Unintended Love

I took a deep breath before I told her, and I told her everything. I started with getting hit by Zack’s Frisbee and ended with our long goodbye. She seemed shocked to say the least.
“I can’t believe you’re gay!”
“Shh!” I grabbed her wrist. “I’m not gay.”
“So…you fell in love with another boy…but you’re not gay?”
“Look, its complicated okay.” I paused. “I’ve just never felt like this about anyone before. I never expected it to be with a guy.”
Jenna was smirking with delight.
“Jenna, you can’t tell mom and dad, okay.”
“Okay, I told you that I wouldn’t.” said Jenna. “So, do you know where this guy lives?”
“No, but he’s gonna call me tonight.” I said. “I can’t believe how anxious I am for his call.”
“I hate to say it, bro, but you’ve got it bad.”
I ran my hand through my hair, not knowing what to do. It was only a day until my first day of school and I didn’t want to look like a depressed idiot. While we were up there, the doorbell rang.
“I should get it. Dad’s writing and mom’s on the phone with her client.”
I left Jenna in my room and I went to go answer the door. When I opened it, a really gorgeous girl with long, long brown hair that went just passed her shoulders was on the other side. She had a weird look on her face, though, like she was shocked.
“Hello,” I said. “Can I help you?”
“Oh, right…um…I…are you Rain?”
“Yeah…why?”
“Well, um…I live next door and I, um…I heard that you were going to my school and, ah…I was gonna offer to a ride and a guide.”
“Um…sure. Do you have a name?”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. I’m Carly; Carly Frank.”
I stuck my hand out to shake and she shook it quickly and let go.
“So, Carly, do you wanna come in?”
“That’s okay. I’ve got to go.”
“Well what time is this ride you’re talking about leaving?”
“School starts at seven thirty, so I’ll be here at like seven. Is that okay?”
“Sure, see you tomorrow.”
She mouthed the word “bye”, smiled and left. I closed the door and walked back up to my room. Jenna was walking out.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’ve gotta get home and get some paperwork done.”
“Okay…I’ll see ya later, sis.”
We hugged and Jenna walked downstairs and left. She left me in this plain, but beautifully designed beach house with tall and wide windows and big, open rooms.

