Caught in the Middle

Chapter 1:Part 3

It's the call I had been expecting.
"No pressure." I breath. "Just stay calm." I reassure myself as I climb up the stairs to my block of apartments, my eyes on my phone as it rings in my hand, my other pulling out my keys. I mean, it's still an unknown number... it could be anyone... literally anyone... but, yes, that including Finn...
I decide I'll ripe it off like a bandaid and pick up. I try to find my voice... and try to control my breathing...
"Hello?" I utter, losing my ability to control how my voice sounds with a slight tremble. He clears his throat before he replies and I already know it's him.
"Hey. It's Finn." He replies. I can sense he has picked up on my nervous tone.
"Yeah. Hi Finn."
"Yeah. Hi." He replies with a slight pause. And then I hear him make a little pop sound with his mouth on the other end followed by a hum... I realise then that he were thinking. "So your friend gave me your number-"
"Y-yeah I know."I blurt in. "Yeah, I'm sorry about Tess. I cant believe she did that. She really shouldnt have bothered you-" I nervously reply quickly before he cuts in.
"Well, no, I actually asked her." He explains quickly. He clears his throat again. "For your number. So... I could talk to you... about something. I wanted to talk to you... about Troy."
I'm paused outside the front of my door, stiff hands ready with the key. I can't find a way to move, let alone open the door. Then I realise his waiting on a reply. Right now, Im unsure my brain can handle more than one task at a time..."Are you there?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah, sorry." I say forcing myself to insert the key into the door and twist it open. "Umm. So what was it exactly you wanted to talk to me... you know, about Troy?"
He clears his throat then nervously.
"I wanted to know if you were ok first." He says, but doesn't give me the chance to answer. Maybe he were nervous too, I begin to wonder... noticing how he speaks quickly... "Troy was unfair to you. Sorry for how his treated you. I havent... havent been able to... I guess, I thought it would be easier to tell you over the phone. I want you to know I dont agree with how his acting." He says before he pauses again. He sighs as though his going to struggle to the next part. "I did need to talk to you about your brother." He sighs heavily again, frustration in his tone. "Can I ask you? Your brother? Does he not care Troy is pestering you? His sister? Does he know this... this whole thing could end up bad? Pretty much everybody knows Troy is no good... his not someone you want to mess with."
Conflicted by the way Finn seemed to care about my involvance with Troy and his constant taunts on me, my mind were so distracted, I were alarmed when I step into the living room, and shocked at discovering Isaac making out with Bailey... Troy's girlfriend. And I wasnt prepared for this... all this... so I stumble back almost tripping back on my heels, the only way of saving myself from the fall were my tight grasp onto a kitchen stool. My phone does not find the same fate and crashes to the ground. Snatching my phone back off the ground again, I quickly inspect it for damage, before hearing Finn's muffled sounds on the other end. Both Isaac and Bailey pop their heads up from behind the couch to glance my way, startled.
"Are you ok?" Finn questions as I press the phone back to my ear.
"Y-yeah. I'm ok. It was nothing. I just h-had a little trip thats all." I say, still trying to catch my breath. Finn sounds confused, huffing some sound that sounded as though he were subtly questioning me.
"Are you sure-" he tries again before he stops when he hears Isaac's voice.
"Gabs, we were just about to leave." Isaac says, starting to bring himself to his feet as Bailey does too. I glare at him. I want to scold him so bad... He may be a year older than me but I must be the more responsible one, the thought flumes in my head. But I remind myself Finn is on the other end. And there is no way in hell he needs to know about this... I feel myself fluster at the thought of him knowing.
"You driving me?" Bailey questions, biting her lower bottom lip as though she were teaseing him with that smile. Obviously Isaac responds back with a cheerful one as he takes her hand.
I can hear Finn groan on the other end, it almost comes out sounding like a strangled growl.
"Oh my God." He whispers.
