roses of glass { sabo | 1 }

Chapter Eight

Sabo pov

I shut my locker after grabbing a couple textbooks for my next coming classes. However, standing behind my locker door was Brienna. Tension immediately raised within me. She gazed at me with an unknown intention. Yet, I know that she has got something planned.

"Hello Sabo." She greets, her voice contrastingly intent.

"Can I help you?" I ask.

She folds her arms, "That's rude."

"Well I mean, you were rude to my friends the other day." I shrug, "What do you want Brienna, I gotta go to my study period."

She flicks her hair to the side, "I have been thinking. You have been a bit more distracted than normal lately. And I know that you have been working hard to achieve your dream of joining up with Monkey D Dragon. Just...don't fall too behind."

I frown, "Thank you, but you don't have to be so concerned about that anymore."

Brienna equals my frown, "And why can't I be concerned anymore? You said we could be friends."

I sigh and set my jaw forward, "And you said in reply to my suggestion that you wanted space - so I am respecting that. You said you wanted to move on, and I agreed so I've been trying to focus on myself and trying to move on. Look, if you're here to just take back what I said you are too late. I'm happy with things right now, and I want to be alone from you too."

"Sabo-"

"No. I'm going now, Arabella is waiting for me in the library." I turn away, "Good bye."

I kept walking despite Brienna calling out for me. A frown set permanently on my face until I arrive at the library. What is it that she wants? First she pestered Arabella, now this? I don't understand what she wants. Shouldn't she be respecting the wishes we gave to each other?

'I just want to move on and be civil to her. She is making it hard enough already.'

Eventually, I get to the library and B-line straight to where Arabella was sitting. She sat gracefully on the chair, her back straight and her long fingered hands gliding over the book she was reading. Her sharp electric blue eyes flick up upon hearing me approach the table. She closes her book, setting it aside.

"I was wondering where you might be."

I set my things down next to her, "I'm sorry..." I sigh, "Just...had something come up."

She frowns, "It's something troubling, you've been frowning ever since you've been walking through the library."

I scratch the back of my head, my other hand on my hip as I avert my eyes. I was thinking back to what Kora had said to me before. Why would Brienna be jealous? She was the one that ended things after all.

Yet now as I stare at Arabella, at how graceful she holds herself in front of me now. With how knowledgeable she is. Or how she can hold her ground against Zoro in a fight.

Or how beautiful she is.

"It's about my ex, Brienna." I finally answer.

Arabella hums, "Is she the one that was rude to me before?"

A twinge of guilt courses through me, "Ah yeah....sorry about that. I just..." I sat down next to her, "I don't understand what her problem is. She wanted space, but lately she hasn't been leaving me alone. I just don't understand..." My voice trails off, "Sorry, I just dumped all of that on you it's just...very hard and confusing."

Arabella sat thoughtfully and nods silently, "Itami would say that she isn't over you. I would agree with her. Having such problems is a big inconvenience. Jealousy is painful. It distracts you and eats away at you until it's all you can think about." She gazes at me, "You are not going to let that affect you, right?"