***

My parents were still asleep and there was nothing in the house except for donuts, so I grabbed one and ran out of the door and met Carly in her driveway. We said good morning and then got into the car; a late 80’s black BMW.
“So how do you like California?” asked Carly.
“It’s nice. It’s…warm.”
I wasn’t really in a good mood. Zack never called me like he said he would.
“Yeah, I guess that’s a big change from New York.”
“Well, it can get pretty hot there too. It is an island after all.”
“I think you’ll like Sunset High. It’s a really good school.”
“I guess anything’s better than the crappy schools in New York.”
I looked out the window as we drove beside the ocean. I looked at the surfers taking advantage of the early morning waves. California was truly beautiful. It reminded me of Hawaii, except it was more populated.
When we reached the school that was painted in its colors of red, white, and black. It was full of students of all kinds; black, white, Asian, Latino. They were all dressed pretty preppy. There were some that might be dressed in a sort of hip-hop fashion, and there were actually some people dressed like me, which was a relief. I’m just a jeans and a t-shirt kind of guy.
“So, this is Sunset High.” said Carly as we walked through the crowd. “We have a championship basketball and football team. We’re the kind of school that makes the star of the football team the most popular kid in school. I don’t see why, the guy is seriously full of himself. He walks around this school like he owns it.”
“Sounds like a jerk.”
“Oh, no he really is a jerk. But I have to admit, he’s super hot.” She giggled. “But you don’t care about that stuff.”
She ran up to this guy with fancy clothes on and a fancy haircut. He had blond hair that came across his face, but was short. It was almost like a woman’s haircut. She hugged him and they kissed each other’s cheeks. Great, this kid was so obviously gay. She was bringing him over.
“Rain, this is my best friend Eric. Eric this is my new neighbor Rain. He just moved here from New York.”
“Sup?” I asked.
“Mm, you weren’t lying C, he is gorgeous.”
I smiled and looked over to Carly who was blushing.
“Please Eric. You’re embarrassing me.”
“You weren’t embarrassed when you called me last night raving about how hot your neighbor was.”
I couldn’t believe that I was laughing at this. A gay guy and my neighbor are both talking about me like I was some supermodel and I wasn’t the least bit embarrassed.
“I think I’m gonna go die now,” said Carly, looking away.
“Don’t worry about it, C. Look, he likes the attention.”
“Not really. I just think the situation is kind of amusing, that’s all.”
Around us, the noise and the hustle of the school went on. I felt really comfortable around Carly all of a sudden.
“So, do you guys know where Mr. Sweet’s room is?” I asked. “I have him for homeroom.”
“No worries, we’ll show you.”
Eric took Carly by the arm and I followed them. Eric was a really cool character. He was tall and thin, with a perfect posture and a walk that was very androgynous. As for Carly, she seemed to be a perfect match for him.
She was just a bit of a tomboy, but not enough to dress like a boy. She wore tight, thigh hugging jeans, a small black t-shirt with short sleeves and pink Converse Chuck’s with white laces. She was a very beautiful girl with a great figure. She would normally be my type, but ever since I met Zack, I don’t even look at girls anymore. All I can think about is him. It sucks.
We reached my homeroom and stopped to chat right in front of it. They asked me a whole bunch of questions about New York, what kind of music I like, and what my favorite movies are. These questions only reminded me of Zack, though. He asked me most of the same questions when we were alone in my Hawaiian suite.
The bell rang and I had to go inside a few more minutes later. We agreed to meet at lunch and then separated and the time between homeroom and lunch was just mediocre; English, science, history, and art. After art was lunch. I met Carly where she said to, right in front of the cafeteria, which is a big giant red building.
“Let’s go, we’ll give you some of our lunch. The food here is horrible.” said Carly as soon as she and Eric walked up.
“Well…I have money.”
“No, unless it’s from the vending machines, do not buy anything food-like from this school.”
“Um…okay.”
We walked into the cafeteria and found a seat. Carly gave me a piece of her turkey club and Eric gave me a few pieces of California roll sushi. Combined with a green tea that I bought from a machine, it was actually the best school lunch I’ve ever had.
“Oh God,” said Carly as she rolled her eyes. “Don’t look now, but here come the king and queen of Sunset High.”
I turned around and as if in slow motion, I saw the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I got this feeling in the pit of my stomach like I was going to vomit. It was Zack and he had his arm around one of the most gorgeous girls that I have ever seen. He was kissing her and feeling her. He was even laughing with her. I was horrified.
“So, is that the jerk you were talking about?” I asked.
“Ugh, yeah, and that’s his girlfriend; the captain of the cheer squad. They‘ve been going out for, like, ever.”
“Her name is Amy and she’s absolutely fabulous.”
“No she’s not. She’s-She’s horrible.” Carly insisted.
“Oh, you’re just saying that because you’ve had a crush on Zack Morgan since the fifth grade.”
I must be in the twilight zone or something because this cannot be happening. It’s just not possible. Is it?
I couldn’t stay there any longer, and I couldn’t let Zack see me. I just couldn’t. I started move through the cafeteria hunched over really low. I couldn’t see where I was going, but I just figured that I’d find the door eventually. Instead I ran into someone, sending their tray of food flying into air, as well as making him slip and all of the food landed on us.
Laughing filled the entire cafeteria and my worst nightmare was fulfilled when I heard an all too familiar laugh coming from somewhere really close to me.
“Who the hell is this loser?”
It was him. He called me a loser. I got up, wiped myself off and when he looked at me horror became his entire face. I helped the person that I ran into up. He was tall, taller than me. He looked about six feet tall. He had a somewhat messy haircut, but I got the impression that it was styled to look that way. By this time, the laughing had gone away and people had gone back to their lunches.
“I’m so sorry. I…It’s my fault.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m a klutz anyway. It was bound to happen sooner or later.”
He was very soft spoken, almost shy.
“Let me buy you a new lunch,” I said.
I turned back to Zack. His girlfriend Amy, or whatever her name was, was pulling him to go sit down, but he was frozen.
“You can’t. It’s okay. I’ll just get a bag of chips or something.”
“No…come on, um…what’s your name?”
“It’s Gabe. My name’s Gabe.”
“Come on Gabe. If you’re just gonna eat chips, then at least let me buy you those. I feel really horrible.”
Suddenly, Eric and Carly were beside me, asking if I was okay and hovering really badly.
“Hello Gabe.” said Eric.
“Eric…” Gabe returned.
“Do you guys know each other?” I asked.
“They used to go out.” said Carly.
“Oh…well, I was just about to go with Gabe to the vending machines and buy him some chips. I’ll be back you guys.”
I took Gabe by the arm and pulled him out of the cafeteria. I didn’t want to look back, but I was hoping that that Zack saw me leaving the building with Gabe.
“What was that about?” Gabe asked.
“You don’t even want to know.” I said. “How about those chips?”
“You don’t have to buy chips, really. They’re only a dollar.”
“Well, maybe I don’t have to buy you chips, but I want to.” Gabe smiled and I smiled back. “Now, do you happen to know where the machines are?”
“What?”
“I’m kind of new here.”
“Oh, that’s why I’ve never seen you before. Come on. They’re this way.”
Gabe and I started walking through the crowd and noise of the commons area of the school to get to the vending machines.
“So, where are you from?” asked Gabe as he opened his bag of potato chips.
“New York.”
“No shit! I’ve always want to go there. It must be awesome to live there.”
“Yeah, it is pretty awesome. But California is really cool too.” I said.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket, but it only vibrated once. I asked Gabe to excuse me. I checked my caller ID. It was Zack. He sent me a text message.

