Please Don't Tell (13 page)

             
             
             
             
             
Chapter 13

             
It was all over school on Monday that Heather’s party was the best of the year so far. I couldn’t imagine how it beat Marcy Shadders earlier this year when she had hired a live band, but since I hadn’t gone to Heather’s, I couldn’t say. There had also been rumors swirling around school that Heather and Ethan spent most of the party in her bedroom. Since she earlier came screeching into my driveway to pick him up for school, I assumed the rumors to be true. He didn’t even look in my direction or say good-bye before school. I wondered if guilt had set in. He had every right to feel that way in my book for breaking rule number six, but if he wanted to date her that would be his problem. Not mine.

             
As I started walking to AP History, I passed Heather smugly standing in the hall when she said, “That Ethan is one hot piece of British ass.”

             
I ignored her, and waltzed past her, heading into the classroom. I wanted to say technically he’d been Australian ass too, but I kept my mouth shut.

             
If I could vomit right then I would at the thought of the two of them getting it on all night. What the hell did he see in her? She was as fake as a Barbie doll and everyone knew it. I wouldn’t be surprised if half her body was fake. Come to think of it, I don’t remember her boobs being so...let’s just say--out there.

             
Mrs. Townsend announced a surprise quiz a moment later sending the class into a loud fit. Including me because I hadn’t opened my book at all that week.

             
As the papers were handed out, I reached in my bag for a pencil only to discover a note.

             
I whipped it open.  “Hope you had a good weekend.”

             
Only, I didn’t recognize the writing. I had a sinking suspicion that it was Ethan taunting me, but the writing was too neat for a guy.  I crumpled it up in a ball and tossed it back in my bag trying to focus on the quiz.

             
The rest of the morning was a blur with all the chitter chatter of who hooked up with who and who drank too much. In the cafeteria I took my usual seat with Ava, Kelly and Val. Ethan was sitting at the other end of the cafeteria with Heather and her friends. I had a hard time not staring as she constantly weaved her nasty red polished fingers through his hair. The worse part was that he didn’t seem to mind, he kept letting her do it. When she leaned in and kissed his cheek, glaring in my direction I thought I would scream out loud.  I knew I was staring too long when his eyes suddenly locked with mine. He gave a slight wave and nodded his head once in a way that said, “hey.”

             
“I can’t believe he’s actually with her. Y’know?” Val said.

             
Ava added, “All night long apparently. How could she just leave her party like that?”

             
Kelly chimed in after stuffing a fork full of lettuce into her mouth. “Are you kidding? I would drop everything for a night with him.” She managed to get out in between bites.

             
I literally couldn’t take anymore talk about Ethan and Heather, so I grabbed my bag and my tray and tossed my lunch into the trash can and walked out into the hallway. I needed to catch my breath. I had just slumped down and leaned back into the locker and onto the cold linoleum floor. How could he do this? The one person that I hated. There were hundreds of girls he could choose, yet he managed to pick her.

             
Then it hit me, my entire conversation with Peter. Maybe Ethan was trying to make me jealous? Maybe, just maybe he was trying to get a rise out of me? I decided not to let it get to me. I would invite Jason over the next time my mother went away on one of her business trips.  Locking the two of us in my bedroom to let him wonder what was going on in my room. Gran wouldn’t care. Heck, she probably wouldn’t even know he was there.

             
The click clacking of shoes on the floor forced me to look up. Heather hovered over me. At that moment I really wished I could puke and puke all over her fake Tory Burch shoes.

             
She kneeled down in front of me. “Is someone jealous?”

             
I used my back to slide back up against the locker. “Of you, hardly. I don’t want to be anything like you.” I said, as I pushed her aside and walked down the hall.

             
I heard a zillion footsteps as the bell rang for next period to begin, when Val had suddenly appeared next to me. “What’s wrong with you?”

             
“Nothing is wrong,” I said, still walking.

             
Her step quickened to keep pace with mine. “It was just a party. Are you seriously still mad at me?”

             
I stopped and faced her. “Do you really want to be like them?”

             
“Like who?”

             
“Heather and those skanks she calls friends.”

             
“You’re my friend, they aren’t.”

             
My eyes narrowed and I breathed in. “Well, you could have fooled me.”

             
She grabbed a hold of me, squeezing me with a little hug. “Ah, c’mon, Soph. I’m sorry. I swear it won’t happen again. Besides it was kinda lame.”

             
One-second ago I was mad as hell, but I knew I couldn’t stay like that. She was my best friend and I couldn’t really blame her for wanting to party with her boyfriend. And, I certainly couldn’t be mad at her because of Ethan choices. “It’s fine.” I stopped and grabbed her arm. “Is it true?”

             
“What?”

             
“Did Ethan and Hobag spend the night in her room?” I asked, hesitantly.

