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Building on Lies

Page 10

by T. Banny


  “ You guys sure took long enough," Tommy said.

  “ They were stalling. It’s a tactic people use when they know they’re going to lose," Ty said, and had everyone laughing.

  Joaquim looked at me strangely, but he didn’t say anything.

  “ Was I gone too long?" I asked Ro, pulling her to the side.

  She shook her head. “ Nah. But where’s Channing?”

  “ He went to get a sweater for Bethany," I said. I looked over at Bethany who was teasing Joaquim. It was as if she knew he needed to be distracted.

  “ She seems like a really cool chick," Ro remarked.

  “ Yeah, I think so," I said. I never thought I’d be feeling grateful toward someone like Bethany Grant. She was the classic Ardsley Park girl…from her designer clothes, to her expensive looking hair and her “ I own the world” attitude. But then, I never thought I’d fall in love with an A-boy, either.

  The boys won the second round…Ty Sutton and Tommy were like possessed demons the way they rolled the balls…and after more gloating and showing off, Ty Sutton looked down at his wrist, and declared he had to go. It was kind of funny because he wasn’t wearing a watch.

  Channing hadn’t participated at all. He’d sat quietly watching, and avoiding making eye contact with me, or with anyone from my group. He looked kind of snobbish and stuck up, totally different from the sweet guy I’d just kissed in the parking lot.

  “ That guy seems like a real asshole," Joaquim said, as Channing, Ty and Bethany left the alley.

  Tommy agreed. “ He sat there and didn’t say one word the whole time”.

  “ Why would he talk to a bunch of Cove kids like us, right?" Joaquim said, shaking his head.

  “ Will you guys just stop? Maybe he’s just shy!" I snapped. I was sick and tired of the whole Cove kids/A-kids thing. Hadn’t they all just had a great time with Ty and Bethany?

  I grabbed my bomber jacket off my chair, and started walking toward the shoe rental to give back my bowling shoes. I was pulling on my boots when Joaquim approached me.

  “ Nellie, are you mad?" he asked.

  I shrugged. “ No. Just kinda tired of you and Tommy judging a guy you don’t even know”.

  “ I wasn’t judging him. I just don’t like how he sat there the whole time looking like he was smelling something foul!”

  “ Like I said, maybe he’s just shy. Some shy people come off as conceited. I didn’t see you try and make an effort to talk to him”.

  “ Why should I ? He’s at our alley, in our side of town. He’s the one needed to be friendlier!" Joaquim said, running a hand through his dark hair. He looked at me quizzically. “ Why are you defending him, anyway? How well do you know him?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “ I barely know him. But that’s not the point. The point is you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”

  “ What’s this? Lover’s spat?” Tommy came up behind us, his arms wrapped around Ro.

  Joaquim was silent, and I could tell by the way he kept running his hands through his hair he was annoyed. I looped my arm through his, and put my head on his shoulder. He’d been so nice to me, and we’d had a lot of fun together. I didn’t feel right arguing with him, especially over Chan.

  He looked down at me, and smiled. He pulled me closer, and I was glad Channing and the rest were gone. Joaquim was definitely a little too close for comfort.

  We got to the parking lot, shivering the whole while. I have to admit I snuggled in closer to Joaquim because of the chill. It was too cold to worry about whether I was giving him the wrong idea.

  “ Joaquim, let me drive your truck?" Tommy asked, when we reached our separate cars. He looked meaningfully at Ro, who avoided meeting my eyes.

  If she went off with Tommy, then I’d be stuck in my car with Joaquim!

  Joaquim eagerly tossed him the car keys. I had no choice but to wave goodbye at Tommy and Ro, who were probably going to get in some make-out time before heading to Ana’s party.

  Joaquim and I got into my car, my creaky little Honda that was definitely on its last leg.

  “ You should bring your car by my brother’s shop," Joaquim said, when my car gave the usual hard time starting.

  “ Yeah? I doubt it would do any good. I just need to scrap this thing”.

  “ No, it’s got some life in it still. Just bring it to Joao’s, and he’ll take a look at it”.

  Joao was Joaquim’s brother, and also the best mechanic in Egg Cove. I gave Joaquim a grateful smile. “ Thanks”.

