Secret Crush

Chapter 5 - [The Exes]

I sat in the library with Val and Maria during my spare. Our library was a lovely library, probably the best high school library out there. Funded by the rich parents of the more studious students, this library was big, beatuiful and filled with books.

That was the thing about this school.

Victoria Anne High School wasn’t a private school or anything like that, but it was the next best thing that our town had to offer, since it didn’t have a private school.

It had the best principle, best teachers, and best facilities. Facilities which included this library, five computer labs, a mechanical shop, a sewing room, four large gymnasiums with all the equipment you could possibly think of, a new and renovated art room and much, much more.

This was mostly because most, if not all, of the rich kids in our town came here.

And that was why we had such a large population of popular kids.

But I guess the rich popular kids are good for some reasons. Their richness means I get an awesome library to study in.

What type of nerd wouldn’t ask for that?

Maria looked at me over my laptop. “So how’s your project going?”

“Good, I guess.” I said, keeping my eyes on the laptop.

“Is it true that Gale’s got a pool in his backyard?”

“Yes.” I said. But this was something I knew since I was a kid.

“I think all the rich kids have pools in their backyards.” Val, who had her head down on the table, said. “Nothing so special about him.”

Maria ignored her. “And is it true that he claps to turn on his lights and stuff?”

I looked up at Maria, raising my eyebrows. “No, Ria. That is not true.”

She looked a little surprised. “Oh.”

I chuckled as I looked down at my laptop screen. I was looking for a link to an illegal copy of Mama. I couldn’t sleep last night not only because I was terrified, but also because I didn’t know the ending of the movie.

“Oh!” Maria exclaimed, making the librarians glare at her and making Valerie lift her head. “I cannot believe I forgot to mention this.”

“What?” I asked, looking at her.

The first thing I thought she was going to say was that she had a boyfriend.

She grinned. “You will not believe what I heard.”

“What?” I asked again, a little bit disappointed but trying not to be rude and pretending that I did care about what gossip she had to share.

She leaned forward in her chair. “So you know how Gale Dallas was dating Ramona for like… six months?”

I leaned back in my chair, feeling my smile slowly fade as I picked up my pencil and started drawing flowers on the table. “Yup.”

“Well, apparently, he was actually super serious about her… like, rumor has it that he went out and bought a brand new BMW a few hours before she broke up with him because she was complaining about his old one and how it wasn’t comfortable.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Wow.”

“Isn’t that so sweet?”

From the corner of my eye, I could see Valerie watching me. “Yeah, pretty sweet… I mean, Ramona was a serious i***t for leaving him for another guy.” I said. “That’s pretty… stupid.”

Maria sighed. “If I were his girlfriend, I’d never do such a thing.” She said as she got all giddy and bubbly.

I let out a small laugh and continued to draw flowers on the table. I knew all about Gale’s past relationships. As much as I hated to admit it, I always paid attention to that kind of crap.

But I really couldn’t help it.

At one point of my life, I was first to know straight from him.

I guess I’d known him so long that it’s become a habit to just know what he’s up to. And even though we don’t talk much anymore, I’d still like to know.

“Mars!” I heard someone call. It sounded like a hiss cause they were trying to whisper.

And even though the girl was calling Maria, we all looked up.

“Come here for a second!”

Maria looked at us and shrugged before getting up and rushing off.

I looked at Valerie. “You know… That was really mean of Ramona.”

Valerie rolled her eyes. “It’s what you get.” She said. “That’s how those type of girls are. He should have known when he signed up for this shit.”

“Did you hear that she’s been trying to get back with him?” I asked.

Valerie shook her head. “Nope.” She said. “But if Gale gets back with her… I swear he’d lose the tiny bit of respect that I have left for him.”

I looked down at my flowers. “Honestly… if my future boyfriend did that for me… I would never have let him go in the first place.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Val said. “But that’s cause you’re not a bitch.”

I smiled at her. ‘Thank god.”

