With Me | Chris Sturniolo

5.

I couldn't get Chris' words out of my head.

It was 2 on Saturday afternoon, and I had no idea what was going on with Matt. I didn't have my phone and even if I did, I'm too afraid to call anyone, and I'm afraid to tell my Mom I lost it.

Every time someone gets close to me, they get hurt. This is why I'm supposed to keep my head down, but no, I needed to have friends.

If my Mom finds out about Matt, she'll freak out and I'd get a lecture. See, I warned you, she'd say. You shouldn't be involved with these people, Sabrina. Keep your distance or they'll get hurt. The people around you get hurt.

She wouldn't be wrong. My last best friend was hit over the head with a weapon and that's not something you wait forget.

Moping in bed, I debated going to see Matt or not a dozen times. At the top of the cons list is what worried me the most, finding out he hates me. Right now, by not going, I can live in denial for a while longer. Hurting him is like kicking a puppy and I can't face the fact his eyes would fill with hate when he saw me.

When the doorbell rang, I barely opened it before Callie pushed it in the rest of the way and walked in.

"Why haven't you answered your phone? And why does it look like you haven't moved from bed since yesterday?"

"I lost it" I said, leading her into the house. "And because I haven't"

"Why?" Callie sat down on the couch opposite me and crossed her legs.

"It's my fault he's in the hospital"

"What? No it's not, Sabrina-"

"It is"

"No, really. It's not. You didn't do anything that-"

"If I handled things with Josh differently, or not punched that guy when he went for Matt, or not gone at all, if I did something differently, things would be different"

"Stop interrupting me!" Callie looked at me sternly. "You're new so let me explain how things work. Those guys have never gotten along. They've been fighting since freshman year. Whether you went or not, a fight would've happened. It goes back to some rivalry between Chris and a guy named Justin. You just happened to be the thing they decided to fight over. It's not your fault"

She took a deep breath and I stared at her.

"People told me what happened between you and that Josh guy" she continued. "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, but I know he slapped you and started choking you before Chris pulled him off. That wasn't your fault, okay?" She finished her rant and stood up. "Get your sorry ass up, go shower and get dressed. Matt's awake and we're going to see him"

I looked at her with wide eyes and slowly stood up. I threw my arms around her and she hugged me back. "Thank you"

"What are friends for? No moping! Now let's go before visiting hours are over"

On our way there, I realise something and looked at Callie. "I thought you hated them?"

"They're not bad" she said, taking her eyes off the road.

"They're starting to grow on me too"

"I guess in his own way, Chris isn't bad either" she admitted

I gasped. "What? Has the alcohol damaged your brain? Should you be driving? This isn't good-"

"Shut up" she laughed. "He pulled that guy off you. He beat up six guys by himself to protect you. When they went for you, he pulled you behind him. I'm saying I don't hate the fact Chris was at the party"