  We drove in a somewhat awkward silence down to the Harbor Restaurant. It was as if our little argument in the bowling alley had made us uncomfortable with each other.

  “ You know, Nellie, I was kind of hard on Channing Sutton," Joaquim admitted, after a while.

  I didn’t say anything. If I agreed with him, he would wonder why I was so gung-ho defending Channing, and if I disagreed, he’d wonder why I’d made such a big deal in the alley.

  “ It’s just I’m a guy, and I know what guys want," Joaquim continued.

  I took a slow breath. “ What are you talking about?”

  “ He likes you, Nellie. I was watching him the whole time. He was trying to act like he was watching the other bowlers, but he wasn’t. He couldn’t take his eyes off you”.

  I gave a nervous giggle. “ That’s crazy, Joaquim. I am so not an A-guy’s type”.

  “ Nellie, you’re gorgeous. Come on, you know that," Joaquim said, winking at me.

  I just laughed again. “ OK, if you say so. But even if I am gorgeous, as you put it, it’s still doesn’t mean Channing Sutton likes me. Not when there are a hundred other Ardsley Park girls who would kill to go out with him”.

  “ Doesn’t mean anything. Anyway, it all adds up. The lunch room, the phone call, showing up tonight. That guy has you in his sights.” Joaquim nodded as if he was absolutely certain of what he was saying.

  Darn it, why did Joaquim have to be so perceptive? It wouldn’t be cool at all if he figured out there was something between Channing and I.

  “ I just don’t think so. Anyway, Channing goes out with that redhead. Samantha St. John. They’ve been dating forever," I told him.

  “ Doesn’t mean anything. You know all those A-guys think Portuguese girls are easy. I just want you to be careful around him”.

  “ Bite your tongue, Joaquim. That’s not right to say," I said, and tried to think of something to change the subject.

  Luckily, he started talking about the Winter Dance, which was just a few weeks away.

  “ Do you think I need to get a haircut?” he asked me, looking at me through his shaggy bangs.

  Joaquim wore his hair sort of longish, and I thought it was very cute. Joaquim looked like a young Johnny De pp, with his dark hair, and chiseled jaw. He was definitely hot, but he didn’t make me feel like Channing did. Not at all.

  I reached over with my free hand, and fluffed his hair. “Nah, you look hot with your hair like that.”

  We reached the Harbor Restaurant, and I parked my car. We got out and were immediately hit by the biting ocean breeze. The water looked beautiful, though, and the air smelled crisp and salty.

  Joaquim came around, and pulled me into his arms. “ You really think I’m hot?”

  I swallowed, and looked up at him, trying to put on my friendliest, “we’re just friends” face.

  I guess my face gave off more of a “kiss me” vibe because Joaquim leaned down, and started kissing me softly on the lips.

  Funny how kisses can feel so different. Whenever Chan kissed me, whether it was a soft simple kiss or a long passionate kiss, I always felt like a million butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach. With Joaquim’s kiss, it felt like more like spiders were crawling all over me. Yeah, it was that bad.

  And it wasn’t because he was a bad kisser. He was actually kind of good. It was because I felt zero attraction toward him. Joaquim would never be anything more than a really cool friend, and making out with him was
like making out with Ro!

  I started shivering, and used that as an excuse to pull away from him.

  “ Gosh, it’s cold out here!" I said, rubbing my arms.

  Joaquim tucked my hair behind my ears. He looked at me with such tenderness I almost wished I could feel the same way toward him.

  “ You look really beautiful tonight," he said.

  “ Joaquim, you’re going to turn me into a very vain girl!" I said lightly. I wagged my finger at him. “ Quit it with all the Nellie you’re gorgeous, Nellie you’re beautiful. I’m just short little Nellie Depaola you’ve known all your life”.

  “ You stopped being short little Nellie to me a long time ago”. He said, but then he sighed. “ But come on, it is freezing out here. Let’s go in”.

  We walked hand in hand inside. I looked up at the night sky, wishing things were easier. That I could open up about my relationship with Chan. That Joaquim could see me as just a friend.

