I’d half expected him to storm away in anger, so imagine my surprise when he tightened his grip on my hand and yanked me closer to him. I stumbled a little over my own feet. He was now so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. When he leaned in even closer to speak I gasped. “You’re right I would love that.” He stared into my eyes intently. “But not for the reason you’re thinking. It wouldn’t be because I wanted to see you hurt.” This sudden spell of aggression had definitely taken me by surprise. Antonio smiled sinisterly and then quickly released me. I didn’t know whether to run away screaming or to punch him in the face. In my peripheral I could see AJ approaching just as Antonio turned to walk away. His eyes were fixed on Antonio, but his expression was far too calm for him to have witnessed anything.
“Sorry it took me so long.” He paused and changed his tone. “What did he want?” AJ asked dryly.
I was still unnerved by Antonio’s behavior, not quite sure how to interpret it. “Nothing really. He was talking about leaving the school after graduation and stuff like that.” He waited for me to elaborate, but I didn’t. What would I have said?
“He still wants you,” AJ stated. “I can tell by the way he looks at you.” I knew that, but I wasn’t really comfortable with AJ knowing that. I tried to focus on unlocking my locker. To my relief he dropped the subject. I was petrified that his line of questioning would somehow lead to him finding out about Antonio and I going out to dinner and I didn’t want to risk hurting him over something so trivial.
I forced a smile and reached for his hand. Once we got to my car, he kissed me once before rushing back in for practice. Even the thought of him being concerned about Antonio and I made me nervous. I had to hold onto the steering wheel just to steady my hands. From now on, Antonio was off limits. I wouldn’t answer his calls, and I’d be as brief as possible with him at school. There could be no more close calls.
As fate would have it, Antonio called that evening while I was in the studio painting an angry picture that I had no intentions on keeping. I pressed ‘ignore’ and continued. Not seeing AJ was really affecting my artistic ability. It seemed like everything I’d done in the last couple months was all crap. I slapped another gray streak across the canvas as I sighed in frustration. Then my phone rang again. What the heck does he want? I ignored it again thinking he’d get the picture.
During dinner my phone buzzed a few more times in my pocket. I couldn’t take it out to look at it while I was at the dinner table because that was one of Daddy’s many rules. No phone during dinner. But I would’ve bet that it was Antonio again. AJ couldn’t call this early, but I suppose it could be Deanna. I’d have to wait to solve the mystery when I got up to my room.
I swallowed my last bite of food and rushed to clear my spot. My parents looked at me curiously, but didn’t saying anything. I thudded up the stairs and swung the door closed. I jumped up on the bed and checked the missed calls. All three were from Antonio. As I stared at the phone it began to buzz in my hand again, causing me to drop it to the floor when it startled me. Him again. Now I was irritated.
His calls continued throughout the night. Turning the phone off wasn’t an option because I definitely didn’t want to miss AJ’s call. Luckily for me he finally gave up around 10:30.
I was half asleep when my phone rang again……12:32 am. Antonio must have a death wish. And I was going to grant it. “What?” I answered angrily.
“Did I wake you?” AJ asked sounding surprised by my tone.
Oops! I cleared my throat before replying. “I was dozing off, but I’m up. Sorry about that.”
“No, I’m sorry for calling so late. My parents went to sleep later than usual tonight. I heard them arguing about something, but they were downstairs, so it was hard to tell what it was about.”
“It’s fine. I’m just glad to hear from you at all,” I replied.
“This is killing me. I’d give anything to be lying next to you right now,” he stated. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine it. Sharing a bed with him at the guesthouse was the best sleep I’d ever had in my life. He made me feel completely safe and I loved waking up and seeing him there at my side. I exhaled, realizing that he wasn’t actually here.