The Exception (9 page)

“Kenzie walked down shortly after Dylan went to find Maya. She and Ryan got into it. That’s why I came up here in the first place. I left one argument to find another one.”

“What the heck is wrong with him today? Did you think it was weird that he acted strange about Logan?”

“I mean a little. But Ryan has always been protective of Kenzie. I guess we all have. I did find it odd that he is the one that picked the fight with her when she came back downstairs, though.”

“Good Lord,” I said letting out a breath. “Maybe Jake is right after all.”

“About Jake,” he started, clearing his throat, “I know I haven’t really been around this last week.”

“Yeah, I noticed that. I’ve missed you, Gabe.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It has just been hard seeing you with him. You know? At first I thought it would make it easier on all of us if I just backed off, but then I lose you completely. I don’t want to lose you completely, Em.” He paused for a second to put a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “I want you to know that I will always be here, even if right now you just need me as a friend. But hear me when I say, I will never give up on you.”

“Gabe,” I croaked out – not realizing how much his speech had affected me until I tried to speak. 

Without hesitation, after hearing my voice crack, Gabe scooped me up in his arms and held me. He didn’t loosen his grip until I pulled back.

I took a breath, “Gabe. You know I love you, but as a friend. I really do care about Jake.”

“I know you do right now. But like I said, I’m not going anywhere.” After he finished talking he turned and walked downstairs, leaving me at the top, standing there speechless.

After a few moments, I heard someone behind me. I turned to find Maya waving a pair of my white panties in the air. “Is it safe to come out?” she giggled.

“Oh my God!” I gasped, looking back downstairs to make sure no one was standing there. Then I walked into my room, forcing a laughing Maya to go backwards.

“It’s my version of a white flag. I didn’t want to walk out of here empty handed.”

“Good Lord,” I said snatching my panties out of her hand and closing them back up in my drawer. When I turned around she was standing there looking at me, her smile now gone.

”I guess we both got stuck in here today, didn’t we?”

“I guess we did. Listen, Maya. I’m so sorry about Dylan. He can be a real jerk.”

“Humph. It sounds like you’re defending him.”

“Heck no.” I thought about saying that there is always more to the story. That this is Dylan we were talking about. The fact that he tried to apologize at all was huge, much less that he was all choked up about it and practically begging for her forgiveness. But I knew Maya, and I knew that right now none of that mattered. Her hurt was too fresh. So I left it at that.

“Anyway, what just happened with Gabe?”

“I don’t know. He like avoided me all week, then jumped me with that.” I was still trying to wrap my own mind around it.

Maya looked at me with that mischievous grin of hers, “I told you that boy was in love with you.”

“Great. Now I have to worry about you too?” I joked.

“Come on, biatch. Let’s go back downstairs. I need to get away from this room before something else happens.”

“I hear that. Right behind you.”

I followed Maya downstairs over to where the boys were sitting on the couch watching ESPN. As I walked by, Gabe snatched me and pulled me down to his lap. I looked up to see Maya staring at me. “I’m just saying,” she mumbled.

I scooted off Gabe and he leaned over, “What’s that about?”

“Nothing,” I darted my eyes toward Maya.

Once the boys left, Maya and I put on a movie. We had just put the popcorn in a bowl and were bringing it into the living room when my phone beeped.

“Jake or Gabe?” she asked putting a handful of popcorn in her mouth.

“Funny,” I said taking my phone out of my back pocket. I glanced at my text message and could not contain the smile that broke out on my face.

“Jake,” she stated.

“That obvious?”

“From the look on your face, yes. Now, hussy, are you going to tell me what he said or what?”

“He wants to know if I’m free tonight.”

“Say yes,” she said, like duh.

“I’m not just going to leave you, especially after the whole Dylan thing last night and then again today.”

“Well if you don’t, then I’m going to be pissed at you too. At least one of us should be able to get some tonight.”

I looked at her with wide eyes, “Oh my God, Maya.”

She looked at me with her little smirk. “Well, you can’t say that you haven’t at least thought about it. Oh, don’t look at me like that. From the way you described how that boy kisses you, I know you’ve thought about it.”

“OK! But it’s not going to happen tonight.”

“I knew it! Now text that boy yes or I’ll do it for you.”

Knowing that there was no arguing with Maya at this point, I picked up my phone and texted Jake. I explained why I couldn’t leave Maya tonight but that he could join us as long as he didn’t mind sweat pants and a chick flick. After a few seconds he responded, saying he understood and that he in no way minded sweat pants. We finalized plans and then I set my phone beside me so I could focus on the movie.

Maya cleared her throat causing me to look over at her. “Well?” she asked impatiently.

I shoved another handful of popcorn in my mouth not bothering to finish chewing before I responded, “I told Jake I couldn’t leave my bestie in her hour of need.”