  Our friends swarmed around us when we arrived. I could see the approval in their eyes. We made a cute couple, and our relationship would be the typical love story. Friends who turned into more…

  I scanned the crowd for Ro, but didn’t see her anywhere. She was probably still out with Tommy.

  Joaquim found a table for us. The tables had been rearranged so there was a dance floor, and there were already a couple of kids dancing.

  Emanuela swung by our table, a drink in her hands. “ You wouldn’t believe it… Ana convinced the manager to serve alcohol. Look, this is a Long Island Iced Tea” It seemed like Emanuela had enjoyed a few Long Island iced tea because she swayed back and forth as she held the drink under my nose for inspection.

  “ Awesome, Em," Joaquim said, getting up to hold her steady. He sat her down in a chair next to us.

  “ How’d Ana manage that?" I asked Joaquim, as Emanuela guzzled down her drink like a thirsty man in a desert.

  “ The owner is her uncle," Joaquim said, looking at Emanuela with amusement. “You know, Eric DaSilva? He’s married to Ana’s mom’s sister”.

  That’s how our town is. Everyone is related to one another, either by blood or marriage. Sometimes it was annoying, because people always knew who you were, and who your family was. But other times, it came in handy. Like when you could convince your uncle to serve alcohol to minors at a party.

  Joaquim got up from the table. “Keep an eye on her while I grab us something to drink. You want a beer or something?”

  “ A rum and Coke," I said, deciding I may as well take advantage of being able to drink without getting in trouble.

  “ On it," he said, and weaved his way through the crowd to the bar.

  “ Are you in love with him?" Emanuela suddenly asked, slurring her words.

  “ Joaquim is a great guy," I said, carefully. Emanuela might be drunk, but she was a keen gossip. It was better to watch what I said, even if it didn’t look like she’d remember anything.

  “ He really is. And he’s sooo cute”. She took another slurp of her drink. “ You are one lucky girl, Nellie Depaola”.

  If you only knew how unlucky I can be, Em, I thought to myself, but I just patted her on the back.

  Ana came to the table, and when she saw the state Emanuela was in, she gave an angry sigh. “ Damn it. Is she drunk already? I told her to take it easy”.

  Even though I’d seen her earlier, I got up to give her another kiss.

  “ Parabens, Ana!” I said, wishing her happy birthday in Portuguese. “ Don’t be mad at Em. It’s what happens when you serve alcohol, love. Which is very cool you got your uncle to agree to, by the way”.

  “ I know, right?" she said, kissing me back. “ I just have to call cabs for people who get pissy…like this one over here!”

  Emanuela looked up from her drink, and said something unintelligible.

  “ Oh, there’s Thiago! Let me see if he wants to dance! Keep an eye on her, okay?” Ana flitted off to find Thiago, grabbing Em’s drink away from her.

  “ Hey!" Em protested, then laid her head on the table.

  “ Are you going to be sick, Em?" I asked her, but she just shook her head.

  Joaquim returned with my drink, giving Emanuela a rueful look. “ Looks like someone’s going to need a ride home”.

  I took my drink from him, and took a careful sip. I love rum and cokes, but I didn’t want to end up like Em.

  Tommy and Ro showed up just then.

  “ She drunk already?" Tommy asked incredulously, as they both sat down.

  “ Looks like," Joaquim said.

  Em’s popped her head up, and said, “ I am not!”

  She then grabbed Joaquim’s hand. “ Dance with me, Joaquim”.

  Joaquim looked at me helplessly. I gave him a wave of my hand.

  “ Go ahead. It might do her good to dance it off!" I said, smiling.

  He let Em lead him out onto the dance floor. Tommy and Ro started cuddling and talking in hushed voices. I had no choice but to focus on my rum and coke, wondering if it was too soon to make an exit.

  Tommy got up to get Ro a drink. As soon as he was gone, I asked her if she’d be able to get a ride home with him and Joaquim.

  “ Chan wants to see me. I’m thinking I should leave now, so I can have some time with him," I said.

  “ And what are you going to tell Joaquim when you leave? Oh, let me guess, you’re going to leave it up to me?”

  “ Romina”. I groaned. “ I just made up with Chan! Help me out here”.

  “ Well, don’t leave right now. Give it another half hour. That’ll give me time to think of something!" she said.

