Secret Crush

Chapter 12 - [The First Snowfall]

I walked into the school on Monday and I think I was glowing. People were watching me as I walked down the hall with a huge smile on my face.

I mean, why wouldn’t I be happy?

My favourite and only brother was engaged to an amazing girl now… and wedding plans have already started! I’ve never been a part of wedding plans before!

It wouldn’t be long before Gina and Nate had a baby…

The thought made me jump in excitement.

When I got to my locker, I opened it, hung my coat up, closed it and then sat in front of it, waiting for Val so I could talk to her about the amazing news.

I had already told her, so now we could talk about it.

And soon, Val came with a grin on her face.

I grinned back as she opened her own locker.

“Someone looks happy!” She said with a chuckle.

“Well, I’ve got superb news for you!”

Val looked at me. “More good news?”

I nodded. “Gina wants you to be one of the bridesmaids as well!”

Val’s jaw dropped. “What? Me?” Val asked. “We don’t even know each other very well!”

I nodded again. “Gina’s only got two best friends and she has zero female relatives that she’s close to! She want’s five bridesmaids so there’s me, her two best friends… she told me to bring you too and we’re gonna have to find a fifth!”

Val shook her head. “Is she sure about that? I mean… a bridesmaid? That’s a big deal!”

“Yup!” I said. “Gina also said she wants my bridesmaid experience to be super awesome… so since I don’t know her best friends very well, she told me to bring along mine!”

Val sat next to me. “Wow! I never ever imagined being a bridesmaid.”

I chuckled.

“Tell her I’m honored.”

I nodded. “Will do!”

“Wait…” Val said. “Does that mean I have to sort out my differences with Gale?”

I laughed. “I guess so!”

“Natalie?” I heard.

I only looked up when I saw a pair of legs in front of me.

When I saw Gale’s girlfriend standing in front of me with her two best friends, Genevieve and Selene, I hesitated. “It’s Naomi.”

Genevieve snorted… which was surprisingly unattractive for a girl like her.

She was one of those pretty brunettes with the big boobs. She had a pretty face with lots of makeup, full lips, bright brown eyes and a perfect, tall body.

I actually used to see her a lot when I was a kid because unlike the other rich kids… her parents weren’t particularly rich. After all, her mother works with my mother. She was just a spoiled brat who got everything she wanted.

Selene, on the other hand… well, she was actually kind of nice sometimes. I mean, we never spoke at all… but she’d sometimes smile if we ever made eye contact. She was, of course, pretty too. But definitely not the prettiest on the Rich Boat. But hey, she was still pretty. She had long, black hair… which she wore in different styles every day. Today, it was in a loose, but stylish braid. She also had pretty grey eyes. Her body was fit but she was a little short.

Alison crossed her arms. “Yeah, I don’t really care… but okay, let me get to the point.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“So we all know that your brother is getting married to Gale’s sister.”

My eyebrows rose some more. All of them?

Wow… word went around fast.

“But that gives you no right to flirt with my boyfriend.”

I scoffed. I should have seen this coming.

“Hey.” Val said, standing up. “First of all, she’s not flirting with your man, okay? She’s not like you bitches. Second… I’m so shocked you have the guts to come and speak to her like that when I’m standing right here.”

Alison frowned at Val… and though she acted touch, we all knew that Alison was scared crapless of Val. So she stepped back. “I’m not trying to be mean.” Alison said. “I’m just trying to clarify things.”

Val crossed her arms. “That’s what I thought.”

Alison looked at me as I stood up too. “Rumors has it… you used to be best friends with Gale?”

I sighed. Maria… “Sort of…”

“Okay.” Alison said, looking at Val and then back at me. “Well, whatever you two had before… I just want to remind you that-”

“Alison… I’m not trying to do what you think I’m trying to do.” The thought was so… outrageous… I mean, I couldn’t even say it. “We’re just friends, since childhood, and now we’re in-laws.”

Alison nodded her head… but I could tell that she didn’t want to leave it at that.

Thank god for Val being here.

“Alright, I think that’s enough.” Valerie said. “You girls can get going.”

Selene gave me a small smile before they all strutted off.

I looked at Val. “Why me?”

