Secret Crush

Chapter 9 - [Oakville Science Center]

It was Friday. And I was not at all surprised when I saw Maria rushing over to our lunch table, her face filled with shock because of the new rumor she had just heard. After all, half the girls in the school were talking about it.

“Naomi Valentine!” Maria hissed as she sat down in front of Val and I.

I picked at the sushi that my dad had made me. I was spending the weekend at his place so I woke up early to get my stuff there. And my sweet father had made me lunch. “What?”

“What is this I’m hearing about you?”

I looked at Mars, and then at Val. Val had her eyebrows raised and was waiting for the perfect time to jump in and say something.

“What?”

“You’re going on a date with Gale Dallas?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a date!”

“Yeah it is. He asked you out.”

“He stuffed a ticket down my face.” I said. “He didn’t ask me out.”

“Gale has a girlfriend, Naomi.”

“Mars… who would go on a date to the science center?” I asked. “Really?”

But as Maria stopped talking and realized the validity in what I had just said… I realized that I personally would love it if my boyfriend took me to the science center. Science can be romantic.

I shook the thought aside and looked at Mars. “No one. That’s stupid.”

“So? You won’t call this trip to the science center on a Friday night a date?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We’re literally just going to look at the solar system exhibit. Nothing else.” I said. “We’re doing some research and that’s it.”

“Okay. First, he rushes out of my party and goes out of his way to drop you off at home. Then he gives you a pretty, expensive looking necklace. Then he takes you out to the science center.” Mars said. “Who wouldn’t think that you two are seeing each other?”

I rolled my eyes. “Mars.” I sighed. “Really? Do you really think that Gale Dallas… Mr. King Bee of our school, the most attractive guy that goes here, would ask me on a date?”

Mars pursed her lips and thought.

I wasn’t offended by the fact that that made sense.

“Okay, fine.” Mars said, leaning forward. “But all of the other girls who have a thing for Gale are really upset, Naomi…”

I shrugged. “What am I going to do about that?”

“You know what those girls are capable of…”

I looked at Mars, not understanding what she had just said to me.

“Maria.” Val called.

We both looked at her.

“You tell those bitches that if they even think of doing anything to Naomi, I will beat their asses.” She said, crossing her arms. “I don’t care how much money they spend to sue me. You know I’ll do it.”

Maria hesitated.

I smiled though, glad that she had my back.

“And tell those girls to f**k off and mind their own business.” Val continued. “Gale and Naomi are best friends. They’ll do whatever the f**k they want.”

I nudged Valerie and she shrugged. “It’s better for them to know that then for them to think you’re like them… trying to steal other girls boyfriends.”

Valerie had a point.

When I looked back at Mars, I saw her wide eyes. “You and Gale are best friends?”

I nodded, putting sushi in my mouth.

Wow. It was really good.

“How could you not tell me that, Mimi?”

I sighed. “I’m sorry.” I said, after swallowing the sushi.

Maria frowned, but looked at me. “So how long have you been friends?”

“My brother and his sister have been dating for years now… since we were kids. Gale and I have been friends for a while because of that.”

“Well that clears some of those rumors out.” Mars said as she stood up. “I’ll see you later.”

I watched her, confused, as she rushed off. “You’re joking.” I said. “She’s going to tell everyone.”

Val shrugged. “Better that then the current rumors.”

I sighed. I guess Val was right.

When I turned to Val I noticed that half of my sushi was gone. “Hey!”

Val, who was busy eating one, looked at me. “You’re dad… is real good at making sushi.” She said with her mouth full.

I laughed and nudged her, stealing two of her spring rolls to make up for my missing sushi.

When it was home time, I was surprised by Gale, waiting at my locker. I waved a little awkwardly at him as I approached.

“So we have two options.” He said, stepping aside so I could open my locker. “The first is you go home, get refreshed and I pick you up… or go now.”

I sighed. “Gale… I really think you should return the ticket and get your money back.”

He rolled his eyes. “I can’t return them.” He said. “Final sale because of the telescope.”

I frowned. “That’s so much money though…”

“Naomi… forget about the money.” He said. “So, are you going home first, or are we going now?”

“I think I’ll go home first…” I said. “A nice bath would be good.”

He chuckled. “Need me to drop you off?”

“I can take the bus.”

“Alright. I’m dropping you off.”

That made me giggle. “Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked as I stopped what I was doing and looked at him.

He raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Even when we were best friends before, you were a jerk.” He wasn’t really. I was just joking. But he was always really sarcastic.

“I was not.” He argued. “I was great.”

I let out a small laugh and closed my locker after packing my bag. “I’m at my dad’s place this weekend.” I said as I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked by his side to his car.

“Cool.” He said. “I haven’t seen your dad in a while.”

I smiled. “He probably want’s to say hello to you.”

“He was pretty awesome, I think it’d be nice to see him again.” Gale said, putting his hands in his pockets. “Wait a second, am I dropping you at his place?”

I nodded.

“Alright, you’ve gotta give me directions because I don’t know where he lives.”

I nodded again. “Sure.”

Gale was good at following directions, so we got their quick, and Gale told me to be ready by five. Which meant I had two hours and that’s more than enough time.

When I got into my dad’s apartment, I put the keys on the counter and looked around. “Daddy?” I called.

There was no response.

I walked over to the fridge and noticed a note.

Mimi,

Gone to work, my shift ends at four. See you soon.

