Please Don't Tell (22 page)

             
“Nothing.”

             
“You’ve said like two words the whole time,” she said, as she flipped through the rack.

             
“It’s Ethan.”

             
“What’s hottie up to these days?”

             
“He wouldn’t answer me when I asked him about when he leaves.”

             
“Ouch.”

             
I shook my head. “I know. I think he’s hiding something from me. Do you think he’s not interested in me anymore?”

             
“Soph, I’m sure he’s not done with you. Maybe, he just doesn’t want to leave you.”

             
“Maybe, but he has to.”

             
“It’ll work out. I promise.”

             
As we pushed our way through all the stores, I managed to keep Ethan out of my mind and focused on Val and shopping.

             
“So, what’s new with you and Matt? Still having crazy sex?”

             
“It’s a little impossible with Jason hovering all the time.” She picked up a top and held it up to her. “I know you’re in love and all, but sometimes I wish you were still with Jason. It would be so much easier.”

             
I snorted.

             
“Sorry. You know what I mean.” She grabbed a shirt off the rack and held it up. “Do you like this top?”

             
I nodded my head and then said, “Yeah, it’s great.” The thing was I knew what she meant. She missed hanging out together. The four of us. I did too, well, except the Jason and Matt part. Matt never missed a beat when we were forced together. He’d acted like he never tried to kiss me and since Val never mentioned anything to him, he assumed his secret was safely tucked away.

             
             
             
             
             
Chapter 21

             
When Val dropped me off, Ethan and Austin were inside the family room battling through another game on the Xbox. My mother strolled in right behind me and dropped her bag onto the foyer table, then walked upstairs as I made my way into the living room.

             
“Hey guys.”

             
Austin didn’t even acknowledge my presence, Ethan looked back. “How was the mall?”

That’s it? How was the mall?

             
“It was okay. Can I talk to you?” I asked.

             
Without looking at me and staying focused on the game. “Can it wait five minutes? I need to finish off my mate here.”

             
Disappointed, I said, “Yeah, I’ll be in my room.”

             
Ten minutes later, my mother popped her head in. “Soph, I’m getting ready to start dinner. Did you need help getting downstairs?”

             
I looked at my alarm clock. Where the hell was he? “No. I’m doing okay on my own.”

             
Ethan came up behind her. “Mrs. Gerrard I didn’t know you were home.”

             
Sighing, my mother turned around. “Ethan, please stop calling me that. Call me Charlotte or Aunt Charlotte whatever you feel more comfortable with.” She turned back to me. “Dinner in thirty.” She stepped out and he stepped in.

             
“Everything okay?”

             
I took a seat on the edge of my bed. “Everything’s fine.”

             
He came closer and squatted down on his knees. “You sure?”

             
I painted on a fake smile and nodded. He leaned forward and took my chin in his hands. He gave a quick glance to my bedroom door and then kissed me. It’d been too brief for my liking, but we both knew we had to take precautions when we were home. “I’ll see you downstairs.” His arms went down to the floor and he pushed himself up. He started to walk out, but turned giving me a quick once over, then winked.

             
“So, what should we do for Spring Break?” I asked, my mother as I made my way into the kitchen.

             
She was standing at the counter, pouring herself a glass of wine. “Sophie, you know we can’t do two vacations so close together. I’ve already paid off the balance for the trip in the summer to go back to St. Thomas in the summer.”

             
I moved to the stove and flipped over the chicken in the pan and looked over my shoulder. “But, what about Ethan? I’m sure he’ll want to do something.”

             
“I guess there is always the condo. We could head up for a few days.”

             
I swallowed. “Oh, yeah. That’d be great.”

             
“Of course, I need to talk to your Dad first. You and Austin usually go out to see him. I’m sure Austin will want to spend it with your father.”

             
I laughed. “I’m almost positive he will. Besides, Daddy knows Ethan’s here.”

             
The thought of spending time with Ethan in one of my favorite places, again, was almost too overwhelming to let scramble around inside my brain. And, I knew my mother had been right about Austin. He never passed up on a trip to Seattle. Of course, my father would prefer to buy two plane tickets, but my desire to visit him and our step-monster diminished as the years passed by.

             
Ethan walked in and grabbed a pop out of the fridge then and sat down next to me with a grin on his face. “So, what are we talking about?”

             
My mom joined us. “We were just discussing the week break coming up and what we could do for fun.”

             
I glanced over at Ethan. “Did you want to do something or just hang out here?” I asked.

             
He raised his eyebrows. “What did you have in mind?”

             
When he looked at me, I quickly looked away. I was terrified my mother would start to notice the different looks that we gave one another.

             
My mother chimed in before I could answer. “Sophie, here thinks you need to get away. Of course, we can if you’d like. Work is sort of crazy this time of year, but I think I can squeeze it in.”

