Keep it Secret (7 page)

“That didn't take you long.”
He said pressing the button on his keyless remote.

“I got what I came here for.
Why stay longer?”

He chuckled as we pulled out
of the street and drove “home.”

I spent the next week thinking
about Gabriel. I had no idea what it was about him that struck me,
I wanted to ask Declan if he knew him but opted not to. I promised
myself I would try to be different here, but of course old habits
die hard because I fell back into the one night stand bit the same
day we arrived here
. So much for a new and
improved Ava.
Luckily, he was a college
student. I wouldn't have to worry about bumping into
him.

Vanessa

The first day of school came
too quickly mother managed to keep me busy all week long dragging
me to piano lessons, Pilates, and back to school shopping. I hardly
had any time to spend with Ava last night I did manage to talk
about our schedules.

“We have no classes
together.” I said in disappointment comparing the two pieces of
paper. “You’re taking AP Calculus?” I glanced up at Ava in
disbelief while she played with a loose thread on my
comforter.

“Yup.” She replied like it
wasn’t a big deal.

“That’s like, really
advanced.”

“Yup.”

“I’m
not even taking that.”

She glances up at me with an
amused look and a sly grin. “Are you insinuating that I’m dumber
than you?”

“No! Of course not, it’s
just, you got to test into that course and the exam is very
hard.”

Oh, jeez like that was even
better
. Insert foot in mouth. I should
have stopped while I was ahead.

Ava chuckled she thought
this was funny. “Van, relax I’ve always been good at math. I didn’t
flunk eighth grade because I was stupid you know.”

“Then why did you?” I asked
curious to know the reason.

“It’s getting late, we
should get to bed.” Ava said jumping off my bed heading towards the
bathroom door.

“Oh, all right good night
then.”

Ava stopped suddenly in
front of my dresser slowly she turned around.

“Should I be concerned that
you suddenly developed a sadistic personality? Or do you just have
something against glass people?”

“Huh?” What is God's name
was she talking about?

“Get off on mutilating
innocent ballet dancers?” She replied, revealing my broken figurine
in her hands. I buried my face into a pillow laughing hysterically,
once I put two and two together.

“You have to stop running
into shit, Vanessa, you're really going to hurt yourself.” Ava said
already knowing what actually happened to my poor ballerina, as my
laughter subdued I was able to regain my voice.

“I don’t know how it
happens.” I said honestly. Ava’s freakishly expressive eyebrow rose
while the other one slanted.

“Really, I don’t.” I
replied, holding my arms up in surrender.

“Be
extra
careful.” She said placing the
figurine back on the dresser. Opening the bathroom door she waved
the back of her hand at me, before closing the door she said good
night.

Why did I get the feeling
that she was an expert in deflecting questions she didn’t want to
answer? She flipped the entire conversation from her to me in a
matter of seconds.

What a ninja.

Getting out of bed I heard
Ava in the bathroom turning on the shower. I knocked softly on the
bathroom door that was on my side.

“Ava, can I come in?” I
asked shyly. “I need to brush my teeth.”

“Of course.” She said over
the running water. Slathering the toothpaste on my brush I asked
her if she was ready to finish her final year of high school at a
new school.

“Eh, not really but it’ll
give us more time together. I haven't really seen much of you
lately.” Turning off the water, Ava stepped out of the shower.
Reaching inside a linen closet I grab a towel handing it to
her.

“Yeah, I know Mother’s kept
me pretty busy since you’ve arrived.” Continuing to brush my teeth
Ava replied. “Tactfulness isn’t one of Cynthia’s strongest
traits.”

“What do you mean?” I asked
mouth full of toothpaste foam.

“Seriously, Vanessa? What
does that tutor teach you?” She sighed in slight annoyance as she
tightened the towel around her. “Tactful; to be thoughtful,
careful. Cautious not to offend or upset other—” I interrupted her
spitting blue fluff out my mouth.

“I know the definition of
tactfulness Ava, I meant what are
you
hinting at?” I asked rinsing out
my mouth. Ava chuckled like she found my obliviousness
comical.

“Don’t forget to glue that
ballerina before Cynthia finds it and dismembers
you
.” She said turning
her back to me and entering her room. That’s right I should glue
her as soon— Ah! She did it again! Hash tag
master-of-deviation.

Showering after Ava I
blow-dried my hair dressing in the Eagle Academy assigned uniform
before heading downstairs for breakfast. Mother and Aunt Rose were
already sitting down eating breakfast.

“Good morning.” I said to
both as I sat down.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”
Aunt Rose replied. “Are you ready for your first day of
school?”

“Yes, I am. I’m excited for my
last year of high school.” I answered picking at my scrambled eggs.
The bathroom conversation with Ava had left a bad taste in my mouth
why would Mother try so hard to keep me away from her? She was my
cousin for Pete’s sake. Daddy soon entered the breakfast area
giving me a kiss on the top of my head before sitting down. He said
his ‘good mornings’ to both my mother and aunt. Shortly after, Ava
enters the room she wore black skinny jeans, a black fitted
racer-back tank top, pin straight hair and a pair of knee high
black leather boots, along with her gold cross to finish off her
look. She had yet to receive her uniform I was envious she didn't
have to wear the atrocious pieces of clothing that was forced on us
by the Academy. There was nothing sexy about
this
schoolgirl uniform, which quite
frankly was all right by me. The shapeless gray pleated skirt hung
right above the knee, all the students were required to wear navy
blue knee high wool stockings, that felt awesome during the summer
time, there’s nothing more appealing than sweaty shins. The navy
blue blazer covered the white button up shirt that was accessorized
with a gray tie.