             
“I’m glad that you’re not mad because there is a huge sale this weekend and we need to be there. And, um, yes to the other question. I saw him for like ten minutes and that was it.”

             
I threw my bag over my other shoulder and threw on a fake smile. “That’s what I thought.”

             
After the last period bell, I hauled ass to my car leaving Ethan to find a ride of his own. I may not be mad at Val anymore, but Ethan’s public display of affection toward Heather in the cafeteria and the rumors were just enough to make me want to gag. I knew I shouldn’t care about the two of them together, since I was with Jason, but I did. It bothered the hell out of me.

             
I heard a door slam, while I’d just finished peeling an apple in the kitchen and bit into it. I sat down watching Ethan stride into the kitchen. He threw his bag onto the chair before he stared me down. “Thanks for the ride.”

             
Pretending not to hear him, I walked over and placed a cup of tea into the microwave. His footsteps on the wooden floor came closer to me, so close that when I turned, we were toe to toe.

             
“Sophie, did you hear me?”

             
“I heard you. I just thought your could get a ride with your new girlfriend is all.”

             
He shook his head and ran his hand through his damp hair sending the little flakes of snow onto the floor. “Is that what this is all about?”

             
The microwave beeped and I rushed over to get it, avoiding his glare on me. I pulled out the mug and slammed the microwave door. I needed to let out some frustration. “Maybe. Why do you even care? I know you’ve hated me since we were like two.”

             
He stared into my eyes for several seconds before he answered. “Are you serious? Jesus, Sophie, of course I don’t hate you. I could never hate you.” He started to walk away and threw up his arms exasperated. “I swear it’ll take me until I’m fifty to figure women out,” he huffed. He started to make his way out, but twirled back around. “Besides, I thought you had a boyfriend?”

             
I let a quiet laugh out before taking a sip of the hot chamomile as Ethan waited for my answer. I kept silent. A sad smile flickered across his face. “Whatever,” he said, before he stormed out of the kitchen.

             
Walking to the fridge I pulled out the ground turkey. I grabbed the beans and sauce from the cabinet to make my killer chili dish. I fumbled with the can opener, twisting and turning the silver knob, thinking about my plan to see if Ethan really had been jealous of Jason. Part of me wondered if it was really worth it, because, I knew once I had Jason in my room he would expect a hell of a lot more than I was ready to give.

             
I heard the front door slam, again. I turned watching my mother walk in with her phone glued to her ear, Austin trailed in behind her, snowflakes resting on his wet hat. He flew in to the kitchen, dumping his coat on the floor, yelling, “Where is he? He owes me another game today.”

             
I pointed upstairs, plopping the ground turkey and the spoonful of garlic into the frying pan.

             
My mom tipped the phone away from her ear. “Mmm, can’t wait.” I turned and stirred the meat so it wouldn’t burn. My mom had still been on her phone. “Phil, I said I was on it. No, it won’t be an issue. Yes, I’ll take care of it.”

             
I watched as she pulled her ‘go to’ drink of Chardonnay out of the fridge. “Okay, I’ll let you know how it goes as soon as I can.”

             
She tossed her phone on the table. “Well, it looks like I’ll be gone for a few days. Do you think you and Ethan can hold the fort down? I need to let someone go this week and try to find a replacement.” She opened up a folder full of resumes, glancing at them quickly. “I’ll call Gran later.”

             
A grin appeared on my face at the thought of my plan and being alone again with Ethan.

             
The Xbox roared to life. Austin and Ethan battled it out, laughing.

             
A half hour later, we were all gathered around the table, my mother fumbled through more resumes while she ate.

             
“So, Pete tells me that you own a beautiful condo in The Adirondacks?” He asked, looking at my mother, then to me. “We should go skiing. I’m dying to see what American slopes are like.”

             
My mother looked up for a brief second. “What? Oh, yes we should go. Maybe over February break. I’m way too busy lately.”

             
I gasped at the thought. Lake Placid was my favorite place in the whole wide world. I hated sharing it with anyone let alone him.

             
Ethan looked over at me, but didn’t say anything as I watched him shovel in a huge bite.

             
I spooned a mouth full of chili into my mouth then swallowed. “Speaking of Peter, have you talked to him lately?” I asked, not taking my eyes off of Ethan.

             
He shrugged, pushing his food around the bowl with his spoon.“All the time, why?”

             
I grinned. “Just wondering is all.”

             
He gave me a sideway glance, with his one eyebrow raised. I could almost hear the questions running through that beautiful head of his.

             
             
             
             
Chapter 14

             
My mother had only been gone one night when the ice storm hit. I glanced outside and noticed everything was covered in ice. The tree limbs hung low, some had already fallen to the ground. My Grandmother was supposed to get in that day, but since it was such short notice, I’d didn’t think that would be happening.
My grandmother had had a scare while driving in the rain a few months ago, and said afterward that she had no business driving in bad weather at her age.  There was no way she was going to leave her house when the roads were so icy.

