Page 29 of Risking it All

I lightly tapped my head against the wall over and over again. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Not a big deal? You’re hooking up with Relic Aslanov, and you don’t think that’s a big deal? Every girl at school wants to hookup with Relic. How on earth did you score him? You’ve been hiding for months, so how is it even possible?”

“Woah,” I rushed out. “I am not hooking up with Relic.”

“Relic hardly ever comes to parties, and if he does it’s to hook up with a girl. Everyone knows that.”

“So, because he came to the party and talked to me, I immediately dropped my panties for him. Is that what you’re saying?”

“It’s not a big deal,” Gianna said. “In fact, everyone thinks its super cool that you showed up to get it on with Relic.”

I rubbed my forehead and just plain had no idea what to say.

“Look,” Gianna continued, “the reason I’m calling is because me and the girls from the volleyball team were talking, and you’ve gone through a lot, and while we all think it’s great that you lived a little with Relic, we realized that he might be your first. Because of that, we want to make sure you don’t get emotional and fall for Relic because he isn’t the type of guy you want to fall for. He doesn’t do relationships. He’ll do a one-night stand every once in a while, but nothing else.”

“Okay,” I said absently as my stomach fell fast to the floor. My brain struggled to process all that she was saying, what it meant for me, and the worst part, how all of the people who I thought were my friends were talking about me behind my back.

“You sound upset,” and Gianna sounded concerned…hurt…guilty.

“I’m not.” But I was.

“Look, I’m super sorry how trashed I got that night. It wasn’t cool of me.”

It wasn’t.

“And it was awesome how you convinced your parents not to call my parents.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And our parents might see each other at the volleyball fundraiser breakfast next week. I don’t need to worry about them telling them then, right?”

Wow. My entire world was crumbling. Besides Ariel, did I have any friends anymore?

“I mean, I love you,” Gianna said, “and you’re one of my best friends, and I want to make sure we’re okay.”

Were we okay?

“Me and the girls from volleyball are going to meet up soon, and we want to make it about you. You know, just us girls. My house, pizza, movies. Like old times.”

My mind raced with the constant whiplash. “I don’t know. I just returned to work, and I don’t know my schedule yet.”

“Well, as soon as you do, let me know.”

My cell vibrated with a text from Relic:Here. “Here” being off a side street near the entrance of my neighborhood where there were still empty lots for sale. Guilt nibbled at me for forcing him to walk to my neighborhood, but he said that a half mile wasn’t a big deal for him. At the same time, I felt massive relief because now I could end this idiotic conversation. “I have to go. My ride for work is here.”

“Okay. I love you and let me know your schedule. We’ll plan the get-together for a day you can come. Everyone wants to know what it’s like to kiss Relic!”

I wasn’t sure if I said goodbye when I hung up or if it was more like a grunt. Now, I had to drive. My stomach twisted and I breathed through the dry heave. I officially hated my life more than I had before and, until now, I’d had no idea that was possible.

***

Two blocks. That’s how far I made it before the little black dots in my vision solidified into one large black dot and I could no longer see. I pulled over, texted Relic, and he found me sweating, shaking, and hyperventilating sitting on the curb alongside several lots for sale in the new portion of our neighborhood. Thank God, I made it this far so I didn’t have nosey neighbors tattling to my parents.

To his credit, Relic didn’t say anything. Just held out his hand, palm up, and I gave him the keys. He opened the passenger door for me, I stumbled into the seat, and he eased into the driver’s side, started the car, and drove off as if doing so was a piece of cake.

After a mile, when I could inhale without doing two short, ragged breaths with one longer one, I said, “Everyone at school thinks I hooked up with you.”

Relic glanced over at me, but then returned his eyes to the road. “At the party?”

---