“My God, Emma. I’m not dying,” she complained, completely unfazed by the popcorn hanging out of my mouth.

“Let me finish,” I said mischievously, causing Maya to get quiet and look at me questionably. “I also said that he could join us if he didn’t mind sweat pants and countless hours of sappy movies with Gerard Butler and Matthew McConaughey.”

“Well?” she gestured with her hand.

I put another handful of popcorn in my mouth. “Well, he asked what type of sweat pants. When I specified yoga pants, he said he would be right over,” I somehow managed without breaking a smile, although the same couldn’t be said for Maya.
“I knew I liked that boy. Now let’s go put on some yoga pants. By the way, you’re disgusting.” Then she took a mouthful of popcorn herself and smiled.

It took longer than I expected for Jake to arrive. When the doorbell finally rang, I ran downstairs to meet my boyfriend. I opened the door to see Jake standing there with two gallons of ice cream – one in each hand.

“Girls eat ice cream when they are pissed at boys, right?”

“You sir, are too much. I mean, is there anything wrong with you or am I really dating the world’s perfect boyfriend?” I teased.

Jake looked at me with that impossible smile of his and had just stepped in to kiss me when Maya piped up. I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “You two are annoyingly adorable. Wait. Is that ice cream?” She asked as she grabbed both gallons from Jake and took them into the kitchen with us in tow.

Maya wasted no time digging into the two containers. I looked over to witness her interchanging a scoop into her mouth, then into a bowl. Jake and I watched as she continued this until her bowl was full of both types of ice cream.

“And you said I was disgusting?” I teased.

Jake looked from me to Maya, then stated, “I’m not even going to ask. Anyway, I was just going to drop these off real quick then head out to meet up with Evan.”

I couldn’t help the look of disappointment that took over my face when Jake said he wasn’t staying. Jake noticed too and started to say something.

“Liar!” Maya exclaimed causing us both to look at her. “It was all about the pants. Yoga pants.”

“Well, can you blame a man?” he shot back, pretending to be offended.

“With an ass like hers, no I can’t,” she said before grabbing her bowl and a container of ice cream and then carrying them into the living room. “Oh, and Jakie Pooh. Tell Evan hi for me, will ya?”

“Yeah, sure Maya,” he said loud enough for her to hear him in the other room.

“Maya, I’ll be right back. Gunna walk Jake out then we can restart the movie,” I called out.

“Mmkay. Take your time!” she shouted with a mouthful of ice cream.

Outside Jake started his truck and turned down the radio, then took me in his arms.

“I thought you were going to stay,” I pouted.

“Don’t get me wrong. I want to stay, especially when you are in those pants. But I have this feeling that tonight your friend needs you without your “annoyingly adorable” boyfriend doting all over you,” he said, mocking Maya’s tone.

“Yeah, yeah,” I allowed myself to collapse into his chest. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want you here doting all over me. But thanks.”

He lifted my chin so that our eyes met. “Anytime, darlin’,” he uttered in a low, sexy drawl.

“Are you using Evan’s line so that I will kiss you?”

“Well I don’t know. Is it working?” he asked as he leaned down and connected his lips to mine.

Chapter Eight

During the next several weeks I couldn’t keep from noticing that Maya and Evan seemed to always find each other; and I clearly wasn’t the only one. Dylan and Maya hadn’t said a word to each other since that Saturday at my house. But, every time Dylan saw Maya and Evan together, Dylan looked like he was about to kill Evan. When I asked Maya about it, she was quick to say that she and Evan were just friends and that Dylan Andrews was not allowed to care who her friends were. I didn’t bring it up again.

Keeping on the avoiding trend, after Ryan got over his pissy stage he started avoiding my sister like the plague. It was to the point that he wouldn’t even come to the house if Kenzie was going to be there. By how strangely he had been acting, I was really starting to suspect that Jake was right about him being into McKenzie. He certainly wasn’t avoiding her because she was being annoying. In fact, she started treating Ryan like all the other guys after she started dating Logan.

Gabe and I seemed to be back to normal. I was glad about that because I wasn’t sure how things were going to be after his heartfelt confession. I had to admit that it was nice to be able to hang out with Gabe and go to lunch and stuff like we used too without it being awkward. He even started sneaking through my window again occasionally. Jake wasn’t too thrilled about that, but I assured him he had nothing to worry about.

One night when Gabe had crawled through my window, I asked him if he knew anything about the Maya and Dylan situation. He said Dylan wouldn’t talk about it any more than Maya. That all Dylan would say is “I will fix this.”

“This is his idea of fixing it?” I asked in disbelief. “I mean they won’t say a word to each other, much less be in the same general space as the other one.”

“I know. It doesn’t make any sense to me either.”

“Well, I for one am tired of feeling like I have to choose sides. I miss being able to all hang out like we used to.”

