Lovestruck

  “Okay, you’d better.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  Moonflower nodded happily. "Speaking about food, did you hear about Asher Montgomery?" she asked. Then she turned beet red as she glanced at Xavier. "Sorry, I forgot she's your cousin. I guess you know about it."

  "I don't pay much attention to my cousins."

  "She'll be modeling with Cherise. She just got in the same modeling agency in town!" exclaimed Moonflower.

  "Really," said Xavier, obviously bored.

  "She has to lose fifteen pounds, though. She's so skinny, and she still needs to lose weight, can you believe it?"

  "Isn't she like a size four?" Selena asked.

  "She says she needs to be like a size zero."

  "Can we change the subject?" interjected Saul. "I really don't care about Asher Montgomery. Sorry, dude,” he told Xavier.

  "Don't apologize, Saul. I don't want to hear about her either, and she's my cousin."

  The waiter brought the food, and Moonflower dug in. Barbeque sauce dripped from her fork onto the tablecloth.

  "Sorry about being such a real piggy," Moonflower stated, chuckling.

  "Don't tell Zac that, or he'll fall in love with you," declared Xavier.

  Moonflower smiled. “That reminds me. How’s Zac, Sel? I haven’t seen him in a while. I actually miss him.”

  “He’s as spoiled as ever,” declared Selena.

  “Zac is something else,” Moonflower gushed dramatically. “He’s as unique as a Shakespearean sonnet, as—“

  “Let’s not exaggerate, my butterfly dudette.”

  “Yeah, I guess I was laying it on a little thick.”

  “Just a little bit,” chuckled Saul, giving Moonflower a peck on the cheek.

  “Does he still give you a hard time, Xavier?”

  He seemed unaware that anyone was talking to him as his invisible mask over his face stayed in place. His dark eyes stared into an empty space.

  “Xavier?” Selena said with concern.

  His intense eyes shot to her. “Huh?”

  “Moonflower was asking you a question.”

  “Yeah, dude, where are you tonight? You seem real out of it.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “But—“

  “Nothing,” he insisted with finality, and they left it at that. Selena, Moonflower, and Saul knew better than to try to pull Xavier out of himself when he wanted to stay where he was at. The three continued their conversations without him, but an awkwardness permeated at the table.

  “Xavier,” Selena finally uttered, very worried. “You’ve hardly touched your food.”

  “I’m not really hungry.”

  “Dude, the steak is awesome.”

  “Are you feeling okay? Do you feel like yourself?” Moonflower questioned dramatically. “Maybe something weird is happening to you."

  "No, I'm sure nothing weird is happening to me."

  Moonflower continued her drama. "I saw a movie last week where germs were eating a man's brain, and he didn't even know it."

  "I'm pretty sure that nothing is eating my brain," insisted Xavier.

  "But the point is that you wouldn't know it if it was happening," Moonflower asserted.

  "I'm fine. I'm just not hungry right now. I’m taking the steak home,” Xavier explained lightly. “I’m sure I’ll get hungry later.”

  “Are you sure you’re not sick?” Selena asked, her voice dripping with concern.

  Moonflower slapped the palm of her hand on her head. “Oh my gosh! You may have malaria or even elephantitis!”

  “Elephantitis?” Xavier questioned, puzzled.

  Selena shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask—she’s got a thing for elephants.”

  “If you were as fat as an elephant,” Moonflower retorted, “you’d have a thing for them too.”

  “Moonflower, you’re not fat,” stated Selena.

  “But—“

  “Selena’s right,” Xavier asserted.

  Moonflower vehemently shook her head. “You’re wrong.”

  “My buttertly dudette, you are the most beautiful girl on the planet. You are not an elephant. You are like a waterfall butterfly.”

  A waterfall butterfly? Selena wondered. What is that?—but it’s better than Moonflower calling herself an elephant.

  “Thank you, my knight in shining armor,” she gushed ecstatically.

