The Before and After Project (An Emblem3 Fanfiction)

Chapter 23

Gabby’s POV:

I had fallen asleep on my bed whilst looking through my photo albums, my body hunched over it almost as if I was protecting it when Keaton nudged me. My eyes flew open and I sat bolt upright into a sitting position again. I groaned in pain as the uncomfortable position of my slumber started to show its damage on my back.

“Morning Keats…” I grumbled, my voice sounding hoarse because I still wasn’t fully awake yet...and also because of the pain I was in.

“Morning sleepyhead, thanks for ditching me last night” he huffed. I smiled sheepishly at him. “Anyway, we have school in like an hour, I just wanted to see if you were going…”

“Of course I’m going!” I jumped up from my position, inhaling sharply from the pain and then carrying on with what I was doing as if it was nothing. I chucked some clothes around trying to find a suitable outfit for school, about to take my top off before realising that Keaton was still in the room. “uh Keaton?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you mind letting me get changed in private?”

“Oh…uh…right, of course…bye!!” he mumbled awkwardly and stumbled out of my room. I chuckled softly to myself. How could you not love that kid? He was just so adorable.

I finished getting ready. Things like eating, brushing my teeth and doing my hair took me no time at all anymore. Now that I was officially done with Kaylee’s stupid project I didn’t give a crap about what people thought of my looks. Sure I still had the new hair and I kinda admit that I like it out, but I wasn’t going to spend time putting it in a fancy do. Plus without having to put on unnecessary makeup it saved me so much more time than usual.

Everyone’s got their insecurities, but right now if people didn’t like the way I looked then they weren’t worth my time. I want to hang out with people who like me for who I am, not what I look like.

“Ready Keats?” I chirped, my mood picking up considerably for some unknown reason. I should be gloomy as hell right now, but something about being free from the project put a gigantic smile on my face and gave me the feeling that today would be a good day.

“Yup!” he exclaimed popping the “p”. He looked me up and down and smiled. “I like this version of you better, it’s more you…the other look was too…stereotypical Barbie…” he chuckled and I grinned at him.

“Thanks…I think” I laughed and ruffled his hair, dragging him along to my car.

“Can we pick up Macy? She missed her bus and is only like a five minute drive from here…” he trailed off and looked away embarrassed as he saw my taunting look.

“Course we can! So, you’ve got a bit of a crush on her then aye? Tell me what you like about her…” I giggled, as his face turned bright red.

“Please don’t be like Wes and tease me in front of her…” he groaned. My heart immediately dropped at the mention of his name but I tried to brush the feeling away by plastering a smile on my face.

“Aww, I would never do that!” I gasped, pretending that I was shocked at the thought. He rolled his eyes and the rest of the trip was just him giving me directions to her house and completely avoiding my questions.

“Thanks for the lift Gabby!” Macy exclaimed and jumped into the car eagerly. “Sup Keaton!” she grinned a slight rosiness sprinkled across her cheeks. Aw, cute.

“No problem, Keaton was practically begging me to give you a lift anyway, so…” I trailed off as Keaton punched me in the arm. “OW!” I shrieked, desperately trying to keep my eyes on the road instead of getting distracted. “You little twerp” I muttered and stuck my tongue out at him childishly.