Dear Ex-Girlfriend (Lesbian, Girlxg... - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Not all secret boxes contained all the evil in this world. Sometimes it could be hiding love, and the problem not with the secret itself, but what people outside that box would do if they ever find out. Thus, it needed to be sealed.
"Excuse me," I said. "Coming through." Pulling the Blackberry from my pocket, I checked the time. Yikes. More than a minute flew by since recess. Only a couple were left. I tucked the phone back and hurried to the hallway.
The student council room was closed when I got there. It almost always was nowadays. I brought my hand up to knock. It opened without a sound.
"Destiny." Genesis' smile was tight. Clad in her jeans, black top, cardigan, and a hair tie, she looked every bit like the student president. She nodded to the passing students behind me before acknowledging my equally formal smile. Her eyebrow raised. "What are you doing here?"
I rubbed my forefinger against my thumb. The backpack holding Boy and Girl was back in my classroom. I didn't have anything else to fiddle with. "Student fair," I said, those two words everything I needed to explain. "They said to talk to you about it."
"Oh. Yeah." The door opened wider. There was no one beside her. She gestured inside. "Please come in."
Now that the elections had formally ended, and the winners declared, Genesis and her new team were given this room to help, mentor, talk to lost students like me. The school had been generous in providing them a large couch, a whiteboard, and a long table where they could discuss official business. The lock clicked behind me.
"Student fair?" Gene whispered to my ear. I giggled when her arm looped around my waist. She smelled like cotton candy.
I twisted to her. "It's a good alibi," I said, then frowned. "You're not going to make me fill-up paper works, are you?"
She pushed me backward. "Nope."
We reached the table in a matter of seconds. Genesis was strong enough to lift me up, chuckling under her breath as she followed me on top. Her eyes were bright. My galaxies.
I took a breath when we lay on the table. It was always like this now, us in here, doing secret things, enjoying it.
Her lips brushed on my forehead. Then my nose. And while it closed on my mouth, her hand slid to my thigh. I held back a groan.
"I love you," she murmured, though she hadn't really pulled back. Her mouth was still against mine.
I trailed my fingers on her spine. She shivered. I did too, knowing what I'd ask. "Want to use tongue?"
She froze, before her eyes leveled to mine. "You sure?"
I never should have asked. I've made it awkward. "I mean we've only done it twice," I said. "I mean. . ." And we were back to kissing. But now she was opening my mouth and sliding her tongue in, and for the third time this week, I'd proven that she could shut me up without really saying anything. I rubbed her nape and deepened the kiss.
"Destiny. . ." Her eyes were different, clouded when she pulled back. I wiped the bit of saliva stuck on her lip, then brought her back to me. I could make her shut up too.
"I am so done trying to talk to that guy. Can you believe he blames the student council for his blunder?"
The door was opening. People were coming in. Oh my God!
Genesis and I broke apart and scattered around the room like ducks on fire. The students entering noticed us. "Oh." A guy with afro hair stared between me and Gene. We'd managed to go on opposite sides of the room in as little time as possible. I didn't lower the magazine I was "reading," but Genesis stood from the couch. She looked annoyed.
"How many times did I tell you, Chuck? When the door is locked, it means I'm on official business. Don't use the key."
Chuck gave an embarrassed nod while the rest of the student council filed in. I didn't have enough time to memorize their faces, or their names. Stuff like this had been keeping me away from the rest of them.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I thought no one was in. We knocked a couple of times. No one was answering."
Genesis' eyes flickered. So that was why she stopped the kiss earlier. A hint of a blush crept on her cheek, but she turned her face away. "Follow the rules," she said with almost no emotion. "That's how I run things here. You chose me. You respect me."
"Alright." Chuck popped a fry in his mouth. He was holding a small paper bag full of them. The strong smell of sour cream made my nose itch. I sneezed.
Another student council member noticed me. "Hey, Destiny," the brunette said.
I buried my nose on the magazine. "Hey. . . You." What was her name again?
She stepped closer and bent. Her eyes, I observed from a split-second of looking at her, had narrowed. "You're reading the magazine upside down?" The statement sounded more like a question.
I jumped off the table and tossed the magazine behind me. The noise it made wasn't pleasant, but so was the outcry my chest was making. "Must be your imagination," I lied.
"Your lip gloss is smudged," she followed. What was up with this girl? Was it normal to want to strangle her? She pointed to my mouth. "That's a good color of orange. What brand?"
"I don't know," I mumbled.
She stepped forward again, taking my personal space. Don't strangle her, Des. Must. Not. Strangle. "I've only seen that with Genesis," she said. "You guys have the same lip gloss?" She clapped her hands together. "Aww, that's so—"
"Hey!" The cry had come from Chuck. I glanced to see him looking with mild surprise from Genesis to his fries. Gene had stolen several of them and was chewing nonchalantly. "These are the last batch," he complained.