Val rolled her eyes. “I’ll make sure I teach Maria a lesson.”

“It’s okay. Forget about it.” I said. “Let’s be positive… we’ve got a wedding to be bridesmaids for!”

Val suddenly smiled. “Oh yeah!”

And then we started talking about the wedding.

I tried to forget about the totally obvious, yet subtle threat of Alison. But it wasn’t too easy.

Especially when, right when I get home, Gale shows up at my door.

I was back at my moms place… so suddenly things were a little dull.

So when the doorbell rang, I rushed down to get it, thinking it was my brother. But then I saw Gale.

“Hey.” I smiled awkwardly.

He grinned, his hands in his pockets. “We’ve got no homework today.” He started. “Let’s go out.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Where?”

Gale shrugged. “We used to just go out all the time. Why does where matter now?”

I thought back to when we were kids and he was right. We used to either just walk around or ride our bikes or just sit on the porch… almost always for no reason.

But after that talk with Alison, I was a little hesitant. “I dunno… its getting cold out… and winter is here… which means it get’s dark early…”

Gale rolled his eyes. “Get a sweater and hurry up. I’m waiting.”

I took a deep breath. “Gale-”

“Hurry up.” He repeated as he turned around and rubbed his hands together.

I stood there for a moment before I sighed. He wins this time.

I then ran up the stairs to my bedroom to pull out a light coat and a scarf.

After putting it on, I went back down the stairs and out the door with Gale.

I laughed as Gale finished his story about Janette, one of his exes. Apparently she wrote ‘d**k’ all over Gale’s old car in Sharpie when he broke up with her. “So your mom must have freaked out?”

“Nah.” Gale said. “My mom surprisingly likes most of my exes… no matter what crazy thing they do.”

My eyebrows rose. After my last encounter with Mrs. Dallas, I couldn’t really imagine her being so… forgiving.

Gale looked at me. “So what about your exes?”

We stopped at an intersection, waiting for the light to turn green. I was a little surprised by the real interest on his face.

But I shrugged. “No one wrote ‘d**k’ on my car.” I said. “Well, I never had a car.”

He chuckled.

“But if anything, I should have been the one to write ‘d**k’ on their cars, since they broke up with me.” I said. “And I didn’t.”

He started to laugh. “I can never imagine you being a crazy ex.”

I smiled, glad that I didn’t look like or act like some crazy ex. His words could be considered a compliment.

“I was actually surprised Blake broke up with you back then.” He said.

I looked at him. “Really?”

Gale nodded. “He actually seemed like he was really into you.”

I smiled, looking down at the floor as we started to cross the road. “He was nice… really nice. But I guess I wasn’t his type.”

“Were you upset?”

I pursed my lips as I tried to remember. “A little… but dating wasn’t really a big priority for me back then… so it wasn’t a big deal.”

Gale watched me for a second, and then snorted. “You cried like a big baby.”

I scoffed. “Did not!”

Gale started to laugh. “Liar. I know you better then that.” He said. “You must have actually liked him back then too.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Leave me alone.”

Gale gently elbowed me. “I’m just playing.”

I pouted.

But then Gale changed the topic. “My sister found the last bridesmaid.” He said. “Your brother apparently has a close friend who’s studying in Italy?”

I smiled. “Yeah! Antonia!”

He nodded. “Well, Gina likes her a lot and she said she’s definitely gonna be in Broadview during the month of the wedding.”

“That’s awesome!” I said. “So it’s Gina’s two friends, Antonia, Val and I…” My voice trailed off when I realized something. “No Alison?” That was surprising, right? I mean, isn’t it normal for the brides younger brother’s girlfriend to be a bridesmaid?

Gale snorted. “Gina prohibited any girlfriends of mine.”

“What?” I asked, feeling like this was going to cause more problems. “Why?”

“She thinks… quite reasonably, actually… that my relationships don’t last very long… she doesn’t want a potential ex of mine to be in any of the important wedding photos.”

I held back a laugh. Though that was super harsh… it was also super funny.

Only Gina, though she was one of the sweetest girls I knew, could think of something like that.

Gale laughed. “It doesn’t really matter.” He said. “I’d rather you be my partner throughout the wedding then her anyways.”

