Best Kept Private
Chapter two- The Gossips
Monica and Elena walked side by side on their way to morning classes. Both of their classes were in the same general direction. Though they waved to a few friends on their way, besides each other they didn't have friends. Everyone knew that they were only loyal to each other and while they were friendly with everyone nobody truly trusted them.
"Get this, I think he wants carry me home to his family this winter break."
"Johnny?" Monica questioned sceptically, "his family is a big deal with him. You sure you're not reading him wrong?"
"Please, men are so damn gullible. I'll seal the deal before Winter Break. If I'm in with his family that's just one step closer to being Mrs. Johnny Tran. Daddy keeps talking 'imma cut you off' talk and I'm clocking eighteen so I need a back up plan."
"You're going to sleep with him, you do know the chances of him marrying you are slim to none right. Even if he carries you home for Winter Break."
"If you knew how much he was worth we wouldn't be having this discussion."
"You gold digging slut." Monica nudged her shoulder laughing.
"It's not gold digging. Our relationship is quid pro quo, he gets to be in a relationship with head cheerleader and live the high school dream and I'm repaid for my services with his family's multimillion dynasty. He just doesn't know that."
Monica shook her head, she could relate to her friend being in a convenient relationship herself. Roman was a hot football player she was a hot cheerleader there was no reason to say no when he asked her out and they'd been going since. She couldn't be sure if she had developed feelings for him overtime or if she had feelings for him from the get go. She was comfortable so why not?
"I have to stop by the bulletin board before Chemistry. I'll see you in a bit?"
Elena nodded and gave her friend a brief hug as they parted ways for just a short time.
Monica held her books with one hand as she skimmed the bulletin board to see if anyone was interested in tutoring her in Chemistry. She had a tutor last semester but he had graduated, she had started school a week late and by that time all the honour kids were taken. She would check every morning but without any luck.
She released a frustrated growl and realized she wasn't alone, she didn't want to pass off as a psycho to handsome blonde guys.
"Thinking about trying out?" She asked and he pulled his hand away from the notice about football try outs.
"Just a thought." He looked at her and her jaw all but hit the floor.
"Oh my gosh, you're that guy."
"What guy?"
"From TMZ and every other gossip rag."
She could tell by the way he reacted he most definitely was that guy.
"No I'm not."
He hurried away leaving Monica with no time to think about it as she hurried to Chemistry.
As she entered the classroom she bounced into Letty who looked unusually dishelvled. Her uniform was disarray and her hair that was usually straight in the morning was still in wild curls. Monica helped her pick up her textbooks from the floor.
"Thanks Mon."
"Don't mention it."
Letty took her seat next to Dom just as Mr. Tanner wrote METALS v.s NON METALS on the whiteboard.
"I thought I'd surprise you and walk you to class but you were already gone this morning." Dom told her as she settled on the stool next to him.
"Sorry, if I had known you were coming I would have waited."
"It's okay, then it wouldn't have been a surprise. Were you training?"
She was usually more put together on morning starting her day at four o' clock but she just looked out of it and he was worried.
"No, I went to the admin office just to find out something."
"Judging by that face you didn't like what you found out. What is it?"
"It's-"
"Toretto and Ortiz unless you're discussing the differences between metals and nonmetals can it!" Mr. Tanner scolded the two.
"Forget it." She whispered opening her book to the designated page.
Dom didn't like that answer at all or how undone she looked. She may have thought it was the end of the conversation but he wasn't going to let it go.
The lesson began five minutes later after the new kid came in, Dom had seen him popping up everywhere he went so he waved him over to the empty stool across from him and Letty.
"Dom, that's Letty." Dom introduced them, Letty wasn't feeling very social that morning. Only when Dom spoke she realized they were not alone.
"Hey blondie." Letty waved.
Brian nodded and waved them both thankful that he didn't have to go through the awkward new guy stage where no one would want to sit with him.
"I'm Brian."
Brian barely focused in class, not like he could if he tried. Dominic and Letty were something to marvel at. If he didn't know they were already dating he would have assumed that they both had unhealthy obsessions with the other. The lingering looks she'd give him and the way he'd find every possible excuse to touch her during class. He was almost jealous of what they obviously had with each other.
He wanted that but knew with his mistakes hanging over his head it probably wasn't going to happen.
Half heartedly taking notes he didn't realize when they were dismissed.
"Dominic and Leticia since you were so proactive this morning I'm leaving it up to you to get Mr. O' Connor caught up with the topics from this term." Mr. Tanner said as they filled out of the class.
"Don't worry Brian, you can have my notebook. Just get it back to me before our next class."
Without another word she had ran off with Dom running behind her.
Dom caught up with Letty in the middle of the quad.
"I'm walking you to your next class." He put his arm around her and she gave in immediately.
"You were saying?"
"I don't wanna talk about it Dom. I'm fine."
"Hey don't tell me your fine. I don't believe it."
