"Can I help you?"
This man who was on my front porch turned around and I was met with the bluest of eyes. He wasn't a man, he was a boy. Well, a teenager. Just like me. And he was standing on my front porch and I have no idea what he was doing.
He sort of shrugged his shoulders. "Um, my parents are here for dinner and they told me to meet them here?"
Fuck. The new neighbors. But wait. Wasn't dinner supposed to be at their house? I was supposed to have dinner with all of them, but I bailed earlier today because well, things came up. And now they're inside my house and it's the worst timing ever. "Oh. They're still here?" Stupid question since he's standing here obviously. I didn't forget we had plans, that's why I canceled. Why couldn't this happen on a Saturday or something? Ugh.
The guy nodded and stepped into the light and my God was he beautiful. He had a perfect porcelain face with blue, blue eyes and the most perfect jawline.
"Crap," I muttered before taking a seat on the bench on my porch and searching in my bag for my water bottle. I quickly took off the cap and chugged it.
I chugged as much as I could with not throwing up and then I looked for any food I could possibly have in my purse. But nope. Nothing.
And this guy was just standing there, watching me the whole time.
"You okay?"
I looked up to him and nodded. "Yeah, I just can't go in there. I forgot we were getting together for dinner."
"So since you forgot, you got drunk on a Tuesday night?"
one two three four five
What? Uhhhh. "Who says I'm drunk?"
He laughed as if it was such a stupid question. "Well, you really don't want to go inside, you're chugging that water bottle and I assume you're trying to find food in that bag. Also, you kind of stumbled to take a seat just now."
Yeah, okay, he was right. "So what if I am? Who cares. I thought dinner was happening at your house, not here..."
He shrugged. "It's Tuesday."
Okay, so he's judging me. But I mean, this wasn't typical behavior from me. "Look, I don't need a lecture from you right now. I was planning on coming home and going straight up stairs but now that's ruined and I'm going to get caught and then I won't be able to go to homecoming next weekend."
Then I remembered I have no boyfriend so wait, either way, I won't be going to homecoming. Great. Just great.
"So what do you suggest we do?" he asks standing up.
Wait. Is this guy going to help me? He hasn't rung the doorbell yet because my mom usually gets right on that so that's good. Maybe I can still save myself. I mean, it's not like I can just get my car and leave. I can't drive like this. I should have had Char wait before she drove off.
I looked up at him with a small smile. "I don't know. I just either need to get in there sober or get in there without them noticing me."
And then I got up and peeked inside the window and thank God you could see the dining room through the window. They were all sitting there laughing and they seemed to be eating some sort of desert. My little sister was sitting there, too, along with another girl I didn't recognize. His sister, maybe?
"I think I can sneak in through the back," I tell him, "but I doubt it's open."
He stood there with his hands in his pockets and did he just get hotter in 20 seconds? What the fuck. "So what do we do?"
I thought about it for a minute. How can we go about this plan? "After a few minutes of being with them, ask to use the bathroom. It's out of the dining room, and you're going to go through the living room and whatever. My mom will give you better instructions. Once you get to the bathroom, you'll see the sliding doors that lead out. Just open it and go back to doing your thing. I'll sneak in, and hopefully they're still just sitting there laughing or else I'm dead."
He didn't say anything for a few seconds so I assume he's taking it all in. But then he let out a laugh. And another laugh. And now he was chuckling and I really didn't know why. "When should we do this?"
Wait. Hold on. "What's so funny?"
He shook his head, but then told me anyway, "You. The way you just explained that. It was with so much passion, as if you're doing this top secret thing."
Okay, yeah, I just heard my voice and the enthusiasm I presented just now, but whatever. I'm drunk. Oh well. And I just want to get upstairs and eat that whole bag of chips I have on my nightstand. Oh my God, that sounds delicious. Oh! And I have that bag of candy too. Psh, I'll be sober in no time.
I laughed a bit too, but then turned serious. "Can we do this please?"
He nodded and then inched forward. I moved to the side before grabbing my bag that was on the ground. I quickly got off the porch and gave him the okay to ring the doorbell. As soon as he did, I went around the back way and stood in the backyard until I saw that he opened the door for me.
Wow, I think I was only standing there for less than 5 minutes. What a sweet guy trying to help me out.