I looked at him, feeling my heart skip a beat. “Yeah?”

He nodded. “Hell yes.” He said. “Alison would just be yapping in my ear all day long, cussing me off for looking at my sisters hot friends and stuff.”

I laughed.

He looked at me and smiled. “This is my sisters’ wedding. I’d like to have a good time.”

I nodded. “I guess you have a point.”

We then turned into our town’s park.

“Oh, Blake is being partnered up with Valerie. He’s freaking out.”

That made me burst out laughing. “No way!”

“Yeah, he’s one of the groomsmen. He begged Gina to pair him up with you… but she said no.”

I laughed some more. “Well, let him know that I’ll tell Val to behave.” I said. “She’s actually really sweet… at least, if he’s nice to her.”

“I’ll let him know.” He said. “I’m sure it’s not going to change much.”

I chuckled.

Gale then pointed at my favourite coffee shop, Dandy’s Coffee. “Wanna get something?”

I nodded right away. “Yes.” I was getting a little thirsty anyways.

We both walked into Dandy’s Coffee and were greeted with a smile by the owner, Mr. Danders.

Mr. Danders was a friendly middle-aged man who was married to a lovely, kind women. But they had no children together.

He was tall, a little round and had a head covered with black hair and white streaks because of his age. His eyes were dark brown, but his smile made him look friendly all the time.

And his coffee was amazing.

“Naomi Valentine and Gale Dallas… together again?” He said. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Gale and I chuckled.

It was then that I remembered that Gale and I would buy donuts from here together all the time when we were kids.

“It’s nice to see you two hanging out again.” He grinned. “Is it cause your siblings are getting married?”

I wasn’t too surprised he knew. Both Nate and Gina came here often, if not every morning.

“Yeah.” Gale said. “My sister forced me to talk to her again.”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you kidding? It was my brother who made me start talking to him again.”

Mr. Danders laughed. “So what will it be, medium hot chocolate for you young man and a medium coffee, three milks, four sugars for you, sweet lady?”

I felt my cheeks heat up and I smiled. “Yup!”

Gale nodded his head and pulled out his wallet as Mr. Danders turned around to make us our drinks.

When I saw that, I reached into my coat pocket and grabbed a couple coins.

Mr. Danders put the coffee and hot chocolate in front of us. “That’ll be two fifty. No tax for my beloved children.”

I handed him my coins first. “Don’t take Gale’s money.”

Mr. Danders chuckled.

Gale then gave me a funny look as he held out his five-dollar bill. He then turned to Mr. Danders. “Mr. Danders, don’t make us break our tradition. I always paid, remember?”

Mr. Danders gave me a pleading look. “He’s got a point, love.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “C’mon! That’s exactly the reason why I should pay.”

Mr. Danders now turned to Gale. “The girl’s got a point.”

Gale gave Mr. Danders a calm look. “Mr. Danders. If you take her money, I can revoke the invitation to my sister’s wedding.”

Mr. Danders pressed his lips into a thin line and shook his head. “I guess that’s that.” He said, giving back my money and taking his five-dollar bill. “I really want to be at that wedding.”

Gale chuckled.

I scoffed. “No way!” I said. “I can revoke your invitation too you know!”

Mr. Danders laughed as the cash register ringed open. “Naomi, you’re too nice. You’d say it but never do it.” He said, handing Gale his change. “Gale however…” He clucked his tongue.

“That is so not fair.” I crossed my arms.

Mr. Danders laughed some more. “Besides, I rather like seeing Gale acting like a gentleman. Very adorable.”

I frowned but then sighed. I could never stay mad at Mr. Danders, so there was no point trying.

He then handed both Gale and I a jelly donut. “It’s on me. Enjoy you two.”

See? He was too awesome.

“Thanks!” I said, all that previous annoyance disappearing.

“Oh, thank you.” Gale said as he took it. He gave Mr. Dander’s a smile. “You know I wouldn’t have revoked your invitation, right?”

Mr. Danders chuckled. “Of course, son. I know you’re just fooling around.”

“That is so not fair.” I said, taking my donut and coffee. “But thank you for the donut.”

