Umber In Level 8

+Chapter Sixteen+

"What now?" I asked, annoyed.

Gislea blew her nose. "Remember that?" She pointed to something inside my locker. [A/N: No, I totallydidn't accidentally write "she pointed to something in me locker." XD /sar]

I followed where she was pointing. Inside my locker were photos that I'd forgotten to remove. There were pictures of me and Ruy. Pictures of me and Gisela. Only one of the photos caught my eye: a photo of me and Gisela at 10 years old, smiling happily at the camera. That day felt so long ago.

"Yeah," I said, making sure I put no emotion into the words. "Why do you ask?"

Another tear traced down Gisela's cheek. "Remember... Remember when we were friends?"

A lump formed in my throat, but I refused to give in. I would not cry in front of everyone. "Yes."

"When did that change? Why did that change?"

"Uh, in case you don't remember, you went after Dorky Trix. The whole thing was your fault!"

Gisela's eyes hardened with anger. "No, it was your fault. You're so controlling! I should be able to date anyone I want, but no! You need to control my every move."

"I can't have one of my friends dating someone like Dorky Trix! That would've destroyed my reputation!" I yelled back.

"No, you were just jealous. You were the one with the feelings over Claude!"

I gaped at her. How could she have seen right through me? "I don't know what you're talking about," I lied.

"Oh, yes you do. Even now, you continue to lie to me."

I barked a laugh. "You act like we've made up already."

"I'm the one trying to fix things between us. You just keep pushing me away."

"Well, maybe I don't want to be friends anymore," I said, lifting my chin.

"Why? Over a guy?" Gisela rolled her eyes.

"No, over betrayal."

"Well, I'm not taking that for an answer. We will be friends again. I don't care what it takes."

"Well I wish you luck." I stormed off, leaving Gisela behind. If Gislea hoped for us to be friends again, she could try. But I was done with her.

+++

It was lunch, and Trix was nowhere in sight. If I'm being honest, I was getting kind of worried. I always saw Claude before lunch came.

After poking around the halls for a bit– and waiting at his locker for a ridiculous amount of time– I gave up looking and decided to ask around. Someone had to know where he was.

"Do you know where Claude Trix is?" I asked someone who looked dorky enough to be his friend.

The guy raised his eyebrows. "Uh, why? Aren't you–"

"Do you know where he is?" I interrupted.

"Yeah, last I saw him he was crying in the bathroom?"

"Crying?" I asked, making sure I heard him right. Why was everyone crying today?

"Yeah. Something big must be going on." The guy said as he left.

Shrugging to myself, I headed to the boy's bathroom. Was I going to go in there? Yes, I was.