I quietly went in, saw a peek of them still in the dining room and then I slowly tiptoed upstairs before they caught sight of me. I got to my room and closed the door as lightly as I possibly could. I grabbed the bag of chips, the bag of candy, the water bottle I always keep on my nightstand and dug in. I put my phone to charge as I was chowing down and went to my closet to put on something different. Thank God my parents leave to work before me and have NO idea what I wore to school today. My dad wouldn't remember but my mom sure would. She's crazy like that. Okay, not crazy, just... obsessive.
I was already feeling better, but could I pull off being completely sober? Because I definitely wasn't. I was worried about it. But ah.
Okay, I sucked it up and grabbed my bag along with my phone and quietly exited my room and went downstairs as quietly as I possibly could. I peeked from the stairs and saw that they were still just sitting there. Thank God. And before I knew it, I was outside in the backyard celebrating that I actually pulled this off. Now all I had to pull off was acting sober. I've done it before, surely I can do it again right? Okay, just kidding. I've only done it once and I only had two drinks. Not a lot like I did today. But whatever. I had to give it a shot. Maybe I can just blame it on tiredness. I did tell my mom that I was bailing because Char wanted me to help her paint her room. Yes! I'll blame it on being tired if she questions me.
I went around and grabbed my keys from my purse and opened the door. Loud enough so my mom could come over to me like I knew she would.
Yep. "Gabriella! You're home."
I turned around and closed the door and took a deep breath and prayed everything would be fine before facing her. "Hey, mom."
She smiled at me and gave me a hug. "The new neighbors from across the street are here. Come meet them." She told me in a whisper just in case I denied it or something. Maybe she thinks I bailed earlier because I didn't want to meet them, but that's not the case at all.
"Sure."
I followed her into the living room and I couldn't help but chuckle to see the guy there who was just helping me out. How he's going to pretend not to know me. But I stopped myself before they could ask what's wrong and look at me all weirdly. Plus it was rude to laugh in front of people you don't know.
"Gabriella, these are our new neighbors, the Bolton's," my mom introduced them to me, "This is Jack, Rebecca, Camille, and Troy."
I smiled at all of them, but mostly Troy. Troy Bolton. What a strong name. "Hi."
"And this is my daughter, Gabriella," my mom continued, "who I'm sure has a great excuse for not showing up for dinner. Am I right?" Why is she calling me out in front of these people like that? Ha. I shouldn't be surprised. That's who my mom was.
I scrunched my nose and smirked before taking a seat at the table next to my sister and grabbing a spoonful of mashed potatoes before throwing it down on my plate. "You see," I tell her picking up the gravy, "I was walking out of school and coming home and then I remembered Char asked me to help paint her room. I mean, you're always telling me to never break promises so I went home with her and we painted her room. And now I'm here... a little late, but I'm here nonetheless."
Okay, we didn't paint her room, but she DID ask me to help her. So it wasn't technically a lie, we just didn't get to it today.
My mom squinted her eyes at me as if she didn't believe me but she knew I wouldn't lie while using Char's name because she could easily call Char's mom and ask if it's true. But THANKFULLY Char's mom is out of town on business so we're in the clear.
I looked over to Troy and his sister who seemed to be chuckling at my story and it actually made me smile. I didn't mean for it to come out like a joke or whatever, it was just the way I spoke sometimes.
"Why is she repainting her room?" my sister, Madison, asked.
Fuck you Madison! Don't ask questions. "She was sick of her old color, I guess, I don't know," I told her. It wasn't a lie. I just didn't know why. But she was for sure going to be painting her room. Probably this weekend. Or end of this week.
"Okay, enough about painting rooms," my dad said. Well, my step dad. But I called him dad. "Gabriella, Jack here was just telling me how his nephew is the quarterback at Agoura High."
And? "Oh yeah?" I faked enthusiasm. I honestly don't know why I would care about that.
He nodded as he wiped his mouth with a paper towel. Thank God because he had some crumbs in his beard that he's trying to grow. "Yeah, I was telling them that Taylor is the quarterback at your school. And I guess they're playing each other Friday. Should be a great game!"
A great game I am not going to. "Oh I'm sure it will be."
Of course my mom noticed the tone of my voice... which she ALWAYS does. "What, you're not excited for the game? Your boyfriend is star quarterback and they're playing their rivals this week."