She stuffed the remaining fries in her mouth and shrugged. "Fight me."
My stomach turned while the two of them discussed about the importance of staying out of one's food stash, and properly asking for permission. I crept to the door. It was my only chance.
Genesis' eyes flickered to me just when I was about to step out. She'd saved me. She did what she could. One of these days, I would have to return the favor.
"I love you," I mouthed, then I was out.
Lunchtime couldn't come soon enough. I was excited for two reasons. Top of the list would always be Genesis, duh. Second was because of Chinese food. Sometimes the cafeteria had them in takeout boxes, and the four of us; me, Gene, and the twins, were exchanging dim sum on our table.
"Sharks fin, yum!" Spencer swallowed a big one. How he could actually live through that, I had no idea.
"How can you eat that without thinking of the poor sharks?" Ester sloshed the ice in her cup. The takeout came with iced tea. Woohoo.
Spencer took another bite. "If the situation was reversed, the shark would be eating my head. I don't feel sorry for them."
"You're cruel," Ester said.
"You're a sissy, sissy." He smirked at his own pun and turned to us. Genesis lowered her chopsticks. She was about to feed me. "What's up with you two?" he said.
"What do you mean?" I dipped my dim sum in the sauce, keeping my face straight.
"I mean you're inseparable these days. Anything up?" Spencer's tone had nothing beside curiosity. He didn't even look suspicious. But I cringed inside. It was hard to keep the façade with our friends, especially when Genesis and I found every excuse to sit beside each other always. Even now our knees were touching. She didn't move away.
"They're dating," Ester said. I choked on my dumpling.
Genesis straightened on her seat. "Excuse me?" she said.
Ester leafed through her novel and looked at us. Her brows were furrowed. "The characters in this book are dating." She tapped the book. "I've been waiting for it for years."
I grabbed my iced tea cup while Genesis took interest on the book. They dove on a conversation about it.
Spencer kicked my shin when I was putting the cup down. "Are you joining the fair?" Without waiting for my reply, he said, "Heard you went to the student council office this morning to discuss it with Genesis."
"You're such a gossip boy," I said under my breath.
"News travels fast." He crossed his arms. "So what are you doing this year?"
"How about none of your business?" I said.
"How about you join us instead?" My brows cranked up when he took the backpack hooked on his chair and retrieved his notebook. I recognized the drawing he showed me. The Destroyer. "Remember this robot?" His smile was manic. "I told you I'll build it for the fair. I'm so excited."
Ester noticed the drawing and paused her conversation with Genesis. She looked in distaste at her twin. "You'll have to find a way to build it without me."
His mouth fell open at her. "What's betrayal?"
She shook her head. "You've eaten what I hated. No robot for you."
Genesis' left hand found mine. She placed it on her knee while the twin's bickered. I squeezed. She squeezed back. I wanted to kiss her.
She was tracing the letter "U" on my palm when my phone vibrated. I squeezed her hand a second time before removing my grip. The Blackberry was lighted when I took it from my pocket.
'I want to keep my daughter's enemies close, her friends' closer. Drop by my office after school. It's a meeting.'
I didn't have to check the number to see that it was unknown, or the name signed underneath the message to know who it was from. My stomach wanted to regurgitate everything I've eaten when I glanced at Genesis. Her phone was already out. She had not been happy with the message she received on hers.
"You don't have to." Her eyes were blackholes.
"I will anyway," I whispered.
The twins had no idea.
The sun was still hot on my neck while we walked down the street leading to our houses. The twins weren't surprised that we had to go home early. Genesis and I provided strong alibi's.
We didn't hold hands. We didn't talk either. But my face was resolute, my decision made as I stopped in front of my house. "I'll see you in five," I said. "Will just drop my bag and tell dad I'm going to your place."
The gaze she gave me was longing. She wasn't happy that I was leaving her. I wasn't too. We were always like this even though we get to see each other immediately the next morning. Even though we spent the whole night after school just texting, or talking on the phone, or listening to each other's breaths before we fall asleep. We were always like this.
"I'll see you at five," she repeated.
My heart had a small ache in it as I went to the house. An exaggeration, I knew. But I couldn't help it.
"Dad, I'm home." He didn't answer from inside. Of course, he was still in the shop. Mental slap.
I continued to the living room, then up the stairs. I stopped on the landing when I heard a yell. His. And he was mad. "How can that happen?!" He could barely contain his voice. "I've been working with the same business for years. Everything is clean!"
I didn't like the sound of it. Dad was always so cool, so in control. That was so not happening right now, and I was worried.
"Dad?" I stepped out of my hiding place. He lowered his phone.
"You're home early." He sounded like he'd been caught doing something bad.
"Is there anything wrong?"
