Swept Away (5 page)

Lunch is over. We’re going our separate ways to our next class. Alejandro gives me a quick kiss on my cheek. 

“Friends,” he says, explaining his actions. “Friends kiss on the cheek.”

I hold his hand. “They do other things, too, Alejandro, but…not us.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” He grips my hand tight.

“You’re hurting me.”

He lets go. “Sorry, Daria, I…” He trails off, and leaves, anguished.

I make my way to Computer Science. My steps are quick, as if speed will help quell the riot in my mind, then I come to a halt, seeing Frankie.

“Hello, Daria,” he greets me with a wicked grin.

He’s blocking my path. “Get out my way, Frankie. I’m not in the mood.”

He smirks. “You were always in the mood, when you were with me.”

“That was in the past.”

“And now you’re with that spic?”

“I’m not with anyone, and don’t call him that.”

He leans in close. “C’mon, Daria, stop being an idiot and take me back.”

“I forgot how romantic you were,” I say, dryly. “What’s wrong with Vicki?”

He shakes his head. “We’re just having fun.” He reaches around and grabs my behind. “You know I’ve always loved you, Daria.”

“Get your hand off me,” I demand.

A teacher passes by and he releases me. “Why do you have to be such a bitch? You’re screwing that spic, aren’t you?”

“You can go screw yourself, now let me pass.”

When he doesn’t allow me to leave, I push him aside. He grabs me by the shoulders, pinning me against the wall. He tightens his grip.

“I could hurt you, right here, right now. I’ll never leave any bruises.”

“You must have improved your beating techniques, then,” I say, fierce, but afraid.

He releases one of my shoulders to reach into his back pocket. He produces a switchblade. The blade pops out near my eye. He always had the weapon on him, but never threatened me with it—until now.

“You’re going to cut me, here?” My heart is racing. “I’ll scream.”

“Like you scream with that spic, his dirty little dick inside you?”

I swing my knee up and slam him in the crotch. Frankie doubles over and I escape. I’m near tears when I enter the classroom, falling into my chair.

I’m crying now, of joy and sorrow. He’s here.

“Daria, what’s wrong?” Gabriel asks, sitting beside me.

I wipe my tears away. “Nothing,” I lie.

“You’re lying. What can I do?”

“You can leave me alone.”

The teacher is absent, so a substitute is filling in. We’re playing video games on the computer, today. I feel like I’ve been in a game myself, and I don’t know the rules. 

I look over at Gabriel. He’s playing Solitaire.

“Can I watch you?” I ask.

He smiles. “Me or the game?” he asks.

“The game,” I say.
And you, always you.

He invites me over. I slide my chair next to his. His scent is intoxicating.

I rest my head on his shoulder. “Who are you, Gabriel?”

He removes his hand from the mouse, resting it on my knee. “Do you believe in fate? Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Our lives are preordained and nothing we do can alter our future?”

“You’re very philosophical,” I say, not answering the question.

“Do you think everyone has a soulmate?” he asks.

“It sounds great, the idea, but I don’t know.”

He turns his head, brushing his lips across forehead. He kisses me. “When I look into your eyes, Daria, I see your soul. It’s intertwined with mine. And I know that our bond will never be bent, broken, or destroyed.”

“Are all Spaniards, poets?” I tease, yet long to hear more.

“Are you mocking me?”

“No, I’m just afraid.”

“Of me?” he asks.

“No, I’m afraid you’ll leave me.” I look up, into his eyes. “You have the most beautiful blue eyes.”

He looks into mine. “I’ve only seen one other with eyes as green as yours. Have you ever seen a leaf after a rain? How the droplets glisten? Your eyes are so beautiful. Do you believe in magic?”

“Who has eyes like me?” I ask, feeling jealous.

His face changes, his feelings receding. His hand leaves my knee. “Someone I loved, long ago.”

I lift my head from his shoulder. “Do you like me, only because I remind you of her?” I surmise, pained.

He hesitates, and then says, “No.” He pauses, and then continues, “I’ve been watching you, for some time. You mentioned seeing me at the beach. I admit that I was there for other reasons. When I saw you, I…knew my fate had changed. I followed you to the park. I was there when you were shopping, at the bowling alley. I had to see you, to know you.”   

“Were you making me sick? How? I felt like every time you were near, I was drowning. Now, I don’t. Was that you?”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Daria, I don’t know. I merely observed you, nothing more. I...”—he smiles—“I didn’t put a spell on you, if that’s what you mean.”

“Oh, really, because I think you have, Gabriel.”

“As have you,” he accuses, smiling.

The bell rings. 

“Let me guess,” I say, gathering my backpack. “You’re off to Economics?”

“How’d you know?”

“I’m psychic.”

We talk together to our last class.

Have you planned this, Gabriel, from the beginning? Are you a liar? Or are you my destiny?   

When we reach the classroom, I see the desks are in groups of four—and alphabetical. I’m at a table with Emily Gordon and some other guy. It could be worse. Gabriel sits across from me. 

“Did you know that ‘Castillo’ is Spanish for ‘Castle’?” he says.

“Yes,” I say. “Why?”

“I’m just making a connection, that’s all.”

A connection—forged in fate, or spun in sorrow?

“What are you hiding?” I blurt out.

“We all have our secrets, Daria,” he says. He leans in close. “What does ‘the answer is in the fountain’ mean?”

“I don’t know.”

Class is over before I know it. The school day is over. My life is over. Yes, I’m being dramatic, but I know that Gabriel and I will depart, until we meet again, tomorrow. Will we? I wonder. Is he just a dream? Am I in a dream?

