Chapter Eleven

The cacophonous sound of fizz invaded the room for a fleeting second: Gabrielle had opened the bottle with a multi-use corkscrew found among some useful small devices in one of the console's drawers. Then, the sound of fizzy liquid being poured could be heard as Evan inserted the Blu-ray in the reader.

Gabrielle rushed near the door to turn the lights off and Evan grabbed the remote control.

The start menu of The Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind could be seen now on the screen. Both youths took a seat on the puffy cream-colored couch, making themselves as comfortable as they could.

Evan bit his lower lip gently, the stinging feeling on the wound previously made by the mysterious prince was still there. He tried to sit as far as possible from Gabrielle, but the attempt was completely futile.

"You don't have to be shy, you know." He heard Gabrielle saying next to him with a flirtatious tone. He didn't dare turn around to look her in the eye, feeling her mawkish gaze fixated on him was more than enough. "You can wrap your arm around my shoulders if you want." He could even feel her flawless smile goofily printed on her angelic face.

He took a surreptitious breath. Slow, hesitantly, his right arm moved in an involuntary reflex to wrap her small torso. Her body was warm and she smelt like sweetish citric fruits, it wasn't a subtle scent at all, it penetrated his lungs so harshly that he felt he'd gag any moment.

Gabrielle rested her head on Evan's shoulder and an impetuous flurry of nervousness and extreme anxiety unbounded within Evan.

"So? Are you gonna start the movie?" She asked, gently rubbing her cheek against the soft cloth of his t-shirt.

Evan's heartbeat was out of control. This was happening. This was actually happening. How was he supposed to react? What was she expecting him to do? Was he going to be able to give Gabrielle what she was looking for? Probably not. Then what was going to be her outcome?

Swallowing a lump in his throat, Evan played the movie.

It didn't start well and he doubted it was going to end up well either.

Gabrielle was too affectionate, and that bothered Evan a lot. She snuggled up to him from time to time, cuddling him, depositing small kisses on his cheek and arm, she stroked his hair as well with gentle and deep moves.

It was getting Evan on his nerves. But what worried him the most actually was the thought of Gabrielle noticing how quiet and still he was acting. Was she noticing it in first place? If so, why hadn't she said anything so far? Didn't Evan's indifference bother her at all?

The scene where Clementine and Joel were laying on the bed, under the covers after having sex was now playing. Clementine was telling Joel about her childhood doll who was named after her because she thought she was ugly just like her. She told her she didn't have to be ugly, unconsciously telling it to herself… She asked Joel if he thought she was ugly, and Joel said she was beautiful. And Joel —not the Joel in the memory, but the Joel who was watching the memory from a third-person point of view, asked, implored for that memory not to be erased… It was a truly heartbreaking scene, the emotions so perfectly conveyed in the pictures and the phrases…

"Pause the movie, please." Said Gabrielle, who began acting quieter since the scene started.

Evan obeyed her petition, hitting the pause button and bracing himself for some good scolding for sure. His indifference did most probably not go unnoticed…

When Evan turned around to see Gabrielle, he didn't see feelings of anger in her expression, no. He perceived anguish and, just maybe, some insecurity.

"Evan…" Gabrielle let out. "Do you think I'm ugly?" She blurted out, not harshly, but with a certain sadness in her voice.

Her voice didn't sound cheerful or flirty at all anymore, it was small and frail, like a little girl who doubts about her outer beauty as she grows up into a young woman, needing validation.

Evan was startled. Such a question took him by surprise. Did Lady Gabrielle of House Martí doubt about her beauty, too? Was she insecure about her looks just like any other ordinary young woman out there?

"I don't think you're ugly at all, Gabrielle. Why are you asking me this question?" Evan replied, frowning in confusion.

Gabrielle's hand reached the frills on the edge of her babydoll, her fingers ruffled them nonchalantly as she looked away.

"It's nothing actually… It's just…" She bit her lip, this time it was her who was feeling anxious. "I've never had a boyfriend in the past. I've always dreamt about having a romance like my parents', passionate, intellectual, fun, everlasting… But…" Her words cracked every time, she looked like she'd burst into tears any moment. "I went to an all-girls school in Sacramento when I was a teenager," She tried to smile her anguish away, "We'd always talk about handsome movie stars, about pop singers and how much we loved their lyrics, about irresistible male characters in bestseller books, how awesome it would be to have a boyfriend who was a vampire or a wizard or an angel."

