Look At Me Now

Chapter 11

"It's a shame you had to leave early, Eve," Heather said with a small smile. "I mean the party was for you. Couldn't your brother have given you a break?"

"I know," I said with the wave of my hand, setting down my soda can. "He's just so controlling. I don't get it. The party was so loud I didn't notice I'd gotten a text from him—or a phone call—so of course he's got to come barging in and drag me home." I'd come up with that story without much of an issue. I mean it wasn't really a full out lie. Although I did notice the text and I did reply. He still came and dragged me away.

"My brother says that he was a total ass," Kale said before shoving a ketchup dipped french-fry into his mouth.

"How would your brother know?" Asked Emilia.

"They work together. Plus, Evie here was with Paul when Gabriel found her. You should tell him to watch his attitude. Paul can snap his fingers to get the guy fired—or worse."

The nickname made me feel gross, but I shoved the feelings aside and met Kale's eyes. "He doesn't mean any real harm. He's just trying to look out for me. I'm all he has left and he doesn't want me to get hurt."

"That doesn't mean he has to be an ass to my brother," Kale said, his eyebrows pushing together.

I sighed. "Look, at the party he thought Paul was trying to...take advantage of me. I know he wasn't—and Gabe does now too—so he's over it. But I'll talk to him," I replied. I would talk to him. As much as I hated Kale and Paul I knew that Gabe needed to calm down or else we'd be done for.

Kale nodded and sent me a wink. "Thanks."

"So how old is your brother anyway?" Kayla asked, twirling her hair around her finger.

"Too old for you," Emilia replied dryly.

Lance pointed at Kayla as he took a sip of water. "She thinks your brother is hot," he said as he put the cap back on his water bottle.

Kayla's cheeks flamed red and she gaped between Lance and I. "N-no that's not it at all. I was just—I was just...ugh never mind."

I looked over at Heather, who was covering her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter. Her eyes met mine and the laughter bubbled out—urging mine as well. It suddenly felt like old times again and I realized how much I'd missed my best friend. I felt my throat tighten and my laughter died down. My eyes burned and I could feel tears threatening to fall. I patted my pocket, as though my phone was buzzing. "I'll be right back."

I rushed to the nearest girl's bathroom and made sure no one was there. I went into the handicapped stall and released my tears. They rolled down my cheeks large and warm. I covered my mouth with my hand and my other hand went to my stomach. This was the kind of crying that hurt. It made it hard to breath. I pulled out my phone and immediately called Gabriel. I needed him to shut up my tears.

"Is everything ok?" was how he answered.

"N-no." My voice was off and practically soundless. But he heard it.

"What's wrong? Did he try something—"

"No—No, Gabe. I miss me," I forced out.

"Come again?"

"I..." the door to the bathroom opened. "I'll talk to you later."  Two voices carried into the rest of the room and I held my hand over my mouth tightly to silence my tears.

"She looks just like her," said one girl.

"I know it's freaky. Like that whole 'everyone has a twin' thing," said the other.

"Yeah," breathed the first. "Oh, Amber do you think this lip gloss is a good color on me?"

"Absolutely," Amber replied. "Oh, Casey, did you see that girl get dragged from the party by that guy."

"Yes. From what I hear it's her brother," Casey said.

"Oh I would hate to have that sexy man as my brother. I mean for one, he's the type of guy I'd rather make-out with than grow up with. And secondly, he seems way too controlling. Like seriously, lay off."

I bit my lip as I listened to them continue on for a few more minutes like that before they finally left the bathroom. Once they did my tears had stopped and I walked out to the sinks. I ran my hands under the water and splashed some on my face. The redness from my tears had faded and my breathing was back to normal. I made my way back to the cafeteria.

The others looked at me expectantly as I sat down. "My brother," I said gently. "He was just checking to see if my day was going alright."

Kale rolled his eyes. "Can't the dude trust you to make it through the school day alive?"

I shrugged. "Apparently not." I felt bad blaming that on Gabriel but I didn't have a better excuse.