  While Moonflower and Saul made adoring, sacharine eyes at each other and whispered sweet nothings into each other’s ears, Selena turned her full attention to Xavier whose eyes were still closed off. “So are you sick?”

  “Sick with elephantitis?” he asked lightly, trying to put some tease in his somber voice.

  Selena ignored his try at humor. “Did you catch a bug of some kind?”

  “I’m okay, Selena.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yes.”

  Throughout the rest of the evening, he stayed quiet.

  “What’s wrong with Xavier?” Moonflower asked when she and Selena had gone to the restroom and were washing their hands at the lavatory. Even she, who chatted non-stop and sometimes had little understanding of the world around her, noticed there was something very wrong with Xavier.

  “I don’t know,” Selena said, worried. Having her mention it made the reality of it somehow even more real.

  “Well, something’s going on.”

  "I know."

  “He’s acting all mysterious like Edward at the beginning of New Moon. You know—when he disappears—“ she stated, suddenly cutting herself off when she realized what she had said. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to say—“

  “That’s okay, Moonflower.” Concern took over Selena’s heart. Is he trying to tell me he’s breaking up with me?

  Chapter 39

  Xavier quietly arrived at Selena’s home to do homework. She solemnly eyed him as she waited for the other shoe to fall, waited for what, judging by his mood still, was inevitable. He quietly opened his backpack and then started frantically looking in it.

  "You forgot one of your books?" asked Selena.

  "Actually, I forgot . . ." he said absentmindedly.

  "What did you forget?"

  "A surprise for you."

  “A surprise?”

  “It’s a little something. I hope you like it.”

  "What did you get me?” she asked, not knowing what to make of his surprise. Why had he gotten it for her? Could it be a going away present?

  "I'm going to have to go home to get it," he declared. "I'll be right back."

  He moved towards the door but when he started to open it, he turned back around.

  "Why don't you come with me?" Xavier asked, his face full of expectation.

  "To your house?" asked a surprised Selena.

  "Yes, to my house."

  "You never invite me to your house."

  "I'm inviting you now,” he stated, his full gaze on her.

  "But . . . but your family. To be honest, I don't want to meet up with them. It's way enough that I have to put up with Asher and Chad at school."

  "My family isn't home. They went to a wedding in Scottsdale for the weekend."

  "Why didn't you go?"

  He looked at Selena as if she had asked the silliest of questions. "Are you kidding me? Why would I want to spend the weekend with my family?"

  Selena chuckled lightly. "Are you sure you want me to go with you?"

  "Come with me."

  Selena walked alongside Xavier feeling a strong jittery sensation in her stomach. While she had passed by his home many times, she had never imagined she’d ever go inside of it. She had worshipped it from afar for so long it seemed surreal to be so close.

  Once there, Selena stood flabbergasted in front. It was at least five times bigger than where she lived. Sun filled windows abounded everywhere, even at the second story of the house. It seemed like an old plantation in the South??
?like Tara the Gone With The Wind film. From the right angle, Selena could see the kidney shaped pool in the back yard.

  "It's just a house," Xavier stated, trying to snap Selena out of her stupor, but she kept an unwavering eye on it.

  "Selena," he said with an exasperated voice. "It's just a house—an expensive thing."

  "Aha," was all she could say.

  “It’s actually very ugly,” he announced dryly.

  “Ugly?” Selena said with disbelief.

  "Yes, very, very ugly."

  “But—“

  “Trust me, Selena. My house is as ugly as they come. Xavier intertwined his fingers with Selena's. "Let's go in."

  Selena let him lead her in. Inside, the opulence was even grandeur with a King Louis motif. Heavy antique furniture decorated the house.

  "It feels like a museum in here," muttered Xavier with an unpleasant tone.

  Selena finally found her voice again. “It’s not ugly,” she murmured.

  “That’s because you don’t live here.”

  “You’re right, I don’t.”

  “Be grateful for that."