She pouted, holding back tears. She raised her glance for a second, seeking Evan's approval to continue. Her fiancé simply nodded with a furrowed brow, understanding this gesture.

Gabrielle took a deep breath.

"Some days, when we were dismissed and free to roam the streets of Sacramento, we'd hang out at cafés near the establishment, and we'd watch handsome boys walk down, acting so cool and smooth that a girl like me wouldn't be able to resist their charm." She confessed, her lips drawing a melancholic smile that conceded her an ineffable type of gloomy beauty. "I did have my minor crushes, but no boy ever saw me as more than a good friend."

She sighed in distress. Remembering those past moments clearly brought bitter emotions to her.

"I thought my Prince Charming would never come to rescue me from loneliness, but, here you are."

Gabrielle glanced at Evan, her almond eyes shining full of hope and illusion.

"I wonder though…" She pursed her lips, not in distrust, but denoting a certain curiosity, "If you like me, too. If you're okay with our marriage being arranged. I know we can do little against our parents' decisions, even when we're both adults, but, maybe… maybe we could...—

"Gabrielle." Evan interrupted her, for the first time placing a hand on her shoulder by his own will. "Belle, can I call you Belle?" He smiled as tenderly as he could, feeling a rush of adrenaline invading his being.

Gabrielle was nothing more than a lonely girl, just like Evan was a lonely boy.

She blinked, looking slightly bewildered.

"Y-Yes, of course, you can." She replied, finishing the sentence with a gracious nasal laugh and smiling timidly for him.

"Belle, I want you to know that no matter who you were in the past, what you did or what you felt like, you're no longer her." He uttered solemnly. "You're a beautiful woman, any man who didn't give you a chance was probably a fool or had sight problems."

Gabrielle chuckled a bit, feeling utterly flattered by his words.

"Well, you wear glasses, so…"

Both of them burst out laughing suddenly, joyous, youthful laughter.

"Ignore my glasses, please." Evan tried to regain his composure. "Look, I still can't say I'm in love with you, and I can't promise you a romance like your parents' either, you're not your mother, and I'm not your father... But, we can both work things out, find a way to seize this arranged marriage, and maybe someday we'll love each other in our own, unique way." An encouraging smile crowning the cream of that lie. He'd never love her like she'd want him to…

But Belle ate up that lie without even doubting a word of Evan's.

Her almond-shaped coffee eyes shone brighter than the sun, her pristine smile widened enough to light up the gloomiest of days. Her arms nimbly reached for Evan's embrace, who, for once in the entire night, reciprocated such an affection gesture in the most tender, loving of ways.

They pushed away gently, smiling at each other with complicity.

"Evan… Have you ever kissed a girl before?" Belle asked.

Such a question took Evan by surprise, making his cheeks turn beet red in embarrassment.

"N-No, I've never kissed a girl before…" Evan replied, telling the actual truth; he had never kissed a girl in the past. He feared what was about to happen...

Belle smiled a cheeky grin.

"Would you like to kiss me? I've never kissed a boy before either, so we can practice for our wedding day." She suggested so carefreely.

Evan's eyes opened wide as two plates. What if he said no? He didn't want to do it, but he didn't want to hurt Belle's feelings either. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he nodded.

They pulled their lips closer, simultaneously closing the gap with a kiss. It wasn't like JJ's kiss at all. Belle's lips were softer and they tasted like caramel, perhaps she put on some gloss before paying him that late-night visit. Her breath tasted like the fizzy cranberry and mango drink, and her scent was intoxicating.

It was an innocent, inexperienced and awkward kind of kiss. Their teeth collided and he could hear Belle's high-pitched, charming laugh. She continued to deposit more small pecks in his bruised lips as they pushed away gently.

"I hope I didn't hurt your lower lip too much." She muttered, with pupils wide due to such an exciting and pleasant moment to her.

"It's okay, don't worry." Said Evan, looking away and blushing.

"Did you like it?" Belle asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"It was a bit awkward, but yes, I did…" He lied again.

