The Beautiful People by E. J. Fechenda Page B

glance
at his face and his expression was passive. I continued. “Normally it doesn’t
bother me when a guy doesn’t call after…you know. But the other night was so
different and it really, like, almost hurt me when you didn’t.” I could feel
the tears creeping up to the surface and choked them back. I was over by my
easel organizing the paints when Dominic came over and took my hand in his. He
reached for my face and turned it, I had to meet his eyes then. I didn’t see
ridicule or insincerity lingering there only compassion and understanding.
    “I’m
sorry. You’re right I should have called, but I wasn’t able to. Uncle Marco
needed my help with some stuff and that took up most of the night. You can ask
your brother. He was with me. I was going to call you, but it was late. I
figured you’d be pretty tired after the night before,” he smiled at the
reference. “And you’re right. The other night was different for me too.”
    “It
was?”
    “Yes.
Amazing, actually.”
    “Grant
was with you?”
    “Yes.
Do you want to ask him?” Dominic pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
    “No.
Don’t call him, I believe you…and you can call me anytime, I won’t mind.”
    “Well,
Uncle Marco doesn’t like distractions and I didn’t have a break. I am really
sorry.” He cupped my face in his hands and leaned in for a kiss. I hesitated
slightly, but didn’t pull back.  Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around the back
of Dominic’s neck. He pulled me closer and placed his lips on mine. All was
forgiven the moment we connected.
    We separated and I rested
my head on his chest, “I’m sorry too. I didn’t really have a right to react
that way since you aren’t my boyfriend.”
    “I
want to be,” he whispered in my ear.
    Dominic was here in my
room and holding me, revealing that he wanted to be with me. I couldn’t refuse
him, because deep down, I wanted it too.
    This whole relationship
business was new to me. I had to learn to trust Dominic and I had to learn to
trust myself in a relationship. Knowing this, I squeezed him tight and
whispered back, “Ok.”
    I heard him sigh with
contentment and he kissed the top of my head. “Did you eat dinner?” he asked.
    “No,
I’m just getting back from class.”
    “Want
to go grab something to eat?”
    I paused because I was
supposed to go with Chelsea to watch our shows at Jillian’s apartment.  “Give me
a sec,” I told Dominic and left him in my room.
    Chelsea sat cross
legged on the futon with a steaming bowl of ramen in her hand.
    “See,
I told you he wouldn’t dis’ you,” she said.
    “You’re
always right. I don’t know how I could have doubted you!” I plopped down on the
futon next to her. “I hope you won’t be mad at me, but Dominic asked me out
tonight. Are you okay going to Jillian’s by yourself?”
         Chelsea slurped
noodles into her mouth before answering. “I guess so,” she sounded disappointed.
“You’re going to miss some good episodes.”
    “I
know, but I can watch them online later. I really want to go out with Dom. You
see, I just agreed to be his girlfriend.”
    Chelsea almost dropped
her bowl. “Are you serious?” My cheeks hurt from the ear to ear grin that
spread across my face. “Holy shit, Nat this is huge! Go; get going… everyone at
Jillian’s will understand, although I don’t think they’ll believe me!”
    I laughed at her
enthusiasm because it mirrored the excitement I was feeling. Hopping up off the
futon, I half ran half skipped back to my room. Dominic was still checking out
the various pictures and paintings that hung on the walls.
    “Did
you paint this?” he asked, pointing at a watercolor.
    “I
did.”
    “Wow.
You’re really talented.”
    I
savored the compliment. “Thanks.”
    “The
landscape…it looks familiar.”
    “That’s
the beach at LBI. I love the sand dunes and the sea grass.”
    He proceeded to walk
around my room in silence, as if he was in a gallery or museum,