Gaby Book 17 - Seasons

U ok?
G
I pressed send; I finally got my mind off my own doom in the shower. Surprisingly my phone beeped before I’d finished dressing with a reply.
Fine c u 2mor
Mart
If I survive that long.

“Ah there you are,” Goth Gurl observed, “maybe we can eat now?”
“You didn’t have to wait,” I pointed out taking my own seat at the table.

It’s not like it was exactly cordon bleu tonight, even Dad can manage sausage, egg and wedges. – Especially when the wedges are frozen.

“There you go,” Dad placed a plate of food in front of me, “everyone alright?”
“Fine!” Mand supplied diving into her food.
“Gab?”
“Er sure.” I gave my sister a quick glance. She looked for all the world like there was nothing up; well I guess she does hold all the cards.

“When’s Mum back?” Jules asked as we finished eating.
“They should get back tomorrow,” Dad told us, “she’ll be home for a couple of weeks I think.”
“Cool,” the Dark One allowed.
“Aren’t they doing the classics?” Mand enquired.
“Yeah but Jen’s not riding them all, think she does Roubaix and the Fleche.”
“That must be so cool, even my parents have heard of Paris Roubaix.”
“The women and juniors ride the day before the men on a shorter course,” Dad advised.

The Classics, I used to dream of riding them, heroics across the cobbles, flying up the Kemmelberg, sprinting on the Roubaix track to win the prize of a real cobble. Okay it sounds a bit wet, but only the best get to raise that prize in victory and now, now at best I’ll get to ride a watered down version. That’s if I survive tonight.

“Can we talk, Dad?” Jules requested, she glanced at me, “in private.”
“Sure, the office, okay?”
“I’ll bring the coffee,” she offered.
So this is it, I’m doomed.

“Ooh, I like that,” Mand stated a while later.

We’d settled in front of the telly, some inane quiz playing to itself as de Vreen flicked through Stern leaving me to my thoughts. Jules and Dad were still in the office, ominous indeed.

“Eh?”
The magazine was thrust in my direction, “In the middle.”
She’s looking at dresses again, “The red?”
“No next to her.”

Stern as you might recall is one of those celebrity mags, mind you even I’ve been in it a couple of times. I didn’t recognise the women in the picture, some fancy pants event in Munich or Berlin or some such; the dress in question showed more than it covered.

“Bit revealing,” I opined.
“Think that’s the idea, Gabs.”
“You wouldn’t get me in that.”
“Well I like it, have to get a belly ring though.”
“What the hell for?”
“Dur, to show off.”
“Why not get a tattoo while you’re at it.”
“Now you’re being silly.”

Eventually the office door opened and my sister emerged with the coffee mugs, Dad following her out.

“Alright, kiddo?”
“Er yeah, I guess.”

Sugar, he’s waiting until Mum gets home before passing sentence.

“Think I’ll go up,” I announced.
“Bit early, kiddo,” Dad mentioned.
“Feeling a bit off,” well a lot off actually.

I lay on my bed in the dark, sleep the last thing on my mind. If Mum gets in on the punishment I really am toast, Dad I can sometimes manoeuvre a bit but Mum, no chance. I’d lost track of time as I fretted about stuff I no longer had control of, the sound of Mand and Jules talking below indicated it was late though.

I rapped quietly on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Me,” I whispered back before easing the door open, “can I come in?”
“Looks like you already are,” Jules noted.
I slipped in and pulled the door closed behind me.

“So what do I owe for this honour?”
“You told him?”
“Told who?”
“You know damn well, Jules, Dad, about the Mofa.”
“Shush! You want everyone to hear? And no I didn’t.”
“You didn’t? Cool, so what was the office thing about? I mean that’s great and all.”
“Don’t thank me too soon; I’m still cheesed with you.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“Well you can stop worrying – for now, I’m not gonna say anything but you owe me – big time”
“Just name it,” I offered.
“Oh you don’t get out of it that easily, you’ll know when you can repay the debt.”

Damn.
“Er okay,” I allowed.
“In the meantime you have to shave your head.”
“Shave my head!” I squealed.
“Just kidding, the look on your face, sis!” she chuckled.
“So what was the meeting for?”
“Oh that, I wanted his opinion on universities, I’ve had a few offers.”
“Er great.”
“Oh, and I suggested you might want a scooter.”
“You what?”
“Well you can’t slink off to Max on mine all the time.”
“I don’t,” I protested.
“Ah but you might want to soon.”

Well I can’t deny that it had crossed my mind at least once.
“What did he say?”
“He’d think about it.”
“Er well thanks, for you know.”
“You are my little sister, now sod off, I need my beauty sleep.”
“Er right, nite.”
“Turn the light off on your way out.”

I wasn’t sure what I felt. On one hand elation, I no longer had the axe of parental sanction hanging over me. The other side of the coin was that I now owe Jules big time, and I mean BIG time. I guess she isn’t so bad as a sister even if I’ve been at the wrong end of some of her pranks over the years.

We had the last of our exams on Thursday, Marty was back at school, Mum was home, my black mood was gone, things were looking sweet.

“Max asked you yet?” Nena queried.
“Asked me what?”
“Gaby Bond, sometimes!”
Pia joined in with an exasperated sigh, “Prom?”
“What about it?”
“Has he asked you to go yet?” Stef put in.
“Why would he?”
“You, he, couple?” Pia opined.
“He’s not…”
“A couple,” Con finished, “old record, Gab.”
“Well we’re not.”
“If you say so, you got a dress picked?”

To be honest I hadn’t given it any thought, I’m sure there’s something in my wardrobe.

“Not really.”
“I was looking on the internet the other night,” Bridg stated, “Some of those Americans have no style.”
“Says Miss Vogue,” Nena giggled.

Bridg isn’t exactly known for her classy dressing.

“Well even I wouldn’t wear stuff that revealing and in animal print.”
“That’d be Gab,” Steff suggested.
“Hey!”

Yeah life is as normal as it gets.

The thought was in my head now, what am I going to wear to Prom – and why hasn’t Max asked me to go? Is he taking someone else?

“Gabs!”
“How’d you know it’s me?”
“Your number’s in my Handy?”
Dumkopf! “Oh right.”
“So to what do I owe this honour?” Max enquired, “Not that I’m against you calling.”
“Prom.”
“Prom?”
“We are going?”
“Guess so, it’s weeks away isn’t it?”
“A few,” I agreed.
“So what about it, why the call?”
“You need to ask me.”
“I do?”
“You do,” I stated.
“’kay.”
“Eh?”
“Geez, Gaby will you go to the Prom with me?”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“Make your mind up, you just said I had to ask you.”
“Never said I’d accept.”
“Sometimes, Gaby Bond.”
“Okay, okay, yes I’ll go with you – but it’s not a date.”
“Whatever,” he sighed.
“Right, bye.”
“Bye.”

“Who was that, Max?”
“Gaby Gran, seems I’ve invited her to the prom dance thing.”

Maddy Bell 03.10.16