Obscured (The Obscured Series Book 1) (12 page)

“Hey,”
I said, peeking around the doorframe as I slightly opened it.

“Hey,
sorry to come by without calling first, but I was driving by and wondered if
you wanted to do something.”

“Sure,
come on in we can hang out here.” The words were out of my mouth before I even
knew what I was saying.

We
made our way into the living room, hand-in-hand.
Eli will never have to know
,
I thought. I was breaking the rules, but I didn’t care. I needed the
company. 

“Do
you want to watch a movie?” I asked.

“Sure.”

I
put one in, but I didn’t think it mattered much what it was. We cuddled up on the
couch together. I thought of my mom coming home to find us like that and made
me worry a little that she might be upset, but it was quickly gone again once
the movie started. Before long Pete leaned over and kissed me. He was such a
good kisser, and it wasn’t long before our kisses intensified. I was so lost in
the moment that I had no idea what time it was anymore. I ran my fingers
through his hair as he pulled me closer. I could feel his fingers stroking my
long hair as it flowed down my back. After quite a while, Pete finally pulled
away slowly, hesitantly, and announced that he should be going. By that time,
it was almost 10 p.m. An hour had passed since he arrived, and I was shocked
that it was so late already. I blushed, thinking of how I lost track of time so
badly.

“What
are you doing tomorrow after school, you want to do something?” he asked as we
walked to the door with our arms around each other.

“I
already have plans, sorry. I am going with Eli to look for a job,” I answered
regretfully, even though I was excited to be going.

“Why
are you always with Eli?” he asked, his voice gruff and irritated.

I
couldn’t tell if he was angry or saddened. Either way, I didn’t like where the
conversation was going.

 “What?”
I asked confused.

“Every
time I want to do something with you, you’re already busy with Eli. Is there
something going on between you two that I need to know about?” His voice
elevated to shouting level.

I
was completely blindsided that he would think that. There was only one other
time that I did something with Eli instead of him. Where was he getting this?

“Eli
and I are just friends.” I searched for something else to say, because I knew
that wasn't enough.

“Friends
huh? I don't think I believe that.” He grabbed my shoulders forcefully.

“
Ow
, that hurts,” I squealed.

I
began to tremble.
What had I done?

“You
need to spend more time with me. I don't want you spending time with him
anymore. Do you understand me?”

My
ears were drumming with the sound of my pulse.

“W-w-whatever
you say,” I faltered.

“Good,”
he said, shoving me back out of his hands. I stumbled backwards and almost fell
on my butt as he walked out of the room and out of my house. He slammed the
front door.

I
stood there shaking. We had just shared an intimate time kissing and holding
each other. I couldn’t believe that he had blown up at me like that. Although I
knew it was possible, I never thought it would actually happen. And of all
things for it to happen over—Eli? I was flabbergasted to say the least. It took
me a long time after he left to even move.  I plopped down on the couch
defeated. My feelings were running rampant; there was confusion and fear, but
shame took the cake. How could I have been so stupid to think he would change?
I should have been smart and high-tailed it as far from Pete as I could the
minute I smelled trouble on our fateful first date. If I had, maybe I wouldn’t
be sitting there all alone, dumbfounded and saddened by his severe arrogance.

Then,
there was a knock on the door. There was urgency in the knock, making me afraid
that Pete had returned. It had only been five minutes since he left, or at
least that’s what it felt like. He very well could have been waiting outside.
Maybe he was coming back to apologize.

I
cautiously peered through the peephole. It was Eli. Relief washed over me. I’d
never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life.

I
couldn’t hold myself back. I flung open the door and threw myself in his arms,
almost knocking him over. Tears flooded over my eyelids. He stood there holding
me for a long time, and being in his arms felt like home. He felt strong and
safe. I instantly felt strange, clinging to him like my life depended on it.
Slowly I pulled away feeling guilty.

“I'm
sorry… I don’t know what came…” I stammered looking at my feet. I couldn’t look
him in the eye.

“Stop—I
know, it’s fine. That’s why I'm here.”

“It's
why you’re here? But how…”

It
was like he understood what I felt, but how could he?

“Can
I come in?”

I stepped
back without speaking a word, giving him ample room to walk in. He looped his
arm around my waist and pulled me into the living room to sit down.

“I
know you must be wondering why I am here, but I can’t tell you. I know that is
hard to understand but you have to trust me. Please just let me be here for
you.”

I
leaned into the curve of his arm to allow myself the comfort he offered. There
was nothing I wanted to do more than borrow his strength. My head threatened to
explode, so I just let myself draw in his calm.

My
pulse slowed and I could no longer hear it in my ears. I felt myself relax, and
I didn’t try to speak. Nor did Eli.

The
next thing I knew morning light was streaming through the window and Eli was
gone. Mom was standing in the doorway.

 “Hey
sweetie,” she said as she walked into the room.

“Hey
Mom,” I said casually.

“Sorry
I got home so late, did you enjoy having the house to yourself last night?”

If
only she knew I hadn’t been alone. She would not have approved of last night,
so I played dumb and ran with it.

“It
was okay, quiet, but I didn’t mind,” I lied. I did mind being alone, but after
what had happened I didn’t need to go into more details than I had energy for.

 “I
have to get to work, but I left breakfast in the kitchen.”

Like
I don’t already know that
,
I thought. I was in an awful mood. “Okay, see
ya
later.”

She
disappeared from the room. I shut off the TV and headed upstairs to get ready
myself. Every muscle in my body ached from sleeping on the couch. I must have
been in a very graceless position.