  Selena sighed. No matter what the house looked like, the family in it defined it, and she’d hate to share quarters with Asher and Chad. "I'll wait for you here while you go to your room."

  Xavier nodded since Selena was only obeying her parents. She had promised that she wouldn't be alone with a boyfriend in a bedroom so as a result, they did their homework or visited with each other in the kitchen, the living room, the porch or the barn at Selena’s home but they never went into her bedroom. Now that they were in his house, the same rules applied.

  Selena stood uncomfortably in the living room. For some reason, she found she couldn’t sit on the furniture. Everything about the place pushed intruders away and Selena had no doubt that she was one. People really do live completely different lives just like Grandmother Chela tells me, thought Selena. Xavier's family never had to worry about insurance, food, or rising fuel bills. They could spend $100 just like that without a thought. What would it be like to have so much money?”

  "You're still look mesmerized," Xavier said as he returned from his room with a wrapped gift.

  "I . . .I . . ."

  "This place is just an overpriced thing, Selena, not a home. Not my home."

  "It's so unbelievable."

  "I like your home better."

  “Really?”

  “Really,” he said with sincerity overflowing from him.

  "But this place is so—wow!"

  "What does it matter what it looks like when there is no warmth anywhere?"

  "Warmth?"

  “Don’t you feel cruelty in every corner?”

  “Now that you mention it, the atmosphere isn’t very good. It feels kind of cold.”

  “Freezing cold! Anartica cold! Frozen heart cold!”

  “Xavier, is it that bad here?”

  “Worse.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  “I didn’t know you had it so bad, Xavier.”

  “The people here are snobs, vicious, and just plain ugly.”

  “I’m sorry you have to live in a place that you hate so much.”

  “I’m glad you live in a house with so much love.”

  “I’m very lucky, but I feel so bad for you. It’s like you don’t have a home.”

  "Have you ever heard the saying that 'home is where the heart is’?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

  "Yes, I've heard it."

  "Well, my home isn’t this place. My home is with you."

  Selena's throat became tight. Speaking was impossible for a few seconds. "That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me," she finally said.

  "I know it's corny but it's all from my heart, okay?"

  "Okay," Selena murmured.

  "I should've told my mom more corny stuff, but it's too late now. I won't mess up like that again. I'm going to tell the people I care about how I feel.”

  “How you feel?” she gulped.

  “I love you, Selena Spinoza."

  "I love you, too, Xavier Jones," she answered quietly.

  Chapter 40

  “I bet you don’t love me as much as I love you,” Xavier declared as he bent down to touch his lips to hers.

  It was the best kiss Selena had ever received, even surpassing the first one he had given her. This one had all the warmth and love he had inside of him. This one made her believe in his love for her. As soon as he pulled away, she had to work on her equilibrium.

  "Let's get out of here," he stated, looking around the house with disgust.

  They stepped out in silence. The air was too thick with emotion for either of them to say anything. When they had walked a distance, he handed his gift to Selena.

  "Xavier, you didn't have to."

  "I hope you like it.”

  She tore the gift wrapping and smiled when she saw what it was.

  "I know you already have it, but this one is special,” he assured. “Open the first page."

  When Selena opened the cover of The House of The Spirits, she immediately saw what made this one better than hers. The author had signed a copy to her. Selena put her fingers where Isabel Allende had written her name.

  "I'm overwhelmed," said Selena.

  “I was hoping you would be.”

  "How did you get this?"

  "My Uncle Paul."

  "Your Uncle Paul?"

  "He's my father's brother and nothing like Uncle Blake. He's a nice guy."

  "You never talk about him, Xavier."

  "He lives in New York, and I guess I haven't had a reason to say anything about him. He went to California last week. He travels a lot like my dad and he met Isabel Allende. I had told him you were a fan of hers, so he got the autograph for you and wanted to make sure you knew that not all the family was like Uncle Blake."

  "You told him about me?"