Gabe squished himself next to me in my bowl chair, “Me too, Em. But it is not just those two that make it hard for us all to hang out like we used to.”

“Yeah. I know. And I’ve about had it up to here with this little attitude Ryan has developed as well. I have the right mind to sit all three of them down and not let them get up until they can just move past everything and let us be friends again.”

“If only it were that simple.”

“I know. But it gets messy when feelings are involved.”

“Yeah, and all three…” he stopped midsentence. “Well, anyway…”

“Wait. What did you just say?” I questioned as he started to say something else.

“Nothing. I was trying to say it’s late so I better get going, but you cut me off.”

“Uh, no. You said three. What did you mean by three?”

“It’s late. I’m tired. I misspoke,” he countered, starting to get up.

“Gabriel Shawn Walters. Sit yourself back down,” I said in a tone that made him stop and sink back into the bowl chair. I waited till he looked at me. “You said three. Now you tell me the truth. You were referring to Ryan as the third. Does it have anything to do with him having feelings for McKenzie?”

He took a moment to just stare back at me. “Em, don’t worry yourself about this. Nothing happened or will happen.”

“What do you mean by nothing happened?”

Gabe leaned forward and put his head between his hands, running his fingers through his hair. “Oh God. He is going to be so pissed if he ever finds out I told you. That is if he even remembers saying anything to me.”

“Told me what, Gabe?”

He turned to look at me, dropping one of his hands so that I could see his face. “Listen, Em. Before I say anything, you have to know that nothing happened and that nothing will ever happen. You know Ryan, and you know the type of guy that he is.”

“OK,” I said slowly.

“I mean it, Em. You have always been really protective of Kenz. And you should be, cause she is your little sister. But in this case, you also have to know who your friend is and not jump to conclusions.”

“OK,” I said again.

“OK.” He slowly sat up. “So something happened over the summer. Shit, I mean something didn’t happen. Well it did, but in his head. Damn, this is not coming out right. Just let me start over.”

“By all means…”

“Alright. So you know how Ryan has basically been acting weird since Kenzie has been back from camp this summer.”

“Yeah. And?”

“Well. It may have something to do with the fact that he doesn’t view her as a little kid anymore,” he said with a winced expression.

“What?”

“Em, nothing has happened.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that. But have I mentioned she’s fifteen?”

“Valid point. But, Em, even you admit she does not look fifteen.”

“Are you defending him?” I asked in a tone torn between anger and understanding.

“I don’t have to defend him. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He can’t help that your sister has gone from a little girl to sexy as hell in one summer.”

“Uh,” I gawked, “She’s fifteen.”

“Yes, we’ve been over this. We also both know that she looks older than you, acts your age, and that because she’s fifteen Ryan would never do anything. She’s always been closer to him than with Dylan or me. When you think about it, it makes since that they would eventually see each other as more than friends.”

“But she’s fifteen,” I muttered.

Gabe let out a breath. “Oh my God. You’re relentless. Can you honestly say you didn’t see this coming?”

I took a moment to think about everything before I responded. “No,” I finally said, “I can’t say that I didn’t see this coming. She has really liked him since the first time she met him, but it was always a silly crush because he was so much older. And you’re right. If you didn’t know her, you would never guess she was so young. She doesn’t act her age and she certainly doesn’t look it. But if he ever. Tries. Anything. Before she’s eighteen, you better kill him or I will.”

Gabe let out a relieved laugh. “Deal.” He reached up to rub his eyes, then turned to look back at me. “But, Em, you know he never would. And it’s been killing him – trying to fight any feelings for her. It didn’t help when she was throwing herself at him. Then, knowing he can’t have her, he has to watch her date another guy. Imagine how hard that is for him, especially knowing that little hornball has one thing on his mind.”

“Please, Logan is a nice guy.”

“There is no such thing as a nice guy. Especially at fifteen. I guarantee you that guy has one thing on his mind. And it’s the same thing all guys think about when it comes to the Crawford sisters.”

“Eww. Too much information.” And it was. I did not want to think about any guy thinking about my little sister that way. Although I have to admit, I liked to hear that some guys really found me that attractive. I mean, I’m not blind. I know I’m pretty, but Gabe makes it sound like he thinks I’m a knockout or something. And if that’s the case, he really is blind.

“Yeah, now think about how Ryan feels. Knowing she is with a guy that doesn’t care about her the way he would or who would take care of her the way that any of us would. At least you know Ryan would respect her.”

“Yeah. I guess.” I took in a breath looking around the room before staring back at Gabe.

“I mean damn. Ryan has been through hell trying not to feel anything for her. Can you imagine what it would be like to suddenly be attracted to someone that you have viewed up to this point as a little kid? Then, knowing that they were too young for you and not being able to act on it. Like that sucks.”

