Abandon Me

September 20: Try not to explode while babysitting the brat✅

"Going to see the old lady tomorrow? I'm pretty sure she always hated me," Vinnie commented with a chuckle.

"My grandma never hated you. Just mildly disliked you," I replied. I had to raise my voice a little because the school hallways were extra noisy. "She got the wrong impression of you after I broke my arm."

"I know, right! She thought it was my fault for years even though you clearly told her it was an accident. Apparently, you thought it was my fault too, until I was all romantic." I didn't know why he brought that part up. I guess he wanted to rub it in my face that I had a crush on him.

I smiled thinking back on the not-so-traumatizing part of that memory. "We were eight, you had no clue what romance was."

"True, but I was still charming as hell," he said as he nudged my shoulder, wanting me to agree.

"Yeah, yeah. You're still a big flirt, just like always," I teased.

"Whoa! Vin, look at the view, I can see my house from here!"

"I don't like climbing this huge tree, it's scary."

"Get down then. I'm staying up here for a while."

The last part of the memory was cute, but it made me feel uneasy thinking about falling out of the tree. I just remember the touch of Vinnie's hand on my back, then everything went dark.

"Sam, wake up! Wake up!"

"Vinnie? My arm hurts really, really bad."

"I'm glad you're awake. I think your arm is broken."

"Did you push me?"

"No! I was trying to get down like you said and slipped. My hand reached you instead of the branch. I'm sorry, I messed up."

"I don't believe you, liar!"

"Do you still have that dumb bracelet I gave you as an apology?" He asked, trying to make the question seem as casual as possible.

I shrugged. "It's probably around my room somewhere," I lied. I would die of embarrassment if I told Vinnie that it was one of the few things I brought to my new house.

"You won't even let me sign your cast?"

"My grandma says I shouldn't be friends with you anymore."

"It was an accident, I swear. Here, I got you a bracelet."

"I don't like jewelry."

"But you like me, right? Just take it."

"Fine."

"Are you still my friend?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, I need a favor, and I don't know who else I can ask." He quit smiling, so it must've been important.

"What is it?"

He slowed down his walking pace. "I need some cash. You're the only person I trust with this. I can't tell you exactly what it's for, but it's not something I can easily blow off."

"You didn't even tell me how much money you want," I pointed out.

He was about to talk but we both heard some commotion down the hall. "50 bucks," he said quickly before we focused our attention on the crowd of people.

I was distracted by the noise, so I urged Vinnie to walk away. "Let's just go, these fights are never interesting anyways. Besides, isn't the girl yelling a stupid freshman?" I stood on my tip toes, trying to see the other person in the argument, despite wanting to leave. "These damn heads are in the way!"