Love,

Dad

I smiled and pulled out some pasta from the fridge. After eating it, I walked over to the bathroom and washed myself up.

After taking a bath, I put on black skinny jeans and a pink tank top. But the tank top didn’t really matter because I threw on a large blue Super Man hoody. It was getting late, and it would probably be cold.

I walked into the washroom again to put on my contact lenses. My hair was still wet from the shower, but I tied it back in a ponytail and then wiped the steam off the mirror.

When the mirror fogged up again, I groaned and turned on the tap, letting it run with freezing cold water.

I smiled when the mirrors started to clear up.

I widened my eyes and looked up, trying to place my first contact in.

I’ve been doing this for years and it’s still annoying.

When I was done with the first eye, I picked up the second contact and went to put it in, but suddenly, I heard the front door click.

I lowered my hand and turned my head. “Dad?” I called, getting excited to see him.

But suddenly, I noticed that my contact had slipped off my finger.

“Oh no.” I said, watching it drop into the running water. “No. No. No!”

I turned off the tap and tried to grab my contact before it went down the drain. “No!”

It was too late.

“God!” I yelled.

This happened so often at home that my mother had bought one of those filter things for the drain.

My dad didn’t have one, however.

“Mimi?” I heard my dad call as he rushed into the washroom.

I turned my head and looked at him. One eye was so blurry that I could barely make out the words on his Paramedics uniform. The other was so clear that I could see how worried he looked.

“My contact went down the drain.” I said.

My dad rolled his eyes. “Don’t you have more?”

“I left them all at home.”

“Do you want me to go get them for you?”

I sighed as I walked past him into my bedroom. He followed. “I’ll be late.” I said. “I’ll just wear my glasses.”

“Late?”

After taking out my other contact and putting it back in its case, I put on my glasses and looked at my dad. “I’m going to the Oakville Science Center.”

“You are?”

“Oh…” I said. “I forgot to tell you.”

My dad smiled. “Who are you going with?”

“Gale.”

My dad’s eyebrows rose as he leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. “Gale?”

My cheeks started to heat up. “Yeah… why?”

“Is this a date, Mimi?”

I rolled my eyes. “No dad!”

My dad smiled. “Okay, okay.” He said. “You need money?”

I shook my head. “Gale paid for it.”

His eyebrows rose again. “He did?”

I nodded.

“Isn’t it expensive there?”

I sat down on the bed and pushed my glasses up. “Yeah. I know.”

My dad walked over and sat down next to me. “Are you sure this isn’t a date?”

I gave him an annoyed look. “Daddy, Gale has a girlfriend.”

My dad made an ‘O’ shape with his lips. “Okay. This is definitely not a date then.”

I smiled.

“When’s he coming?”

“Five.”

“Well, at least you’ll look the nerdiest at the Science Center… with you hipster glasses and all.”

I pushed my glasses up and got up. “They are not hipster glasses!”

My dad got up too. “Yes they are.”

“Nah-uh!”

They were.

“Yes they are.” My dad said again as he walked to the door. “Do you want me to get you something to eat?”

“I ate pasta.”

My dad stopped at the door and looked at me with a smile. “Are you going to give me permission to say hello to Gale?”

I smiled back. “I think he wants to say hi to you too.”

“Perfect.” My father said. “It’s almost five. I’ll be changed and ready in ten minutes.”

I nodded.

I then took a moment to stare at my dad’s navy blue Paramedics uniform. I always got so excited when I saw him in it.

And when he picked up the giant first aid bag, I got even more excited.

In a couple more years, that would be me.

Naomi the Paramedic.

My dad was ready in ten minutes, just like he said. And moments after, Gale texted me, telling me he was outside.

“Daddy! He’s here!”

My dad walked out of the kitchen, drying his hands. He was now in his regular jeans and t-shirt with a button up shirt on top. “Alright, Superwoman lets go.”

I rolled my eyes but chuckled as I put on my shoes and left the building with my dad.

When Gale saw my dad, he got out of his car with a smile and walked over to us. “Mr. Valentine.” He said as he shook my dad’s hand.

Something about this was super awkward.

“Gale.” My dad smiled. “It’s been a while.”

“You look great, sir.” Gale said. “For… your age, I mean.”

My dad chuckled. “A Paramedics got to keep fit.”

Gale let out a small laugh.

My dad put his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t tease her about her hipster glasses, okay?” He said. “She dropped her contact down the sink.”

“Dad!”

Gale laughed.

My dad grinned, taking his hand off of my shoulder and patting my back. “Alright, I’ll let you two go.” My dad winked at Gale. “Drive safe, son.”

Gale nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Don’t call me sir.” My dad laughed. “That’s way to formal for me.”

“Oh…” Gale smiled. “Got it.”

I waved at my dad before I walked around to the passenger seat and got into Gale’s car.

Gale got in too, only after saying bye to my dad, and soon we were off.

“God, you’re dad is as cool as he always was!” Gale said.

I grinned, loving it when people thought my dad was cool.

“I can’t believe he’s still a Paramedic. Running around saving lives and all.”

I looked at him. “He’s awesome.”

Gale chuckled. “Hell yes.”

The drive to Oakville’s Science Center was definitely closer then the banquet hall that Maria had her party at, so we got there soon.

But as much as I hated to admit it… Though I was a nerd, I had never gone to the Oakville Science Center before.

So when I stepped out of the car and looked at the huge building made of glass, with tons of amazing statues and models around it… and the huge telescope protruding out from the top… I was breathless.