I
showered and was downstairs in record time. There was a knock at the door when
my foot was just leaving the last step—perfect timing as usual. We had a good
amount of time before we needed to leave. I wondered vaguely if Eli planned to
be here early.

We
shared my breakfast in silence. It felt awkward to say anything. I couldn’t
figure out how he knew what happened, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to know.
What I did know was that he had been there for me when I needed him most, and I
was thankful.

“Are
you okay?” Eli asked cautiously after we sat in silence for the first few
minutes.

“I'm
fine—confused about more things than I can name—but I’m fine.” I sounded more
sure than I truly was.

I
couldn’t tell if he believed me or not, but I couldn’t dwell on that. I had
enough to think about already. He didn’t push any farther, and I had nothing
else to offer.

We
got in the car silently. The longer the silence lasted, the more uncomfortable
it became.

“I
hung out with Pete last night. Alone.” It came out in such a rush, I wasn’t
even sure if he understood or heard me.

“I
know.”

He
didn’t seem angry or mad; it was just straightforward and without judgment. How
could he know? Unless… unless he was outside my house watching me?

“What?
Were you spying on me?” I was suddenly hurt and it all made sense. “You don’t
trust me, do you?”

“Abby…
it’s not that at all!”

We
were already parked in the parking lot, so I stormed out of the car. I couldn’t
believe I had trusted him. Here he was pushing me away from Pete, but he was
just as bad! Normal people didn’t spy on their friends, they just didn’t.

“Abby!
Wait!” Eli chased after me.

I
was in the building before he even crossed the courtyard. I ran the rest of the
way to class, not caring what anyone thought of me. Then I saw Pete and came to
a dead stop. He had been smiling up until I stopped running, and then his face
fell. It was almost as if he thought I wouldn’t remember last night or care
about it. I walked right past him into class right as the bell rang. At least
class bought me an hour before I had to deal with him. I wasn’t ready yet. I
wished I could press a pause button and have as much time as I needed. Now that
would surely come in handy, in more ways than one.

My
thoughts were racing.
Should I tell Pete off? Should I stay with him and
ignore yet another outburst? Should I give him one more chance
? I couldn’t
decide.

Of
course the one class that goes slowly on a normal day flew by on the day that I
truly needed it to go at a snail’s pace. I took a deep breath and stood up as
the bell rang. He stood and turned, instantly grabbing my hand and guiding me
out of class. He pulled me out into the hall where Eli was waiting. Had he been
waiting outside the whole class period?  As soon as Pete stopped I tried
to pull my hand out of his without success.

“Hey
guys!” he said casually as if nothing was amiss.

I
looked up at Pete, who only glared at me.

“Pete,
we need to take a break. I need some space. Now if you will just give me my
hand back…” I tried my hand back a little more aggressively this time.

He
threw my hand at me and glared at Eli before storming off muttering to himself.

I
looked at Eli and started walking away. I knew I couldn’t outrun him again. I
was tired, physically and mentally.

“Abby,
I wasn't spying on you. I know you aren’t going to believe me, but I wasn’t.
What do I have to do to make you see that?” he was pleading with me.

“What
am I supposed to believe, here you are pushing me away from Pete, then you
swoop in at the first hint of trouble when you were nowhere around? What would
you believe?”

“The
same thing you do…” His head drooped.

“Well,
then now what?” I said expectantly.

“I
had hoped you would just trust me. I’ve never given you a reason to doubt me.
I’m your friend. I’ll always be there for you.”

“You
gave me a reason not to trust you last night!” I said a little louder than I
had planned. Some of the other students were staring at us.

“Please
don't make a scene. I don’t want this getting around. Let’s talk after school.
We can go looking for jobs and talk then. Please Abby.”

I
really needed to find a job so reluctantly I agreed. “Fine.”

“Thank
you Abby, can we pretend nothing happened with everyone else? I don’t want Bailey
to worry or think the same thing you are, she may be hurt if she thinks what
you are, even if it isn’t true. The last thing I would want to do is hurt her
by dragging her into something she doesn’t understand.”

“Fine,”
I said.

We
walked the rest of the way in silence. I could tell he knew I needed some space
to think. I was at least grateful that he respected it.

At
lunch, Pete was nowhere to be found and I was glad. I really didn’t want to sit
through lunch trying to play nice with him and Eli. Though other people at our
table were questioning where he was, of course I couldn’t tell them. The truth
was, I hadn’t a clue and didn’t want to. I wasn’t sure what our future lunches
were going to be like, but at that point I just wanted to be quiet and think.
The rest of the day passed slowly, but was thankfully uneventful.

I
met Eli at our usual spot after school and we went on our way. He drove out of
the parking lot, but when we got on the road he pulled into a neighborhood and
turned the car off.

“I
know you are confused and angry right now, but I hope that you can look past
this and continue to be my friend the way we should be. I don’t want things to
be weird between us. I really enjoy having you as a friend, more than I ever
thought I would. I don’t want to lose that. Please don’t be mad at me.”

I
sat there listening, but didn’t look over at him. I took a few minutes to think
before answering, even though I already knew what my answer was going to be. I
had been thinking about it all day.

“Okay,
you were there for me when I needed you, and you are my best friend so I can't
stay mad at you. I really hope that you aren't spying on me and if you were
don't do it again. Okay?”

“Deal!”

I
knew there was still something he wasn’t telling me, but I couldn't figure out
what. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to hide something from me. It hurt me
to think he could keep something from me. I would never even dream of keeping
anything from him, but I had to assume he had his reasons.