Chapter 2:
Gisela has only been gone for a little over three months. It's amazing how much I have forgotten about her... How she would flick her hair out her face gently, or how her eyes would literally dance around the room, taking in everything and everyone. Or maybe she has changed that much, that it is all new to me?
She was sitting on the other side of the dining table, twisting her fork in her fingers and laughing lightly at my dad's really bad jokes. I haven't been able to drag my eyes away from her, so mesmerised by the fact that she was really sitting there! She was really here! She was home...
"How long are you going to be staying here, G?" I asked her, watching the way her eyes snapped to me, and how the corners of her mouth would lift at my words. My heart was pounding, my mind bringing forward so many memories it almost hurt. But not quite. Gently resting my fork on the table, to stop it from shaking, I focused my entire attention on her.
"Only for a little while. Just a short visit." Sophia, who was sitting closely beside me, seemed to tense up even more at those words. But I was grateful that Gisela was staying for a bit. At least it wasn't just for this incredibly awkward dinner.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you like, Gisela," My mum instantly responded, "You are a part of the family. And we have all missed you so much." I hope to god Gisela doesn't notice how my entire family stared directly at me, when my mum said that! Okay, even Lily did, but let's be honest, she is practically family too. The only person who wasn't watching me was Sophia, and that's because she was far too busy watching Gisela's every move.
As we rose from the table, all of us having finished our dinner (except me, but I gave up on eating about 2 and a half minutes in), Gisela smiled at my parents.
"Thank you for Dinner, Mrs Heath! It was incredible!"
"I doubt it was anything compared to the amazing chefs you have cooking for you now! But thank you for saying so, dear."
Gisela then moved her attention onto Sophia, who was still staring, really rudely, at the president's daughter. For an eternally happy person, she was so not happy, right now.
"Sophia, it has been a while. How are you?"
"Fine." Really, really not happy, would be more of an accurate description.
"And are you here for studying? Don't tell me I have interrupted Connor doing his homework!""Actually, me and Connor are dating." I think part of me just died.
"Oh. Ohhhh. Congratulations!" Gisela smiled, but it wasn't the smile I was use to. Maybe she has changed.
My dad, having helped mum clear the table, came back into the dining room.
"Ty. Walk Lily home."
"Awwww Man! Can't she walk herself home!" my little brother whined, but grabbed hold of lily's shirt and started pulling her out of the room. My dad then turned to me and my girlfriend.
"Sophia, it is probably best if you head home now. It is a school night. I can drive you now." Seriously, my dad is good. If he had told her to leave by herself, she probably wouldn't have. But by driving her, it meant she had to leave now. I think I might love him...
Gisela had already turned away too find my mum. I dragged Sophia up the stairs, into my room, threw her books into her bag, pulled her down the stairs, chucked her bag at my waiting dad, and then hugged my girlfriend goodbye. Startled, she let herself be guided out by my dad, saying absolutely nothing at all. When I heard his engine start, I turned around to find where Gisela was at.
"I honestly don't know why they are dating... Maybe you should ask Connor? He would never tell us..."
I'm dating Sophia for you, G. Hahaha. That is bound to be a sufficiently awkward conversation; can't wait for that one to happen.
"What you guys talking about?" I asked leaning against the door. Both the ladies jumped.
"I was asking about Gisela's trip here," My mum quickly replied.
"Oh. And how was it?" I asked, going along with their excuse. Gisela looked confused.
"How was what?"
"Your trip?" Okay, they don't know that I heard their previous conversation, but it is hilarious that they are trying to cover up.
"Oh. That. Yeah, it was fine. You know, pleasant." I smiled at her.
"Good to hear, G. So, I was thinking we should find you some place to sleep."
"Don't worry about me, I'll crash on the couch."
And that made me laugh. Like, really laugh. I clutched at my sides, heaving in air. G marched over, hitting me in the chest.
"What's so funny!"
"YOU! Sleeping! On the couch! The president's daughter! Sleeping on the COUCH!"