Maria came back and sat down in front of us. She opened her mouth to say something again but Val spoke first. “You know, I’ve been hearing a lot about that Ramona b***h today. Why has she resurfaced?”

Maria’s eyes widened. “God Val, you are so bad at keeping up to date.”

Val looked at me and I shrugged.

Maria scoffed and shook her head. “Ramona is back!”

I gave her a look that showed I understood.

You see, Ramona was probably the richest girl in the school because she not only had her parents’ money, but she was already working as a legitimate fashion designer and model.

Because of her job, she was barely ever at school, especially now that we were in the twelfth grade. People say that she’s still enrolled as a student but gets homeschooled when she’s gone.

And even though she’s always gone, she still manages to get amazing grades.

If she were ever here to write a test, she would always get one of the highest marks.

Suddenly, there was some soft squealing.

When I looked up, I saw Val snort. “Speak of the devil.”

“And she shall appear!” Maria said as her eyes widened.

A lot of the girls in the room raised their heads, some even got up to try and get a glance at Ramona, who was walking past the library and was visible through the glass wall of the library which had a hallway on the other side.

But by the time I raised my head, she had her back towards me and was walking away.

She looked so normal though, from the back at least, wearing sweatpants and a tight t-shirt. Her long brown was straight and out and it looked like wind was blowing in her face.

And unlike most of the popular girls, she had a black Jansport bag on her shoulders instead of a purse.

And then the worst thing that could possible happen, to girls like Val and I who hate gossip, had happened.

Gale and one of his friends were walking in the opposite direction, towards her.

My eyebrows rose and I heard people in the library gasp like this was some sort of show.

Of course, I was guilty for wanting to see what happened when they met too.

It almost went in slow motion for me, and probably everyone else except Valerie.

They kept walking, without slowing down.

And surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, Gale walked right past her.

Their shoulders looked like they were so close to touching as he passed her, but they didn’t.

Gale didn’t even look at her.

But Ramona slowed down, turning her head slightly before looking straight again and walking away.

When both of them disappeared through the doors, chatter broke out in the library

People were gossiping like no tomorrow.

“Ohmigosh. Gale’s so hot. It’s so good that he isn’t letting that b***h phase him!”

“I heard he took everything he got her back.”

“You know, I heard she was actually pregnant with the other guys kid.”

“Pregnant. Yeah, she was definitely pregnant.”

“I heard she had an abortion. They were twins.”

“Do you think Gale knew she was pregnant? That’s probably why he’s so mad.”

I closed my eyes and smiled when the librarians shushed everyone and threatened to kick people out.

But as the library quieted down, my heart sank for some strange reason.

And I couldn’t figure out why.

When I got home that evening, I closed the door and heard my mom call for me. “Sweetheart, you have a message on the answering machine!”

“Yeah, kay.” I said as I walked over to the answering machine.

I pressed the play button and listened as I took off my sweater and socks.

“Hey Mimi.” I heard my dad say.

My heart skipped a beat.

I guess I really missed him.

“I tried calling your cellphone a million times but you didn’t pick up, and you don’t have voicemail on that so I called your house instead.”

“Oops.” I muttered as I pulled out my dead phone.

“I called to say I miss you, love. If you’re free tonight then get your brother to give you drive over to my place. I’ve got takeout and all the seasons of Supernatural waiting. Give me a call back.”

I felt a smile grow on my face.

My brother had already left but I shrugged.

I’ll take my bike.

“Mom!” I called. “I’m gonna go see dad.”

“Alright.” I heard her say from upstairs.

I put my socks back on and my sweater as well before slipping into my running shoes and leaving the house.

I pulled my bike out of the garage, hopped on and cycled my way down the street.

It was a fifteen minute bike ride to his apartment, which was in the more busy part of town. And the ride there involved me passing the mall where all the rich girls spent their evenings, the park where Gale and his pals spent their evenings playing basket ball and the library where nerds like me liked to go.

But when I got there, I already felt so much more calm and relieved then I’ve felt all week.

