Surprise (Gabby)
I wiped the sweat from my brow and took a swig of my tea and honey from my thermos. " Gabby, are you ready to go again?"Jack, my vocal coach, said. " Yes, one more time", I replied, recapping my tea. Jack starts playing the intro to Take it home by Alana Baraz. I closed my eyes and eased into the song with the acoustic guitar. I think music has to be one of my greatest loves, it has surrounded me my entire life, my dad is a middle school music teacher and it seems to run in my blood. As the last chord plays, clapping from behind me draws my attention. I see Daniel leaning against the piano. "What are you doing here?"I was completely surprised to see him. " Well you said you were here at Dusty strings so I wanted to know if you wanted to grab something to eat?", he says seriously. I turn to look at Jack who says," Your done, that was great Gabby same time next week ok". " OK Jack thanks", I replied, turning my back to Daniel who was looking at me with amusement. I look down at my x large U of Washington sweater that hangs off one shoulder, my black yoga pants, and purple high-top chucks. " Where did you want to go to get something to eat? I'm not exactly dressed for a date", I say abruptly wishing I could cram every word back into my mouth. I groan inwardly.
So much for me being cool about him asking me out. Daniel laughs and shakes his head. " You look perfect", he says smoothly, making my cheeks turn pink. "Hmmm", I'm not exactly sure what I mean by it. After standing there for a second looking at him I came to my senses. " Ok let me get my bag", I say nervously, not knowing what to expect. Daniel looks at me with a sly smile. "Where are we going?'' I asked again not trusting that smile. "It's a surprise", he says, grabbing my hand as we enter the elevator.
Daniel and I walked a few blocks down Fremont Ave when he came to a stop. I look up to see one of my favorite restaurants." Homegrown is one of my favorite restaurants Danny", I say smiling expressing my thoughts. Daniel found us a table in the corner of the restaurant and pulled out my chair. "So do you come here often ", he asks while pushing my chair in. "Yes every Sunday after church actually", I say grinning at him. He was so damn sexy it was ridiculous! After placing our orders Daniel clears his throat and asks, "What church do you go to?". " My family attends Fremont Baptist", I say thoughtfully. I look down at my hands on the table and pray to God I don't offend him with my next question. "So", I begin. "Hmm", he hums while sipping his drink. " Do you go to church?"I asked warmly. Daniel smiles and nods his head "Nolanda West", he says referring to a Buddhist Meditation Center. I shake my head and smile at Daniel. He was different from other guys that I have had interactions with. No hidden agenda. The waitress brings out our food and I moan from the smell! " You weren't kidding when you said you loved it here were you", Daniel asks quietly. I opened my eyes and found him watching me. Picking up my burger I take a bite and wink at him. Daniel laughs before putting ketchup on his fries. " Where did you learn to dance like that", I asked as he gracefully capped the ketchup. Daniel smiled replying," Your random" and chuckled. For some reason, I found this funny too and giggled. "No, but, my older brother Khol, he dances and I thought it was cool so he taught me but, I dance a lot at Dance Fremont Studio. I go there to relax", he says, completely comfortable with himself. It was eerily cool to watch him do something as mundane as eating. He moved like ripples of water. " That sounds like me with Dusty Strings, a home away from home", I say, popping a kale chip in my mouth. "Speaking of amazing talents, where did you learn to sing like that?"he asks, winking at me. I laugh and throw a kale chip at his head. Daniel makes a smacking gesture in the air hitting the chip before it even made it halfway
across the table." I just love how you gave yourself that compliment", I say smiling. "Seriously though I could listen to you all day", he continued. I shrug my shoulders," I've been in the choir at church since I was three and my dad's a music teacher.. it's just right", I explain. Daniel stares at me for a minute. "Can you sing to me? '' he asks and for the first time since I've met him he looked..vulnerable? I smiled and ducked my head. "Right now?", I asked, looking at the crowd around us, completely ready to serenade him because he looked like he needed it. "No, later when I can have you to myself", he said, chuckling. I sat there and watched how his face came to life as he smiled. He appealed to me in so many ways. My phone buzzed in my pocket distracting me from my thoughts. Looking down I saw it was home calling. Pushing the talk button I say," Hello". "Gabby, can you come home a little early today? Derek and Darius have a solar system project due tomorrow and your dad and uncle are in the living room sounding like a herd of animals. I need a hand", my mom breathes out flustered. I look at Daniel who is currently playing with my bracelet." OK ma i'll be there soon", I say before hanging up. I drop my phone in my bag and look at Daniel taking a bite out of his chicken wrap. I've been enjoying him so much I don't want to leave. "Danny", I say.
