Bloodspell (The Cruentus Curse, #1)(27)

"Come on, there's at least five of them in our senior class," Victoria protested.

"None worth crushing over," she said, winking. "And you got saved, because here comes my crush right now. But don't think you're getting away, I'm on to you." She waved to Gabriel who'd entered the restaurant with four other football players.

Gabriel sauntered over, once again completely ignoring Angie to say hello to Charla and Victoria, and leaned against the table. He had his shirtsleeves rolled back and his tanned forearms were taut with muscle. His smile was lazy and confident.

"Hey Tori, is my girl getting you into trouble?" Charla blushed prettily.

"No more than usual," Victoria joked back.

"There's a party tonight at Jake's place. His parents are away and it'll be fun. You guys in?"

"Sure," Charla said. "Ange?" She turned to Angie who hadn't moved an inch since Gabriel had stopped to talk. Victoria didn't see anything but she could have sworn that Angie trembled slightly and shut her eyes almost like she had a sudden sharp headache. Her fingers clutched the books in her arms with a death-white grip. Victoria was astonished at the abrupt change.

"I ... I have to study. So no." Angie's voice was a dry rasp.

"Ange, it's Friday! And I need my buddy!"

"So take her," Angie said, jerking her head in Victoria's direction.

"Tori, you should totally come. It'll be fun," Gabriel said, as if Angie hadn't spoken and pushed off the table. "We'll make sure you have a great time." He grinned, his teeth white and perfect. "See you later!"

Angie rounded on Charla the minute he walked away. "Seriously, Charla? You know he doesn't want me to come, why did you even ask with him right there? Sometimes you are so clueless, I can't even imagine how you function." Victoria gaped at Angie in complete confusion as she gathered her things and left without another word. Charla rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry about her. It's probably PMS."

Victoria shot her a disbelieving look. "Hardly. She looked like she was going to faint when he came over. What's with the story with the two of them?"

"They've always been like that. Like oil and water ever since I met them."

"Are they twins?" Victoria asked, curious.

A laugh. "No but they could certainly pass for it, right? They're like ten months apart, Gabriel's older, but Angie skipped a grade in junior high." Charla glanced over at Gabriel standing at the sit-down counter near the front of the diner talking to two juniors and frowned. "She told me once that it had something to do with their parents but never elaborated. And as much as you probably won't believe me, I didn't pry." She grinned and then sighed, pushing her hair off her face and resting her chin into the crook of her arm across the table. She kept darting furtive black looks in Gabriel's direction.

"Is Gabe your boyfriend?" Victoria asked, noticing what drew her attention. Charla's eyes clouded over and she wished she could take back the question.

"Ever heard of friend-with-benefits?" Without waiting for Victoria's answer, she continued. "Well, that's what I am. It's always about what Gabe wants. I wish he'd just commit, but we've been on and off for the last two years. So no, not exactly my boyfriend."

Victoria didn't know what to say. From the expression on Charla's face, it was clear that she was obsessed with Gabe. She couldn't imagine anything harder than watching a boy you liked flirt with other girls, just as Gabriel was doing with the two pretty juniors. The thought of Christian flashed through her head and she thought for a second what it would be like to see him smiling or flirting or kissing someone else.

Her stomach curled. They weren't even together and she knew it would be torture.

"I'm sorry," she said to Charla for lack of something better to say.

"Don't be," Charla said brightly, with a forced smile. "That's why I have you. I plan to live vicariously through your love-life, and see you married and with child within the year."

"Great, a knocked-up teen bride. Every girl's fantasy." Victoria rolled her eyes and they shared a laugh.

"So I'll pick you up tonight then?" Charla made a beseeching face. "You have to save me from making a complete fool of myself over him. Or at the very least, save those two unsuspecting tramps who're flirting with him. I can get a little Ted Bundy crazy where Gabe's concerned."

Charla must have seen her expression at the obscure serial killer reference because she made a face and said, "I'm just kidding. I pretty much just yell at everyone, and then cry, and then he comforts me. So everyone wins. No random strangling, I promise," she said, throwing her palms up in mock surrender.

"Or punching girls in the teeth?" Victoria said, smiling at her antics.

"Well, there's always Taekwondo. You can't say I don't keep things interesting."

Victoria glanced at her watch. "I just have to stop by the music hall first. One of the guys in the band today left his wallet in one of the rooms. And I have to finish an assignment. But I promise I'll come later, okay?"

They said their goodbyes at Willard's and headed back to Windsor where Charla dropped her off. "Say hi to the band geeks! See you later!" she shouted, driving off.