Caught in the Middle

Chapter 3: Part 2

Stepping out from the school gate to charge for my bus, I slowly come to a halt, noticing Troy and his band of friends hanging outside the door of my bus. God, they worship Troy...
And why had they decided to take my bus... again? My face scrunches as I think of getting on with them. Would it even be worth getting on a bus with these boys that would make my life hell? I'm not prepared to risk it... I dont feel like being barraged and threatened the entire trip home.
So I decide it's best to avoid them. I take a different rout, vanish behind some shrubs that took some other pathway so that I can stay hidden, and safely out of sight. I eventually stumble back out from behind the shrubs when I've reached the footpath I had wanted to find... leading away from the boys I want to avoid. A certain distance away from them, I feel the need to take a quick glimpse back and determine whether I were a safe distance away so I could that breath a sigh of relief I have been holding onto. And as I take a peak, a slight sense of relief begins to wash over me as I realise that they are a fair distance away. I cant tell or sense if they could see me, or if they were even looking, but I have finally made myself blend in with some other students ahead, swiping at my hair gently for any trace of evidence that I had made a short cut. And then it dawns on me... had I really blended in? Because the next thing I sense is that I really hadnt...
A car creeps along up close to the curb, crawling slowly, drawing the attention of a few passing students beside me. It heightens their attention. As well as mine. And my eyes widen in response, darting about, feeling the slightest bit edgy. A chill runs down my spine, wondering if this car were actually following me?! And I hesitate to look... Because it seems to me, that at this stage, Troy would almost go to almost any lengths to try and intimidate me... I didn't really want to know what other shady twisted plans Troy could conjure-
"Gabriella." I hear a hushed hiss. My eyes snap sideway toward the sound, taking in a quick glimpse. To my surprise, it's Finn driving. But I continue walking, my leg limping as I do, which doesn't help with my speed, as I try ignoring him. Why were he trying to draw attention to me like this? My cheeks burn up. But then I take a second quick glimpse, and my eyes lock on him. Shocked. Lips slightly parting. Why was his right eye black? Why was there a cut to his lower lip?! What on earth happened? I notice as the passing students curiously gaze on, one of which sends him a quick salute... a way, I'm guessing, of saying 'hi'. Finn awkwardly smiles back, sending him one also, whilst his other hand still on the wheel.
"What happened to you Finn?" The boy questions, also alittle astonished, a laugh ringing in his tone. Finn whilst still trying to awkwardly nativigate the car, shakes his head, trying to brush him off as quickly as possible.
"Nothing Reece." He says, then his eyes are darting back to me. "Gabriella. Get in."
My face scrunches at him in confusion. And I keep walking (or rather limping) as his car keeps crawling beside the footpath.
"What? No."
"Please." He pleads.
My heart races. If it wasnt for the fact that I had over a dozen eyes burrowing to the back of my head as I continue on limping away and this whole situation were heightening my whole sense of self consciousness, I would literally have not stopped. But I do. And then almost immediately he does so too, pulling up to the side of the curb. Stalking over quickly, I lean in through his window. My eyes wonder over him, gazing at the scratches on his face, the grazes on his nose.
"What happened? I mean, what happened to your face? Were you in a fight?"
He ignores my question, gesturing for me to hop in.
"Just get in."
I watch him for a moment. Trying to read him. Trying to sus him out. But I find myself shrugging, wonder over timidly to the other side to open the door and hop in.
As I'm in, buckling myself in, Finn continues watching his mirrors, as if keeping his eye out for someone... or some people... or something, maybe? But my guess is Troy and his group.
I strap myself in, my eyes wondering over him as he leaves the curb. His eye all bruised and a gush on his face said that he were clearly in a fight. With whom, I'm uncertain. I do notice as my eyes trace to his hands gripping tightly to the steering wheel, his knuckles had grazes on them too. His eyes softly flicker toward me, noticing my gaze curiously on him. His cheeks begin to fill slightly pink, and maybe he had looked a little more self conscious now. Biting his lower lip, his focus goes back to the road in front. He needs to explain what is going on... Why were I sitting in his car? Where was he planning on taking me? And another thing... since when did Finn drive? That was on thing I had not known about Finn. I shift in my seat, my eyes held to him. He slides a nervous hand through his hair as he notices.
