"Gabe, quit it." I tried to pull away, knowing my face burned red hot.
He wrapped his arms around my waist. His breath tickled my cheek, warm and delicious. It smelled like minty toothpaste. Pressing me closer, he said, "You aren't always going to think of me as a brother. Someday, Snow. You'll see me the way I see you."
He released me, stepped back, and walked away. "See ya, Snowflake."
I was shocked. Did he mean he had feelings for me? I really needed to talk to Cindy.
Right on cue she tapped me on the shoulder and jumped in front of me. "So, are the guys coming over for the movie?"
I laughed. Cindy overflowed with bubbly happiness. "I don't think so." I snuck a peek at Gabe. He'd returned to his car, and the flock of girls. They were laughing again. That was one of the reasons I was glad Cindy hadn't dumped me for cooler friends. Sometimes I needed girl time.
Her face fell. "Did you invite them?"
I grabbed her elbow, and we walked into the video store together. "I did invite them. Told them to meet at my house at ten-thirty. They might show." I decided to change the subject. "Are you going to crash at my place tonight?"
"No, my parents are taking me to the Cape this weekend."
It was my turn to frown. "How come you didn't tell me?" I really needed to talk to her.
"I just found out, silly." She smiled. "Besides I'm sure the guys will keep you company."
I hid a sigh. There was no way I could talk to the guys about my feelings for their brother. That'd be... gross.
"Let's find us a scary movie. Something that I can use to snuggle up with Gabe. I hope they show." She swiveled around, and I knew she searched for Gabe, because that was what I did.
Abruptly my mind registered what she'd said. "Wait. What? Gabe, why Gabe?" There were six other brothers, all of them good looking. Besides I thought she liked the new guy, Chace. "What about Chace?" I paused mid stride. Her glossed lips pouted, and her perfectly lined eyes got all dreamy. She looked like one of my mom's figurines.
Cindy headed toward the horror section, and started browsing. She picked up a movie. I plucked it from her hands, and put it back on the shelf. After several movie denials, she said in a hushed voice, "All the girls like Chace. Besides I talked to him, and . . ." she shrugged. "He isn't for me."
I had a feeling Chace hadn't gushed over her, which was what most guys did, including my guys, my best friends.
"And, Gabe," she went on, "Well he's totally gorgeous, and so sweet."
She'd noticed he was sweet. When? How? Had he done something to impress her recently? This was just not good.
"How about S-" She held up the movie case.
I grabbed the movie from her well-manicured hand, cutting her off. "Please, no. Not Scream again. That movie is terrifying." I shuddered. The first five minutes, with the girl hanging in the tree... ugh, it gave me the heebiejeebies. "What about a love story like Titanic, or The Lucky One? That one has ZacEfron, and I know you like ZacEfron."
She paused a moment, debating, then shook her head. "Not if the guys are coming. We need gory death, and sex, and gory deaths during sex."
I groaned inwardly. Should I tell her I had a crush on Gabe too? Even as I thought about telling, I cringed. If Gabe knew Cindy was interested, there'd be no contest. I glanced sideways at her. She was wearing a baby blue mini skirt with a sleeveless, white peasant shirt. On her feet were strappy silver sandals, which matched the thin silver bracelets on both of her tiny wrists. Her hair was down, and curled to perfection. Her honey skin had that just lotioned look.
I glanced down at my black Converse, gripping my t-shirt, the way Gabe had. He'd said it was sexy that I wore his old t-shirt. I seriously doubted that.
It felt like something inside me deflated. Maybe if I told her how I felt. "Cin," I started.
"Aha, this is the one." She held up the case.
"Okay," I agreed without looking at it.
Chapter 3
Gatsby, my gray rescue cat, snuggled next to me. He purred softly, like he didn't have a single worry. I absently stroked his ears while I tried to block out the frightening images on the TV screen. Cindy hadn't chosen Scream, but Urban Legends, another horror movie from the 90's.
We weren't sitting next to each other. I was sprawled out on the leather couch, and Cin sat in the burgundy high back. She had a bowl of plain popcorn on her lap, and a diet soda placed precariously on the brown-carpeted floor.
The family living room was medium sized, and occupied with furniture that would be considered eclectic. Nothing matched, but it didn't matter. The couch, chairs, end tables, coffee table, TV, lamps, and curio cabinets all seemed irrelevant in comparison to my stepmother's Disney collection.
On every surface stood, or hung, a statuette or painting. I'd counted once. There'd been over six hundred figurines placed around the house, and the number kept increasing. I mean, talk about extreme.
Cindy thought it was funny. She especially loved the Cinderella figurines, probably because she looked identical. Young girls would stop her in the mall, and ask if she were the real Cinderella. My stepmother agreed, and even gave her a Cinderella figurine for a birthday.
What was weird though? Out of all the figurines, paintings, pillows, dishtowels, and clocks, there wasn't a single Snow White. There were several castings of the seven dwarves, the wicked Queen, the Prince, and even an apple, but no Snow White. I'd asked her about it once, when I was eight, and realized she was missing. My stepmother said, "My darling, I don't need a Snow White figurine because I have you." At the time I thought it was sweet, and tried to hug her, but now . . . I don't know, it just seemed strange.
"For goodness sake, Snow. Open your eyes. You're going to miss the best part," Cindy hollered, throwing a piece of popcorn at me.
It smacked me in the forehead. I tried to glare. She giggled, which sent me into a laughing fit.
"There isn't a best part in this movie. It's icky, and it makes me feel icky." That was the truth, the reason I hated horror movies. I didn't like how I felt while I watched them, and especially after. The movie was almost over. Cindy would leave, and then I'd be alone in my old, creaky house, with only my cat for company.
"Are you kidding, watch this. It's classic." She pointed at the screen as she talked with popcorn in her mouth. "Here it comes."