I laughed for the first time since Gabe started talking. “You know when you put it that way, the whole thing really does suck.”

“And, Em, don’t let him know you know. The only reason I know is because of quite a few beers and a few other reasons. He probably doesn’t even remember saying anything to me. And I swear to you, if he ever decides to act on this before she’s eighteen, you can take a turn at him after Dylan and I do,” he finished with that boyish grin of his.

“I’m not going to say anything. I feel like that would just make this whole thing weirder. And about the other thing, thanks.”

“Any time,” he said, starting to get up, “Now I really do need to get going or neither one of us is going to be able to get up tomorrow.”

“You’re right. And tomorrow is only Wednesday,” I groaned as we walked over to my window.

Gabe turned to look back at me before he climbed out the window. “Night, Emmie,” he whispered reaching out to touch my face.

“Night, Gabe,” I smiled back. But there was that guilt again. I would have never thought twice about Gabe touching the side of my face before Jake; but now, knowing that for Gabe it was not just a simple touch, it had everything in my head all confused. I hate that this line got blurred and desperately wished Gabe and I could go back to when we both felt like we were just friends. I can’t put my finger on it, but in a way I feel like I’m starting to lose my friend.

Needless to say, I walked groggily into school the following morning. I saw Dylan first, standing with a group of guys from the tennis team.  Come to think of it, over the last several weeks I’ve only seen Dylan hanging out with guys. And he certainly did not have his usual girl or two hanging all over him. I couldn’t help but wonder why I was just picking up on that. But I was quickly distracted from that when I finally spotted Maya, who was standing with Evan and Jake.

I made my way over to them just in time to hear Evan and Maya say something that I didn’t understand, then both start laughing. I looked over at Jake and he shrugged, then grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together – clearly not understanding what they were talking about either. Maya stopped laughing when she saw me.

“Look what the cat dragged in. I mean it literally looks like someone dragged you in. Not get much sleep last night, Em?”

“No. Gabe came over last night and didn’t leave till late.”

I felt Jake tense. “So that explains why you never called me back last night,” he was trying to sound nonchalant, even though I could obviously see how much what I had just said bothered him.

“Oh crap. Jake, I’m so sorry. We got to talking, then it got late, and I completely forgot,” I gasped, feeling terrible, which seemed to lighten Jake’s mood a little.

“So what were y’all talking about that required him to stay over so late?” Maya asked, taking another bite of the apple I didn’t realize she had until then.

“Oh nothing,” I said in a way that I hoped would satisfy them enough to move on to something else. Yet, it seemed to have the opposite effect. I felt Jake tense up again, and I could tell he was about to say something before Maya chimed in.

“Oh crap. Don’t anybody look now,” she panicked. “Evan, just go with it. I’ll explain later,” she uttered quickly, but desperately, right before she kissed him.

I was totally confused and then even more shocked when Evan wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her back. It’s like my brain needed a moment to process what it was seeing before I could even ask what the heck was going on. As soon as I heard Dylan’s voice, it all seemed to make a little more sense.

“Come on, man. You don’t have to work that hard to get Maya in the sack,” he sneered, unable to sound any more like a jerk then he did in that moment. His comment also ceased Maya and Evan’s lip-lock and gained both of their attention. “A little bit of whiskey and that girl is an easy lay,” he continued, giving Evan a cocky wink as he slapped him on the back and kept walking. He only took a few steps before he turned back to face our direction. “Oh, and Jack and coke is her poison. Works every time. Isn’t that right, babe?” he finished slowly, maliciousness dripping off every word as he spoke.

Maya’s eyes glazed over as he walked away and realization swept over me. She hadn’t just been hurt because she found Dylan with another girl when she thought they were going to get together. She had slept with him. She had slept with Dylan, and he was the first guy Maya had sex with that she really cared about. And to make matters worse, he just announced it to everyone in the hallway. You have got to be kidding me.

“Maya…” I started, unable to hide the sadness I felt for my friend in my voice.

“No, Emma. Just stop. This time I can’t take what you think you know. You, with your perfect family, perfect boyfriend, and perfect life. Just stop. I can’t. I can’t anymore,” she shouted. She took one more breath and a tear escaped down her cheek before she turned and quickly walked away.

I’m not sure when Gabe got there or what all he heard but when I tried to go after her, he grabbed me and told me to let her go.

“She needs some time to cool off, Em,” he said softly. Knowing how much it was killing me not to be able to help my best friend when she was hurting and somehow managing to be part of the problem, he added, “Just give it some time, Em, she’ll come around.

Between my exhaustion from last night and everything that just happened this morning, the next thing I knew I was throwing my arms around Gabe crying silent tears. It must have surprised him because it took him a second to hug me back. He held me close until I could trust myself enough to let go without letting everyone else know that I was crying.