             
I ran into my mothers room and grabbed for the remote and tried to turn the television on.
The white fuzz on the TV confirmed how bad the storm was. Great! I looked back outside for any signs of a school bus, but the streets were empty. Not the rumbling noise of a snow plow, not people bustling to work.

             
I glanced over to the clock, which had been blinking and had obviously stopped telling time at three twenty-three a.m. precisely. I walked back out into the hallway, everyone’s doors had still been shut.  I stumbled back into my bed and pulled out my cell. I had a message from Val reading: No school, YAY!...bummer roads are closed.

             
This day couldn’t possibly get worse, could it? Normally, I’d be pumped not to have school, but this meant alone time with Ethan. What the hell was I going to do all day trapped inside with him? I grabbed my favorite pink Snuggie off the end of my bed and started to head downstairs to read a book. Most people would probably go back to bed, but once I was up...I was up for the day.

             
As I stepped out of my room the bathroom door was closed and the shower was turned on. I looked down the hall, Ethan’s door was now opened. I did a quick once over as I passed. Spotless as usual. He’d even made his bed already. I imagined walking over and touching the bedspread to find that I could probably bounce a quarter off it.

             
Inside the kitchen I grabbed the French press from the cupboard. Then I cranked on the gas to boil the water.  It was rare when I went through all the trouble to make French press coffee, because let’s face it the Keurig was just easier.  Once the grinds had settled to the bottom, I grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured it half full of coffee and then filled the rest with whipped cream. Something about French pressed coffee and whipped cream together always brightened my day.

             
“You’re not seriously putting that in your coffee, are you?” Ethan asked, coming up from behind.

             
“Don’t knock it until you try it.” I sipped it carefully, while he poured himself a cup.

             
“No thanks. I think I’ll pass. I prefer mine black.” He stared at me, scanning me from head to toe. “That’s a look I haven’t seen before.”

             
I quickly realized that I probably looked horrible. I mean, I didn’t brush out my hair, I had no make-up on and my Snuggie was loosely wrapped around me. “It’s a Snuggie.”

             
“A what?”

             
“A Snuggie. A lot of people own them you know.”

             
He pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit down.

             
“Yeah, I’m actually going to watch TV.” As I said it, I knew that wasn’t even possible since the shitty cable company hadn’t fixed it yet.

             
“Really? Might be tough since it’s out” He gestured to the table. “Sit down, Sophie.”

             
I started to walk away because my knees felt like they might give out any moment. He looked adorable in his plaid flannels and T-shirt.  “I’ll just drink this upstairs and read.”
             

             
“Sophie, stop! Why are being like this? What did I do that was so bad?” He asked.

             
I turned on my heels before taking a seat. “Fine, what should we talk about?”

             
“How about...” he joined me at the table. “Why you can’t seem to be in the same room with me for more than five minutes.”

             
“That’s not true.”

             
“Prove it. Stay and have a full conversation with me.”

             
“No problem,” I said as I took another sip.

             
“Let’s start with this...what do you find so repulsive about me?”

             
“I don’t find you repulsive. I never said that. But, truth?” I asked.

             
He nodded. “Of course. Why do you always ask that? Do you often lie?”

             
“I can’t stand Heather and now you’re going out with her and I just can’t believe you would do that. She’s such a ho and now she’s going to be coming around all the time, I just know it.” 

             
His eyebrows raised. “Girlfriend? You think I’m dating Heather?”

             
“I just said that didn’t I? Aren’t you?”

             
“I’m not dating Heather, Sophie. She is just...I don’t know what to call her.”

             
“What would you call her?”

             
“A friend, okay. Just a friend. And how about you, you can’t honestly like that Jackarse Jason?”

             
My eyes narrowed as I stood. “You don’t know anything about him or me...so knock it off,” I said, raising my voice.

             
“I know enough. And for the record, Heather isn’t exactly my type.”

             
“That’s not what I heard. I heard about the party, Ethan. Actually, everyone’s heard about you and Heather.”

             
Ethan slammed his mug down, spilling his coffee onto the table. “Oh, and what did Sophie hear?”

             
“That you two were all cozy the entire night at her party,” I said, then added, “in her room. And, let’s not forget the kissing in the cafeteria.”

             
His eyes were still focused on me. “Fine.Truth?”

             
“Of course.”

             
He blinked. “It’s not what you think. Being honest, we were somewhat together that night, but I stopped and came home. I had too much to drink and it got out of control. But the point is I left, Sophie.”