"Why did you- I mean... umm, where... where are you taking me?" I question, softly, timidness in my tone.
He flickers his eyes toward me quickly, before they dart back to the road infront. His shoulders seemed slightly tense, and he sighs, as though the question had brought on some stress. What was he nervous about? Something clearly happened for him to seem this up tight. Something weighed on his shoulders. Keeping him anchored. His eyes look tired.
"Are you hungry?" He suddenly breaths. "McDonalds is just down the road. Would you mind?"
My brows furrow on him. Im confused. I know he is trying to deflect something, but what is it? I find myself gulping down on my worries, what ever he were keeping from me, Im sure Ill find out soon. And so fidget with my hands as I sit there, keeping myself occupied. Making me wait on for this answer... it was just cruel, and I sit here wondering... just how big this answer would be. So I just drop back in my seat and look out the window, trying to relax. Within a couple of minutes we arrive at the drive thru, Finn scrawling down his window and leaning over into the intercom.
"I'll take three big macs, a large fries, a large cola, a frappe." He hums as he consider what else. I turn to face him shocked, and find him watching me with a questioning look. A small smile curls at his lips. "You want something?"
My eyes widen on him. And I sit up. Had he really just ordered all that for himself? I finally realise I may have been gaping due to his expression.
"T-that was all for you?" I answer his curious gaze. But then his gaze turns impatient.
"So... do you want anything?"
Maybe I did. But I shake my head anyway, still processing how much he had ordered... plus, I wanted us to out of here sooner than later. Turning back toward the intercom, he leans out against his window and continues.
"Make it two frappes? Thanks."
And it's as though he had read my mind... how had he known? And why did that just make my heart pound for him at just a simple gesture?
He turns back to me, a smirk growing on his face. "I know you'll try scabbing my food, so the second frappe is for you." He says, as he rolls up to the next window and collects his order.
He finds us a nice place to park, adjacent to a park, over looking a track that winds around a lake. People jogging, riding their bikes, scooters or skateboards passing by. Some just walking, others just pushing along a pram.
He passes my frappe over before he gets into his own food, taking huge chunks, huge bites, followed by long sips of his own drink, as though he hadn't eaten for days. And... he looked kind of exhausted... almost alittle gray in colour. But, at the same time, he looked kind of peaceful... almost happy, as though sitting here consuming his food brought him some kind of tranquility... some kind of joy. I turn to him, taking a sip of my own drink, the cold icy frappe, feeling the cold fill my head... I want to get into my questions... even with the thrumming of a head freeze. He sort of does owes me some answers. We are here. Sitting in, what I am assuming is his car. And he hasnt explained to me exactly why...
"Finn. So... why'd you bring me here?"
He slowly stops chewing, that peaceful look leaving his face. He looks down at his burger for a moment, thinking, before his eyes shoot to meet mine. He swallows whats left of his burger, before wiping a hand over his mouth, brows wrinkling, looking more focused and serious now.
"Your...' he begins then stops. His thinking again, I can tell. Thinking of how to put his words together, maybe? He nervously rubs at his temple with the back of his hand and drops down his gaze to his burger again. "Your bro... we got into a fight."
"What? Why-"
"That doesn't matter, does it... it happened. So... what do you want me to say?" He grunts, frustrated. "Your brother is just some piece of shi-" he bites back his words, lips curled back in anger. His trying to hold himself back. "His trouble, Gabriella. Damn I'm just glad I'm not the only one who left with a black eye." He bites angerily into his burger, then lets out a scoff. He can feel how I glare at him, without even turning. Letting out a growl, he knows I'm unhappy with him, but reluctantly feels he needs to apologise.
"What?" He scoffs, feeling the weight of my stare and pretending not to care, searching through his bag of food, pulling out some chips.
I let it go, rolling my eyes as I look away.
His eyes drift back to mine, and when I look into them I notice there is something in them he wants to let out. Something he wants to say, but is struggling with his words and they won't get out. He breaths as he lowers his gaze. His not suprised to find that Im still frowning at him, confused, when he does look up again. "Ok, so there's more." He mumbles. "Troy. Do I need to say more? Once he had found out what had happened by-" he indicates to his face. "This problem only just became much bigger. Troy and our guys out for your brother... for like blood. And... Isaac and his guys are most likely after us. Just the excuse needed to push things further."
My face feels numb. I feel my body become weak... I blink rapidly in shock, stressed.
