcoms?" Emilia asks me in astonishment.
"I wouldn't get her started if I were you. The first time we had a movie night, Norah spent 30 minutes on all the reasons why romance movies suck " Eli tells everyone.
"It's true. Girl meets boy and he gives her once miserable life meaning and happiness. It's bullshit. And boring" I say putting my finger made gun to my head, actioning my distaste for these films.
"You aren't serious?" Emilia says.
"They're all lies set to a terrible soundtrack and cheesy one-liners. It's the same predictable crap"
"You know what it is, Norah doesn't like a happy ending" Avery rolls her eyes at me, but in a playful way. Because she's heard this all before.
"It's not the end though. They just stop it there because everything that after that is shit" I say. James is laughing thinking I'm funny and Gabriel has a smirk on his face, but he's starring off at a group of girls who are watching him. Clearly not bothered about listening to what anyone has to say.
"Syndical much" Emilia huffs under her breath and gives me an unfriendly look.
"Well, we're still going to see it so suck it up" Eli tells me. And the movie is complete trash, just like I predicted. But an echo in my ear breaks my complaining thoughts, and I turn to see Gabriel looking over at me.
"You really hate romcoms, don't you? Is that a British thing?" The anger on his face is gone. Instead, he's looking at me intently like he's investigating my face.
"I don't hate them per se. I think they give girls false hope that life is some sort of fairytale with a perfect ending when it's not" I try to justify myself. But from the look he's giving me, he clearly thinks I'm some kind of psycho.
"Look... I shouldn't have been rude to you today. Can we start over?" he offered and I'm relieved that he's no longer holding a grudge. Maybe now we can try and be friendly for Avery's sake and our own, seeing as we'll be in classes together for a whole year.
"Really? That would be great and I really am sorry about today... not about what I said, but how I said it. I shouldn't have been so, honest I guess. Sometimes my mouth speaks before my brain can even think" I ramble on.
"Like what you're doing right now?" he says with a pleased grin. He's just been making fun of me this whole time. He never wanted to apologise or make amends with me, he only wanted me flustered and neurotic. He really is a piece of work. I face the screen and fold my arms to show my exasperation for him. I wish I could think of some fiery comeback, but I'm just too agitated to say anything. And I'm trying hard to keep my temper at bay.
After a few minutes, he sighs and says, "Silent treatment really? You keep saying shit about my work and I'm the one getting the silent treatment, childish much"
I roll my eyes, "Get over it. Just cause I didn't ogle all over you like the other girls in class doesn't mean you can be rude to me" I tell him sternly, turning back towards him, and somehow our faces have gotten closer. I stare and see that he really is quite attractive, but he's more annoying.
"I know I offended you and I understand being defensive, but I've apologised enough now. So stop being such a dick to me" I demand. He leans even closer to me his deep blue eyes staring intensely at mine, assessing me like he's searching for something, "What do you want from me?"
"I haven't decided yet" his voice calm and deep as his eyes pour into mine. I get a tingling sensation in my gut that I've never felt before and he slowly leans in. I take a sharp nervous breath and I can smell the citrus coming from his hair. Overwhelming panic takes over me and I quickly shift back into my chair, feeling flustered. What was that? He starts laughs at me under his breath and I go back to watching this movie in awkward silence.