Chapter Thirteen
At lunch, Eli and I walk out onto the quad hand in hand. We're walking over to the PCH'er table when we get a free show of some girl stepping up on Madison's table. She proceeds to stomp her steel-toed boot on her pizza.
Shaking my head I say, " wow, someone has some anger issues. "
Eli laughs. " That's Felix's new fling, Wanda. She's intense. "
" Wanda Varner? " I ask taking a better look at the girl. " She has changed. The last time I saw her she was wearing five pounds of makeup and puffy pink nail polish. "
Once she gets her frustrations out she goes back and takes a seat with Felix who's laughing at her antics. Eli and I head over to them and sit down.
" Wanda this is my girl Tori, Tori this is Wanda. " Eli says introducing them.
She gives me a nod. " You're Veronica's sister, right? "
" Yeah, that's me. " I say flatly.
Eli laughs at the face I make. " Don't be like that. " He says nudging me. " So we all going to the party at Angels on Saturday or what? "
Damn it! " I can't. "
And just like that, he has an attitude. He doesn't say anything and he continues to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the day.
It turns out to be for the rest of the week. I can't really be mad since I'm the one always bailing on him. So when I walk into our apartment after school on Friday I'm glad dad is home. It's time for a daddy-daughter talk.
" Hey, I need to talk to you. " I say sitting next to him on the couch.
He mutes the TV. " What's on your mind? "
" These daddy-daughter days... " I say nervously.
He sighs and straightens his posture. " What about them? "
" You know I love you and love spending time with you... But I need to make time for other things too. " God this is harder than I thought it was gonna be.
He makes an " Mmhmm " noise. " You mean you need to make time for the Navarro boy. "
As always he sees right through me. " I know you don't like him, but you don't know him like I do. "
" I know enough. " He says rubbing his face.
It's my turn to sigh. " No, you know his record... That doesn't mean you know him. I don't like being at odds with you at all. I just feel like you make me choose between you and him and it's not fair. Even if you don't trust him you should trust me. "
" Well, honey something tells me that I couldn't stop you from seeing him even if I try. I don't like it but at least I'll know that when he's with you he's not out committing felonies. " He says getting up and stretching.
I roll my eyes and get up as well. " You know you could try and get to know him. He's not all crime and tattoos. "
" Oh if you thought I wasn't going to grill him you are sorely mistaken. " He says grabbing his jacket.
Here we go.
My dad must have put the fear of God in Eli because after he went and had a " chat " with him he still avoided me like the plague. Let me tell you it hurts like hell. It's like I can't win for losing.
On Tuesday Veronica starts a hunt for our pregnant neighbor girl Sara. She was supposed to take her to a doctor's appointment and now she can't get a hold of her. I know how she gets, she won't let up until she knows exactly what happened. It's hardcoded into her DNA.
When the last bell rings on Wednesday I realize I left my history book in Mr. Daniel's class. I have a test on Friday so I really need to study so I head straight for his class. Except, I see him heading to the teacher's lounge and mentally curse.
" Mr. Daniel's! " I call rushing to him.
He looks my way and sighs. " Yes, Miss Mars what is it? "
" I left my history book in your class. " I say quickly.
He rolls his eyes. " My room is open as I have Mr. Echolls and Mr. Navarro in there for detention. You may go and retrieve it. " He says before heading into the teacher's lounge.
Logan and Eli in a room alone? Could be disastrous. I hurry to the classroom and walk in. Both Logan and Eli's heads shoot up. Once they see it's just me they go back to work doing whatever it is they were originally doing.
I go to my desk and see my book on the floor. Picking it up I dust the dirt off of it and turn to leave without a word. If he wants to act like I don't exist then two can play that game.
When I get to school the next day there's a huge crowd at the flagpole. Wondering who pissed Eli off this time I get my knife out and get prepared to cut the poor soul down. Consequences be damned.
But alas there's no poor soul taped to the flag pole... But Mr. Daniel's missing car is impaled on it. Shaking my head I know that the only one with the cojones and tools to do something like this is Eli. Damn him!
He's just gonna throw away his future and break the promise he made to his grandmother. Rushing into the school I start hunting him down. Silent treatment or not he is gonna get chewed out. Except he's nowhere. I see Felix and Hector but no Eli. By the time
And that's when Mr. Clemen's drags his ass straight into his office.
Damn.
Going to homeroom I try to put it out of my mind. But it's damn near impossible. I'm worried. I mean, let's be honest... My dad isn't thrilled with us and this will be the nail in the coffin of our relationship if Eli gets expelled. I go through the rest of the day wondering if I went against my dad for nothing.