Looking up he flashes me one of his adorable ass smiles and I damn near melted in my seat. " I'm sorry but I have to go, my mom needs my help", I say with a small smile. I thought for a second. " This might be too much but would you like to come with", I say nervously. "Yes.. I mean yeah if that's cool with you", he says abruptly making me laugh at him.
While Daniel paid the bill I went outside to bring my car around and found I had a flat tire. "Shit", I screamed as I kicked the tire. The roar of an engine had me turning to see Daniel in a royal blue SRT Dodge Charger. " Do you mind giving me a ride, I have a flat", I say gesturing to my fucking tire. " Gabby, it's no issue. Get in", he said, opening the door for me. When I'm seated Daniel snakes his arm around my waist and kisses the top of my head. I smiled at him when he leaned back a little and kissed his cheek. He was staring at me for so long I stopped smiling. "What?", I say cheeks on fire. "Nothing you just so damn cute", Daniel says, adjusting himself in his seat. I bat my eyes and put on my best southern accent. "Why sir I do declare", I say placing my hand on my chest. Daniel cracks up while pulling away from the curb. " I love your car, especially the color", I say, rubbing my hand along the door. " Yea it was something I
brought last summer with the money I saved from working with my father", he says switching lanes. We were coming across the Aurora Bridge when I asked him," So what does your dad do?". Daniel looks out his window. "Fish.. he sells fish and other seafood. Sometimes he participates in the Fremont Sunday Market. He will be there this Sunday", he finishes. "Oh, that's what's up, my mom loves to go there after church sometimes, we find nice jewelry there", I say. Daniel laughs. "You like jewelry?", he asks. "I never would have pegged you as the jewelry type", he continues disbelieving. Rolling my eyes and tossing my hair back dramatically I say, " I love vintage pieces like the 1920s. Plus what girl doesn't like jewelry?". We turn onto my street." It's the fifth house on the left", I state. Daniel parks in front of the house and hops out of the car. I had the door halfway open when I heard somebody yell from inside the house. " Is everything alright in there Daniel asks concerned with one hand on the door and the other clutched in mine. Nodding my head quickly. I say," Yes, just my dad and uncle". We hear a loud whoop and I throw Daniel a smile. "Monday night football", I say, pushing the key into the lock. I cast a look over my shoulder and said, " Come in they won't bite", I say as I walk inside Daniel in tow. I take in my dad and uncle
Brent sitting on the sofa eyes glazed over from staring at the tv. "And the Seattle Seahawks get another touchdown", the announcer shouts. My dad and uncle jump up and cheat and bump each other. I cleared my throat, alerting them that they had an audience." Gabby", my dad says, embracing me in a bear hug. Dad looked over at Daniel and smiled. " Hey what's up brah", my dad said trying to be cool. " This is Daniel, my new lab partner", I said, hoping he wouldn't notice us holding hands. Daniel cleared his throat. "Hello sir", Daniel says, holding out his hand for my dad to shake. "Hello, Daniel, you can call me Cory,'' my dad says, shaking his hand. "I'm her uncle Brent, nice to meet you", my uncle says from the corner of the room, eyes never leaving the tv. The smell of fried chicken wafts through the living room. I was leading Daniel to the kitchen. "OH", I say abruptly turning and running right into Daniel who caught me around my waist. I know I looked at him for what seemed like five minutes before someone cleared their throat. "You were saying sweetheart?", my dad says knowingly. Daniel immediately let me go like his hands were on fire and I missed him just that fast. " Oh, uh I was saying that my car had a flat in front of Dusty Strings", I say kind of flustered. My dad looked between Daniel and I and I still didn't let go of his
hand. " OK, but I won't be able to get it towed until tomorrow evening so you might have to take you or take the bus to school", my dad replies smiling full-on now. " Gab, I can pick you up in the morning, it's no problem", Daniels says quietly. That would be fucking great because I loath that damn bus. " I don't want to put you out of your way", I said, not knowing exactly where Daniel lived. Daniel shakes his head as if to say it's no problem. I go up on my tippy toes and kiss his cheek. "Thanks, hun", I say as I drag Daniel into the kitchen.
