Should I call you a cab?

Chapter seven

-Wait a minute... what did you tell your dad to come here?? - Vienna had just realized she didn't discussed Gaston's trip with his dad. The both of them were laying on the couch with the TV on. Gaston was obsessed with news broadcast and journalists. He wanted to study Diplomacy after he graduated from High school and assured Vienna that watching the news and "knowing what happens in the world around you should be an obligation to every citizen". So the prime time news show was on and he listened closely to every word of it. Meanwhile Vienna was on the phone, ordering pizza, because she was determined to make him forget about his diet.

-I told him I was gonna check on you and go to the Body Arts Museum. Which we are going to -Gaston didn't took his eyes out of the screen while talking but pointed at her with his index to make it clear he was being serious.

-Okey, okey, I'll take you on Sunday -Vienna rolled her eyes - By the way, I don't need you to check on me, you're the kiddo.- she crossed her arms like a little bratty girl. 

-Oh really? -Gaston muted the TV and looked at her raising and eyebrow inquisitive - Okey, big gal, what's the last time you've been out, like, with friends?

-I go out every weekend -she did not clearly thought that answer through and regretted it immediately.

-You go out every weekend with friends? Really? -Gaston mocked, not believing her at all, and sat back on the couch to face her.

-No -she sighed- not with friends, but yeah, I go to the bar every weekend.

-That's not being okey, that's being and alcoholic -he laughed.

-Oh shut up! -Vienna slapped his knee and started pouting- I am not being questioned by a little dancer about my life decisions -she complaint- I'm perfectly fine.

-Oh are you? Your weight does not say the same -Gaston started laughing before he could even finish the sentence so Vienna grabbed one of the sofa's bolster pillows and started hitting him. They were both laughing when doorbell rang and Gaston took advantage of Vienna's distraction to steal the bolster and sit on top of it.

When she got back upstairs, with the extra cheese hot pizza box, Gaston was kind of jumping on his toes next to the coffee table.

-Your phone it's buzzing -he sang pointing as if he were a little boy and the phone was a new magic toy. Vienna though it was her mum calling for the third time that day, so she ignored it with a sigh, while heading towards to the kitchen, to grab some plates- Oh c'mon, Gale must be super cute! -he whined

-What the hell? -she abandoned the pizza on the counter and went straight for the phone, knowing Gaston would have lots of questions she clearly didn't want to answer. She dismissed the call and put the phone back to her back pocket.

-Oh nooo, why would you do that? He clearly wanted to talk, it rang like for a minute -Gaston complaint crossing his arms on his chest while Vienna got back to the kitchen.

-I don't wanna talk, so... -she shrug her shoulders.

-Your face changed -Gaston got back to the couch smiling and started jumping through the channels on the TV- So, who is he? Is he like a colleague at the office? That sounds romantic, oh no! He's one of those running guys and you met at the park, I bet he's hot, runners are hot -he bit his lip creating a million scenes on his head.

-Shut up for a second please, just a second -Vienna placed the pizza and dishes on the coffee table.

-Not until you tell me -he grabbed a pizza slice completely ignoring the plate- do you like him? - Vienna nodded eating a bite- Oh you do! You do, look at your face -Gaston was a passionate teenager, no doubt, and talking this stuff with him wasn't Vienna's favorite situation. She couldn't help feeling weird, he was Bruno's brother after all.- Oh c'mon Vienna, I understand -he lowered his voice a bit, swallowed his bite and smiled from the side- It's been months Vienna, getting your life back it's not bad, he would've wanted it.

That was too much. Vienna felt like a tight knot in her throat. Felt like jumping out of the window, running all night and probably even moving to another state. He was telling her to move on, Gaston, the teenager who had lost his mum and his brother. He was being more mature now that she had been since Bruno was gone. "This is bad, so bad, I can't tell him, can't clearly ignore him, he insists so much, why does he insist so much? Okey, think, Gaston, this is no subject for us to talk about, no, that wouldn't shut him up, think Vienna, emm, he is a friend? no, too easy, he'll start digging up" Vienna grimaced thinking hard, but couldn't come up with any convincing story.

-Hey, Vienna -Gaston grabbed Vienna's free hand- I get it if you don't wanna talk to me about it, I mean, I'd die to know... -he smiled sweetly- But trust me when I say, no one is judging you Vienna. I'm sure you're doing your best... -he took his last bite of that pizza slice and immediately grabbed another, groaning- I'm enjoying this so much, I shouldn't be but goooood pizza is good, I need to marry cheese.

Vienna felt terrible, he was being so mature and kind, and she closed every door, to everyone. She took a deep breath in and said it quickly, exhaling, like taking off a bandit.

-I met him at the bar -she kept her eyes closed not to see his reaction- He was a one night stand, I am not proud -Vienna spied a bit with one eye to check his face, he was smiling at her so she looked at him, pressing her lips, being disappointed of herself- whatever, now you know...-she sighed.

-Is he not hot? Like a two or a three? I mean, that would be the only reason to be disappointed -he laughed- do you have pics? Pics I can see of course, please do not show me you sexting nudes, please Vienna don't -Gaston made gesture like puking and pushing her away, she laughed.

-I have no pics, we've only been together one night Gaston -Vienna felt like she had taken a weight of her shoulders. First time in months she had a real, fun and sensitive conversation with someone she actually liked.- One night, that's all.

Her phone buzzed, this time she had a text. She pulled it out of her pocket to check, it was a text from Gale.

-I think he wants more than a night - Gaston mocked her kind of singing but Vienna pushed the phone aside, screen facing down, on the table- Oh nooo, c'mon I wanna know

-No way, nope -Vienna got up to take her plate to the kitchen, giving a ending to the whole Gale subject. 

-You only had one slice, come here, grab another slice, look, this one has like double, triple cheese! -Gaston chased her- pleeeease I wanna know, I deserve to know if he's good enough for you -he begged pouting- just read his text, please, for me...

Vienna kept silent patiently, she really didn't wanted to know what Gale had to say, not even if it was a good thing. She had already broken too many rules with him and she was sure this could only get worst. Gaston agreed not to keep asking if she would eat another slice. So she did. When Vienna got tired of cleaning and tidying up after dinner she gave up, fetched Gaston a set of clean sheets and gave him a goodnight kiss. She got into bed, with the covers up to her forehead, trying to block every bit of the outside world before letting herself drown in dreamland. Took her a long while but as soon as she started losing consciousness her phone buzzed again on the nightstand, and, between asleep and awake, she picked the phone, unlocked it and opened Gale's chat. She had two texts.

20.00

"Hey blondie, how's that Friday night coming? 
I called u but ur probably too busy
getting ready to go to the bar.
I was hoping to see u there tonight,
I'll invite the tequilas, as many as u want. "

23.00

"Hey, I'm sorry if I got you in any trouble with your bf,
we don't need to discuss the other night. Just friends,
I promise."

Vienna sighed frustrated, sleepy, tired, and a little bit flattered. Dreamland was so close and far at the same time, and the day had been too emotional already. She texted quickly without thinking and pushed the phone away to go back to sleep. 

"I've already told you, I have no boyfriend."