Mr. Danders grinned. “Not a problem. Anything for my two favourite customers.”

“Tell Mrs. Danders we say hi.” Gale said as we started walking towards the exit.

“Yes sir.” He smiled.

“By Mr. Danders!” I waved.

He waved back.

As we left his shop I turned to Gale. “You’ve got to stop paying for me. Seriously.”

Gale rolled his eyes. “It’s just two fifty. Relax.”

“Yeah, but it adds up!”

I then noticed something… it had already gotten pretty dark out.

“Wow… what time is it?” I asked.

Gale pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. “Six fifty.” He said as he stuffed it back into his pocket.

Time flew!

Gale walked over to a bench and sat down, taking a bite out of his donut and placing his hot chocolate down on the floor next to him.

I stood in front of him, a little awkwardly.

Then Gale gave me a funny look. “Do I need to tell you to sit?”

I looked back at him and then walked over to the bench, sitting down next to him.

He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and holding his hands together. “I think they’re putting up the Christmas lights already.”

I looked up from my coffee and saw a group of men and women working around the huge evergreen tree that sat in the middle of our park.

It was a massive tree… but every Christmas it became a massive, beautiful tree. “That’s so exciting!” I said before I sipped my coffee.

Gale watched them, a little blankly.

When I looked at him and noticed this, I bit my lip.

I knew Gale well enough to know that something was on his mind.

And from what’s been happening today… he’s been acting a little strange. He’s been a little less… silly… then usual.

“Is there a reason for why you wanted to hang out today?” I asked him after a while. It took me that short while to work up to courage to act like the old friend I once was to him.

Gale looked at me, but didn’t say anything.

“Like… something you wanna talk about?”

He smiled. “No… just thought we should hang out.”

I gave him a look that said “liar.”

His smile grew. “You’re starting to sound like the old, in my business, Mimi.”

Now I smiled. “But seriously, what’s wrong?”

He leaned back on the bench, his eyes on the tree again. And then he put his arm around me.

Well, it wasn’t exactly around me. If I was leaning back against the bench it would have been around me. But since I was sitting on the edge of the bench, my body turned to him… I guess his arm was just stretched on the bench.

“This is important to Gina… her wedding, I mean.” He started.

I nodded my head as I sipped my coffee. “Of course.”

“But I don’t think my mom gets it…”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed. “My moms really mad that Gina said yes to your brother.”

Ouch. “Really?”

He nodded as he looked at me. “I didn’t want to say anything cause I knew that would upset you.” He said. “But…”

I waited for him to speak again, trying to push back the idea that my brother’s future mother-in-law didn’t like him.

“You’re a girl… Gina’s a girl… my mom’s a girl…” He hesitated. “Maybe you’ll know what to do better then I do.”

“I’ll try my best.” I smiled.

He smiled back and then spoke again. “My moms been trying to get Gina to get with this son of her business partner-s***h-friend for years now.” He said. “Gina says Nate knows about it and Nate apparently actually got into a fight with the guy because he tried to-”

“Yeah… Nate told me… some guy kept hitting on her and Nate got pissed so he told him to stop… but he didn’t and said Gina likes it. Then Nate punched the guy in the face and took Gina home… that’s the story, right?”

Gale nodded. “Yeah. That was the guy my moms been trying to get her with.”

I hesitated. “My brother said he was gross.”

Gale started laughing. “I guess you can call him gross… he’s a spoiled guy. I don’t like him much either. Apparently he can’t do anything on his own.” Gale said. “But anyways… when Gina told my mom that she said yes to Nate, my mom sort of freaked.”

I imagined Ms. Dallas freaking.

It was so weird to imagine that. I mean, Mrs. Dallas was always scary… but she was also always friendly… in her own sarcastic way. My last encounter with her was actually genuinely weird. And I’d really like to know what made her dislike me.

And my brother too.

He’s a great guy… and he has always been really good to Gina. Why wouldn’t she like him?

Sure, he’s not rich like the son of her business partner… but was that really all Mrs. Dallas looked for in her daughter’s future spouse? Money?

