"So how's school going ?"
Angela shrugged, fidgeting nervously with the salad on her plate.
Gabrielle hummed taking a sip from her glass of water. "It's been a month since that little misunderstanding with your father, I'm sorry for acting like that."
"It's okay." She tried to fake a reassuring smile. "And school is great. Thanks for asking."
"And-" She seemed to think for a moment, licking her theeth. "You don't want to tell me about that girlfriend of yours ?"
"We broke up." She cleared her throat and decided to take a sip of her water too.
"Oh." Gabrielle nodded and straighten up in her chair. "I'm sorry sweetheart."
The blonde looked around her. Her mother had a nice house. The decoration had since changed, thanks to Carlos, Gabrielle's husband.
Speaking of him. The front door opened, the tall, Latino man in his thirties entered.
He was all sweaty and in his gym clothes, he wiped his forehead with a small white towel around his neck before exclaiming happily. "I'm home !"
He approached Gabrielle and tried to kiss her but she pushed him away. Then whip him with his towel.
"You know the rules." Gabrielle whispered gently pushing him away from her playfully.
He chuckled as he walked away.
"Nice to see you Angela !" He added walking up the stairs.
"Nice to see you too Carlos." She smiled.
The older woman chuckled as she turned her attention back to her daughter. "I love him so much."
"I can see that. It's cute."
"And I spoke to your father." She said in a more serious tone.
Angela looked up and for the first time since arriving met her mother's gaze.
"He told me about the girl. Charlotte. Or Lottie." She added, putting her elbows on the table and clasping her hands together. "I had a little flashback. Do you remember when you stayed with me for-"
"What's Lottie got to do with all this ?" Angela snapped defensively.
"I'm getting there, let me finish." Gabrielle tilted her head to the side before waving her hand playfully at her daughter. "Actually, at that time, I got a letter. From that Charlotte Matthews."
Angela frowned.
Why would Lottie write to her mother ?
"She wrote to me shortly after you returned to your father's." She pulled out a crumpled envelope and slid it across the table in her direction. "I didn't really pay attention to that detail back then. But I think it's important that you read it."
She took it in her hands and examined it quickly. The letters were large and rounded, and she had put a heart in place of the bridge over Gabrielle's i.
Yeah, it was definitely Lottie.
But now, after a month of separation. Angela wasn't ready to deal with her feelings for Lottie. She didn't know what was in that letter, but just thinking about her hurt her.
"Thank you." She mumbled as she put it back in her pocket. "Is that all you had to tell me ?"
"Yes that's about all, I also wanted to tell you that you were going to spend part of the summer with me." She announced, taking a bite out of her salad.
"Y-You can't do that-"
"Of course I can. I want to spend times with my daughter." She smiled as she motioned for the maid to bring her some tea.
"And on the 4th of July ? You can't separate us-"
"We decided to celebrate it, all together."
Angela scoffed and crossed her arms. It had to be a bad joke.
"All together huh ?" She raised an eyebrow. "With Carlos, and Timothy's mom while we're at it."
"And even my neighbors. Including the Matthews."
"So you and dad decided to be at war for years. And now what ? To have a 'peace barbecue' ? With all your entourage ?" She spat as she got up from the table hastily. "Well guess what Gaby ? It will be without me."
Gabrielle stood up too. "Don't take it that way, sweetie-"
"Don't call me that." She mumbled as she headed for the door.
The door slams loudly and the older woman sighs in despair.
-----------
"My mother ?!"
Angela nodded to her brother's surprise. They were both in her bed discussing what she had learned from her own mother.
"That's crazy. Do you really think their reconciliation stuff is going to work ?"
"I don't know." She shrugged, slipping a grape into her mouth. "She seemed sure of herself."
"Damn." Timothy shook his head, chuckling. "I can not wait to see it."
"Yeah, I'm not doing that." Angela made a face, shaking her head too.
The blond suddenly took on a serious look. "Nah you're not leaving me alone with them !"
"Find an excuse, I'm not staying during this massive joke." She also responded seriously as she grabbed the glass of her squash juice.