It felt forced even if Evan gave his consent. He felt his principles got stomped on by himself…

Gabrielle chuckled playfully and hugged him for probably the hundredth time that night.

"We'll have plenty of other opportunities in the future. We can definitely get better at it." She whispered mawkishly into his ear.

She pushed away then, her arm still wrapped around Evan's narrow waist.

"You can resume the movie now." She said.

"Belle…" Evan interrupted, feeling curiosity all of a sudden. "Mind if I ask you something?"

Gabrielle sketched a puzzled look on her face.

"Sure, what is it?"

Evan turned around to look her in the eye again. The pink on his cheeks slowly fading away.

"Why haven't your parents set a date for our wedding yet?" Evan inquired, looking concerned.

"Oh, haven't your parents told you yet?" Belle replied with another question. "Our parents set it for the end of spring. My parents wanted to give us some time to get to know each other and spend some time together before the event."

Evan's jaw nearly dropped.

The end of the spring was in a month and a half! He wouldn't have enough time to tell her about his orientation, he'd have to find a way to make her know and accept before she learned it from someone or something else…

"Did they give you an exact date?" He asked again, feeling anxious all of a sudden.

Gabrielle hummed, trying to remember what her parents told her.

"Probably from June the seventh to the seventeenth. They haven't decided on a venue yet, though." Was her response.

Evan swallowed. Panic in his eyes could be easily perceived, and such a thing didn't go unnoticed for his fiancée.

"Why are you asking this? Is everything okay? Is something off for you?" Gabrielle asked with concern in her voice.

"N-No, not at all. I was just curious." Evan replied, faking a half relieved smile.

Belle simply smiled, looking a bit hesitant —like doubting about her fiancé's reply. Then, she rested her head on Evan's shoulder again, and muttered softly:

"You can resume the movie now if you want, honey."

Evan nodded, his body tense from such a mawkish name that he had not even permitted her to call him, and from such affectionate gestures he was forcing himself to accept. Then, he proceeded to resume the movie.

The rest of the night went normally. Apart from Gabrielle making him feel uncomfortable by purring and stroking his hair, it could have been called a fruitful and fun night. He was simply glad he got to know Gabrielle's ordinary, raw side that she hid so well behind that perfect noble lady facade of hers.

They kept discussing and talking about the movie for around twenty or maybe thirty minutes. Until Belle decided it was too late and, inevitably, she had to go back to her respective room and get some rest for the night.

"It was really fun to spend some time with you, Evan. I'm really glad we were able to get to know each other a bit." She enthused, smiling for him as she stood on the other side of the door.

"I'm happy we got to spend some time together, too. Hopefully there will be more occasions like this one soon." He replied, smiling back at her timidly, eager to close the door once for all.

Gabrielle grinned.

"Of course, expect me to visit you randomly." She tried her best not to exclaim that cheerful phrase. "Well, I'll get going, I feel exhausted even though it was a pleasure to do something with you..." She lingered on those three last words, then, she sketched a smirk, "Here." She pecked Evan's lips, taking him by surprise. "I'll think of you before I fall asleep. I'll miss you tonight and I hope you miss me too." She said, wiggling her shoulders and smiling goofily. "Have sweet dreams, sweetheart."

Turning on her heels, she began walking in the direction of her bedroom, leaving an astounded Evan standing on the door.

That night was certainly something to Evan. He kissed a boy for the first time, but he also kissed a girl for the first time. A lot of questions and erratic thoughts popped into his mind when he let himself slide between the bedsheets and let his head rest on the pillow. It was completely overwhelming to be a soon-to-be nobleman… Even more to be a queer soon-to-be nobleman trying his best to hide and look for the correct moment to come out of the closet.

A flurry of thoughts whipped his mind as he stared at the excessively opulent ceiling looming on top of him. They were mostly thoughts of worry and concern, sometimes he'd find a possible solution for them, but immediately discarded them as he thought they'd be too scandalous, and the less thing he wanted to be was inadequate. The Martís were offering his family monetary help, and they were offering him an even more luxurious life as well. They were his family now, he couldn't let them down under any circumstances…

Just like that, with so many thoughts invading and corroding his mind, he inevitably fell into a sudden, deep slumber.