Trouble Times Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Wednesday

Now that people knew that I could bark and bite, they avoided me like the plague. I guess that's what I wanted.

I could tell that Lola was still pissed off with Donovan, so when she sat down at the table Courtney, Arthur and I sat down at, I wasn't too surprised.

There's a weird, awkward silence until she decides to speak.

"I don't know how you do it. If you want, you're free to come to my exchange house to spend the night with my exchange family and I." She is definitely not angry but upset.

"What's going on? You're upset." I say as I give everyone a little bit of my doritos, including Lola, who I know loves them.

She munches on them sadly.

"Thank you. He just doesn't tell me what's going on anymore, doesn't answer my calls, doesn't respond to my texts, he's ALWAYS drinking and smoking and you know what, he's rude now. He's always been a little bit catty but he's a straight dick now and I miss my best friend." She holds her head in her hands and Courtney pats her on the back.

"I don't really know how he's coping since the incident but it can't be good." Arthur says and Lola's head shoots up.

"Incident?" Lola asks and I watch as tears well up in her eyes as we explain what happens. She sniffs and tries to hold back her tears but it's not going very well. Her voice cracks. "He didn't even trust me enough to tell him."

I stand up and look around for Donovan and find him already with the 'popular' kids.

I tap him on the shoulder and he turns around with a smile. When he sees that it's me, it falters.

"Come with me." I say but he laughs and shakes his head. The rest of the table laughs.

"Ooooh he's in trouble with the boring girl." A really annoying guy says. I mean I don't even know who this is.

"Kick rocks pissboy." I grab Donovan's arm and whisper in his ear. "If Lola leaves this school more upset than when she came in, I guarantee there won't be anyone entering the apartment again. If you can't treat your best friend right then how can you treat anyone else right?"

"You can't manage that or guarantee that." He says.

"Oh trust me, I can." I let go of him and walk away, because he's made his decision.

I sit back down and eat what I can of my food and offer Arthur the rest of it.

I wish I could eat more because if I did go to restaurants, I'd be wasting money. I didn't really go to restaurants much. I'd like to go more.

Maybe if I ever get into a relationship, my boyfriend would take me on a date. Honestly? I'd love that.

I didn't think a relationship would ever be in the near future.

It just made me kind of sad, because I wanted that. I wanted to mean something to someone.

Sure I'd messed around a lot but I was just at a point in life, where I was very vulnerable. I was vulnerable to the point where I was drinking and smoking my life away.

I was sleeping with, mainly other 14 year olds, but men did take advantage of me. I had no parents or support system to guide me through that. But if I'd had any of that anymore, I would never have gotten to this stage anymore.

Suddenly, I went from adoring the idea of a big family, to hating it because I was shunned by one.

As much I love my family, I couldn't stay around them and that's why I ended up moving out.

The Shepherd's were such nice people but they made uncomfortable at the worst of times because my mind was still poisoned, and my heart still hurt from all the terrible memories.

"It will be okay. You will be okay. The two of you will be okay. Something, and if not, someone, will come and help him out of this rut. That's all it is. A rut." Seeing Lola was upset isn't something that should bother me, especially considering we haven't really had a relationship. I think I was feeling the same thing as her though, somehow.

"Yeah. That person is you." She says it quietly but I still hear.

Arthur and Courtney pretend they don't hear it but I saw their faces.

"What?" I ask.

"Oh. Nothing." Lola responds.

"No. Not nothing." Arthur says. "I genuinely think you and Shepherd could be a good couple. It's not you right now, it's him."

"How long have you thought this?" I ask and he gives me a look.

"Now that. That is a look that makes me think that there is more to this story." Lola nods at Courtney's statement and I look at them sheepishly.

"There is more to the story. There always is with Gia. That's why she's such an enigma." Arthur stuffs some food into his mouth to stop himself from talking more. He chews it and swallows it pretty quick. "This, is definitely not my story to tell and I stay true to my words, always. Oh and let me clarify. I don't expect you to fix him, because that is far from your job. That's no one's job but his own. I just mean that you guys actually sitting down and having a civil conversation, which again, not your fault that you can't have that, would be deeply beneficial to both of you."

I turn to Lola and Courtney, bring the conversation back to the look. " By the way, I kinda have to tell the story to Donovan first before I could even fathom telling you guys so it's not happening. Not for now and not ever probably." I turn around and look at where Donovan is sitting, he's laughing and smiling. He turns back to look at me.

I look to Lola who's staring at him and then look back at him.

When she sees him look at her, her eyes shift downwards, her eyes well with unshed tear and then she stands up and walks away.

I turn back around and make sure he sees me.

"Dick." I mouth before turning back and we all get up, grab our stuff and Lola's and make sure she's okay.