"Finn? It's really nothing. It's not what you-"
"Seriously?" He whispers mainly to himself. "Are you sure its not?" He dryly scoffs, suprised. He mumbles something I didn't quite catch. I frown, frustrated.
"Finn this is not your problem... why do you even care?" I ask, irritatedly.
He hums sarcastically.
"Do you really need me to answer that?" His tone is mocks. I catch Isaac pull a confused concerned face and Bailey rubs her forehead, looking slightly tense. As Finn begins to answer, and I do not catch any of it, focused on how Isaac jerks toward me as he attempts to reach for the phone, but I duck it away from him. He proceeds to glare at me, mouthing why I had been on the phone with Finn.
"Gabriella? Are you still- your not listening, are you?" Finn questions, clearly annoyed. Isaac snatches my arm as I try to escape to my room. I smash the door on his hand and he cries, uttering something under his breath. I flip him my middle finger before hiding behind my door, clutching tightly to its frame.
"Sorry Finn. Yes that were him..." I say as I glare back at Isaac before I slam the door on his face, locking myself in, and resting my back against my door. "That was Isaac. But... that was also not Bailey." I lie through my teeth, breathing heavily, feeling a guilt pool at my stomach. He scoffs again. I must be the worst lier...
"Umm. Yeah, I dont know that I believe you."
Exhausted, tired, and emotionally drained... I let myself slide down the length of my door until I'm crouched on the ground.
"I don't know. Believe me. Or dont. I don't really care anymore. I'm to tired for all this."
"Gabriella." He says before he pauses as he thinks. "Listen to me. You need my help. You don't know what your dealing with..." He replies. I groan back, feeling my exhaustion take control of me. I scratch my head, frustrated.
"Umm. Finn. I just... don't think I need any help, ok?"
He clears his throat, and for some reason I can tell... His just going to keep trying...
"Listen. We need to talk." He says firmly. "Could we please meet tomorrow at the cafe across from school before school starts... I mean, you might need to cancel your friend."
I begin to wonder if this is a good idea. He doesn't understand that I would rather side with my brother than with Troy... He doesn't seem to understand that whatever he has to say wouldn't change how I would go about handling things on my own. I know I am sabotaging myself not accepting help when it was clear that I most probably should accept it... but I would rather let my stubbornness win... my independence is all to me and I usually prefer to navigate things on my own... a way that I could maintain some control in my own life. But... there is still one thing... I cant bring myself to say no... to Finn? It takes me a while to respond... and Finn patiently waits.
"Umm. Sure Ok. What time?" I reply, wondering if I were truely making a mistake. What was I even doing-
"Say... eight?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"Ok. I'll see you then."
And its the way he says this last part  so cheerfully, my tone suddenly changes too. My anxiety begins to string in, and I'm worried I'm about to become a simp.
"I'll see you then too." I reply softly.
"Ok." The pause is so distinct... I'm wondering what his thinking... What if he sees this as more than just a meet up, the thought crosses my mind... and I nervously begin to fidget with my bracelet. Finn is cute, with his hazel brown eyes and his short light brown crew cut hair... his muscular build is thin but strong, with arms that Ive seen do many push ups in gym class... His always reserved, and although his not so tall, his height is above mine... and he has these eyes that always seem to look at me softly, curiously... I have to mentally slap myself to to stop! I... yes, I have noticed him, ok, but Im not like obsessed... I beginning to wonder myself if Ive noticed him too much? But either way... am I ready for this? Personally... I believe I'm not. What if I catch feelings...
"Well. I'll let you go. I got homework to catch up on." He says, his tone more relaxed.
"Y-yeah, me too. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Im sure my voice came out squeaky. He doesnt seem to take notice and then we say our goodbyes, before I then hear the front door slam shut. Isaac and Bailey have headed out. I let out a frustrated sigh as I sit into a crossed legged position. I glance at my phone... I'm going to need  Soph for this...