The Girl Next Door

31.

"So Gisella, have you applied at any colleges yet?" Daddy filled the awkward silence that came after everyone sat at the kitchen table. As good as the food smelled, I wasn't hungry.
"No sir, I have not."
"Do you know where you'd like to go?" Daddy loved talking about college. He graduated from Yale at the top of his class and loved to brag about it.
"I would like to travel." Gisella flashed her dimples at daddy as her mom put a hand to her chest.
"And you will travel after you graduate college sweetheart." Estelle glanced at me and smiled sweetly. It annoyed me.
"Stacy wants to go to Alabama." The last time I told daddy I wanted to go to college, I was a sophomore. He gave me a lecture about art not being a real major so I left it at that. I knew I wasn't going to college and I knew that would upset him more than anything but I kept that to myself. The only one at the table who knew how I felt was Gisella. She nodded and tore her eyes away from the smile on daddy's face.
The rest of dinner was as awkward as I felt. I didn't want to talk to Estelle or daddy and I couldn't say the things on my mind to Gisella. Her lips were all I could think about. The kiss we shared in my towel lit my body on fire and just being in the same room as her had my neck hot. Every time I felt Gisella's eyes on me, I blushed and looked down at my plate. I hadn't eaten a bite of the food.
"I'm gonna clean the kitchen up." I said, scooting out of my chair loudly to cover up the fact I felt clumsy with Gisella's eyes on me.
"I got it baby girl. You guys go upstairs." Daddy said, barely looking at me because his focus was on Estelle. I didn't protest.
Gisella and I went upstairs after I grabbed two bottles of grape juice from the refrigerator. Every time I heard Estelle giggle from something daddy said, I got irritated all over again. When I sat on my bed and Gisella took her place next to me, I couldn't fight the smile that slowly spread across my face.
"You did not eat." Gisella stated as she stared at me. I shrugged.
"I don't really care for meatloaf."
"It was good. You will be hungry later, yeah?" Gisella grabbed my hand and put it in her lap. With her free hand, she turned the TV on and then laid back on my pillows. My hand was still in her lap and my heart was beating extremely hard.
"Probably but I'll sneak down there when he goes to bed."
"I want to stay the night and sleep with you." Gisella smiled. My heart skipped a beat.
"Sleep with me?"
"Oui, do you want to sleep with me tonight?" She asked innocently, unaware of the butterflies floating in my stomach. I nodded.
"Good. I love your cuddles." Gisella pulled her hand away from my cheek as footsteps came up the stairs. I knew she was seconds away from kissing me and I wanted her to. But daddy appeared in the doorway with Estelle right behind him, smiling from ear to ear. My stomach twisted.
"We're gonna catch a late movie. You girls okay being here by yourself?" He asked with hopeful eyes. Gisella grinned and nodded.
"Oui, is it alright if I stay the night?" Gisella had sparkles in her eyes as she looked from daddy to her mom. Both of them had big smiles.
"You're still grounded, Stacy. But I don't see why you can't stay the night. Yeah?" He questioned as he looked at Estelle. She shared Gisella's smile and gave a quick head nod.
"Do not stay up too late. It is still a school night, love." Estelle said as she walked over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. Excitement bubbled in the pit of my stomach. As soon as the house was parent free, I planned on kissing Gisella the same way she kissed me before we ate dinner. I wanted her to feel exactly what I felt. Daddy smiled at us and started to crack the door. He was eager to get alone with Estelle as I was ready for them to leave.
"Have fun, daddy." I called out, not bothering to bite back my smile.
"Have a good night girls!"