About a Girl

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Gabe parked in front of his house and Angela followed him into the house. He led her upstairs and she entered his room. She’d been here plenty of times. Grew up in this room. Though she loved how it was always so clean.

He started to unbutton his shirt, “Did you want to change into that dress or are you alright the way you are?”

She shrugged, “It doesn’t matter.”

He let out a chuckle, “I’ll be out in a second and we’ll swing by your house.”

“I can just change in the–”

He shook his head and cut her off as he pulled off his shirt, “You don’t want your flowers to die by the end of the night.”

She got a glimpse of his tan chest before nodded and leaving his room. He called out and told her to wait downstairs. She slowly took her time getting down there and she shivered at the cold in the house. Gabe’s mom wasn’t home so it even seemed more alone.

She never felt this before. She was always used to the Saporta house to be warm and welcoming. She knew it as that but for some reason it felt so unsettling. She’d been here alone with Gabe before but it seemed so different. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Querida, vamos.”

She jumped at the sound of his voice as he walked past her. She could see him pull on his black leather jacket. He never really wore it anymore but she was happy he chose to wear it tonight. She always thought it looked good on him.

He had the collar up and it always gave him a more of a rough look. His black jeans stuck to him as if they were glued on. She didn’t catch a glimpse of the shirt he was wearing till they were inside his car. He was wearing a simple button down shirt like earlier but it had a nice color to it. It would go with her dress tonight. She couldn’t help but smile at that.

It didn’t take long for them to get to her house. Her mother also still at work so her house as quiet as his was. She dropped her bag in the living room and pulled out her dress. Gabe made some note about putting her flowers in water.

She went up to her room and quickly changed. Trying not to take too much time. She sat down at the mirror on her vanity and quickly ran her hands through her hair trying to make sure it was perfect enough for tonight.

Gabe had made his way into her room and decided to rest against the doorframe watching her brush out the tangles the day had created. He sighed quietly not quite understanding why she spent so much time trying to be perfect. In his eyes she was. She didn’t need to go overboard.

“Your hair is so long now.”

She jumped slightly at the voice and turned slightly, “I might get it cut soon.”

He walked over to her and she turned back to the mirror. He grabbed her hair and made a bun in her hair not securing it, “I like it long.”

He released it and it fell to rest on her shoulders. He ran his hands through it to let her hair lay even and leaned down to her ear, “Tan hermoso.”

She reached for her lipstick and applying a thin layer, “What does that mean?”

“No.” Gabe reached for a tissue near hear and rubbed it off her lips, “You don’t need that. Don’t ever think you need this stuff. You’re too beautiful.”

She turned to face him and he smiled at her before sealing her lips with his own. She cupped one of his cheeks and pulled him closer. This wasn’t the first time they kissed but it had been a while. Angela still got the butterflies in her stomach and the burning red on her cheeks.

He pulled away still grinning ear to ear, “Let’s go.”

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Once they got to the restaurant Angela knew the environment would be different especially on a Friday night. The kids from school would probably be here getting a bite to eat. Meaning, the restaurant was easily split in two. Angela’s side of town on one side and the other ‘richer’ kids on the other.

The restaurant was forced to get another jukebox because of all the problems

The guy own who owned the place said if there were any problems they would all be kicked out regardless of what side started the fight. So there was a maintained peace for the most part. People kept coming back so that had to mean something.

Gabe held the door for her as she walked in and wasn’t surprised to see the sight in front of her. Though she could see Victoria still walking around serving the people here. Angela felt the pit in her stomach sink. She knew Victoria said she wouldn’t tell Gabe but she still wasn’t sure.

Though she’d rather she be with Gabe here then anyone else. No one messed with him. He was friends with almost everyone in both sides of town or so that’s what he told Angela. She was always told by him to keep her enemies close so she figured that’s what he meant when he called them all friends.

She knew he had a rough upbringing. Gabe wanted the bad boy lifestyle. As much as he looked up to Angela’s dad he wanted to be one of the ‘cool’ kids. Got him into a lot of trouble and clearly he dropped out of school.

So Gabe was hard headed and loyal to his side. His friends, his family, and his home. That’s all that mattered to him. Fuck with any of it and he’ll kill you or at least rough you up to see he wasn’t kidding.

There were plenty of stories to back that up.

When Gabriel Saporta walked into the room you kept your head down and stayed as far as way from him as you could.

Angela still remembered the time she had come with friends and Gabe came in. He hadn’t seen her yet but was scoping out the place. When he walked in a little closer he and Angela saw Victoria get grabbed by one of the kids who had given Gabe a problem before.

Gabe was on the boy’s tail faster then fire on oxygen. He had grabbed the boy and threw him on the floor after Victoria recovered from her squeal and urge to smack the boy. Gabe had pulled him back up and slammed him against one of the jukeboxes and threatened to kill the boy if he laid one eyeball on Victoria again.

The boy never came back and Gabe couldn’t come in the restaurant for a week even though the owner had thanked Gabe.

Gabe grabbed onto Angela’s hand, “Let’s go sit over there.”