“And I guess it’s all a little strained in my family right now.” Gale said. “Gina’s staying with Nate and refuses to come home until my mom accepts him as a son-in-law. My mom doesn’t seem to care. And I’m sort of stuck in the middle between the two.”

“What about your dad?” I asked.

Gale rolled his eyes. “My dad’s on a whole different planet right now. He couldn’t care less who Gina married or didn’t marry. As long as she keeps up the family image, he’s good.”

I held back my chuckle. Gales dad was always a little… distant. The idea that he was ‘on a whole different planet’ seemed totally accurate.

“Your mom’s gotta warm up.” I said with a smile. “I mean… she’s your mom.”

Gale sighed. “That’s what I thought too… but…” He sighed again. “I’ve never really cared much about the relationship between my mom and sister. I knew it was tense but things always worked out… you know?”

I nodded my head.

“But this is Gina’s wedding…” He said. “It’s her future. And if my mom chooses not to be a part of that then-”

“That won’t happen.” I said. “A mom is a mom. And a marriage is important. You’re mom will come around. I mean, she has to!”

Gale nodded.

“Maybe you could talk to her? Convince her to get to know Nate maybe?”

“Gina has tried a million times.”

“I’ve learned that moms tend to listen to sons more then the daughters.” I said, with a hint of annoyance in my voice. After all, this was coming from first hand experience.

Gale smiled at me. “Yeah… I’ll talk to her. But I guess you’re right… it can’t actually get that bad, right?”

“Of course not.” I said. I then smiled. “And it’s sweet of you to worry about your sister’s happiness. But remember, no matter what, as long as Gina’s happy, everything will be fine.”

He nodded. “I guess you’re right.” He then smiled at me. “It’s weird how easy it is to talk to you.”

And suddenly, my cheeks were heating up. But I smiled.

“It’s easier to talk to you then it is to talk to Blake.” He said. “And Blake’s a pretty good listener too.”

“Well, maybe its cause Blake is a guy?”

“Don’t be sexist.” Gale said with a wink.

I chuckled.

“And… Mimi…” He started.

“Yeah?”

He looked at me for a moment and then smiled. “I want you to be able to talk to me… like the old days.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, right now I don’t have much to say.”

“Tell me what Alison said to you today.”

I froze.

And suddenly it was extremely awkward.

Gale kept his eyes on me, watching my every move.

“Nothing.”

He rolled his eyes. “I know she said something to you.” He said. “So stop lying and tell me.”

I sighed. “She was just asking about Gina and Nate.” I said. It was the truth, sort of.

Gale watched me carefully.

And then I suddenly felt something cold on the back of my hand.

When I looked down at my hand, I saw a snowflake start to melt because of my body heat.

I looked at Gale and scoffed. “It’s snowing!”

He raised an eyebrow at me as I looked up and saw the first snowfall of the year start.

Gale then chuckled.

I looked at him, getting overly excited. I always adored the snow. “This is so awesome!”

Gale smiled as he watched me. And then he suddenly placed his hand over mine and leaned forward.

It was so sudden that I actually, for a moment, thought he was going to kiss me. But he stopped, a couple inches away from my face.

And then I was so embarrassed for even thinking that he would kiss me.

Why would I think that?

Both his eyebrows were raised as he stared at me. “I know you’re not going to tell me the truth. But don’t try to change the subject.”

I hesitated. “What?”

He sighed, closing his eyes, and then he looked at me again. “If Alison says anything stupid to you I want you to ignore her. She can be a real… b***h sometimes.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line. Alison was mean, yeah… but that was pretty mean.

He grinned suddenly. “You think I’m being mean?”

I pressed my lips into a thin line.

He laughed as he moved away. “I’m just saying not to take what she says seriously.” He said. “She thinks she’s the queen of the world sometimes.”

“Sure.” I said. “It’s not like I was taking it seriously in the first place.”

Gale let out a small laugh. “Okay… just remember that if it goes too far you have to tell me.”

I nodded as I held my hand out, trying to catch the tiny snowflakes.

But really… how bad could it get?

So I just smiled and tried to catch snowflakes for the next little while.

And soon enough, as the snowfall got heavier, it wasn’t awkward anymore. And the both of us were catching snowflakes, trying to see who could catch the biggest one.

I won.