Is It Him
1122 Words
Hannah
“Oh, hey, “ I greeted Gabriel awkwardly. He is standing at the doorway. I didn’t even hear him approach, or make any sound. He eyes me and I look at myself. The hoodie is too big for me but it was the only one I found.
“Sorry, I had no clean clothes and picked that one up. “ I explain quickly, “I assumed it was yours? “
Then I pull the cloth and read the letters again. Yeah, the lettering does say “f**k off” but maybe Gabriel wore it before. A very long time ago.
“Perhaps the maid left it here by mistake, it’s fine, “ Gabriel waves a hand and comes in.
“How is your friend?” I ask, “RJ, right?”
“He is fine. Are you going out?”
I pause and press my lips together.
“I should have asked you, haven’t I?”
“No. “ he says “I trust you will be back home at a reasonable time. Besides, you’ve been taking care of your mother for so long, I am sure you know better. By the way - we finalized the paperwork with Social Services today. I just wanted you to know. They will come and do some checks at some point but for now, that’s all. “
I shift awkwardly.
“Thank you. “ I mutter, “We… We are going to a party with two of my classmates. “
“That’s great, “ he smiles but I feel like he wants to tell me something.
“Hannah, I know the exchange is new for you. Here is so different from what you're used to, but can I speak to you about something? Not now, of course, but in the following days.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah. Don’t think about it now and have fun. “
I head out and Maria sends me a message they are near. I wait for them in front of the house and an old, rusty car stops.
“I feel weird parking such a car in front of this house, “Peter jokes and I get in.
“You are perfect. “
The drive is short and the road is almost empty so we get there quickly. Stella's house is super nice- as expected.
Her - I can’t say yet. Long nails, long hair and fake eyelashes. They look good on her though. The short, tight-fit dress- is also cool, because she has an amazing body, unlike most of us.
As for the way she wraps her arms around her boyfriend and French kisses him like if she doesn’t do it she will die…
“Man…” I mutter, “is she always like this? I mean… dramatic?”
“Always. “ Peter says, holding a plastic cup of beer. Maria comes with two cups too and her face falls when she sees them.
Stella’s boyfriend is hot - a typical jock if you ask me but I get why Maria likes him. He is funny and confident. That’s the type of guy who tells the joke and everyone laughs.
“How is your uncle?” Maria asks over the loud music.
“He wanted to talk to me about something but I guess he gave up when he saw I was going out.
“Is he okay with you going out?“
“It looks like he doesn't care. “
“N. It’s not that, “ she says, taking a long gulp of her beer, not looking away from Stella and that guy... “It’s just that nothing happens around here. He has nothing to worry about. “
“I guess…” I shrug and pretend to drink from my beer. I never drink. I have seen too many wasted people in my lifetime to want to repeat that.
“So how about we…” Maria starts and stops because Stella’s boyfriend- Derek, lifts her and she wraps her legs around his waist. They head upstairs and Maria looks away from them, saddened.
“f**k them. “I tell her and she laughs.
“Same. “Peter nods when I feel someone standing very close behind me. Maria and Peter’s faces go blank again.
“What?” I ask and turn around to see him, standing right behind me. Will.
His hair is messy, like it was earlier and he is wearing a cool t-shirt with matching jeans. I can feel his perfume from where I am standing but then again- he is pretty close.
“Hi, “ he smiles, “I am glad you came. Cool hoodie, by the way. “
“It seems to be everyone’s favourite. “ I joke.
“We’ll go see Bel.” Maria declares and urges Peter to leave us.
“It seems your friends don’t like me much. “ Will smiles, watching Maria and Peter stand at the opposite end of the room.
“No, it’s not that. Just… “
“Do you want to go out for some air?” Will asks out of the blue.
“Out? Uh… isn’t it really cold outside now?”
He gives me a look and I bite the inside of my cheek. I am soooo slow. I have always been really slow about these things.
“I am not sure if I should …”
And everything changes after that. Because he is here.
This time I am sure, I cannot imagine him all the time, can I? The guy I keep seeing is standing a few feet away from me, talking to one of Stella’s friends. The girl is a copy of her - I guess she might be her sister, actually, I don’t know. And she is looking at him, smiling and playing with her hair.
I feel like falling. It’s the same as the first time I saw him and I panicked, not knowing what to do.
“Hannah?” Will asks, “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I am….”
My heart is beating like mad. I must be hallucinating. I glance at my cup and it's full. The guy looks away from the chic talking to him and he meets my eyes. My palms are sweating, and my hand instinctively closes around the cup. I clench it so hard that I feel the beer trickling down my hand and into my sleeve.
The guy holds my gaze only for a brief second and looks away. Will follows my eyes.
“Is he a friend of yours?” Will asks.
“Let’s go outside. “ I say quickly instead of an answer.
“Okay, “ Will takes me by the hand, leading me out.
- Writer