"Derek and Darius sit and finish your projects until your sister gets here", I hear my mom say. Pushing the French doors open I expose my twin brothers sitting at the table with two fully assembled solar systems. The table was covered in glitter, glue, and Styrofoam balls. My mom closes the refrigerator door with an arm full of collard greens. "Gabby,'' she says, smiling at me. I throw my keys on the counter. "Hey ma, sorry it took me so long I had a flat", I replied, peeling my bag off my shoulder. "Well hello I'm Antoinette and you are ", my mother asks excitedly, noticing Daniel behind me. Daniel shifts beside me. "Hello ma'am, my name is Daniel Oh", he says sheepishly, making me crack up. "Daniel is my lab partner ma", I say looking at Daniel who resembles a little boy right now. "It's nice to meet you, Daniel, my daughter seems to be taken with you. She's never brought a boy home", my mom continues embarrassing the hell out of me. It's something you need to know about my mom. She is a take-no-shit kind of person. She straight forward and sugar coats nothing. She is cool as fuck! I've watched her single-handedly work a 12-hour shift in the ER, come home, cook dinner, deal with four kids, shower put her makeup on, and go out with my dad. She is fucking superwoman in my eyes. Regardless I throw a look at my mother's that warrants giggles from the twins." Are you Chinese", Derek asks innocently. Both my mother and I gave Derek a warning look. Daniel chuckled slowly, something that I had grown to love about him. "It's ok", he says beside me, doing all kinds of things to me. "Actually little man I'm Japanese I'm from Japan", Daniel finishes throwing a wink my way. "Cool", the twins say in unison creeping me out. I ran my hand up Daniel's muscular back. "So what kind of help do you need?", I said, clapping my hands together ready to work looking between Derek and Darius. "We're finished", they say in unison. Yeah...that's not creepy at all! I looked over to the fully assembled solar systems and then at my mom who shrugged. " Ok well, I'm going to change. I'll be downstairs if you need me", I said, pulling Daniel down the stairs. "It…It was nice meeting Mrs. Antoinette Derek, Darius", I hear Daniel say shyly before I close my room door. The whole basement was converted into an apartment when I was 16. I had a kitchenette, a full bathroom, and a private entrance. I throw my bag on my queen size bed. "Daniel you can sit if you want to", I say, pulling Softee shorts and a tank top out of my drawer before excusing myself and going to the bathroom. I was pulling my shirt over my head when Daniel knocked at the door. " Gabby", he says slowly. " Yeah", I almost whispered. Sure he didn't hear me. I opened the door slightly. I didn't miss the perusal of his eyes either. " Wow", Daniel said, shaking his head. Thinking I may have taken too long, I say, " Sorry Danny, I've been waiting to get comfortable since I left school". " It's cool you should be comfortable", he replies, pushing my hair across my shoulder. " Speaking of comfort, would you like to watch a movie? We could chill out and talk it's up to you", I say, pushing past him to pick up my dirty clothing. When I turned around I caught Daniel pulling his eyes away from my ass and he blushed. Maybe he had somewhere to go that's why he knocked. " If you have somewhere to be though I understand", I said, voicing my thoughts. " Gabby there is nowhere else I have to be, I would love a movie", he says, shutting down my worries. Smiling bigger than I think I ever have in life, I rifle through Netflix. Daniel threw himself back on the bed sighing. " OK does The Hunger Games sound appealing?", I ask, turning my Xbox on. Daniel runs his hands through my hair chuckling, scaring the shit out of me. My heart galloped and my hand flew to my chest. " What?", he asks as if he didn't just fly across the room. " You scared me, weren't you on the bed? Plus I have a few tracks in from over the summer, I don't want them to come out in your hand", I say flustered. Daniel outright laughs in my face making me want to punch him. "Gabby I know about hair extensions I'm not stupid", he says amused. " I wasn't implying that you were, just that It would be embarrassing. Pulling me into his body Daniel buries his face in my neck and I shiver a little. I grab a handful of his hair and kiss him softly on the lips. I hear him groan before he deepens the kiss encouraging me. Daniel's hands shift down my back before he cups my ass in both hands. Feeling bolder I push wrap my legs around him. Daniel's breath came out in deep pants and his tongue slipped into my mouth blowing my mind. I just met this guy this morning! I like him, otherwise he wouldn't be here, let's be real. With that thought, I pulled away. " Umm.. Sorry", I say slightly covering my mouth. Wtf! I turn to walk away when Daniel grabs me around the waist. " Don't apologize I… that was sexy as fuck", he says gazing into my eyes. Daniel leans in for another kiss but, knowing I have reached my limit on how far I'm trying to go I throw my arms around his neck and hug him. " Awww that's messed up", he said, realizing I swerved his ass. Laughing at his disappointment I say," OK let's watch this movie, and my odds will be ever in your favor". Daniel chuckles while slipping off his boots and getting comfortable on the bed.