I walked into the apartment, typing the code in to enter and then rushing into the elevator with my bike.

And then I was surprised by a familiar old lady who was my fathers’ neighbor.

“Hi Ms. Miller!” I grinned at her.

The old lady, who was rushing into the elevator after me, looked up.

She was a small, cute old lady with a head that was full of white hair. She had lovely grey eyes, but for some reason she was frowning at me.

As I pressed the button, which would take me to the twenty-third floor, I watched her put her arms on her hips. “Young lady you should be ashamed of yourself.”

My eyebrows rose. “What did I do?”

“Your poor papa has been missing you like crazy!” She said, waving her finger around at me.

I chuckled. “Oh! I know, I have to apologize!” I said. “I’ve just been busy…”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s what all the kids say these days.” But her frown disappeared. “You have a lovely papa, just make sure you visit him as much as you can!”

I nodded as the elevator door opened. “I’ll see you later then, Ms. Miller?”

“Yes love, tell your papa I said hi!”

I nodded my head and watched her walk off in her long purple dress.

I then turned around and rolled my bike down to his room. When I knocked on his door, he answered it almost instantly.

“Mimi!” I heard his comforting, deep voice call.

I jumped into his arms and gave him a tight hug, letting my bike fall hard onto the ground.

My tall dad hugged me back and spun me around. “Are you so busy that you can’t visit your father?”

I chuckled as I let go of him and bent down to pick up my bike. “I’m sorry.”

When I looked back at him, he was smiling.

Christopher Valentine was the most kindest and loving man in my life. My brother was loving and all, but he wasn’t always that nice.

My dad, however… everyone says that just from the way he looks at us, they could see how much we mean to him.

And I believed that.

It wasn’t like he spoiled us or anything. No. I mean, we weren’t rich.

But he gave us all the love he could possibly give us since we were born.

He always spent time with us whenever he could, he’d tuck us into bed and tell us stories. He’d play with us and take us anywhere we wanted to go. And he taught us so much of what we know right now.

And that’s why I hated that he was gone.

My parents didn’t have a custody battle or anything like that, though it was a question at the time. Since I was still young, they needed to figure out who got to keep me. My brother got lucky cause he was already an adult.

Though my mother was ready for the whole custody fight, my father thought that something like this would scar me forever. So he chose not to fight to keep me cause “kids belonged with their mothers.”

I still remember him saying that to me before he left me with his ex.

Of course, I forgave my father for leaving me behind in no time. And thanks to my brother, I was able to see him as often as I liked.

I looked at my father and smiled some more. He was growing old, of course, but he was younger then most men that had kids my brothers age.

He was forty-four going on forty-five and that was because him and my mother were apparently reckless kids that were supposedly madly in love and a lot of the adults around town know their story.

The two of them, who were only months apart in age, got married when they were both eighteen and had my brother very soon after.

That’s why my brother and I were so different in age. Apparently my parents struggled to raise my brother because they were so young, but they still did a great job.

And then I came along nine years later.

And everything seemed fine for so long. But as everyone knows now, their undying love didn’t last.

At least, my mother’s undying love for my father didn’t last.

“Why are you just standing there?” My dad asked as he took my bike from me. “Come in.”

I followed him into the apartment and took of my shoes, looking around. It looked the same as it always did. Thank god.

I walked into his living room and slumped down into the couch that was across from the TV.

“I’ve got Chinese. Do you want to eat it now or later?”

I turned and looked at him as he walked into the kitchen, which had a huge window so that you could see into it from the living room. “I think I’ll eat a little later.”

My dad looked at me. “Sure?”

I nodded.

He smiled.

My father was a very tall man with broad shoulders and a fit body. For a forty-four year old, he was always more fit then I was.

People say my father was always very handsome, and though he was growing his white hairs now and getting some of those eye wrinkles, I still thought he was.

He had small brown eyes, and black hair and always had some facial hair on his face. I liked that, it made him look more dad-like, and I absolutely hated when he shaved it all off.