“Good morning.” Ava called
to all as she sat down next to me as soon as she sat her hand shot
forward grabbing the carafe, pouring herself coffee she drank it
black. From the corner of my eye I saw mother’s disapproving glare.
Ava moved her head slightly away from mother’s view and winked at
me. I giggled as her cell phone chimed alerting her of a text
message.

“It’s Declan. He’s wishing
us a good first day of class.”

“It’s a shame he had to
leave so soon.” Aunt Rose said. Daddy and I looked at each other.
We knew well Declan wouldn't stay too long. He and mother would
start to argue breaking the facade of the perfect family she tried
so hard to play off, even towards her own sister.

“Girls, how about I give you
a ride to school today?” Daddy asked sipping on his
coffee.

“Sure.” We both answered in
unison.

Walking up the steps to
Eagle Academy I noticed Ava’s resistance. Reaching over I grabbed
her hand holding it in mine trying to give her some sort of
reassurance. Honestly, I’m taken aback by her struggle. This was so
unlike her nothing appeared to faze her. Seeing a small glimpse of
her vulnerability it tugged the corners of my heart remembering why
she was here to begin with. Possibly being the reason why her wall
was currently crumbling, even if it was just a little.

“Hey.” I said softly with an
encouraging tone still holding her hand she tugged on her
necklace.

“I'm good, Van.” She
whispered.

“I need to use the
bathroom.” Her tone drastically changing from timid to forceful she
squeezed my hand gently before letting go. The tiny crack in her
wall was patched back up with extra reinforcement.

“All right, there’s one
right inside.” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice
however I’m not always good at hiding my feelings when it comes to
Ava.

We enter the building right
away I noticed all the looks we...well she was getting. Ava walks
directly into the bathroom without noting the stares directed at
her. I waited outside the door giving her some privacy. Moments
later she surfaced from the restroom appearing calm and collected
also smelling like strong mint, I felt a small wave of relief that
she was looking and feeling better.

“My locker’s this way.” I said
she nodded giving me a small smile. Walking along the long row of
navy blue I quickly located the locker that’s been assigned to me
for the past four years. Like a pro I turned the dial unlocking the
door, as I was putting books inside Viola and Gretchen cautiously
approached us. I’ve known Viola and Gretchen since freshman year
when mother forced me to become their friend.
They
were best friends I was the
third wheel. I didn’t complain really, Mother’s ruthless schedule
left me without any form of social life if it wasn’t for Viola and
Gretchen I’d have nowhere to sit during lunch. It might seem like a
ridiculous excuse to subject myself to ridicule and bossy high
school girls but in this particular high school status was
everything and although Viola and Gretchen weren’t the prettiest
girls in school their parents were very important members of the
community. Mother gave me strict instructions to flourish the
friendship between them.

I was so over
it.

“Hey, Vanessa.” They both
said stepping in front of Ava and I. The pair glared at Ava like
she had just kicked their puppy into the street.

“Hey, guys. This is my
cousin Ava. Ava this is Viola and Gretchen.” I knew Ava didn't make
girlfriends easily. She was gorgeous so girls naturally saw her as
competition and therefore the enemy.

“Hi girls, it’s nice to meet
you.” She said sweetly.

“Hey.” They both replied
weakly without missing a beat.
High
School.
I fought the urge to rub my
temples, not even two minutes with them and I was already
annoyed.

Ava snorted and smiled, but
it wasn't sincere. “Listen, Van. I’ll see you later. I’m going to
find my class and get a feel for the building, ya know?” She said
backing away from us.

“I’ll go with you.” I
stammered, closing my locker.

“No, it’s all right you
catch up with your friends. I’ll see you later.” Before I could
protest she gave me a kiss on my forehead and walked away. Why must
she always run away?

I turned my attention back
to Viola and Gretchen my jaw clenched, all I want to do was tell
them how stupid it was to feel like they were better than everyone,
how entertaining it will be for me when they go out into the real
world and realize their no longer on top of the food
chain.

If you have nothing nice to
say, don’t say anything at all
. Right, I
remembered I have those little things called manners, which they've
seemed to forget.

“Did you guys forget your
manners at home?” I replayed what was on my mind.

“We’re sorry, Vanessa but we
can’t stop hearing about the ‘Big titty, black hair hottie’ that
was at Danny’s party last Friday. We didn't know she was your
cousin!” Gretchen replied jealousy oozing out of her
voice.

“Let me get this straight,
you’re being mean to my cousin who by the way you’ve never met or
spoken to before because you’re jealous? And who the hell came up
with that ridiculous name?”

“I don’t know, it doesn't
matter. Vanessa, having one of you was enough to compete with now
there’s two of you. Girls like us don’t have a chance.”

“Viola!” Gretchen hissed
through her teeth.

“Well, it’s the truth.”
Viola testified rolling her eyes at Gretchen while checking on her
manicured nails.

Oh man, this was an awesome
start to my senior year. Not! One: my two
friends
were completely and utterly
jealous of my cousin. Eh…all right I won't be upset about that
because let’s face it Ava’s out of this world gorgeous. I’m jealous
too but in an, I admire your beauty and envy the way you have so
much confidence sort of jealous, not the vengeful kind. Two: There
seems to be a competition between the three of us I wasn’t aware
of, which was really weird. And three: who the hell came up that
ridiculous nickname? I mean seriously you attend one of the most
prestigious schools in Colorado yet you come up with that?
Sad.

“Guys, I’ll just see you
later.” Smiling tightly I walked away from them, I was so over this
conversation it was time to skedaddle. I left feeling a little more
annoyed, a little less at ease and a whole lot of what the
hell.