             
I bit the corner of my lip, then lifted my thumbnail up to my mouth. “I was thinking Lake Placid, again. I know there is really not much to do this time of year, but I could show you the town since you didn’t get to see it last time.”

             
He raised the pop to his lips. “Sounds bloody fantastic to me.” I watched as he took a swig. His eyes stayed focused on me as he managed a small discreet smile.

             
             
             
             
             
             
***

             
Two days had gone by.  Everyone at school had been acting weird around me ever since I entered the school halls that morning. Even Val wasn’t at her usual spot in the parking lot waiting for me. Ethan left early for school completely frazzled with yet another lame excuse about some homework assignment he’d turned in. Which left me walking to my locker--alone. It’s not that I hadn’t done it before, I have, I just liked walking in with Ethan’s hand in mine these days.

             
I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding when I noticed Val was at my locker. She’d been slumped down on the floor, leaning up against my locker with her arms tucked under her legs. I picked up my pace.

             
“Hey, where were you? I waited outside for a few minutes. Are you okay?”

             
She looked up and I immediately fell next to her. She’d been crying, her eyes were all red and puffy.“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

             
“Did you kiss Matt? Because that and a few other things are running rampant around school about you.”

             
I went totally still. Oh, God how did she find out? Val...I”

             
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “Oh, my God. It’s true isn’t it?” She yelled.

             
How could I lie to her anymore? And just wait until I found out whoever leaked this information out. My first thought had been Ethan, but I knew he wouldn’t do that to me, so I assumed it had to be Matt, but why the hell would he finally say something? He had to know she’d be done with him after he told her.

             
“It’s true Val. He cornered me at a party and kissed me. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

             
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re supposed to be best friend, Sophie. How could you do this to me?” She looked back up and glared at me.

             
“Val, we both had too much at Marcie’s party and he followed me to the bathroom. It was ages ago. Honestly, I pushed him off within two-seconds. That is a promise.”

             
Another tear fell down her cheek. “I can’t believe all this time went by and you didn’t tell me.”

             
I reached out to grab her hand. “Val, please don’t be mad at me. You’re like a sister to me.”

             
She shoved my hand off. I tried to touch her arm to do something--anything.“Whatever,” she said and then she stood and ran down the hall.

             
Shit! How could I do this to her? How could I make this up to her?

             
I yelled out, “Val, please...”

             
She didn’t turn around. She jogged away with her head down, leaving me alone in on the floor. I didn’t even have the strength to stand on my own. I sat there through the first bell until Heather stood in front of me.

             
“So much for that precious lover boy of yours. He really threw you under the bus with his assignment.”

             
I looked up. “What are you talking about? I don’t have time for this.”

             
“Ethan, y’remember him? Words out he wrote all about your little trip to the Caribbean and how you thought you were dying,” she paused, then laughed out loud. “And, spilled all your dirty little secrets.

             
Just then, Ethan sprinted down the hall toward me. “Gotta run. Have fun.” She laughed all the way toward Ethan and laughed even louder as he passed by her.

             
I forced myself up against the locker. Ethan was white as a ghost. “Sophie, I can explain,” he said panicked.

             
Tears started to trickle down my face. “How could you? No, forget it. Forget everything. I don’t want to talk to you or see you ever again,” I yelled.

             
He slammed his fist into the locker and pleaded, “Sophie, please listen to me.” I turned to run, but stopped when I felt him behind me. I whirled to face him. “I don’t trust you, Ethan.” He flinched, but took a step forward.  A tear fell from my face as I stormed away from him. I ran into the girls room and stayed there until half way through first period. I took the corner to make my way back outside and jumped in my car and sped all the way home. It was the first time I ditched school.

             
I couldn’t wrap my head around anything. I threw myself onto my bed, letting my tears soak the pillow. I thought so many times that he’d been perfect and that we’d be together forever. I’d been positive. So much so that I wanted to be with him. To give myself to him as soon as we had another night alone. Now, I didn’t even want to look at him. The whole school knew everything by now, I was sure of it. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore, wondering how everything had happened.

             
I was still in my room when I heard the front door slam. I knew by the pounding of the stairs that it was him. Ethan knocked on my locked door. “Sophie, please. I know you’re in there.”

             
I screamed, “Go away, Ethan.”

             
I heard him slump down onto the floor before he said, “No. Not until I explain. If you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll go home. I promise.

             
I hesitated, but made my way over to my door and opened it. Ethan fell backwards and inside. “Right now, Ethan, I just want you to disappear. I’m not ready to talk to you.”

             
His expression was desperate as he stood back up. “Shite, Sophie. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know people were going to read it.” He reached down for my hand, but I pulled back and shoved him out the door and slammed it.

             
Once safely behind my closed door, I yelled out, “Fuck you, Ethan.” I stood there several minutes waiting for the sound of his footsteps to walk away, but they never did. The sound of him slumping back down and cursing to himself was all I heard. Well, as far I was concerned he could wait forever. I wasn’t coming out anytime soon.