She stopped him from taking another step with a kiss having to go on the tip of her toes and clasped her arms around his neck.
"You feel that?"
"You know I do."
"Then believe that, you go or you'll be late for English. I got it."
He didn't try and follow her. They had a silent understanding about nagging, they just didn't do it. She would come to him when she was ready because he did the same with all of his problems. He turned on his heels and walked in the direction of his English class.
"Hey Dom, we're going to be late." Elena was suddenly at his side.
"Don't remind me, I hate Gideon, guy is a total tool."
Elena walked beside him nodding.
"What's up with Letty?"
"I think she's keeping something from me."
"Duh, every girl is keeping something from her boyfriend." She said matter of factly.
"What were you keeping from me when we were dating?"
"That I was madly in love Vince all along."
"That isn't funny."
"It is, I'm kidding. It's probably just her period."
"It isn't. She gets back pains. I usually give her a massage."
She whacked his arm and he laughed knowing what was coming.
"You didn't give me a massage."
"You didn't ask."
"Like she has to, I bet you volunteer."
"You can't prove that."
As hard as she tried she couldn't keep a straight face and laughed along with him eventually.
"She'll tell you when she's ready. We're girls, we're just complicated."
"Speaking of complicated. How's Johnny?"
"He's okay. He's no you...obviously."
"Obviously. But seriously, he treats you good doesn't he?"
"Yes, and you have one too many relationships to worry about. He's good to me."
"If you say so."
"I do say so," She nudged him and saw Monica coming there way, they were all in the same English class. The two girls embraced like they hadn't seen each other in years.
"Oh look it's your better half Monica Fuentes."
"Dom, hey. You were always jealous when you and Elena were dating. And yes I still come first."
"I was not jealous."
"Yeah you were and for the record I had no problem with your bromance with Vince." Elena said but Dom rolled his eyes.
"Me and Vince do not have a bromance."
"You do too. Now what are we talking about?"
"Dom's hassling me about Johnny to deflect his own insecurities that something is wrong in his puurrrfect relationship with Letty."
"It's probably just her period." Monica suggested like she had solved the problem single handedly.
"Is that the only problem girls have because you two are not helping."
"Sorry, you should talk to her. Ask what's wrong."
"We don't like to nag each other."
"If it wasn't bothering you then we wouldn't be having this conversation but if you think you can just go on without knowing what's bothering her then by all means go ahead."
"I hate it when you two are right."
They laughed hugging either of his sides.
"Come on, Gideon is a hardass we can't be late."
"Settle down children. Mr. Gideon is out today with chicken pox." The Dean only barely managed to be heard above the chatter.
The class erupted in cheers. Dom leaned over to Elena laughing, "what grown man gets chicken pox."
"But, we've arranged for a study hall session."
They cheered anyway knowing it was as good as a free period unless it was supervised.
"Supervised."
He left the class giving Dom just five minutes to ditch before their supervisor arrived.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Letty. Cover for me?"
"Okay, you're in the bathroom."
He ran out leaving Monica to take the seat he occupied next to Elena.
"He's such a great guy, God knows why you gave him up for Johnny."
"I never told you this but I do regret leaving him for Johnny."
"You didn't have to tell me that babe. I already knew."
"By the time I realized the mistake I made he was already hanging out with Letty."
"You're lucky he still talks you after how things went down."
"Is your job to make me feel horrible today."
"No, I'm sorry babe."
"Point is I'm happy with Johnny-sorta and he's happy with Letty."
"Yeah poor girl could use it."
"Just because she's a scholarship kid doesn't mean you have to call her poor."
"That's not how I meant it. You didn't know?"
"Know what?" Elena leaned in smelling the gossip on her best friend's tongue.
"She's not poor, far from it. She's more loaded than Johnny Tran."
"Shut the front door. Maybe I should date her instead. Wait then why is she on scholarship?"
"Two words, evil stepmother."
"Noooo...wait how do you even know about this."
"You know Roman is part of their inner circle and he has a big mouth. Anyway, when Letty's dad died her stepmother was under the impression that she'd get everything but boy was she wrong. He left everything to his only child Letty. Can you imagine not having siblings to share an inheritance with."
"I wish. So did her stepmom take her money and that's why she's on scholarship?"
"Nope, meany mom couldn't get to her money. Her father made sure of that when he was alive, meany mom kicked Letty out of the house, literally."
"Oh yeah, I heard she was in foster care for like five days."
"More like six months before they got a hold of her biological mother who Letty hadn't spoken to or seen since she was like five. Letty's dad got custody of her when they divorced, probably because he was the one with the multi million company lawyers."
"So does she and her mother get along?"
"I guess but how awkward would that be calling someone who's basically a stranger 'mom'."
"Way awkward but what happened to her inheritance?"
"It's still there, get this, she also has a trust with the earnings from her father's company. His fifty-one percent of the company is now hers so the profit that company makes every year has been put in a trust for her since her father deaths."