Ex boyfriend. But I didn't really want to get into it here. "I don't even like football." No one really said anything, but Troy chuckled. And then I chuckled. "I mean, yeah, sure, I'm definitely excited." I can't give it away right now that we're not together.
I didn't want to divulge private things to these somewhat strangers.
"I'm sorry," I apologize. I know I'm being weird. I'm being really annoying and I think I'm talking way louder than I should. "I'm just really tired. And I think the paint got to me a bit. I'm not usually this annoying."
My mom's giving me this look like, shut up. My sister's looking at me like I'm crazy and my dad is sort of just sitting there with a blank face. The only one who really gets it is Troy and I can tell he's trying his best not to laugh which in turn is making me try not to laugh. Oh boy, I need to get out of here.
"So, we learned all about your sister, what about you, what do you like?" Rebecca asked me.
Okay, calm it down a little Gabriella. You're fine. You're well on your way to being sober, just keep drinking your water. "Oh um, well, I play tennis."
"Tennis?" she asks with a smile.
Is that what she meant? Like what my hobbies are? "Yeah, I'm on the tennis team at school and it's actually a lot more challenging than people think. You have to be able to keep up, constantly be moving."
Her smile got even bigger and now she was throwing her towel on the table and leaning a bit forward, "Yes! I was on the tennis team when I was in high school and I loved it. I still play from time to time whenever I can. It's so much fun."
"It's really big at my school," I tell her, "it's so much fun. You can come to one of my games if you'd like!"
"Oh that'd be so much fun!," she says.
Yeah, but I'll probably play like shit because of what just happened today. My life is over. And I don't understand how I'm not up in my room crying right now. Oh, yeah, because I can fake it pretty well.
Then my mom jumped in. "You can come with me! They're so entertaining."
Oh cool. Okay. So she's coming to my games now. I might regret this tomorrow because I don't necessarily get nervous, but it just adds some pressure on top of the pressure I already have from my coach. But whatever. I can deal with it.
And then the conversation goes on for a little while longer until they decide that they should leave because it's a school night. And I was ecstatic about it. I mean, not that the were annoying or anything. But I wanted to shower and get into bed and cry some more. Rebecca was sweet. She reminded me a lot of my mom. Camille was stunning. A cute little sophomore just like Madison who I'm sure are going to be fast friends. David was nice. And Troy, well Troy was unbelievably hot. And he probably thought I was a complete weirdo or maybe he understood that I was still kind of buzzed when I came downstairs.
Either way, they were cool. And it won't be bad living across the street from them. But for now, all I can do is lay in bed and cry. Because my boyfriend of a little over a year has been cheating on me for 3 fucking months. THREE MONTHS. And I didn't suspect ONE DAMN THING.
It's crazy how these things happen. And I really don't want to be down. I want to be strong and show him that I don't need him, but it's hard. It's hard when you've created so many memories with someone and you realize it's all been a sham. He doesn't care about me. He doesn't love me.
Fuck Taylor. Fuck love. Fuck everything.
"Good morning!" My best friend in the whole world, Charlotte Rose Tressler, tells me as she picks me up the next morning for school. My car's currently in the shop so this is my transportation. "Where's little Montez?"
I throw my bag onto the floor of the passenger side and shrugged as I adjust my shirt outside. "She's coming."
Char puts her car into park and I'm fixing the collar of this blouse I decided to wear. I don't know why because it's such a pain, but whatever. And as we're waiting for Madison, I see Troy coming out of his house and heading towards his car. He looks more beautiful today than yesterday. What the heck.
"Be right back," I told Char.
I quickly crossed the street, making sure there were no cars of course, and shyly made my way into his driveway. He was barely opening his door when he turned towards me. Oh crap. Now I'm supposed to talk. Uhhhhhh.
"Hey," he smiles at me, pulling his door wide open.
I smiled at him, "Hi."
He threw his backpack in his car and then turned to me and gave me his undivided attention. "What's up?"
Oh right. I came over to tell him something except I forgot. Okay, no I remember. "I just wanted to say thanks for yesterday. I'm not normally like that... or drunk on Tuesdays and uh, it was nice of you to cover for me."
Besides the fact that he helped me sneak in, during dinner, I was saying some things and my mom looked at me weird and was asking me questions, but he totally intervened and changed the subject and charmed my mom and all was forgotten.
He closed the back door and laughed it off a bit. "Oh, don't worry about. We all have those days."