  “ Fine”. I went back to sipping my drink.

  The party was fun. All the Cove kids from school were invited, and the atrium was packed. Ana had hired an awesome DJ, who soon had the makeshift dance floor crowded with kids dancing.

  But my mind was on Channing. As fun as the party was, I was impatient to leave. I got up to dance with Joaquin a few times, and had two more rum and cokes.

  I decided it was time for me to make my exit when the room started to spin a little. I couldn’t find Ro or Tommy anywhere, and even Joaquim had left me alone to dance with Ana.

  I put on my jacket, and scanned the atrium one last time for my friends. I didn’t see them. The atrium was just too crowded. I weaved my way through the crowd, and left the restaurant.

  I had to blink a few times when I got outside, to get things into focus. It even took me a minute to remember where I’d parked. A small part of me wondered if I was okay to drive, but a bigger part of me was dying to see Channing. I hadn’t had any real alone time with him since the last evening at Old Dowd Farm.

  I fumbled with my car keys, put the key in the ignition, and was able to drive my car out of the parking lot. The streets were well lit, and I tried to focus on driving in between the lines.

  But I got confused when I reached the end of Main Street. I simply couldn’t remember if I needed to make a left or a right to get back to my house. I decided then I was definitely not okay to drive. I pulled over, and dialed Chan’s number.

  “ Hey you," I said to him when he answered. “ Wanna come and meet me on Main Street, Egg Cove? I really don’t think I should drive all the way home”.

  “ You been drinking?" he asked, sounding amused.

  “ A little. I’m not all the way polluted, but I know I’m not good enough to be on the road. I’m in front of the pharmacy at the top of Main Street.”

  “ All right. Don’t move. I’m not too far away, so I should be there like in ten minutes”.

  I hung up, and turned my car off. I closed my eyes, and breathed in deeply, hoping I could sober up just a little before Channing arrived. I wasn’t drunk, but I felt kind of light headed.

  I didn’t realized I’d dozed off until I heard a rapping on my window. I shrieked, and looked around wildly. It was Channing.

  “ How much did you drink? You were sitting there with your eyes closed and mouth hanging open," he said, laughing
, when I rolled down the window.

  “ I was not!" I denied, but then I let out a small hiccup.

  He laughed again, and opened my door. I got out, and wobbled a little bit.

  “ Whoa, Nellie!" he said, and that made me laugh so hard I almost lost my balance again.

  “ Do you need me to carry you to my car?" he asked.

  “ Whatever! I’m not bad,” I said, but I leaned against him as we walked to his car.

  “ Where to?" he asked, as we drove slowly down Main Street.

  “ Wouldn’t a moonlit walk on the beach be nice?” I sighed, and closed my eyes again.

  “ It would be if it weren’t like thirty degrees outside," Chan said, chuckling.

  I touched his cheek. “I picture myself strolling hand in hand with you, on the beach, the waves splashing by our feet. Isn’t that a nice fantasy?”

  He took my hand, and kissed it. “ It’s a really great fantasy. We can make it come true when the weather gets better, I promise you”. But we both wondered if that would ever be true...

  “ Yeah, it is cold.” I said, softly, the words unspoken between us.

  We drove on in silence, but it was a nice silence, a comfortable silence.

  He drove out of Egg Cove, and toward Ardsley Park. The streets got wider, cleaner, with manicured lawns and trimmed hedges on both sides. There were street lamps designed to look like old gas lamps, and despite it being winter-time, bouquets of fresh flowers hung from iron poles. It was pretty, but I preferred the weather beaten look of Egg Cove. Egg Cove was unique in its narrow streets, shabby stores, worn triple-decker houses, and signs both in English and Portuguese. I was certain you could find a thousand other towns that looked like pristine Ardsley Park all throughout the US, but there were probably a handful of places like Egg Cove.

  Still, it was hard not to be impressed by the huge houses, with their circular driveways and heavy brick gates. The houses in Egg Cove were built so close together people liked to joke you could smell your neighbor’s breath in the morning. There was no chance of that happening in Ardsley Park. Each house was like its own island among of sea of perfectly cut grass and shade trees.

 

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