21
Sitting on the window seat, drinking coffee while looking out into the courtyard, is my new morning ritual.
Bringing the mug to my nose, I inhale the bittersweet scent deeply.
My moment of pure bliss is interrupted when Abi emerges from her bedroom, her eyes half closed as she yawns dramatically into her hand.
Her hair is down, but she’s somehow managed to knot it in every conceivable way.
She hasn’t acknowledged my presence, but she knows I’m here.
I turn my attention back to the swaying palms in the courtyard as she closes the bathroom door.
I look at the clock for the tenth time in the last few minutes.
I have plans to meet Gaia for breakfast.
I’ve finally decided that today’s the day.
I’m ready for Gaia to meet my friends and tell them that we’re in a relationship.
I’ll run it past Gaia first, of course, but I think she’ll be on board.
I can tell she’s been feeling like my dirty little secret, but it’s not like that.
I just needed to know that this was real before I shake up my entire world.
Abi has seen me make out with girls at bars, but that’s the extent of it.
I’ve never done the whole awkward hey, I like boys and girls speech.
I wonder how she is going to react when she finds out that I, Luna Clark, am not only in her first official relationship, but it’s with a girl.
I think she’d be fine with it. Maybe a little caught off guard, but she’ll be happy if I’m happy.
And I am. Gaia makes me happy. I love being around her.
I love the way she makes me feel, like, for the first time in my life, I might be enough, and someone might be able to love me unconditionally.
“Hey, you ok?” Abi’s voice pulls me from my trance. I turn to see her standing right in front of me, wearing a towel around her body with another wrapped firmly around her head.
“I’m great. Just thinking. How are you feeling about your interview?”
“Good, nervous.”
I notice a hint of puffy dark circles under her eyes.
“You look tired. Did you sleep ok?” I ask, standing from the window seat. A deep groan leaves my mouth as my muscles protest. I really should have listened to Sam when he told me to stretch. “You’re going to do great. Just be yourself, and they’ll love you.”
Her eyes fall to the ground. She’s hiding something.
I don’t even want to ask if those bags have anything to do with Brooks.
I honestly don’t see what it is about him that has made her so obsessed.
There’s something off about him. He was too charming from the start.
He was all ‘Mr Perfect’. I like that nickname.
I’m going to use it from now on. Just maybe not in front of Abi.
He was saying all the right things to her, but it was too much.
You have to back up your words with actions.
She steps forward into her bedroom and then hesitates, turning back around to face me.
“Why are you up so early? It’s your day off, right?”
“Just meeting a friend from class to study.” I check the time again. “I’d better get going.” I grab my keys from the bench and head for the door, trying not to let on how excited I am.
“Shouldn’t you take your books?” Abi asks. She looks at me with confusion, and I can tell she’s not buying my study excuse.
“Thanks.” I let out a laugh and grab my laptop. “Good luck with your interview.”
I dart out the door before she has another chance to question where I’m going. Soon, all this will be over. No more hiding and no more vague half-truths.