"Ugh come on. It's months away, maybe we'll have fun." He tried to convince her.
"Oh yeah sure-"
"Angel ?" Paul knocked on the door. "I wanted to remind you that you had your appointment next week."
"W-what appointment ?"
Paul opened the door. "The teeth thing. I don't know, I just got the call from the assistant. But-"
"Like wisdom teeth ?" Interupted Timothy, turning to his father.
"Yeah, the theeth thing."
------------
"What the fuck."
Nat turned to what Lottie was staring at and smirked.
"I hate to say this but-" She shook her head. "I'm actually impressed."
The two girls watched Jackie flirt with Angela from afar.
Lottie rolled her eyes as she saw the brunette put her hand on her arm to giggle at what Angela was saying.
"Looks like Taylor didn't waste her time-" A voice hummed from behind them.
"Shut the hell up Mia." Nat growled pushing her forward.
She smile as she swung her foot to face them. "I'm just saying, now that Jeff and Jackie broke up-"
"We don't want to hear it-"
"Soon enough Jackie will be able to sing you this song. You know the doja cat one- Wait what's the line again ? Oh yeah-" She waved the lollipop in her hand playfully.
"I stole your man." She sang in a low voice as she walked away.
Nat was going to catch up to her but Lottie put her arm in front of her to stop her.
"Drop it-"
"No, she's talking shit, you're not going to let her get away with it-" Nat cut herself off as Lottie walked away with tears in her eyes.
"Fuck."
----------
"We're going to be late." Angela smiled as she closed her locker.
Jackie eyed her with a smirk. "Do you want me to walk you to your class ?"
"What a gentlewoman Taylor." She chuckled as she applied her lip balm one last time.
Angela show the lip balm with her eyes and Jackie understood immediately and nodded slowly. The blonde leaned over and applied lip balm to Jackie's lips gently.
"Is that our way to kiss each other ?"
"You wish."
She finished and stepped back before winking, proud of her work. "You can go."
"Thanks." She readjusted the strap of her bag on one shoulder.
She didn't move an inch and Angela rolled her eyes. She placed a light kiss on the corner of Jackie's lips.
"Happy now ?"
"Happy is an understatement."
She huffed and nudged Jackie's shoulder with her fist.
"Aw !" Jackie cried out, grabbing her shoulder dramatically.
"Come on Taylor go to class now-" Angela added as she started to walk away backwards. "Shipman is going to kill me."
"Oh, because you think Lottie isn't going to torture me in her parents' wine cellar ?" She replied in the same tone, blowing a kiss in the air.
She finally turned and shook her head amusedly in the direction of her next class.
When suddenly a hand landed violently on Angela's mouth. An arm wrapped around her and dragged her away as she tried to extricate herself.
She tried to scream but the person had too much strength and she ended up scratching her forearms but without success.
She was pushed violently into the janitor's closet and her back hit the wall heavily.
With her hand still over her mouth, Angela opened her eyes wide when she saw Lotttie in front of her.
"I know what you're going to say but-" Lottie cut herself off when the blonde bit her hand hard. "AW ANGELA-"
"Are you insane ?" She mumbled as she pushed Lottie away from her, bumping her into the other end of the closet.
The taller girl rubbed her hand with pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I wanted to talk to you."
"Last time I checked you got my number." Angela rolled her eyes as she took the doorknob in her hand to walk out.
But Lottie grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her back against the wall causing Angela to hiss in pain.
"I didn't mean to hurt you but I really need you to listen-"
"HELP ! LOTTIE MATTHEWS IS KIDNAPPING ME AGAIN ! HELPMH-"
Lottie slammed her hand over her mouth to shut her up.
Angela started shaking her head side to side in a struggle.
"Can you just stop." She muttered worriedly looking away briefly. "Please."
The blonde stopped moving and dropped her shoulders a sign that she was giving up.
The taller girl stroked her arm gently with her other hand. "I have to keep my hand here, I'm afraid you'll scream again."
Angela nodded slowly sighing, her nose sending heat directly onto Lottie's hand making her blush.
Act normal.
Act normal.
