Page 20 of Hate That Blooms
“I said no.” I leave it at that as we make our way to the cafeteria for lunch.
* * *
The three of us sit at a table with a view of Gabriela and her friends. She sits there with her head down, staring at the food on her tray but not eating. She listens to her best friend’s chatter about bullshit, and as if she can feel my eyes on her, she looks up. I hold her gaze with a devious smirk on my face.
“Go spill your milk on her.” I turn to Nathan without breaking eye contact with her.
“You got it.”
Everything happens as if it’s in slow motion, from Nathan walking behind her without being noticed to him pouring the milk over her head and over her chest. To her screaming and Cora getting up to smack him across the face. Her eyes snap back to mine, and I lick my lips, tilting my head to the side. Fighting back tears, she rises, grabs her bag, and takes off.
I know she is heading to the locker room, so I nudge Thiago and nod my head to have him follow me. Nathan catches up after being chased off by Cora, and we wait by the shower doors for the water to turn on. The thought of her being in the shower, naked has me fighting off the depraved idea of busting in there and fucking her.
“Come on, man,” Nathan whines. “It’s the perfect opportunity to run one on her. You’d be down, right?” He turns to Thiago, nodding his head in excitement.
“I don’t rape girls.” Thiago deadpans. “I have someone.”
“Nobody is fucking her,” I whisper. “We are taking her clothes, then getting out of here.”
I inch closer to the curtain, moving it without making noise, and grabbing the clothes from the stool in the corner. "Go!” I shout to them, laughing, and we run off.
“No, no! Fuck you, Joaquín.” She screams, and then I hear the tears. Around the corner, we hide, and I listen to her cry. “Why…why me! Fuuuck!”
The bell rings, and the guys nudge me to leave before the next gym class comes in to change. I smirk and take off toward my next class, her clothes in hand. When I pass a trash can, I toss everything except her underwear. I shove those in my pocket and take off to my last class of the day.
* * *
The last bell rings, and I rush out of class to head to my locker, thinking I’m maybe going to catch Gabriela. Maybe she found some clothes to wear and finished out the school day. Turning into the hallway, it’s not Gabriela at her locker but Cora.Aw, she sent the best friend after me. This should be good.
“You’re a fucking asshole, Joaquín. You know that?” She comes at me, and fortunately, Thiago comes through the doors just in time to grab her before her hand can connect with my face. I stand there with a shit-eating grin as she struggles in Thiago’s hold.
“Not a good idea, baby. Just leave it alone.” Thiago puts himself between me and his, whatever she is to him.
“Better put a leash on her T. Sounds like she needs some training.” I chuckle as I look back down the hall to see if Gabriela is coming.
“She isn’t here.” Cora gives me a look filled with hatred. “She went home because you’re a stupid little boy who can’t control his emotions. Really, Joaquín, stealing her clothes while she showers. How fucking childish can you be?”
I roll my eyes at Cora’s accusations, knowing they are exaggerated. "Maybe her dad shouldn’t have fucked my mom.”
Thiago tightens his grip on Cora, trying to calm her down. “Let it go, Cora.”
I smirk, not bothered one bit by her anger. “Besides, I’m sure Gabriela can handle herself. She doesn’t need you to defend her.”
Cora scoffs at my words, clearly not convinced. “You’re just an immature jerk, Joaquín. Grow the fuck up. You know, none of what happened was her fault.” I shrug, unaffected by her insults.
“Don’t really care if it wasn’t.” I glance at the door, itching to get home. I push past them to head to the parking lot.
“You have a real funny way of showing her you like her.” She shouts to me, and I catch the door before it closes.
“Come again?” I turn, giving Thiago a dirty look. He must have said something to Cora about my crush on Gabriela.
“You think I can’t see it?” Cora laughs. “You’re so fucking pathetically obvious it’s sad.” She breaks free from Thiago’s grip and charges at me. The sting of her hand coming across my face burns. “Get over whatever bullshit you’re feeling. Leave my best friend alone and fuck off. She’s too good for you, anyway.”
She probably isn’t wrong. Even in the right circumstances, Gabriela is too good for me.
* * *
“You remind me of her.Mijo, it’s so hard to look at you when all I see is your mother.” Dad says as he cracks another can of beer open. Not that he needs another; he’s trashed as it is.