"Yeah, yeah, stop your laughing." She grumbled, as she moved past me. "Help me get my bags out of the car," still laughing, hysterically mind you, I followed her through my house.
"I do wish you would stop laughing."
"G, do you remember when you first came to stay with us? And you were freaking out with the size of the wardrobe? And about doing chores? And our food?"
"Yeah... I like to believe I have grown a bit since then." She smiled warmly.
"Just a bit? It's incredible! It's just- ... Oh. My. God."
We stood staring in the boot of the car. There were only two small suitcases.
"Where is the rest of your stuff?" I must have sounded worried, because I sure felt like it. When she said, just a short time, maybe she did only mean one night?
"I packed light?"
"How light?"
"Well... This is for about two weeks... I mean, if you guys want me for that long..." she mumbled, and I couldn't help but laugh again.
"Gisela. My family loves you. You can stay for as long as you like!" I assured her.
"Thanks Connor. I like it here. I feel... safe."
I was picking up both her bags as she said that. Looking at her closely, I could see something in her eyes.
"G. Do you not feel safe at home?"
"No! I feel totally safe! My home is amazing... It's just. I got use to here... I don't know. Just forget it, ok?"
"Um... If you say so... Come on, let's get you inside. It's getting kind of cold."
"Hold the door!" Ty yelled as we went back inside. We left the door open for him.
"Hey Gisela," he said, the moment he was inside, "not that I am not excited that you are here, but are you taking me room again?" my little brother asked.
"Its all yours Ty. I'm sleeping on the couch," she smiled at him. He looked at me confused, and when I shrugged, my little brother Ty burst out laughing.
"Seriously. What is with you Heath boys! Totally not mature!"
When I had my laughing under control, once again, I gave Gisela a gentle push with her bags.
"You are not going to sleep on the couch. You can crash on my bed, tonight."
"No! I'm not putting you out of your bed. Absolutely not."
"Relax. It's all good. And you will be doing me a favour," I assured her, as we headed up the stairs, "I really don't want to share my room with Ty again; he snores."
"HEY! I DO NOT!" Ty's voice floated up from downstairs. I chuckled. Placing her bags in the corner of my room, I grabbed some clean sheets and changed my bed before she could try and convince me otherwise.
"Thanks Connor."
"It's no problem, G." I smiled back.
It took a while for everyone to get to bed. Back to five people using one bathroom, it was more than a mission and a half. Eventually, we were all ready. I grabbed some pillows, getting prepared to set myself up on the couch, when my dad walked down the stairs.
"Connor, I just spoke to Gisela, and she agreed."
"Agreed with what?"
"That we haven't organised the best security for her, at the current moment. It would be safer for her if you were closer."
"Closer?"
"Maybe you can sleep on your floor tonight? Just to keep her safe,"
Every part of myself was ingrained with keeping Gisela safe. It was my number one priority, above all else. So I gathered my things back up again. Gisela was set up, already in my bed and getting ready to go to sleep.
"Any chance I can crash in here tonight?"
"It is your room, stupid," she chuckled, indicating with her hand that I am welcome in. I threw down some cushions onto the floor, about where Ty's bed used to live.
"Right. So, let me know if you need anything, okay G?" I told her when she turned off the light.
"Absolutely."
"You know I love that." Gisela whispered through the darkness.
"Love what?"
"How you call me G. Nobody but you calls me G. I love that." I smiled, even though she couldn't see me.
"I love calling you that, too."
We lay in silence, with no sound distracting us. My heart felt content. This was how everything was suppose to be. Me and Gisela. But I wonder why she is here? I wonder... is everything okay? Did she... miss me as much as I did? Or was it just me that felt completely lost?
"Are you happy?" The questioned slipped out, without me realising it had. I gasped, begging that she had already fallen asleep, and didn't hear such a question that was so inappropriate to ask. She took so long replying, I thought that maybe she had fallen asleep. But I was wrong.
"Are you?" was all she replied with.
Neither of us answered the question, instead letting the darkness of my room take over until we both, eventually, fell asleep.