I have a shadow. Gabriel is walking behind me, outside, across the parking lot, where I’m to meet Camilla. The shadow is beside me, now. 

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I’m walking, isn’t that obvious?”

“You’re following me.”

“I don’t need to follow you. I’ll always find you.”

I laugh. “Oh, I forgot, our souls are intertwined. We’re fated.”

“You mock me, again.”

“Did she mock you, this mysterious girl with green eyes?”

I see him raise a hand, waving. I look in his direction, and see Camilla, waving back.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to introduce myself to Camilla, my cousin, if you don’t mind.”

We walk in silence. I’m on edge. I notice Frankie, getting out of his car, and approaching Alejandro. Vicki and Emily are trailing behind.

“Oh, no,” I say, now starting to run.

“What?” Gabriel says, keeping pace with me.

“Frankie, he’s got a knife.”

“How do you know?”

“He threatened me with it, earlier today.”

“What?” Gabriel growls.

We make it there, just when Frankie sneaks up behind Alejandro.

“Hey, spic, Daria is mine!”

The switchblade pops out.

“No!” I scream, rushing to save Alejandro.

I’m too late. The blade pierces flesh, but it’s not Alejandro. Frankie stabs Gabriel, intervening. Gabriel cries out in pain, blood gushing. He clutches his side, and falls to the ground.

I rush over to him, my mind a whirl of emotions: fear, anger, sorrow.

“Gabriel?” I say, looking into his eyes.

His eyes are closed, its blue depths hidden. His chest rises, and then falls. He’s dead.

I hear screaming. It isn’t me. I’m silent. Frankie has taken off, his car making tracks. Vicki is running after his car, Emily following. I hope they fall. Camilla is calling 911. Students are surrounding the scene. Tony is securing the area. Alejandro is by my side, his hand on Gabriel.               

I feel water on my face. I think I’m about to drown, but I’m only crying.

My hand is on Gabriel’s chest, his heart. It’s still—then a beat. Another beat—then another. His chest is rising, falling. He opens his eyes.

“Gabriel?” I’m crying with joy.

His blue, mysterious eyes meet mine. He looks…worried? I’m confused.             

In a flash, he’s off the ground, standing erect.

“You’re alive,” I say, in disbelief.

“Of course, I am,” he says, in a tone, as if I’m stupid.

I’m speechless, confused, until I find my voice. “You got stabbed. You were bleeding. Your heart stopped.”

I reach to lift up his shirt, but he pushes my hand away. 

“I’m fine, leave me alone.”

“Let me see,” I insist, tugging on his shirt.

He grabs my wrist, rough, and says through clinched teeth, “I said,
leave
me
alone
.”

He storms off and flies away in his car. 

“What the hell is his problem?” says Alejandro, his arm around my waist, securing me to him.

I lean into him, an anchor, in this sea of uncertainty.

Alejandro drives me home. No one is there. There’s a note on the fridge. My mom is out, grocery shopping.

“Looks like we have the place to ourselves…if you want to stay,” I say to Alejandro.

“I’ll stay, if that’s what you want.”

I lean my head against his chest. “Yes, stay.”

He kisses the top of my head. “He was dead. He saved my life.”

I shudder. “I know.” I pause, and then say, “Let’s go to my room.”

“Your parents…”

“You can sneak out my window.”

“But my car’s outside. They’ll know I’m here.”

I guide him to the couch, instead. I straddle his lap. “Hold me,” I say, securing my head in the crook of his neck.

He embraces me, kissing my forehead. I feel him ready, against me. I look into his eyes. “Alejandro?”

“Hmm?” he says, eyeing my lips

I kiss him. He kisses me back—then he stops, and shifts away. He stands. 

“No, Daria.”

“No, what?” I ask, standing too.

“I don’t want to play games. One minute, you want me, the next, you don’t. I…I saw you walking with Gabriel.”

“We’re not together. He wanted to meet Camilla, that’s all.”

Alejandro shakes his head. “I
saw
, Daria. I saw how you two looked at each other. And then, when he got stabbed…I saw the look on your face. You were heartbroken.”

“No, that’s not true. He means nothing to me.” I’m lying despite Gabriel’s earlier behavior—his revulsion of me.

“Daria, I couldn’t take it if you left me.”

I’m confused. “You mean, dying?”

“Yeah, that, but what I meant was if we were to become a couple, and then you were to suddenly change your mind, decide you weren’t ready, and leave me. I had to sit and watch you with Frankie, and now, if you were to go off with Gabriel…”

I advance and wrap my arms around him. “Frankie’s in the past. We won’t have to worry about him anymore, now that he attacked someone with a knife. He’s probably in hiding. And Gabriel, he didn’t want my help, you saw that. He couldn’t wait to get away from me. And I’m not going to befriend someone who keeps secrets.”

“What kind of secrets do you think Gabriel is keeping?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. He’s not like you, Alejandro. You’re safe. You’ll protect me from Frankie, if he were to try to attack me again.”

Alejandro is shocked. “Again?” he asks.

“Earlier, at school, he cornered me, threatened me with a knife. He didn’t like the idea of you and I being together.”

“We’re not together.”

“But we could be.” I lift up his shirt and run my hands along his chest, teasing his nipples. He sighs. I kiss his stomach and he moans. “See?” I say, smiling. “Stay with me.”

I unzip his jeans and work my magic. We’re done before my mom gets home. I’m spent and fall asleep as the sun goes down.