The ride

CHAPTER 7

COLE

I don't know what just happened. Why I kissed him. I just felt this sudden feeling that I wanted it, this weird urge to... And I don't even like men. I won't lie though, I got really disappointed that he didn't kiss me back. That was a first. First time kissing a man, and first time not being corresponded.

Well, I never felt attracted to men, but he has something... The way he talks and his way of thinking. Like he can see through me sometimes... I mean, it's so comfortable being around him. Even when he said he wouldn't forget what happened I felt more relaxed and I could tell he wasn't lying to me. But still... Why did I kiss him?

"Cole...", he called me back to reality

"I feel like going to that party of your friend, how about you?", he asked, and I was gratefully for the change of subject.

"Hell yeah!"

***

We were getting near the party and I was feeling excited and a little anxious. It's been a long time since I haven't really talked to Mila. I hope that everything goes alright. I mean, I don't think there will be any drama. Mila's always been very straightforward with her feelings. She makes it seem so easy. Probably she's going to hit and blame me for our distance growing far away a long the time. I'll admit though, she tried to keep in touch, while I was always thinking to reply to her soon. This soon, from hours, turned out to be days, and even weeks. And that's how we just stopped talking.

I confess I miss talking to her. She's always been a great listener, just like Vic. And she always knew what to say to me. Giving me a lot of advice every now and then. Damn, I really miss her now...

Then I look to my right, thinking Vic would be watching me with my internal struggle, and I almost laugh as he's typing furiously on his laptop.

"Hey, what are you writing in there? You've been doing it for ages ever since I met you", he pauses then looks at me, thinking.

"I do not wish to talk about it, please don't ask me again", ouch! Well, okay, I think this is the type of answer you'd never expect to get. But it actually matches his personality in some points, I mean, when he's gotta say something he makes it very clear. At least with me.

"Fine, fine, I won't ask again. Sorry for stepping over the line, my mistake", I made sure to let him know that it wouldn't happen again, our personalities do not seem to fit most part of the time, which is weird, because I like spending time with him.

"No, I think you misunderstood", I look at him like, what? "I mean, it was fine asking what you wanted. You can ask me anything and that's fine by me. I wouldn't get mad at you just because of something you want to know about me. It's just that there are things I don't like to share. At least for now. And those things I'll let you know, okay?", it seems I never choose the right things to say with him, he's full of surprises or kind of hard to read. I like that, that's different, "But I'm not mad or anything like that, don't worry", he said that last sentence smiling.

"Why thank you for letting me know that. You're very unpredictable yourself, did you know that?", it's true! But it makes me want to know him even more.

What else is he hiding under that calm face? It seems he can fight, at least better than me. To be fair, anyone could fight better than me. I still don't know why I thought I'd hit him that time. Just lost control again... Come on Cole, you are better than that.

What else? Ah, he says he speaks 7 languages. Which is somewhat impressive for someone at our age. I barely speak 3. And that's because I grew up speaking French and English. I only learned a little of Spanish because of my best friend, Nicolás. In fact, Mila, him and me were very close when we were young. At least Nicolás still plays with me.

"Yeah, I've been told that a few times", that's all he manages to say making me go back to reality. And as I check where we are, as I was driving basically in auto pilot mode while thinking, I see whe are only two blocks from the house.

**

Pulling over, near the house, I feel myself getting a little anxious, but I guess I don't let it show, because Vic hasn't reacted at all about it. We enter the house and I look for Mila while Victor is following right behind me.

"Cole?", I hear someone calling my name, and it's been a long time since I have felt this happy to hear that voice. I turn around smiling, "Happy b-", I am interrupted by a big smack in my face. Yep, I was expecting that already. Classic Mila, right?

"Что он здесь делает? Разве ты не бросил ее давно?", I hear someone talking in a strange language behind Mila.

"Anastasiya! Glad to see you again", How could I forget Mila was dating Anastasiya? They've been dating for ages. Almost what, 10 years?

"О, брось дерьмо, Cole!"She still doesn't get that I can't speak Russian, I understand only my name everytime she talks to me. But sometimes I get the feeling she doesn't like me very much, and I can't figure why.

"English speaker here. Help me out, Ana. Come on", I smile at her once again, hoping to be greeted properly. But she only shrugs and tries to leave with Mila, but she's just looking at me with fixed eyes.

"It's been a long time since I last heard your voice, you know...", she tells me smiling "How are you doing?", And I see in her eyes. Those eyes that know me so well.

"I'm great actu-", I tried to answer, but she wouldn't let me.

"I mean... How are you really doing?", Damn it. I tried to avoid what she meant, but she didn't let me do it. I just give her a forced smile, she understands me well enough to know what I meant with that.

"I missed you so much, Mils", I keep talking. "you have no idea, and I just wasn't sure if you wanted to see me after I left you, so I never tried to contact you, and I-", she put her finger in my mouth, shushing me, calmly smiling.

"Come here", she opens her arms to hug me. And so I hug her too. That was awesome. She was awesome.

After our long embrace, we talk a little bit and I introduce Vic as my friend to Mils and Ana, but he just says a small hi, and says he's going to find food. Mils thinks he's shy, and so does Ana, but I know better - at least I think I do, I'm always wrong about him -, Vic's not shy. He just doesn't talk much, and he must be the type that does not deny free food in front of him, so I can't blame him.

As Mils and I catch up on many things ever, I notice Ana wouldn't mutter a single word towards me. Only in Russian. I asked Mils, she said Ana's still upset for me leaving them out of the blue. I am also impressed by Mils Russian. She always struggled to speak any language besides English, even when Ana tried to teach her. But now it seems she can perfectly speak it. I wouldn't know, but that's what she says.

"Hey!", I heard someone shout at us, it was Vic. He had his mouth full of food, so he couldn't talk properly. He just gestured his hands towards his pocket and I suddenly remembered. The gift I bought to Mils! Of course! I hand her a piece of paper while wishing her the best of the best.

As she reads the line I see how glad she is, "You remembered. You really did. I can't believe it! When are we going?", she's all excited by now. That's good. Wouldn't want it any other way.

All the dates I am available are marked down. You just gotta choose and then we jump in that ship. Yes. I bought us tickets for seven days on a cruise. Ever since we were little she said she wanted to go to one of those, and I had promised her that as soon as I get famous and have enough money, I'd pay us for that trip. So here it is. And I'm extremely happy she's happy. She goes tell her girlfriend about the tickets and I turn to Vic, who was just smiling, but I couldn't know if it was because of Mila and I or because he was still eating.

"Thank you, you know", I say to him. He just waves his hand as if he didn't have anything to do with us. "You had a big part in this, you just don't know it yet", he just shrugged and kept eating while I laughed at this.