Meet me bhind da
Ftbll bleachrs
Aftr skewl. We
Need 2 tlk.

The message totally caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to do, so I just deleted it.
“Are you okay?” asked Gabe.
“Yeah, it’s nothing.”
The bell rang before Gabe could say anything else. So, I just ended the conversation.
“So, why don’t you eat lunch with Me, Eric, and Carly tomorrow?” I asked.
“I can’t. Eric and I…it’s awkward.”
“Come on. Who were you going to sit with today anyway?”
“Um…I usually just sit by myself.”
“See! I can’t let you sit by yourself.”
“Okay, okay…if…if it’ll get you to stop bugging me.”
I smiled and patted him on the back. Then I went my way. My next three classes were calculus, PE, and Spanish. These classes were no more exciting than the ones before them. I couldn’t pay attention anyway. I was just thinking about meeting Zack the entire time. I had to meet Carly first, though. I told her I’d meet her in the front of the school.
“So, wanna go out for some smoothies or something. I know this great place.”
“Actually, um…I’ve gotta stay behind and meet, ah…my counselor. Yeah, some last minute transfer stuff.”
“Oh, okay, do you want us to wait?” asked Carly.
“Come on, C, leave it alone.” said Eric.
“It’s okay, Carly. I’ll get a ride.” I said.
“See, the cutie can get a ride.” said Eric. “Let’s go.”
Eric pulled Carly away and they walked to the parking lot. I started back into the school gates. It was so foreign to me, going to an outdoor school. I couldn’t find anything. And as I walk walking through the school, getting hopelessly lost, I heard my name. I turned around to where it was coming from. It was Gabe.
“You look lost,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah, I’m looking for the football stadium.”
“I think football tryouts are over by now.” he said. “They’re usually in the middle of summer.”
“No…um…I’m supposed to meet someone there. Can you just point me into right direction.”
“Sure, just go down there and take a left at the arts building.” He pointed to my right, his left.
“Thanks Gabe. Um…I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay…” He smiled and then went on his way. I walked in the direction he told me. I was going to meet Zack.