Swept Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

alley?”
    “Yeah,” I say. “But, I think I’m better now. I mean…I think it won’t happen again.”
    “How do you know?”
    I shrug. “I don’t, but…I feel different, I guess.”
    Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?
    Alejandro takes my hand and kisses it. “I hope it’s over…whatever you’re going through.”
    “Me too,” I say, smiling.
    I feel like embracing Alejandro, telling him “I love you” too, but then, he walks in.     
    Gabriel takes the empty desk behind me. Why couldn’t someone have already been sitting there? My fate is misery.
    He still smells like sun-baked sand. Damn him to hell. 
    I feel a tap on my shoulder. Alejandro glares behind me. I turn and smile at Gabriel, who’s smiling at me.
    “Hello, again,” he greets.
    “Hi,” I say, and then turn back around.
    Alejandro takes my hand, again, and kisses it. “She’s my property,” he’s saying to Gabriel, in that gesture. I wonder if the Spaniard cares.
    A poster on the wall catches my eye:
    IF WE DON’T LEARN FROM HISTORY, WE’RE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
    Have I learned? I wonder.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

You’ve Got Me under Pressure
     
     
    As Gabriel’s profound presence continues to exist behind me, I’m reminded that I’m not drowning. And he didn’t even touch me. I realize I want him to touch me. I want him to warm me like the sun. I clear my mind and focus on history.               
    It’s boring, as usual, but I try to maintain focus, for the sake of my sanity. Damn you, Gabriel Antonio del Castillo. Damn you. 
    The bell rings and I sneak a peek at Gabriel. He’s staring at Camilla. I grab Alejandro and kiss him madly. I hear a few whistles. I seek Gabriel. He’s already gone.
    Alejandro cups my behind as we exit into the hallway. I need to be alone. We have English together, next, so I urge Camilla and Alejandro to go ahead, feigning a need to go to the bathroom.
    Alejandro is hesitant to leave my side. I urge him to go, smiling, and he departs, with Camilla.
    I don’t go to the bathroom, though. I head towards my locker. I pass by Gabriel, who smiles at me, but I frown, and act as if he’s a bother to my existence.
    I reach my locker, fumbling with the combination. Gabriel is beside me, his scent giving off sun-baked sand—and mystery.
    “Have I done something to offend you?”
    I huff. “You, offend me? No, I’m fine.” The lock is against me, refusing to open.
    “Well, you seem angry with me. I would like to know why? I’d like to fix whatever wrong I’ve committed against you.”
    You stare at my friend when you should be staring at me!
    “I’m not angry with you,” I lie, refusing to look at him. 
    “You’re not?” He sounds skeptical.
    “Nope,” I say, still fumbling with the combination. I realize that it’s not my locker. 
    “Oh, well, that’s good. What is your next class? Mine’s English.”
    What did he do? Plan out all this? 
    “Me too,” I say, giving up on the locker, whoever it belongs to.
    “Could I walk with you, there? I don’t know where it is.”
    I hesitate, and then say, “Sure, whatever.”
    I walk fast towards English class, but damn if he doesn’t keep up! When we enter, I notice that there are seating arrangements, alphabetical. I sit behind Alejandro, and Gabriel sits behind me, like in History. I never knew Senior Year was going to be this hard. And it’s only the first day!
    Alejandro kisses me, again. I tolerate it. Camilla is already seated. I avoid looking at her, across the room. I feel like I’m going mad. I feel like a mermaid that’s on dry land.  I want to be submerged under water again. At least there, drowning, I know my fate.
    I lean forward and tap Alejandro on the shoulder. He turns around and smiles.
    “Alejandro, I don’t think we should kiss…anymore.”
    He’s speechless, and then finding his voice, he says, “How long is ‘anymore’? What’s