Act normal.
"I huh-" Lottie gulped and looked Angela directly in the eye. "I wanted to know if there was something between you and Jackie ?"
She raised her eyebrows and her eyes showed a annoyed expression.
She finally shake her head negatively and Lottie sighed in relief as she tilted her head forward.
Which caused her eyebrows to turn into a confused frown.
Angela removed Lottie's hand slowly. "Why do you want to know that ?"
Lottie raised her head quickly, her face even redder.
"I just wanted to know." She mumbled, stepping back slightly. "For no particular reason."
Lottie was always like that when she was just the two of them. Not confident like with her soccer team. Or with her group of friends. She was always just like that when she was around Angela.
"Really ?" It was the blonde's turn to take a step forward towards Lottie.
"Yeah I mean-" Lottie looked away trying to avoid Angela's insistent blue eyes on her. "It would have kinda sucked if you were dating another member of the team."
Angela scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure I've already made out with Nat behind the bleachers-"
"YOU DID WHAT-"
She put her hand over her mouth quickly to shut her up.
"-On sophomore year." Angela hissed, opening her eyes wide to emphasize her words. "And stop acting like you're the only person-"
"That's cheating !" She exclaimed, slapping Angela's hand gently.
The blonde looked at her hand in disbelief. "It doesn't hurt."
"It's symbolic ! You-"
"-didn't cheat on you because we are not and we weren't together." She asserted sternly. "And honestly that doesn't matter it was like-"
"It matters to me !" She cut her off, pointing her finger at Angela's chest.
"Why ?" She snapped. "Because you can no longer parade me around like a trophy that you're the only one to have had ? Guess what Lottie, loads of people have already had that-"
"L-Loads of people ? What do you mean loads of people ?" Lottie interrupted her with a heavy heart, her heart writhing at her words.
"Don't act like that." Angela licked her teeth, shaking her head. "Otherwise why would you tell Taissa my name huh ? You needed a hot bitch to prove her wrong-"
"What-"
"-And I don't mind. But you pretend to care about me, it's way more upsetting. So now leave me alone." She took a deep breath trying to not raise her voice. "Please."
"But Angela I do care about you-"
"No you freaking don't. Stop saying that ! I would never ask Mia to pretend to be the girlfriend, okay ? I know how Taissa can be, more than anyone trust me-"
"Things are different now !"
"Maybe I don't want things to be different."
Angela bit her lip as she saw the tears forming in Lottie's eyes.
But she absolutely had to protect herself. Her love for the girl was already consuming her.
"I had my life. You had yours." She added bitterly, clenching her fists. "And now that's how it's going to be again."
Lottie immediately put her hands on Angela's shoulders to force her to look into her eyes. "Angela don't do that to me, I didn't mean it that way. And if I had known maybe I would never have asked you to do that. But please don't leave me-"
"What you don't understand is that to leave you, I would have had to be with you before. And it's not the case." Angela suppressed a sob, shaking her head again.
"Then I was with you, and you won't let me be anymore. I don't care, I'll wait for you because I-"
I love you.
"-I really care about you." Lottie exhaled letting a tear roll down her cheek.
"Stop saying that." Angela took Lottie's hands off her shoulders and grabbed her bag quickly.
She stormed out of the closet, quickly wiping her eyes.
-----------
"I'm in love with Angela."
Timothy looked left, then right, then left and finally frowned in confusion.
"Huh hi to you too." He put the cigar he had stolen from his father quickly in his pocket. "And what do you want me to do about it ? Go talk to her."
"She's avoiding me." Lottie sighed, running a hand through her bangs. "I think she doesn't want to talk to me anymore."
Timothy watched the girl in the doorway staring at him with her sad eyes. Those dark, sad brown eyes. He wasn't one to take pity on people, but on someone who had fallen in love with his sister ? God he didn't wish that on his worst enemy.
"Fine. I'm gonna help you." He shifted and opened the door wider, indicating to her to go inside with his chin.
"Thanks."
"I'm just gonna tell you what to do and what not to do, okay ? And incidentally why she's more likely to reject you."