He pushed a button on the phone without saying goodbye, and tucked it in his back pocket. "No, Des. Everything's fine." He grinned, and the worry in my stomach disappeared. He was cool dad again. Papa Jones. "Just some trouble in the shop," he said. "Adult eeky stuff."
I snorted at him. My hands were still shaky, so I clenched and unclenched them. "I like how you said eeky."
"Makes me sound awesome, huh?" He brushed a thumb against his lips. "So why are you here now? No dates with Genesis and the twins?"
I ducked my head. Now was probably a good time to go. "Just Genesis," I said. "Will be going next door for homework. I'm just telling you so you don't call the police if I'm late."
"Gotcha." He grinned again. "Anything else?"
I dropped my bag on the hallway and swung around. "No, dad. Nothing else."
Genesis was waiting for me inside the front doors of the mansion. She didn't take time explaining things. She just went ahead to the grand staircase. I trailed after her.
The house had always been beautiful inside, with Greek style pillars, and a high ceiling that had intricate designs. But somehow it felt constricting. Claustrophobic-inducing. I only settled down when we entered Genesis' bedroom. She locked the door behind her.
"Dad's still busy in his office." She went to the door leading to her balcony and closed the curtains with a pull. We were plunged in darkness. "Go to the bed," she instructed.
I went to the bed.
"Relax."
"I can't."
"You're nervous about my dad?"
"I'm nervous about you."
The mattress sagged beside me. A blue light flickered on. It was coming from the pen in her hand, and she was smirking. "What about me are you nervous with?"
I swallowed. Just as she pulled the curtains closed, I saw that she wriggled her jeans off too. She was in her underwear.
"Nothing," I lied. "Why did you close the curtain? And what is that blue light?"
"This?" The light traveled to her neck, her chest, her stomach, down, then up to her face. The vein on her neck was throbbing. "Look up," she said.
I did. But not before imagining what was down there.
"Focus on the painting," she murmured. That was an effective thing to take my mind off her, but remembering what the painting on the ceiling looked like, my thoughts strayed back to Genesis. "Once upon a time, you said it looked like me." Her voice was serious as the blue light went to an image. The image of her likeness. "You're right, Des. It is me."
"Really?" I concentrated on the woman, the painting. The memories of her ignoring me the last time we came here rushed back. It was bittersweet. "Did you paint it?"
"Yes."
"Why does it look like you're kissing someone?" I gave her a short glance. "There's no one there."
"There is."
The light pointed to the space next to the woman. My mouth opened. "Is that?"
"You?" The light bobbed as she rolled on me. Her eyes were hazy. "I wanted you for a long time," she whispered. "I stare at that ceiling and. . ." Her forehead bumped to mine. "You're beautiful to sleep under to."
Something about those words rubbed me in a weird way. My neck heated. "Genesis Morgan, I hope you're not obsessed with me."
"What if I am?"
A shiver ran down my spine. "The feeling is m—"
"Genesis, your father wants to talk to your guest."
The two of us breathed in. Genesis deeper than me. She closed her eyes for a second. "We'll be right out," she called. "Tell him two minutes."
"Make that one," whoever it was outside said.
Genesis sighed and rolled away from me. "You know what to do," she murmured.
The Governor was alone when I was shown to his office. The female guards still patted me down. Seated on his leather chair, surrounded by trophies, a flag, pictures, and everything that would tell a visitor that he was in his domain, his plush seat twisted from the big window so he could stare me down. I remained standing in the middle of the room by myself.
"Destiny Jones," he said, eyes flickering to my outfit. I didn't budge. He didn't invite me to sit either. Instead, he stood. "So nice of you to come to me."
"Nice of you to invite me." I stood my ground as he reached me, circled me. Was this how he normally did things? Was this how he treated his own children?
He stopped behind me. "I heard my daughter and Brad had broken up?"
I shrugged. "It was Genesis' decision."
He leaned closer. "Do you know why?"
"No, Mr. Morgan. Should I?"
"I guess not." He leaned away, and I exhaled. He was heading back to the window now, hands in his pocket. "Are you wondering why you're here?"
"You told me the reason on the text, sir." I tried to keep my voice from trembling.
He noticed that and smirked. I could see his reflection. "Of course. Of course." He fixed his tie. "You're a friend of my daughter. I hope we've made that clear."
"Yes, sir."
"And if there's any problem I would be the first one to know?"
"Absolutely, sir."
He leaned on the window, his shadow casting a darkness on my face. "We don't want any problems, do we?"
The message was loud and clear. I smiled at him. "No problems, Governor."
"Good." He waved me away. "That's all for now, Miss Jones. You can leave."
The muscles around my mouth was stiff as I gave him a nod and headed to the door. He wasn't my father. I was glad about that part. But what about the future? My future with Genesis? I pushed the door open. Maybe, just maybe, Pandora had a reason for opening the box.