"S-so... w-what now?" I breath, feeling my heart pound in my chest. Finn's eyes widen on me, eyes wonder over me, watching me, flickering as though he were trying to come up with a quick answer. He tensely scoffs out an answer.
"What happens now Gabriella... is you need to stay away from Troy."
Fuck. That's it?! That's his solution?
He reads me. I can tell his trying to figure another way... another way that could bring me some comfort as he realises I'm starting to look slightly panicked. Maybe his heart were racing too, because he starts to look slightly flustered. "Things will turn out ok, ok?"
That doesn't exactly make me feel any better. His missing something... something important...
"Why would my brother do that? Hit you? It's not like him Finn! What happened?"
Finn's eyes grow on me suprised. His silent. Taken back. Until his face starts to screw up, and I know his going to diss my question. He grunts loudly, then snorts a dry laugh, running a hands over his face, as though in disbelief.
"Your brother Gabriella... you need to get this right... his anything but perfect. I don't know how you want to turn this on me."
My cheeks burn and I sort of what to implode on him... but my mind is clouded and it can't think straight... I wasn't going to risk looking like a complete fool because my mind was refusing to work in my favour! That would only mean Finn would come out looking right... and I would just come out appearing insane. I drop back in my seat, folding my arms tightly infront of me, and snapping my gaze to the window. The tension is thick. And all I can hear is Finn shifting in his seat. I can feel his eyes on me... gaze burning to my face. I know his trying to get something out, but can feel how his hesitating... how he struggles. He grunts and groans in frustration, and I can hear him sliding down in his seat as he shoves his food aside. I take a quick curious glimpse. His gripping his steering tightly with one hand, dropped back in his seat, gazing out his window now. He quickly turns to me, catching my eyes on him. His eyes linger on me. His hesitating. His hestiating at letting something out. I could almost hear how his heart beats to let it out... and then...
"Date me." He chokes his words out. The words ripple through my ears. I freeze. I'm froozen. Im unsure I had heard that right? Did I hear him right?
"W-what?" I murmur. He looks at me, boredly, unimpressed. Maybe it were my reaction? Or maybe he just does not like the thought of what he had just suggested... and now his brows are furrowing on me, I'm unsure if from anger, frustartion, annoyance, or just if he were intensely focusing. He pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Look. Pretend to be my... partner, and all this shit will just dissappear. I know it sounds crazy, but us," he points his finger back and forth between us. "We could stop this."
"How?" I question exasperated, feeling completely and utterly lost. I'm not following... we are clearly not on the same page. But his eyes wondering over my face, as though trying to read why my reaction had not seemed as positive as he had thought. Why I had just jumped into his idea... why I seemed to question it... He clears his throat and he doesnt seem to not know were to start, openning his mouth, then closing it again.
"O-ok." He tries. "Troy. He would most probably leave you be if he knows we are dating. Dating his friend." He says before he stops. It would seem he would struggle on to the next part. "A-and by you going out with me..." he takes a moment to find his words carefully... "ummm... Your brother, would most probably leave me more alone."
Finn thinks Isaac would leave him alone? My guess would probably be the opposite...or rather he may not leave me alone!
"Umm. You may think so, but how I see it is that Isaac would do the exact opposite." I tell him. "My brother would most probably not leave you alone. Infact, wouldnt he be more of a jerk?!" Its as though the question were directed toward me rather than Finn, the question spinning in my mind. Finn just gazes at me, alittle in awe. Maybe he had not thought this through?
"I-I still think it could work." He stammers, but I can see how his unsure himself. Do I believe it could work? I want to say I do, but to me it seems unlikely. I can't help but think of it some more as he drives me home, when my mind starts to see how potentially it could actually work. Besides, I couldnt think of another way... but me dating Finn... that swims in my mind. Even of it were to be fake. And all the complications that could come from dating a well known jock attached to Troy... I may be propelling myself into a world of pain. My head spins in the idea of all this... it were crazy but maybe we had no other way to help this whole complication settle itself down...I need to breath... And as he is just parking outside my apartment block and comes to a stop, I turn to him. I take in a deep breath, letting my lungs fill. His eyes watching me, waiting. And looking at me with his soft eyes... God help me if I fall for him...
"Ok. I'll fake date you."
And this could be, well, the start of my tragedy.