KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 105: No You Didn't (Paul)

She was gone, again. 

Ava had promised me she'd be right back, but that had been an hour ago and she still hadn't returned. I heaved a sigh, looking at my phone and then at my first beer, which was only half empty. I really wasn't feeling this tonight. I was still certain there was something weird between me and Ava, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what. 

So I just kinda milled around for a few hours, chatting aimlessly to people and still nursing the single beer. Finally, I had had enough and set out to find Gene. He was, to my surprise, standing outside, looking at his phone with his face burning a deep scarlet. 

"Whoa, you look red, what happened?" I teased, pretty sure I knew the answer. A small smile spread across his face and he looked at his phone again, shrugging. "I might be dating Christie," he mumbled. "Hey, nice!" I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You finally tell her how you feel?" 

He nodded, smile growing. "Yeah. Yeah, we were texting and I figured I might as well just shoot my shot and she said she also liked me but she'd have to think about it because of my...uh, reputation." I laughed, looking around at the people outside hoping I'd find Ava. No dice. "Why am I not surprised? I wouldn't worry though, you'll be fine. You seen my girlfriend, though?" 

"No, sorry. You wanna try and find her or you wanna just head home? I mean I'm not trying to influence you but I am kinda tired," he said, punctuating his point with a yawn. I rolled my eyes, still smiling. "Yeah, yeah, fine. I'm kidding though, it really is fine. I'm not really feeling this, you know? I mean hell, I only had one beer tonight." 

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Now come on, let's go," Gene said, leading me to his car. 

We talked for a bit once we got back to my house before he ended up dropping off to sleep. So I just sat around on my phone in the dark, ignoring how late it was getting. My phone buzzed and I looked at the message in surprise. 

Bruce: eric sent me this, I think u need to see it*attachment: one video*

Frowning, I opened his text, feeling my face growing red as I stared at the video, watching as someone recorded Gene kissing Ava, as someone recorded him grabbing her hips and pulling her closer before cutting away. Figures the caption was 'lmao isn't that Stanley's girl w his best friend??'

"Paul I need to talk to you," Gene mumbled suddenly. "Oh, do you? Or can it wait until morning?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level. Heaving a sigh, he rose to his feet and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the ground. "Uh no it's...I need to tell you now," he said softly, face burning red even in the darkness. I sat up, blankets slipping off my shoulders, setting my phone with the video to the side and staring at him, waiting to see if he would come clean. 

"Paul I...Ava tried to cheat on you with me at the party," he blurted out, face growing redder the instant the words were out of his mouth. My hands balled into fists and I nodded shortly, mouth pressing into a thin line. "What exactly happened?" 

"I-I was sitting on the couch and she came over and started flirting with me and asking to...well, to have some fun, but obviously I said no because a I don't want to do that to you, and because I don't even like her like that but she didn't listen, she was drunk and she still kissed me."

"That's it? She just kissed you? Like on the cheek or what?" I asked. He took a deep breath, finally tearing his eyes from the floor and looking at me. "No, I...I froze up and I didn't stop it right away. I'm sorry," he whispered, looking like he wished he could just melt away.

"So she kissed you and you didn't do anything?!" I hissed, trying to keep my voice low and not wake up my parents while also trying to contain the rage that was boiling up inside of me.