Waiting To Exhale

Twelve

Gabriel is nowhere to be found. He must have gone to hang out with his buddies. He's been locked in his room all week. I don't know what's going on through his head but I also don't care.

I head for the bathroom to play in the mirror. I like my hair. I'm careful not to do anything to mess it up. I don't know the next time I will be getting my hair done so I want to keep it fresh with all the tips Brandon gave me.

I go through my phone and find Anthony's number. He's probably worried. One minute I was there and the next I was being carried upstairs. I dial his number. He picks up on the second ring. I started to hang up. "This is Olivia. We met at that party yesterday."

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't call. What happened to you?"

I fumble with my fingers. I peek out of the blinds. It doesn't look like Gabriel will be back any time soon. "It's better if I just tell you in person. Can you meet me somewhere?"

"Of course." We set up a good meeting place. I change out of the large sweats and shirt Mason gave me last night. I put on some ripped skinny jeans and a Tupac tee and red sandals. Mason doesn't understand why I chose so many sandals. He says he's going to go back and get me some sneakers. I probably not going to wear them but I haven't told him that.

I slide in the booth, across from Anthony. He smiles when he sees me. "You hungry?"

"No thank you."

"Okay. So what was so important you had to leave me like that? Did your boyfriend show up? Did you get in trouble?" He laughs but my face remains the same.

"I almost got raped. When you went to the bathroom some guy showed up. My boyfriend got there just in time," I say.

"If I didn't have to go so bad I wouldn't have left. Next time I'll take you with me. I'm so sorry Liv." He looks sincere. I know he's deeply sorry. I don't blame him at all for what went down or could have gone down. It wasn't like he was supposed to pee on himself in a house full of people.

"Liv?"

"Yes. That's my nickname for you. But on the real, you okay?"

"I'm fine. I was just shaken up about it. I'm fine now. Mason was there so I'm good."

"Mason must be really good to you. I'll have to meet him one day." Mason would not like that. He doesn't want any other guy to be around me.

Anthony and I talk some more. We even decide to get up and take a walk. It's getting dark now but I don't want to go home. There's too much pain there and now I have an escape. A reason to get away. To not go back there. At least not yet.

Anthony takes me to a place he use to visit as a kid. It's an old abandoned mall. He likes to come here to clear his head. We play around and act like little kids. Well, I am a little kid. I don't know how old Anthony is and I'm scared to ask. It's not like I need to. The two of us are just friends.

Anthony takes me back to the fast-food restaurant as I ask him to. We share a small hug before we depart. He calls my phone and tells me to stay on the line with him until I make it home. I assure him my house is right around the block. When I get home I thank him then hang up. Right when I do Mason calls. I pick up instantly.

"Hey." I greet dryly.

"Hey. What're you doing?" He always wants to know what I'm doing when he's not around.

"Nothing. I'm just getting ready to go to bed. I got school tomorrow."

"True. I wish you could stay the night again. I miss your touch." I can hear the longing in his voice and it makes my toes curl. "Do you think you can come by after school? We can go to the beach."

"Okay. Are you picking me up?"

"No. I'm sending Jen. I have work to do. I'll have her drop you off at my house. You can hang out with her until I get there."

"Okay."

"Okay. Get you some rest beautiful. I'll see you tomorrow." We both say goodnight before hanging up. I lay back in my bed staring up at the ceiling. I'm not sure but I think Mason is going to want to have sex again. I could just hear it in his voice. Maybe it won't be so bad the next time. Mason said it gets easier the more we do it. I hope he's right. I hope I grow to love it because I don't want to disappoint him. It wasn't like I was trying to hold off until marriage. I just didn't find anyone that I wanted to be with like that that wanted to be with me the same way.

Mason likes me. He really likes me. He's a sexy grown man with a well-paying job. I feel like the most blessed girl in the world. I'm so happy. Not even Alfonso and his crew can get to me.

I can't believe it.