Yeah, but I DON'T. Really, it's so out of character for me to be drunk on a TUESDAY. I socially drink, but if I were to get drunk, it'd be at a party. At an appropriate time. Not at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. "Still. It was really nice of you."
He shook his head as if it was nothing and went and opened his door now and the turned back around to face me as he leaned against his car. "Eh, you just owe me a favor now if I ever want something."
I was actually smiling a real smile. I didn't think I'd be able to after finding out my boyfriend had another girlfriend for three whole months, but this family moves across the street, comes over for dinner and I'm smiling. I couldn't thank them enough.
"Deal."
But now we're both standing there kind of awkwardly. Luckily, I heard a door shut and I see that it's Madison coming out.
"Well, I should get going," I tell him backing away a bit.
He nods his head as he pushed himself off his car. "Yeah, yeah, I need to get to school."
"Okay," I tell him with a little wave, "See ya later."
And then he goes into his car and I'm walking across the street and I feel like an idiot. Since when do I approach guys? But I guess I didn't see it that way. I just saw it as me talking to someone. Even though he is very, very attractive.
I got into Char's car and shut the door and buckled up. I was expecting her to pull out right away, but she didn't. She was just staring at me.
"What?" I ask.
"What?" she repeats, "What do you mean, what? What was that about?"
Okay, too many what's for my liking.
"Yeah, what was that?" Madison echoed from the backseat.
They really needed to stop with their questions. It's 7 in the morning. I'm not ready for this. "What? I just went over and basically welcomed him to the neighbor, it's not a big deal."
I can't see Madison in the back but I just imagine her rolling her eyes. And yep, by what she told me, I can tell it was introduced with an eye roll. "What was last night about then? That was us welcoming them to the neighborhood."
"Look!" I said a little too loudly. Whoops. "He just helped me out with something yesterday and I wanted to say thanks."
"Getting you in the house drunk?"
What?! How did she know? "Um..."
"I'm your sister, I know everything," she laughed, "I could so tell you were buzzed."
Great. Could my parents too? I have yet to face them since they always leave like 5 minutes before us so while they're downstairs getting their stuff, we're upstairs getting ours and we really only yell bye before leaving. "This is great. I hope the parents didn't notice."
I turned to Madison and she shook her head. "Nah, they're clueless."
Char finally put her car in reverse and got out of our driveway, "So he snuck you in? That was nice of him."
I shrugged. It was really nice of him but I didn't want to make it a big deal.
"So how are you doing?"
Ugh. I knew she was going to ask me. But I mean, I guess it's best friend code to. "Let's see... my boyfriend of a year or so has really only been my boyfriend for 9 months because he's been cheating on me for three. So, you know, I'm still not feeling that great about it."
"Fuck him," Madison said from the back, "He's an asshole and he's not worth being sad over OR getting drunk over. Seriously."
I know she was right. A YEAR. A WHOLE FUCKING YEAR. "The worst thing of it all is that he didn't just hook up with someone, he had a whole other girlfriend. Another girlfriend for three months. What the fuck? How the fuck did he pull that off?"
Char shook her head as she turned right at the stop sign. "He's shady. You both deserve so much better, unless that girl knew about you."
Yesterday I was sad about it. But today, I'm angry. I'm so mad at him. We had the most perfect relationship. We're both popular, we both have so much going for us, we both had so much fun together. It was depressing. A year of great times and memories... gone. Just like that. It was fucking gone.
Well, it wasn't all fun and games, but most of the time it was. So it sucked. A lot.
"I hate to be the one to say this, but did you not see it coming?" Char asks, and I'm not mad at her. "I mean, it's seriously been so weird, so rocky these past few months. You'd guys fight all the time."
We did. He'd be shady sometimes but not to the point where I thought he was cheating. He was just... distant. Even when we were together. It didn't seem like his mind was really there with me. But I'm stupid and I didn't even question it. I just sat through the torture.
"I honestly don't want to see another tear over him, okay?" Madison interrupts to warn me but I know she won't do anything. She saw me cry my eyes out last night after everyone left and she was really there for me, but today, it's like she's picking me apart.
"Mads, I was with him for a little over a year, I think I should be allowed to cry over him," I told her even though I didn't want to.
"Well, try not to," she corrected herself.
There were no promises. Especially since I have to see him in about 10 minutes. But thank God we had NO classes together or else I'd break down.
