The Girl Next Door

27.

"What?! Dad why would you do that?!"
"I thought you would be happy!" The shock on his face was what I felt on the inside. Why would Estelle leave her fiancé and move in our house?
"Happy? You didn't even talk to me first!" I sounded like a spoiled brat but I didn't care. I could feel my neck turning red, I was so mad.
"Stacy this is my house." Dad leveled a glare at me and I returned it.
"Right." I turned around and stormed out of his room as fast as I could without tripping down the stairs. My jacket was on the back of the couch so I grabbed it and darted out the front door without looking back. Later I would apologize for being dramatic but right now, I needed space. I ignored him calling my name as I walked down the street as fast as my legs would take me.
There were more than 2 billion women on the planet and daddy had to be interested in the one that I asked him not to date. I was furious. Gisella's mom was homophobic so I knew it was going to be hard showing Gisella any type of affection if they did move in. I couldn't believe daddy would jump into something that serious so fast. He didn't even know Estelle and neither did I.
I ended up at the donut shop Gisella and I first met at with an attitude so heavy not even the sugar in the air made me smile. Daddy called my phone four times before I turned it off. He would be pissed but I'd deal with that later.
I ordered a caramel Frappuccino and a cheese danish and then picked up a menu. Since I didn't have a book with me, I focused my attention on the colorful pictures of sugary treats and diabetic drinks.
I don't know how long I sat in the diner but when I looked up, the sun was trading places with the moon and it looked cold outside.
"Bonjour, Stacy." Gisella's soft voice brought goosebumps up my spine. I turned around, surprised and gave her a small smile. She sat across from me in the empty booth, bringing a cloud of perfume with her. When she placed her helmet on the ground next to her feet, I pulled my eyes away from her because I was still in a bad mood and seeing her would make that go away.
"Are you ignoring me, my love?" She asked as she grabbed my hands.
"No. I turned my phone off."
"Hmmph." Gisella pouted. It was adorable.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"You were not at your house or the library...and I told your father I would find you." She looked away from me guiltily. I rolled my eyes.
"My dad said your mom's leaving her fiancé and you guys are moving in our house." I vented.
"That upsets you, yeah?" Gisella's eyes never left my face and her fingers rubbed over my knuckles soothingly. It calmed me.
"Yes it upsets me. It doesn't upset you?"
"My mother upsets me, yes." Gisella nodded. "But I'll get to see you everyday." She smiled and gave me butterflies. I could feel my bad mood evaporating effortlessly.
"It won't be the same though." I pouted with a sigh.
Gisella scooted from her booth to come sit beside me. I rested my head on her shoulder and put my hand in her lap.
"It doesn't have to be a bad thing, love."
"Your mom is homophobic and my dad obviously really likes her...what are we supposed to do?" Maybe I was being dramatic but it felt like the universe didn't want us to be together and that bothered me.
"Let them think we are best friends for now, I suppose."
"Would she be mad if she found out?" I asked, looking up at the face of an angel. Gisella frowned and nodded.
"She would take me back to France."
"But why?"
"To her, Americans are...lesbians. And nasty. Not beautiful French women. She would have a heart attack if I told her what I am." She said sadly and pulled a string to my heart. I don't know what I would do if Gisella went back to her home country. I'd be heartbroken.
"So, mon amour, we have to make her think we are best friends." Gisella lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. "Because I do not want to go back to France without you." Hearing her say that made me smile and feel a little better but I didn't know how I was supposed to hide the feelings I had for her. Was it even possible? I looked at our fingers interlocked and sighed.
"Just until graduation." I said.
"Oui, mon amour." Gisella kissed the tip of my nose. "Just until graduation."