             
When he stopped talking, I turned away unable to face him. What did he mean? Did that mean he didn’t sleep with Heather? I wanted to ask him, but I didn’t. “Why did you come home then?”

             
He hesitated before he answered, “I already told you, she isn’t my type.”

             
I shook my head, refusing to believe him. “Well, what is your type?”

             
“I guess I’m just still holding out for someone better to come along. In the meantime...you don’t need to worry about Heather. I’m sorry if that hurt you.” He stepped forward. “And just to clarify one thing, I’m not that guy, Sophie.”

             
I ran a nervous hand through my hair. “And what kind of guy are you, Ethan.”

             
“I’m not a one-night stand love them and leave them kind of guy. When I find someone I like I ask myself,” he paused and smiled. “I ask myself if she’s worth the possible heartbreak if things don’t turn out okay.”

             
I was trying to listen to everything he’d been saying when I glanced up and noticed his gaze still lingered on me. He had a tender smile registered on his face. It was the smile I’d seen a few times before. The one that stopped me in my tracks. And I couldn’t help but wonder if I was his type? Was I worth the chance of breaking his heart?

             
“Did you have anyone in particular in mind?” I asked, nervously. I was pretty sure if my heart rate spiked up any higher or that my knees knocking against one another would clue him in to how I’d been feeling.

             
I bit down on my nail like I always did when I got nervous, waiting for his answer. I looked down at my coffee, sipping it when Austin barreled down the steps.

             
“Woo Hoo, no school. I’m calling Ryan to play.”

             
“Can’t phones are down.” I said.

             
He reached into the pantry and pulled out his favorite cereal. “Well, I’ll just walk over there after breakfast. It’s only ten houses away.”

             
Ethan’s eyes never left me as Austin poured his cereal and sat down. I could feel him staring, but I couldn’t build up the nerve to look directly back at him. The beeping of the microwave and the lights flicking back on caused Ethan to finally pull his eyes away from me.

             
I slid past Ethan with my coffee and worked my way into the living room. I flicked on the television and scanned through the guide. One minute later, Ethan grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and sat next to me. The closeness was completely unbearable.  Our knees slightly touched one another. He smelled insanely wonderful for this early in the morning. I recognized the familiar scent of my shampoo and Dove soap.  I fumbled with the remote, and turned on a morning show, even though I hated to watch the news.

             
“You’re serious? We have to watch this?”

             
“There’s really nothing good on,” I countered.

             
He said, “Allow me,” and plucked the remote out of hands. I played with the corners of my Snuggie while he let out a sigh of relief. “Ah, now this is perfect.”

             
“Soccer. You want me to watch soccer?”

             
“It’s football and yes, I do. And tell me, why do Americans even call it soccer? It doesn’t make any sense. There is a ball and a foot...football.”

             
“Don’t ask me? I have no idea.”

             
As we sat watching Chelsea play Arsenal, the front door flew open. We both looked up assuming it was Austin, but I forgot how Val always just seemed to feel right at home when she came over. She hasn’t knocked on the front door since eighth grade.

             
“Soph, where are you?” I heard Valerie yell out.

             
I scooted back an inch.“In here.”

             
She strolled in covered from head to toe in winter gear. “Aren’t we comfy?”

             
I couldn’t even imagine what she was thinking. Ethan and I side by side, curled up together as we drank our coffee like some happy old couple. I stole a quick look at him, and realized that’s exactly what we looked like. Then the thought occurred to me that I didn’t mind looking like this. I liked it. It felt natural, great even, and what was more important, I felt completely comfortable with him for the very first time.

             
I reached over and placed my mug down on the coffee table.“What are you doing here? Aren’t the roads still closed?”

             
“Yep! But, thanks to dear old Dad, this ice had nothing on my new snow tires.”

             
I smiled. “What if you got in an accident?”

             
Her hands flew to her hips.“What? I drove really slow.”

             
She moved closer into the room, eyeing Ethan. “Soph, I so need to talk to you.”

             
I shrugged.“Go ahead, shoot.”

             
Her eyes narrowed at Ethan. “In private.”

             
He looked at her then back to me. “Right, I’ll just go do something.”

             
We both watched as he slinked into the kitchen in his flannel pants and T-shirt. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell your best friend that you were about to lose the big V,” she cried out.

             
My eyes roamed behind her toward the kitchen, praying that Ethan did not just hear her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

             
“Ah, hellooo, Jason,” she said, tapping her foot on the carpet. “Okay, so Matt told me that Jason told him that you invited him over while your mom is gone and that he thought it might be the night.” Her fingers pointed up into little quotation marks as she said it.

             
“Crap, I completely forgot about Jason coming over.”

             
“How could you forget?” She asked, before her eyes looked back into the kitchen. “Oops, forgot about the hot British invasion.” She shook her head, before she added, “Well, are you?”