Caught in the Middle

Chapter 4 Part 2

We hadn't held hands until we had been walking down the school corridor, my mouth dry and my stomach skipping with giddiness as Finn takes my hand and slides his warm palm into mine, interlocking our fingers together. It had seemed all natural to him... unlike me, blushing my way down the corridor like a complete misfit. It's not my fault I seemed highly reactive to his touch... Finn is handsome, on top of that, all the things he'd done for me or how he has made me feel these past few days... it makes my body swell, thick with emotions. And what is worse, I feel an awkward nervous giggle escape me when Im met with stares as we pass a group of cheerleaders hanging by their lockers. It is like all time is slowed as we exchange looks, and they deliberate give me a stare down of a life time. Were they actually jealous? The thought races through my mind. God, what had I done to them? Had I rip Finn away from their precious little hands? Why are they suddenly so interested in Finn? Why do they suddenly, out of the blue, even care?
"Hey Finn." Stacey callously calls, biting flirtously down on her lip as she watches him with those eyes that purposely sparkle at him. Finn turns to meet her gaze, but seeming untake by the way she stares at him. He takes his hands away from mine, my heart dropping for a millisecond, before he slides his heavy arm over my shoulder, squishing me tightly into him. I feel my cheeks fill pink, feeling nestled under his arm. "I didnt know you were with this girl?" She coos, trying to gain his attention some more.
Finn's lips tug into a smile.
"Gabriella." He says, clearing his throat in a way that reminds her she were being rude and out of place. "That is her name. And, yes, we are together."
My cheeks are burning at this stage, when we both notice Troy approaching us on the other end of the corridor. A panic starts to set in and... I begin to wonder if we had made the right decision about this whole thing... if maybe this were going to somehow turn out all ugly in the end... and my heart pounds incredibly heavy as Troy nears us, I can tell Finn had felt its intensity that his eyes worry, and sweep to meet mine.
"Finn, dude?" Troy scoffs and then barks out a incredulous laugh. His finding this amusing... his finding us amusing?! And my panic switches to annoyance... a feeling I often get when it comes to Troy. "Well... this ahhh... escalated fast. Faster than I had anticipated. I had a feeling you... ahhh... and Gabriella, you know-" He thrusts his hips and wrists a couple of times up into the air in a motion I only knew what he had meant. Finn watches him boredly, slightly irritated. Troy's eyes stop on me and he steps closer. "Gabriella, you simp. You simping for my boy? I knew you were trying something on him... that dress the other day, though... smoking hot."
Finn pushes him aside with his hand.
"Stop. Dont be stupid Troy."
Troy narrows his eyes at Finn, biting back his lip as his eyes wonder over him curiously, studying him closely, trying to figure out how serious his friend were... about this whole sketch thing. Suddenly his expression turns humoured again. He wants to enjoy this, clearly. He takes another step back, smirking at Finn.
"You bring her to our party tonight."
"That's not happening." Finn replies bluntly.
"It's also not an option. I'm serious. Bring her. Isaac's sister. We can bait him in. No worries Finn... I 'll make sure she has a wonderful time." His eyes twinkle with wickedness.
Finn's eyes darken on him. His arm slides off my shoulder, and runs down along the length of my arm, reaching and taking hold of my hand, gently. Holding his gaze firmly on Troy, he clears his throat so he can make sure he hears him clearly.
"No." He snaps. "We're not going."
Troy lifts his hands mockingly in surrender.
"Finn, don't wrong, bro. Just hoping for a way we can reel Isaac in, if you know what I mean." My heart drops as he says this, but I continue to hear on as he continues. "I mean, look what he did.. he did your face in pretty bad. You willing to let all that shit just go because your dating his sister?"
Finn's eyes wonder over him seriously. And he seems a little speechless for a few seconds. He clears his throat again, choking on words.
"W-well... I... I-I... m-maybe yeah."
Troy's humour suddenly dies on his face, and he bitterly scoffs.
"Dude, he smashed you!" He exclaims, throwing his hands furiously into the air in outrage. "Fuck! You have got to be kidding me! You can not be this weak. Dude, grow some balls!" He bursts out angerily, not able to control his anger.
Troy's eyes wonder slowly toward me. A dark glare I know he has just out for me. For once I hadn't realised how his eyes could be so penetrating... "Sanchez, what's your game?" he sneers, snapping his focus back to Finn. "She giving you a little 'something', is that what this is-"
Finn pushes him back before he can complete his sentence.
"Back off, Troy-"
"She blew you didnt she?" Troy laugh. Finn only returns a look that says for him to back off.
"What?-" I gape at Troy horrified.
"Don't play innocent, you have him wrapped around your little finger-"
"Troy!" Finn snaps again, a fist tightening at his side.
His words strike me, making my heart crumple deep in my chest, making my breathing pick up pace... also feeling an insurmountable number of eyes burying into my back as other students watch on as they pass on by.
Troy's wicked laugh, turns into a victorious smirk as his eyes come back to Finn's. "If you don't bring her tonight... You'll we won't be leaving Isaac alone, whether your all over his sister or not. If you bring her tonight, we might go easy on him." His smirk widens, raising goosebumps against my skin.
He wants to see this happen... there is nothing more obvious. With that, Troy barges past Finn, knocking back his shoulder, and then continues on as he disappears down the corridor. Finn stands there looking concerned... worrying his lips as he glares vacantly about, his mind somewhere else. And he seems so focused... His plan hadnt quite worked... He brings his eyes to slowly meet mine, and they begin to search deeply to see how I felt. His eyes turn soft slowly, trying to be reassuring... bring some comfort... but Im unsure as to how he would understand how shook Troy had actually made me feel. But even so, he forces a smile, to let me know we were ok. I find my hand curling to the sleeve of his hoodie, wishing he would put his arms around me and keep me from stumbling on my feet. And its as if he had read my mind, sliding an arm around my waist, keeping me close, keeping me from falling out of balance.
"It's ok." He whispers. "Troy's pissed for now. But things won't get worse... he'll eventually cool down." He says softly, giving my hand a reassuring sqeeze with his other hand. His gaze, his words, they make my heart ease into the comfort of him... and all I want to do is nothing more than to plant my face into his side... I want to hide into him. The thought of him... the thought of how he cares... my heart pounds in my chest like a drum.. why did every touch make me want Finn more? But no matter what... i have to remind myself, I have no choice.. I cant have him... no matter what... His not mine to keep...And he will never be. Because even if by a small chance he did feel what I felt for him, there were to many things that would keep us apart... the fact he cherishes his friendship with Troy for one. Isaac, the other. But as I look up at him as we walk down the hall, I find myself wishing the same thoughts... again. And again.