Swept Away Read Online Free PDF

fountain’ mean?”
    “Huh?” I ask, dumbfounded.
    “You said it while unconscious.”
    I shrug, feigning ignorance. He said that to me in a dream. I didn’t know what it meant then, and I don’t know now. 
    “Nonsense, I guess,” I say. 
    He seems unappeased, but smiles, nevertheless. “Oh, okay. Bye.”
    “Bye,” I say, and watch him leave.
    I go to the nurse anyway, feigning a headache. I need some time to think. She gives me two Tylenol and I sit, thinking. He has a name: Gabriel. 
    Who are you, Gabriel? And what are you doing in Old Spanish Town?
     
     
     
     

¡Dios mío!
     
     
    I look at the clock. I’ve sat long enough. It’s time to go.             
    I reenter class. The teacher inquires about my health. I tell her I’m fine. 
    “Good, take your seat. You have a new partner.”
    I turn towards my table that seats three. Camilla is at one end—and the other end—Gabriel, smiling at me. He gives me a wave. I wave back. The girls in the class are whispering, probably planning my early demise.
    I take my seat. Camilla is uncharacteristically silent, for once.
    “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” says Gabriel, leaning towards me.
    I smile. It’s all I can do at this point. My heart is racing—then it skips a beat. I see Gabriel, staring at Camilla. I’m filled with hatred, rage, jealousy. But then I think, of course, he’d look at her. He’d choose her, not me. I’m such a fool.
    When class ends, he turns to me and smiles. “I’m glad I was there to catch you.”
    I’m about to smile when I see him glance at Camilla, interested.
    My heart turns to stone. “Well, I’m sure someone else would’ve been there,” I say, rude.
    He looks offended. 
    “So, maybe we’ll see each other again?” he proposes.
    “Maybe,” I say, refusing to set a date. I throw my book in my backpack and storm off.
    I hear Camilla behind me, in the hallway, telling me to stop. I want to tell her to go to hell, but I stop. She stands beside me. 
    “Hey, are you really okay?”
    “What?” I say.
    “Earlier—were you sick?” She’s concerned.
    “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”
    We’re walking down the hall. Camilla is smiling. “So, how’d you like our new partner?”
    “How’d you like our new partner?” I shoot back.             
    “What’s wrong with you?”
    I shake my head. 
    “Oh, about Frankie, earlier, right?”
    “Yeah,” I lie.
    “Don’t worry about him, chica.”
    I stop abruptly in the hallway, causing students to curse at me.
    “Camilla,” I say, “that new guy? He’s him .”
    “Him who?” she asks, confused.
    “The one from the beach—mysterious stranger with aviators,” I say.
    She curses in Spanish. “Oh, goodness—well, then he’s our age, not old like you thought. He said you fainted—and that he caught you.”
    I nod. “Yeah, he, um, held me, until I…woke.”
    “Wow, that’s just…wow. Hey, if things don’t work out with Alejandro, you can hook up with him.”
    I shake my head. “Doubt it.”
    We continue walking. “He’s doing his senior year here,” Camilla informs. “He’s from Spain.”
    “Spain?” I say. 
    “Yeah, his full name is Gabriel Antonio del Castillo.”
    The warning bell rings and we rush to class. 
    Gabriel Antonio del Castillo. Fancy.
    Camilla and I reach our next class, History, with Tony and Alejandro to greet us. I’m disappointed to not see Gabriel, although, I wish I’d never see him again.               
    I wonder if I’ll drown again, today.
    Tony greets Camilla with a modest kiss.
    Alejandro does the same to me. I wonder what it would be like to kiss Gabriel. Soft and warm, I bet. Tender and experienced.
    Alejandro is seated in front of me. He invites me to sit on his lap. I decline. I’m not ready—and besides, we’re not official.
    He nods, although, disappointed. “I heard you had to go to the nurse this morning. Was it like last time, at the bowling