  "Yes, a little. Our families are involved in our relationship after all,” Xavier blurted, sharper and rawer than he intended. “Much more than they should, if you ask me,” he stated bitterly.

  “What do you mean?” asked Selena, baffled.

  “Nothing,” he retorted.

  “Nothing?”

  “Yes, nothing,” he insisted, his voice dripping with resentment.

  Selena stared at him. Her face scrunched in a perplexed look.

  “What’s wrong, Selena? You didn’t like my gift?” he asked, worried.

  “I love the gift. It’s just that . . .”

  Her voice was too solemn for Xavier’s comfort level. “What is it, Selena?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “What?”

  “I just don’t know what’s going on with you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What’s with you, Xavier?”

  “What’s with me?” he asked, puzzled.

  “Yeah, what?” she demanded to know.

  “Nothing,” Xavier blurted.

  “Don’t give me that. I’m getting tired of this game.”

  “It’s not a game,” he murmured as he nervously put his hand on Selena’s arm to make sure he could feel her near to him.

  “You’ve been acting strange for a while—all introverted and stuff. Are you . . . Are you . . .” Selena could hardly get the words out.

  “What are you trying to tell me?” Xavier inquired, quietly.

  The words finally ripped out of her. “Are you breaking up with me, Xavier?” The words hung in the air until he finally responded which seemed like ages to Selena.

  “Did you just ask me if I was breaking up with you?” he asked with a deep frown.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you kidding me?” he asked with frustration.

  “No, I’m not kidding.”

  “Selena,” he said softly as if touching every letter,” I just gave you a gift and told you I lov
ed you.”

  “Maybe it was a going away present,” she stammered.

  “How can you think that?”

  “How can I not with the way you’ve been acting?”

  Xavier’s arms encircled her, bringing her close to his heart beat. “You are so silly sometimes,” he said as his index finger pulled up her face. “Really, silly. I just gave you the key to my heart and you came up with something like this.”

  “Why have you been so far away?”

  “Far away?”

  “You’ve been very distant.”

  Xavier frowned loudly. His eyes darted up as if in deep thought. And Selena waited patiently for an answer. It wasn’t difficult to wait since she was still in his arms and still a centimeter away from his lips and the quick intakes of air he was taking.

  “Okay,” he finally said. His eyes shot back to Selena. “I can’t keep this from you anymore. I’ve got to tell you."

  Chapter 41

  Selena didn’t say a single solitary word as Xavier struggled to get started. They were already sitting outside her house on the bench and her animals, including Antonio Banderas, stayed away as if knowing something incredibly important was about to take place. Xavier appeared to be in so much pain there was nothing more Selena wanted to do than hold him tightly and tell him, “Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.” The problem was that she had her own agonizing doubts about what he was going to say to her. He finally broke the deafening silence awkwardly and reluctantly.

  “My mom was the only one who knew about me,” he started, his voice shaky and worn. “Then again, she was like me or to put it more accurately, I was like her. My dad had no idea, absolutely no idea.”

  Selena nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “My mom told me that she knew about me the day she brought me home from the hospital after I was born. She had hoped that I’d be spared and be like my dad, but that wasn’t my destiny.”

  Selena involuntarily winced when he used the word destiny.

  “I was in my cradle,” he said, gulping. “when the window next to my crib shattered, sending shards of glass all over, including on me.”

  Selena looked at him horrified that something like that had happened to him.

  “I was fine, Selena,” he said reassuringly, his eyes raking tenderly over her face. “I didn’t get cut.”

  Selena eyed him with relief but with deep questions in her eyes.

  “The glass wasn’t broken by anyone,” he said quietly, “other than me.”

  Selena kept looking at him with a perplexed expression.

  “I did it. My mom said a red Robin was on the windowsill and I must’ve wanted it to come in . . . so I shattered the glass.” His face shifted to the ground. “You’re probably wondering how I did it—a baby in a crib making glass break without even touching it. It has to sound spooky and completely nuts to you but it’s real. You can Google it—telekinetic.”