𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓 | gavin, boo bitch

iii. i've always been a sweetheart

"MRS. RUIZ, CAN I TALK TO XIOMARA PLEASE?" gavin stood at the ruiz's front door.

"mijo, hi. i didn't know you and xiomara were still friends?" the woman smiled politely, knowing damn well that they weren't.

whenever xiomara had any type of drama going on in her life (or knew any drama from school) her mom would be the first person she would tell.

"um-well, not exactly. but i'm trying to work things out."

"oh, i'm sure xiomara would be happy to hear that. but she hasn't been home since saturday."

"what, really? she was at school today."

"oh! that's good to hear that she's okay!" she let out a sigh of relief, "tomorrow, could you please tell her to come home?"

"of course, mrs ruiz. bye then, have a nice day."

"you too."

—

LATER THAT DAY, JUST AFTER THE SUN SET, GAVIN SPOTTED XIOMARA SITTING UNDERNEATH THE TREE IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE. she looked unusually sad, and gavin was surprised that she was even sitting on the ground. she used to even hate being outside at all because of all the bugs and dirt.

"hey," he approached her cautiously.

"what?" her voice came out harsh.

"so you went home? your mom was worried about you."

"you're talking to my mom now?" the dark-haired girl laughed, as though that was hysterical.

"i was wanting to talk to you."

"mhm," xiomara was about to come up with a snarky remark, but decided against it. she thought that she should stop being childish and holding grudges, because what's the point anyway if she's dead?

plus, gavin is pretty much the only person (that she knows of) that can see her, so why drive him away again?

"do you believe in ghosts?"

the boy nodded, "yep. i can even talk to them sometimes."

xiomara was about to laugh at him, until she remembered that she was talking to him.

"and before you laugh, i'm being so serious." gavin chuckled.

"i wasn't going to laugh."

"yes, you were." gavin laughed, "i could see it on your face."

"whatever, gav." she rolled her eyes playfully, the nickname that she once called him all those years ago returning like an only friends. quite literally.

gavin smiled at the nickname, taking a seat next to her.

"getting a little too comfortable there." xiomara scooted further away from him.

"right," gavin chuckled lightly, "i'm sorry for-"

"i forgive you," xiomara said quickly.

"okay," gavin nodded slowly, preparing himself for the beating the xiomara was sure to give him.

she never apologized for anything.

except for one time in the sixth grade when gavin ate her last mozzarella stick, and she forgave him, only to give him a black eye two seconds later.

"why you look so surprised?"

"i'm not, i'm not."

"are you seriously still on about sixth grade?" the girl laughed.

"you would be too if you were me!" gavin defended, laughing.

"no i wouldn't. because, unlike you, i forgive people."

gavin laughed even harder, until realizing that xiomara wasn't laughing with him, "oh, you're being serious?"

"yes! i literally just forgave you, dude."

"yeah, after like three years."

"forgiveness is forgiveness."

"since when'd you get nice?"

"what do you mean?" the girl gasped dramatically, putting a hand on her chest, "i've always been a sweetheart."

"to who?"

"you, whore."

"wow, words hurt, xiomara." gavin shook his head playfully.

"wait!" xiomara suddenly stood up, "remember when we were like seven and you kept calling me x-man and you convinced the whole class to call me that too?"

"oh," gavin clapped his hands together, standing up as well, "yes! i almost forgot about that."

"you were so annoying back then. and still are now."

"i still wonder how i put up with your negativity."

"bitch what. i'm the most positive person that you know probably."

"so we're lying now?"

"shut up."

"yes sir,"

xiomara glared at him.

"i mean ma'am."