"Holy shit, she's fucking loaded."
"But she can't lay a finger on any of it until she's twenty-one."
"That poor thing, it's a good thing I let her have Dom. She has nothing outside this school, well until she's twenty-one."
"Oh puh-lease. Dom was no longer yours the moment he met Letty. If you had a chance to do it all over again what would you do?"
"I'd hold on to him and never let him go. She would have to claw my fingers off him but I've hurt him too much to even try and do that."
"I don't know about, I mean after all the bullshit he still treats you like your his best friend. I think he still has feelings for you."
"That was just Dom being Dom, he's a good guy."
She said the words but it wasn't what she was thinking. Maybe there was hope for them.
Their gossip was cut short when their supervisor came in, neither cared for the books in front of them instead they just messaged each other behind their text books. When their period was up they parted ways and for lunch both going to their respective boyfriends to spend their free time with.
Monica went to meet Roman in his dorm. The door was open so when she walked in the last person she thought she'd see was bulletin board guy.
Brian felt his heart fall to his stomach and get devoured by his stomach acid. He was so close to having a semi normal high school experience but one avid reader of gossip columns was going to single handedly ruin it.
"Whoa, you really are that guy. I wasn't sure this morning but you're him. So this is where you disappeared to, that's rich."
Brian flopped down on his bed defeated.
"You got me, you can go destroy my life."
"I'm guessing you don't want anyone here finding out about what happened?"
He shook his head.
"I was a freak at my old school, people just assume things without knowing the full story. They'll do the same here."
"So it's true? What the tabloids said?"
"Most of it anyway."
"Look, I won't tell anyone."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, my lips are sealed. Nobody deserves what you went through. Consider it my Welcome to Hobbs Preppartory gift."
"Thanks, how can I ever repay you?"
"How good are you in Chemistry?"
"I'm not horrible."
"That's better than me and I really need help. Maybe between the two of us we can survive this term of Chemistry?"
"It's a deal."
Roman came in just after their handshake and kissed Monica gently.
"Roommate Brian, girlfriend Monica."
"Nice to meet you Monica."
"You too Brian."
He watched them walk out and went for his phone as soon as they were out of sight. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. Part of him wanted to trust Monica and that his secret was safe and there was only one way he wanted to celebrate.
"Brian,"
"Hey Mia, what are you doing this very moment?"
"Walking to my next class are you lost?"
"No not lost. Just wanted to talk to you. I was hoping I'd see you in one of my classes today."
"Junior, sorry."
"It's cool, I'll just have to find another way to see you then."
He could just about hear her smile through the phone and found himself grinning like an idiot too.
"I have cheer practice for a pep rally this evening maybe we can do something after."
"I would love that. Call me when you're done and I'll find you."
"I'll see you soon."
He hung up still smiling. He was excited to start fresh and to start fresh with Mia, he just hoped his past would stay buried. He put his blazer back on and went down to the lounge to get a drink before heading back across campus for his next class. He met Hector opening a soda in the kitchenette on his way out.
"Sup snowflake."
Brian shook his head laughing, "where you headed?"
"The field, the girl's volleyball team is doing drills and I just can't miss it."
That was not the only reason he was going to the field. Jesse and Tej were finally able to hack into the security camera feed and now had eyes on the entire school and knowing Hector would know what to do with the new found power they called him. They were itching to get off campus again and Hector usually instigated their secret outings.
He passed Dom on his way to Jesse and Tej who were on the field most likely for privacy, they didn't need anyone finding out what they had just accomplished.
Dom ran up the bleachers to where Letty sat, blazer off, hair undone and earbuds in her ear obvious signs that she wanted to be left alone but he wasn't just anybody.
"You ditched."
He told her and didn't ask. She pulled her earbuds out and smiled coyly at him.
"You need to get something off your chest and I'm here to listen."
He sat next to her and swung her legs over his so there wasn't much space left between them.
"Do you think we'd still be together if I left this school? I mean senior year will be up soon."
"Soon...you mean next year."
Dom wasn't the only thing she liked about the school, she had friends and teammates, he was just the most important.
She had checked in the administrations office and the Trans were indeed the ones who funded scholarships but she wasn't about to leave Dom because of a threat made by a desperate Johnny. It just didn't stop her from thinking about it. There was always a 'if' he was serious. She just didn't know if he had that kind of power. That terrified her the most.
"Mia told me so don't be mad. I know you're worried about your scholarship and you shouldn't. You're a natural Letty, the most talented person I know. This school would be crazy if they lost you."
"I'm just tired of walking on eggshells all the time. Maybe it's not worth it."
"I think we are, if anything what we have should be motivation enough for you to stay. I don't think I'll ever be able to let you go."
"Dom..."
"Hmm?"
"You didn't answer my question."
His only response was a warm kiss to her temple sadly answering her question anyway.