When I get home I find out that things with the Sara girl are getting worse. She's still missing and her parents are in town and they hired my dad to help find her. Dad forbade Veronica to go anywhere near her troubled artist boyfriend and he forbade me to help her.
That poor girl. I never talked to her, but I'd see her and her little Chihuahua around the apartment complex. She keeps to herself mostly and I can respect that. Ronnie is worrying herself sick even to the point of sneaking into their apartment to snoop around.
On the Eli front, he did get expelled... And the reinstated. I haven't seen him in two days. No calls, no texts, nothing. It's not like I didn't expect him to call or anything, but it still hurts all the same. I love him, clearly.
So here I am on Saturday night laying on my bed in sweats listening to Avril Lavigne on repeat. What was the point of getting more free time if my boyfriend refuses to be in the same room as me? I'm depressed. Not the kind that inspires great songs but the kind that makes you want to crawl into a deep hole and never come out. Okay, not as bad as all of that, but damn!
All of this crappiness needs to stop. When did life get so complicated? If I think hard enough I can almost remember the feeling I got when everything first fell down. Part of me knew it was going to take time to put everything together but just once I'd love to be certain about something.
" I know you're not in here wallowing. " Comes Veronica's voice from the doorway.
I look up at her and give her my best sad face.
" No, not buying it. Get up, take a shower, and get dressed we've got places to be. " She says taking a look in my closet. Looking back at me she glares. " Am I going to have to make you get up? "
Oh God, she has that look in her eyes. Nothing I say will stop her from dragging me into the bathroom and throwing me in a cold shower. She may be tiny, but she's strong as hell. Getting up I do what she told me to do. Coming out of the bathroom towel drying my hair I walk back into my room and see that Ronnie picked out an outfit already. I can't deal.
It's a hooded short gray punk dress that fades to black on the bottom ruffle. I got it in Australia on a whim. After putting lotion on I slip into it and look at myself in the mirror. I forgot how much I love this dress. Putting on my black sandals I'm ready for whatever Veronica has planned.
This crazy bitch!
We pull into Angel's driveway and I give her a death glare from hell. " Why do you insist on sticking your nose where it doesn't belong? "
She grins at me. " Because you guys are being stupid. You love him and he loves you. Just go in there and do what you've always done. Blend. "
Her little pep talk does make me feel a little better. Getting out I go up to the front door and know I'll have to walk in because knocking won't be heard over the loud music. As soon as I open the door I get swept away by Angel.
" Me preguntaba cuándo novia bonita de Eli se detendría por. " He says with a smile. ( I was wondering when Eli's beautiful girlfriend would show up.)
Speaking of Eli he is sitting backward in his chair with his arms resting on the edge. His shirt is off and a tattoo gun is being used on his back. He's looking directly at me despite the pain I know he feels from the needle. The buzzing stops suddenly and the guy doing the tattoo cleans his back off.
" Alright man, you're all done. " He tells him.
" Nice to see you too Angel. " I say snapping out of it. Pulling myself together I go over to Eli. " We need to talk. "
There are some ooh's and ahhs from the men but he gets up and leads me back outside anyways. The floodlight on the side of Angel's house illuminates both of us. God, I miss him.
" I don't know if you're still mad at me, but I don't like being ignored. " I say folding my arms.
He laughs that stupid sexy laugh of his and I can see the spark in his eyes that makes my stomach flutter. " Baby if you wanted some attention all you had to do was come find me. "
I roll my eyes. " You're hilarious. " I say flatly.
The smile leaves his face. " Your dad came and talked to me the other day. Said that if hurt and or got you tattooed he'd hunt me down. "
That's the Mars charm for you. " I see you're back in school. " I throw out there.
" Yeah, that. " He says averting eye contact and rubbing the back of his neck. " I could tell you that I didn't mean to do it, but I could never lie to you. I messed up. My Abuela threw fits. "
Like I don't know he got the wrath of Letty Navarro. " I wasn't thrilled about it either. You almost fucked up your life. "
" Yeah. " He says sighing. " Listen I'm sorry for being distant. I've been missing you like crazy you know? I just had to think things over. "
Of course, I'd have to get with a deep thinker.
" I missed you too, but you can't keep doing this. If there's a problem you need to tell me I'm not a mind reader. " I say crossing my arms and staring him down.
Eli comes closer and unfolds my arms. I push his hands away and he grabs my shoulders. " I love you. " He groans before crashing his lips to mine. The scent of his cologne mixed with his own natural smell has my head spinning.
Just as suddenly as it starts, it ends with us both huffing and puffing. He looks at me intensely before saying " you wanted to know what was going on so there it is. The ball is in your corner. "
