Chapter 13

Wrapping the towel around me, I ringed out my wet hair. I threw the wet bathing suit I borrowed in a pile with other used towels along with mine. I flipped my head over, gathering all my hair and pulling it up into a pony tail. I checked my phone and it was already two. We needed to get back soon, or else Dakota would rat me out if I wasn't home when she was.

"Chad," I called, walking into where he was driving the boat. "I need to get home."

"I know, we all do. I'm starting up the boat now," he smiled at me reassuringly.

I let out a sigh of relief, and turned around to bump right into Troy.

"Hey, Montez, watch where you're going," he grinned.

I rolled my eyes, and shoved him out of my way. I sat down at the small table Taylor was at drinking a bottle of water. She twisted the white cap back on the bottle and looked at me.

"You have fun today?" she asked.

"Of course she did!" Troy answered for me. "I was here."

I shook my head laughing. "Yeah, I did. A lot of fun."

"So you're not totally repelled by Troy and Chad?"

"Not Chad," I shook my head. "Troy on the other hand..."

She chuckled, agreeing with me. "He's annoying."

"I hear you!" Troy yelled.

"Like I said," Taylor laughed. "Annoying."

--

Before I knew it, I was hopping out of the Mustang. Sadly enough, I had arrived back at Josie's. I heard someone else jump out of the car, their feet landing behind me. I turned my eyes to see Troy next to me.

"A gentleman always walks a lady to the door after they spent the whole day together," he said resting his arm on my shoulders.

"You consider yourself a gentleman?" I scoffed.

"Well I consider you a lady, so, obviously my standards aren't that high."

"You're such a jerk," I rolled my eyes.

"I'm kidding. Trust me, you are a lady." His eyes looked up and down my body.

"Again with the horny references!"

He had a half smile on his face as he looked into my eyes. "Is this where I'm supposed to kiss you?" We were now standing on the porch in front of the screen door.

I shook my head. "Only on a date."

"So I'll pick you up tonight?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'll see you tomorrow," I said opening the door.

"Tomorrow's fine too."

"Goodbye, Troy," I called, letting the door shut behind me.

Walking into the house I saw Josie lounging on the couch, feet up on the cluttered coffee table. She had a magazine in her hands, folded back. I crept past her, the floor creaking under me. Great, I was caught.

"You feel better?" she asked, not even looking up from the magazine.

"Uhm, yeah. I just went out for a walk. I thought some fresh air would be good," I lied.

She now looked at me, her eyes peeking over the top of her glasses. "I'm not stupid, Gabriella. I knew you were out all day and you're now just getting home."

I bit my lip. "Are you gonna tell?"

She shook her head, a small smile on her somewhat wrinkled face. "As long as you don't do this all the time. Everyone needs an education," she added.

I nodded, "I won't. Thanks, Aunt Josie."

"Don't worry about it, sweetie," she said, going back to reading her magazine.

I bounced up the stairs, and into the bathroom. I decided to take a shower, not wanting to smell like that dirty water. And I didn't want to explain my wet hair. I thought a shower would be my best bet right now.

--

I heard the loud engine of the smelly school bus ride past, and then the front door opening and closing. Dakota was obviously home. I heard her and my aunt talking downstairs and then feet running up the steps. Dakota flew through the door and dropped her bag on the bed I wasn't on. She let out a frustrated groan, falling down next to her book-bag.

"What's with you?" I asked, flipping through one of the gossip magazines Josie was subscribed to. It seemed like you could find any magazine you wanted in this house.

"Girls here are not any better. They're just as stupid and annoying!"

"What happened?" I looked up from an article talking about some star being pregnant.

She sat up, her legs hanging over the side of the bed facing me. "So I had gym today and I was running my laps like we're supposed to. And there's this guy that was in the boys gym class and apparently the boys and girls always run laps together, so me and him are running together and these bitchy girls come up and they're like 'Look! She wants to hang out with him 'cause they both have dicks!', Dakota complained, making her voice higher when she imitated the girls. "They think I'm a guy!"

"So, who's the guy?" I asked, curious.

She rolled her eyes. "He's a friend. Don't freak out. Boys and girls are allowed to be just friends, Gabriella."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I waved my hand, showing that I couldn't care less about that concept. "So, what's his name? Is he cute, funny, tall, athletic, nice?"

"All of the above," she mumbled.

"What's his name?" I repeated.

"Jack Daniels."

"Seriously, Dakota. What's his name?"

"That is his name!"

"What parents name their kid after whiskey?"

She shrugged. "His, I guess."

So, Dakota Daniels," I teased.

"He's a friend, Gabriella!"

"Doesn't mean he won't become more," I smirked.

"Grow up," she laughed, throwing a pillow at me and walking down the steps.

--

My lack of sleep last night caused me to be extremely tired very early tonight. It was only about eight-thirty and I was already climbing the steps to the bedroom. My mother had made some kind of food-if you could call it that- for dinner. I didn't know if it was chicken, or turkey, or even if it was meat. I refused to eat it; my mother was the only one who took a bite out of it.

The look on her face spoke more than she ever could. She spit it out onto the plate in front of her and asked, "Pizza or Chinese?"

She ordered pizza, and the four of us- my mother, Josie, Dakota and myself ate it. My father was no where to be found, like usual. We don't really mention him, or speak about what he could be doing. My parents don't talk much anymore, except if they run into each other in the house, which was easy since it was so small.

My dad just slept here. I'm sure he was eating something somewhere else that served food that was edible.

My mother and father acted as if they weren't even married anymore. Back in California where we could afford for my mother to go out and get a new diamond necklace, or a new Chanel dress for every occasion, and go to her tennis club every afternoon they were happy. All of us didn't act like a family, but my parents always seemed like they were married, like they truly cared for one another. And I knew it was true because they acted like they loved each other even when they weren't in public at some party. Now, though, it seems like they don't even know each other.

Finally reaching the room, I opened the door and fell into the bed. For the first time I was happy to be here in this bed. The smell was fading and it wasn't that painful and hard to sleep on. It was actually sort-of comfortable.

This whole place was becoming comfortable; the people, the clothes, the school, Aunt Josie and her cat family, and most of all, Troy. Everything was beginning to grow on me, and I was perfectly happy with it.

A/N: Blah! I'm sorry for all these filler chapters lately. There's going to be a certain visitor coming up soon. Review please.