There hand been an empty booth and she quickly followed him before someone decided to snag it. When they sat down Victoria had already made her way over. She looked down at Angela and smiled before looking over at Gabe and handing them menus.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you two.”

Angela sunk lower in her seat and tried to hide her red face, “Yeah.”

Gabe looked up at Victoria, “Is Nate here?”

She nodded, “Mhm. Do you want me to send him out when he’s done with orders?”

Gabe smiled, “Please. I haven’t seen him in forever. I swear he works here more then for me.”

Angela was ready to jump out of her seat. Nate was never told to not spill the beans about her being here today. She didn’t need Gabe to get upset all over again. She hid behind the menu hoping Victoria had said something to Nate. She was one to gossip.

“En qué piensas de esto es que distrae tanto?”

Angela looked up from her menu, “What?”

He leaned closer, “You’re miles away. Usually you love talking to Victoria. I ordered you a drink because you were so lost.”

If he only knew how worried she was, “Thank you.”

She placed the menu down and rested her hands on it. He reached forward and grabbed onto one of them. She could feel his cold hands against the warm sweaty ones of hers. She wanted to pull away but he probably wouldn’t have let her.

“Qué está mal?”

She shrugged, “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just. I don’t know.”

“We can go somewhere else if you want.”

She shook her head, “I like it here.”

“Then smile. I ordered you something you haven’t had in forever.”

She smiled, “You didn’t!”

He sat back releasing his hold on her hands, “Of course I did. Anything for you. You know that.”

It didn’t take long for Victoria to come back with a strawberry milkshake. Another wonder from the restaurant. The ice cream was the best in town. Handmade every day. Angela loved it when it was made into milkshakes. Such a guilty pleasure for her.

Gabe grabbed his spoon resting on his napkin and he leaned over the table, “But now, I’m stealing some of it.”

She laughed as she watched him take a large spoonful of the drink and the topping on it. He brought it over to his mouth and made sounds of delight. She bent down to steal a sip from the straw before Gabe came around for a second dipping.

“I promise I’ll only take a little.”

Victoria dropped off Gabe a beer, “He’ll take it all if you’re not careful.”

He looked up to her, “I will not.”

Victoria shook her head, “What do you want to eat?”

Gabe furred his eyebrows, “Are you the only one working tonight?”

Victoria nodded, “Again.”

Angela looked up at her, “Do you need help?”

Victoria gave her a stern look, “You’re eating honey. I’ll call someone up if I need more help.”

Gabe slowly trying to be a dramatic about being sneaky with stealing Angela’s iced wonder, “I don’t mind if you help her.”

Angela smiled and took it back, “Why didn’t you order one yourself then?”

Victoria sighed, “I’ll take it as the usually for you two. If you want to help after you eat you can and stop stealing Gabriel. I’ll make you one if you want one.”

He shook his head, “I’m fine.”

Victoria took the two menus from them and continued to write small notes on her pad. She would know what they want. They were never picky. Nate was a wonderful cook so as long as he was cooking they didn’t need to worry about anything.

“Hello.”

Angela scooted closer to the wall of her booth and he sat down, “Hey Suarez. Will you be joining us?”

He looked between the two, “No. I was here with Ryland already and a few others. I’m here to ask you if you want to join us?”

Gabe spoke up before Angela could in a serious tone meaning for Alex to pick up and leave, “We’re only staying to get a bit to eat. We’re on a date.”

Angela hugged him and spoke in his ear, “Sorry.”

Alex spoke before getting up, “It’s fine.”

Gabe sat up straight, “They never understand sometimes I just want to spend time with you.”

“You always spend time with me. We had dinner at your house just–”

Gabe cut her off, “No I mean me and you. Alone. I want time with you alone and away from the world. Which actually brings me to a point I was going to talk about.”

She shifted in her seat, “What?”

“I have to run up to New York near the end of the year for a car event but I was thinking about taking someone with me to spend the new year’s eve night with.”

She smiled but shook her head, “No. You can’t be thinking about taking me to New York!”

He smiled know how excited she really was, “I was thinking about it. I know how badly you want to go.”

“Mama would never go for it.”

Gabe let his fingers intertwine with his own, “Of course she would. She trusts me and I’ve been talking about it with her.”

“What did she say?”

“If your grades are decent over the break you can go.”

She let out a little squeal of joy, “Of course. I’ll study every night and–”

He laughed and cut her off for the several time tonight, “Don’t worry about it too much. You’ll burn out like a light.”

She nodded and took another sip of her drink. Gabe taking her to New York would be amazing. She had always dreamed of going and seeing how busy the city really was compared to their small town. Now she felt bad for giving him attitude early in the day.

“What did you want to go do tonight?

“Can we go see a movie? I wanted to see. Oh never mind.”

He smiled at her, “No what. What movie do you want to see?”

“Can we go see The Blob? You know how much I love Steve McQueen.”

Gabe couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “Are you being honest?”

“At least I’m not asking to go see a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Gabe nodded, “True but when you asked to go see The Haunted Strangler you complained of nightmares you’d have by the end of the night.”

“Gabriel! It’s a blob. What can a blob do?”

He shook his head still laughing, “We’ll go see it.”

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