Twisted Symphony

Warmth. I woke up surprisingly warm. My eyes were having trouble prying themselves open, and the familiar light of my bedroom wasn’t there. The faint smell of cologne tickled my nose and thin cotton lay beneath my head, as I felt a slight weight on my waist. I opened my eyes to Johnnie sleeping soundly. His diaphragm moved up and down softly with his breathes and my head was rested on his chest, his black t-shirt had been pressed against my skin. His arm was wrapped gently around my waist and for a second I didn’t want to move. I slipped gently out of his grasp and tip toed across the room to pick up my phone. It was 5:16 in the morning.

I gently closed the door behind me and fixed my hair into a ponytail. Somehow I felt as if I had departed on a walk of shame, but I hadn’t. We hadn’t done anything, except sleep. Something inside me was disappointed.

“He hated it.” Johnnie smirked. We were sitting in Fitz’s class. We had just finished a decent job on our dialog. Fitz probably hated it.

“I don’t know what to do about Reid.” I whispered back to Johnnie as I toyed with the empty cup of coffee in my hand. I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying. It had been jammed in my head all day. It just happened and after it did I felt strange, but I had lost my sensor, if I had ever had one to begin with.

“What?” He seemed surprised that I was still contemplating it.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure I want to break up with him.” It felt strange but both of us had pretended as if yesterday hadn’t happened at all. As if he hadn’t saved my GPA and given up a night with some girl to eat Chinese food in a practice room with me. We had talked about so much last night, but still I felt as if we hadn’t spent more than five minutes together. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn’t know much about him, but suddenly I wanted to.

“Yeah?” He wasn’t okay. I shouldn’t have said it.

“Well I-”

“Everyone thinks you slept with him at Randy’s party two weeks ago.” It was irrelevant. It’s not like I can control what people say.

“I can’t control rumors, Johnnie. Nobody can. You of all people should know that.”

“All I’m saying is, it’s only been a couple of weeks. I know you didn’t sleep with him, but everyone else thinks so.”

“So.” I hesitated.

“He’s the one that’s telling everyone that.” He shrugged.

“Shut up, you don’t know that.”

“Listen, you can lie to yourself all you want, but he’s not a good guy.” He jeered.

“Like you would know the difference?” I knew it was a low blow, but I did it anyways.

“You’re only with him because you’re scared that you can do better!” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I overestimated you.”

“And what’s better? You?” I snapped back.

“He’s the one that told me and a dozen other guys that he had sex with you.”

“And if I did?”

“Then you did.” He shrugged. “But you didn’t, and we both know that.” He leaned in closer. “And I know that you hate that everyone thinks you’re a whore, even if you’re going to pretend that you’re not.”

Silence.

“But you want to know what you hate more?” He looked straight into my eyes. “You hate when I’m right.”

“How do I prove it?” I mumbled as Fitz dismissed the class.

“What?” He was confused, but I wasn’t.

“He’s going to call you a liar. How do I prove you right.”

“You can’t.”

“So what am I suppose to do about it?”

“You’re just going to have to trust me.” Some part of me knew he was right. Some part of me wanted to call him a liar.

“And if I can’t?” I challenged.

“I’ve never given you reason not to.”

“And?” I raised an eyebrow.

“He has.”



“I can’t believe you swiped your v-card with Reid and didn’t tell me!” Kayla nearly screeched as I stepped into my room that night.

“What? Who told you that?” I dropped my bag onto my desk and slipped off my shoes.

“Only everyone.” She smiled. “ And in a coat closet too? I didn’t know you had it in you, whore.” She teased playfully.

“Hate to disappoint your miraculous standards, but that didn’t happen.”

“I know you’re trying really had to keep the prude façade up, but you’re not fooling anyone.” She began to brush her hair softly and examine her reflection.

“I didn’t do it! Okay?!” I nearly shouted.

“Whatever. Good girls never win anyways.” She shrugged.

I began to typed vigorously into my phone. I had to send a series of texts. First to Reid, but I wasn’t sure about exactly what to say.

We need to talk. Now.

The next to someone I missed more than I cared to admit.

I’m sorry I was a bitch. I was just mad at you, but I don’t care anymore. I need you. Apparently, I lost my virginity in a coat closet two weeks ago. Adam, I’m going to die in New York without you telling me how terrible I am. Yes, die.

Reid answered in a matter of seconds.

What’s going on? I’ll be there soon. -Reid

Adam answered three minutes later, and as I saw his name flash into my inbox I felt a feeling of relief wash over me for a brief moment.

WTF?!?!?!?!?! -Adam

I smiled at his text and what was probably going through his head at that moment.

Yeah, things are getting complicated fast.

He texted back within seconds.

Skype. 30 minutes. I’m going to kill you. -Adam

I smiled at the thought, but realized that I’d have to face Reid before then. There was a knock at the door as Kayla slipped into the shower. I took a deep breath and didn’t smile when I saw his face. I tried to though.

“What’s up?” He stepped into the room and set his messenger bag down. “You sort of freaked me out.”

“I have to ask you something, but I don’t know how else to say it besides bluntly. So try not to be offended?”

“Okay. What is it?”

“Are you telling people I had sex with you at Randy’s party a couple of weeks ago?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Shit.” He mumbled underneath his breath.

“You did?” I crossed my arms over my chest defensively and narrowed my eyes at him. “Of course you did!” I threw my arms up in frustration, exasperated.

“It wasn’t like that.” He defended.

“What was it like, Reid? Enlighten me.” I felt the rage churning in my stomach. I felt my face getting hot.

“People started asking me all these-” He began.

“God forbid you say no. Crap, Reid! It hasn’t even been a month! Now everyone’s calling me a whore! Is that what you wanted?” I take a step closer to him.

“No! I didn’t mean for it to play out that way.”

“You’re such an ass! How could you spread a rumor like that? You try to pretend like you’re so much better than Johnnie, but at least he isn’t a liar. At least people know what to expect already! But you! You come in this sweet package and then you end up being just as horrible! If not worse! Do you know what-”

“Listen! I didn’t start the rumor. Someone else did, and people started coming to me; Asking me if it was true. So I just said yes. I know it was messed up, but I didn’t start that rumor! I just went along with it. I didn’t think it was going to matter. I didn’t think anyone really cared, and I didn’t think-” I cut him off.

“That it would get back to me? Of course you didn’t. Guys like you never do.” I seethed.

“Guys like me? Really, Gabrielle? I make one mistake and that’s it?”
“That wasn’t a mistake Reid! It was only a mistake because you got caught! And it wasn’t the first terrible thing you’ve ever done. Don’t flatter yourself.” I felt the anger boiling beneath my skin.

“I’m sorry.” He said helplessly.

“Yeah, so am I.”

“I-” He started.

“Get out.” I pointed towards the door. “Don’t call.”

“Gabrielle, come on.” He looked at me as if I were being irrational as he picked up his bag.

“You know, I really liked you.” I said softly as I walked him to the door. I felt my anger beginning to quickly fizzle.

“I’m sorry.” He tried once more as I started to close the door.

“I really liked you, Reid.”

Good girls never win.