My dad also had a defined jawline and cheekbones a squarish chin that he passed onto my brother but not to me. I was gifted with my chubby cheeks and a face that looked like I had no cheekbones whatsoever.

But I guess that was what made him and my brother so handsome. And I found it very accurate to say that I was the ugly duckling in the family.

Not that I thought I was ugly in particular.

I just think that’s the perfect analogy.

He walked over to me and sat down next to me, holding two cups of coffee. “So how’s school treating you?” He asked as he handed me a cup and then put an arm over my shoulder.

I shrugged and crossed my legs onto the couch. “Good, I guess.”

My dad chuckled. “Oh Naomi you underestimate my capabilities of being your father.” He said. “What’s wrong?”

I looked at him. “Nothing! There’s just not much to talk about when it comes to school.”

“I know you better then that, love.” He said, sipping some of his coffee. “What’s the crazy thing that happened to you this week?”

I looked down into my cup and then at my dad. “You remember Gale?”

My dad, who was in the middle of sipping his coffee, raised his eyebrows. “Of course.” He said after swallowing. “What’s up with him? Has he decided to speak with you again?”

“My anthropology teacher paired us up together for a project.”

My dad nodded his head. “And how’s that going?”

“Good, I guess… but the thing is… I feel like he’s being nice and all when we’re alone at his place… but when we’re at school and stuff he acts a bit different. I mean, he’s not like, and outright jerk or anything, but he acts weird.”

He nodded his head again. “I see.” He sipped his coffee again and then took his hand off of me and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You want me to tell you what I think?”

I nodded my head. My dad always gave some pretty good advice.

“If Gale really is afraid to be nice to you around his friends because that’ll make him look bad or something… finish this project and don’t speak to him ever again.”

My eyebrows rose. “Okay…”

“Because if he’s not willing to be with you in public then he shouldn’t get the privilege of being with you at all.”

I nodded with a smile. Privilege. Ha! For some reason, I liked that.

“But, that’s only if he’s actually ignoring you, love.” He said. “Don’t just assume that kind of stuff.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line.

“There may be a whole other ton of reasons for why he’s acting that way and before you assume anything, you get him alone and talk to him. Ask him what his problem is.”

I chuckled. “It’s impossible to get Gale alone at school.”

My dad smiled. “I’m sure you can do it.” He said. “But really… sometimes boys are reckless and do stupid things because they think what they’re doing is right when in reality, they’re hurting other people.”

I nodded, feeling a lot better for some reason.

“So talk to him, and let me know what happens.”

“Thanks dad!”

That was exactly what I was going to do, maybe not today, or tomorrow… or any time soon… but I will do it.

“Just don’t take it seriously.” My dad said, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “You have more important things to deal with.”

He was right.

“Have you started thinking of college or university applications?”

I nodded my head right away, sitting up straight and getting a little excited. “I think I’ve decided on the University of Oakville.”

My dad’s eyebrows rose. “You’re shooting high!”

I chuckled. “Well, I chose it over the University of Broadview because it has the best paramedics program in the country!”

“Still thinking Paramedic?”

I nodded eagerly.

“That’s my girl.” My dad, the paramedic of the family said.

I felt my cheeks heat up a bit.

“But it’s out of the city. You thinking of living down there?”

“Well, it’s an option… but if money is an issue then I don’t have to. I can catch a train there and back no problem.”

My dad placed his hand on my head and messed up my hair a bit. “Don’t you be worrying about money.” He said with a smile. “Your mother and I will handle that. You just do whatever you want and we’ll handle the rest.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks daddy.”

He smiled back. “Alright, so are we watching Supernatural episodes or what?” He asked as he stood up, walked over to a cabinet and pulled a box set out.

My dad and I were both hardcore Supernatural fans. We’ve watched every episode that’s come out so far at least five or six times.

“Yes!” I said, grinning and excited to spend some time with my dad after a long time.