Lost in Love

Chapter 13 - Bullies

I head back into the hall and look to find Bella, "where did you go?"
"I'm in here," I turn to my room, and see her in my closet.
I start laughing, leaning on the door frame, "whatcha doing?"
She turns and smiles at me, while taking off her sweater.
"You know Ryan is still waiting outside, right?"
"Yup," she pulls one of my hoodies on instead, "just needed a different sweater."
I put my head into my hands, "you're a dork."
She grins and scrunches up her nose at me.
"So, what do you say, we take some of this money that my parents left and go gets some drinks?"
"Sure."
We stop off at a cafe and order drinks for the three of us and Ryan's parents.
"Ry, are you sure it's a good idea to get coffee?"
"Yup, because you're gonna help me get it into my room for me."
"Oh am I now?"
"Please," he tries to 'beg' a lot, which I just let him have it—even through he's terrible at it.
"Fine, I'm still getting tea though."
"Of course, we just need to switch what we've got when we get into the house."
"Yeah, I know."
I notice a few people walk in that I recognize from school, but I just brush it off. Ryan goes over to the pick up area and starts waiting for our drinks. Bella moves closer to me.
"This shouldn't take long, right?"
"It shouldn't, no. Why?" I thank the barista and start walking with Bella to where Ry is.
"Just wondering," I can see her fidgeting, which is strange.
When I glance around the cafe, I realize who it was that walked in. Class A bullies, in other words, Bella's old friends.
I reach and put my arm around Bella, keeping an eye on the other people. She leans into me, but continues fidgeting. I start tracing my thumb along her arm, when our drinks are done.
We begin to head out when a couple of them turn around.
"Didn't realize this place served freaks."
I know Ryan wants to say something, but he keeps quiet, walking on the other side of Bella. I'm standing closest to the other people, not wanting to deal with any of the problems that follow them.
"Oh, come on. You guys are really just going to ignore us?"
I push the door open and let the other two head out first, before following. I want so badly to flip them off or say something, but I don't want Bella to get anymore upset.
Once we've turned the corner and have got a little ways up, I can hear them come out of the cafe. They don't try to be quiet and continue to run their mouths with comments and slurs. I keep my arm around Bella and just keep heading to Ryan's.
Eventually, Ryan looks at Bella, "are you okay?"
I didn't want to ask her, because I didn't want to put her on the spot, when I knew she was already uncomfortable.
"Mhmm," she nods, and I know that's not the case.
When we get back to the house, Ryan and I switch cups then head in.
"There you are, I was about to text you."
"Sorry, Mrs. Jeffery, we ran by my house to see if my parents had left and then," I pause for a moment, and notice Bella heading downstairs, "then we got drinks for everyone."
"You didn't have to do that."
"It was no trouble really," I head upstairs and give them theirs.
"So, are they home?"
"No, they finally left."
"Well, that's good then."
"Yeah. As much as I love staying here, I'm pretty excited to be back home."
"That's completely understandable," she heads back into the living room, "thanks again hun."
"Of course."
Once she's out of sight Ryan and I trade back. He starts to head to his room, and I know I need to go downstairs.
The bedroom door is mostly shut, but the light is on. Bella is laying on the bed facing away from the door. I set my cup down on the dresser and sit on the bed behind her.
"Sorry that I-"
I hate doing it, but I have to cut her off, "you don't have to apologize, for anything."
" I feel bad that I didn't say anything to Mrs. Jeffery when we came in."
"It's fine. No one is upset about that."
She just lays there, and I don't want to do anything that will be me stepping over a line.
"I feel silly, being upset over this."
"Bella, you are aloud to be upset, and you have every right to be."
She finally turns toward me, but still won't look at me.
My mind begins to think more, "have they said that kind of stuff to you before, at class and stuff?"
She sits for a moment, then let's a slight nod come, still not looking at me.
I can feel myself getting more and more pissed off with them.
"When have they-" I pause for a second, "what have they said to you?"
"It's nothing, it's fine."
"Bella, it's not nothing," I'm trying really hard not to let the anger flow into my voice.
I realize she's practically reiterating to me, exactly what I said to her after lunch with what happened with the boys. The difference is, for me, I've been dealing with this for years, and have come to terms with it, that's why I just don't care, and I keep going with whatever I was doing before. For her, these were her friends. These were people who were a part of her life. Which is why I'm saying it's not "nothing."
I lay back, into the pillows and let myself silently sigh.
She sits up long enough to move and put her head on my chest.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For the fact that they are treating you like this."
"It's not your fault."
"It's because of our relationship that any of this is happening to you."
She shifts, "that still doesn't make it your fault. I didn't have to come out, but I chose to because I wanted this."
As I'm about to continue, there's a knock on the door, Ryan opens it enough to talk, "mom wanted to let you know that foods done."
"Okay, thanks, we'll probably be up in a bit."
"Okay."
I turn my head back away from the door, "do you want to go eat?"
"I'm really not hungry."
"Okay," I start running my hands through her hair.
"When are we going back to your house?"
"I was thinking we'd leave tomorrow morning, but we can leave tonight, if you want?"
"No, tomorrow's fine, I was just curious."
"Hey, make me a promise?"
"What's that?"
"Promise that you'll tell me if they say something like that to you again."
"Only if you promise not to do anything."
I hesitate for a moment, but I'd rather know when it happens and not be aloud to say anything to them, than not knowing, "promise."
"Then, I promise too."