"Are you all right, Linka? You have been very quiet today," Kwame's voice says gently.
"It's nothing!" I snap. My mood has been darkening all day and the last thing I want is for everyone to start making a fuss about it. I just want to be left alone.
"That doesn't sound like nothing," Gi says, glancing somewhat nervously at me. We are all sitting in the living room, waiting for Valentina to take us out to dinner. Laura, of course, is here, too. But I don't even care anymore. I don't care about anything except getting away from here and back to Hope Island, where everyone behaves the way they're supposed to…
"Yeah, Linka. Your mood is putting such a downer on this holiday. Just tell us what's wrong," Wheeler adds. I glare at him and he shrinks back slightly.
"Well, I'm sorry if I'm spoiling your holiday, Yankee," I begin icily. "But maybe you should consider everyone else's feelings before you play your little jokes!"
"What?" The expression on Wheeler's face is one of genuine confusion. I don't blame him. I, myself, don't even know what I'm getting so worked up about. Not that it's going to stop me having my rant, which has been building up all day.
"Oh, don't pretend you don't know," I say bitingly. "This afternoon. When you disappeared underwater. It wasn't funny. We were all worried…"
"I wasn't worried," Gi pipes up.
"Me neither," Ma-Ti adds.
"I can't say I was concerned," Kwame says.
I glower at them. So it's just me who sees how reckless Wheeler and Laura have been these last few days? Fine. The others can ignore it, but when their behaviour finally gets everyone in trouble, I won't hesitate to remind them that I had warned everyone.
"Linka, you're overreacting, as usual," Wheeler says, seemingly oblivious to the dangerous look on my face. "We weren't in any danger. We were just having fun; something you could learn a thing or two about!" He rolls his eyes then turns to Laura and grins. I feel a large bubble of anger burst inside me.
"Why do you never take anything seriously?!" I cry. I can feel the blood rising to my cheeks, and am aware that everyone's eyes are on me, but I don't care. "You don't ever think about the consequences of your actions and-". I pause because Wheeler's face is stretched in a wild grin and everyone else also seems highly amused. This infuriates me further. Why is it that, lately, my anger only seems to elicit mirth from everyone?
"Erm, I have to make a phone call. Excuse me," Gi says suddenly, jumping up.
"I'll just go downstairs and check on Valentina," Kwame says, standing up, too.
"I will go with you," Ma-Ti says quickly.
Before I can even ask what on earth is going on they have disappeared from the room.
"You know what? I think this has gone far enough," Laura says, eyes twinkling. "I'll leave you to it."
She glances at me briefly, smiling, then exits the room. A few seconds later I hear the door of the suite open and close. I turn to Wheeler, frowning. What just happened?
"Leave you to what?" I ask. There is a familiar expression etched across Wheeler's features; his eyes are shining with…triumph? What is there to feel triumphant about?
"You honestly don't get it?" he says, grinning.
"No! I have no idea what is going on!" I exclaim. My head is spinning, because the pieces of the puzzle are now coming together but, for someone with an analytical mind, the process is painfully slow…Coherent thoughts are forming but they remain at the edge of my consciousness. I need Wheeler to spell it all out for me.
"Linka," Wheeler beings, voice slightly more sober. He takes a step towards me and, placing his arms on my shoulders, fixes me with an intense gaze. "This was all planned. Nothing ever happened between me and Laura. We never went on any dates, and I never promised to take her to Brooklyn, or anything else that drove you crazy!"
What? Why? I can feel my heart rate suddenly shooting up and colour flooding my cheeks.
"So you don't really like Laura?" My voice comes out as a whisper.
"No. Well, not like that."
"And…she doesn't like you?"
"Um…I'm not her type. Let's just say she plays for the other team," Wheeler grins wickedly.
"What? I don't-ooh…" The picture before me is getting clearer and clearer. But I still have many questions. "So if none of this was real…why did you do it?"
"Linka, are you serious?" Wheeler is smiling. "You still don't get it?"
"Nyet, Yankee!" I cry impatiently. I have spent the last few days in a state of emotional confusion and I need it to unravel as quickly as possible.
"To get to this stage, babe…to get you to admit you're madly in love with me!"
"But I did not-I-I," I begin, stuttering. My whole face feels like it's on fire. "I never-"
"You don't have to say it with words, Linka," Wheeler says gently. His hands drop from my shoulders and he takes my hands in his. "I've seen all I need to see. It took some time; you had so many chances to confess but, boy, are you stubborn! But I never gave up cos I knew you would eventually come to me. And, before you say anything, that's not me being arrogant, ok? It's just that I know you, maybe even better than you know yourself and I know I'm right for you. And now I know that you know it, too. So, what's it gonna be, babe? Are you going to admit it or are we gonna keep playing this game for a little while longer?"
I feel dizzy. My mind is trying to formulate a coherent response, one that doesn't show that I've completely lost my cool. But somewhere, not so deep down, I know that there is no reason to hide my feelings anymore. Wheeler has obviously seen right through me, to the parts that I had hidden even from myself. I can't keep anything from him, and why should I waste any more time trying? And now that the truth is so obvious, I feel stupid for blinding myself to it all along. Why did I pretend I had no feelings for him? Stubbornness? Desire for independence? Fear of being hurt? Maybe all of those things, maybe none of them. But whatever the answer is, I'm not going to let it get in my way anymore. Because, as I look at Wheeler's smiling, expectant face, I don't feel angry at his deception; all the confusing emotions of the last few days have stopped swirling around in my mind and have solidified into a single, concrete, warm feeling. Love. I love him. And, for the first time in my life, I let my emotions direct me and do what I've wanted to do for a very long time…
"That's what I thought," Wheeler beams, when I finally pull away from him.
"Well, just so you know," I say, drawing him back into my arms. "I don't like being tricked…" I lean forward and kiss him again.
"I know, babe," he says apologetically, once we are apart. "We didn't want to do it this way, but it had to be done. You-"
"We?" I interrupt. "So everyone knew about this?" That would explain everything! I think silently.
"Well, yeah…It was Valentina's idea, really!" Wheeler confesses.
"And when did you plot all of this?"
"The first day we got here! Out of the blue she asked to speak to me alone, then told me she'd just spoken to you and could tell you were crazy about me. Like, completely, madly, insanely in love." He pauses and grins mischievously.
"Yankee…"
"What? Those were her words, not mine… Anyway, she asked me what I planned to do about it, and I told her nothing, cos I've been chasing after you for years and nothing ever worked. Then she said she had this friend, Laura…"
"I cannot believe Valentina!" I shake my head incredulously. "She's insane!"
"You really should be down on your knees thanking her, Linka," Wheeler jokes.
"Don't ruin it now by being arrogant," I warn, but the broad smile on my face betrays my true feelings.
"Well, how often do I get to say I was right with you? Let me enjoy the moment. Go on and humour me…"
"Sorry?"
"I just want to hear you say it. Just the once will do…"
I grin.
"I love you, Wheeler."
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. I think you were mumbling…" I laugh and swat him lightly on the arm.
"I said, I LOVE YOU, ok? Ya tebya lyublyu! Are you happy now?"
"Very."
"Me too."
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Ok, so now I know not to attempt writing these when I don't have all the time in the world, as they inevitably end up far longer than I anticipated :-/. Sorry to keep you waiting. Hope you enjoyed it. :)