Haunted

c h i p p e r

✫ ༒ Joey ༒ ✫

"How are you feeling now, Shan?" I asked from across the table at the chipper, "Any better?"

"I'm okay, Joe," She replied in a whisper.

On the way to school this morning Ciara Maloney and Hannah Daly had jumped her. I wasn't with her because I'd hung back to have a smoke.

And I should've fucking been there.

They had accused Shannon of being with Ciara's fella, which I knew was total bullshit. Shannon never even glanced at the opposite sex.

"Just eat another five chips," I coaxed, "I won't ask for any more than five."

"I'm not anorexic, Joe," She tucked her hair behind her ears, "I'm just....not well."

We handled our stress in different ways. Where she starved herself, I self-medicated. But I still wanted to help. I wanted to fix it all for her.

"Do you think they'll leave me alone now?" She asked, taking a bite of her chip, "Do you think that'll be the end of it now that we've made a statement to the Gards?"

No.

"Yeah, Shan," I tried to give her a reassuring smile, "The Gards are going to go over to Ciara's house and give her a right good talking-to. It's going to get better. I promise."

The word promise instantly perked her up.

"Talk to me about something else," She muttered, "Something that's not depressing."

"Like what, Shan?"

"That girl," She smiled, "Gabriella."

"Gabby?" I took a bite of my burger, "What do you want to know?"

"She's really pretty, Joe," Shannon looked at me intently.

"Yeah," I nodded, "She is."

"Like she's seriously beautiful," She continued.

I knew that already.
Everyone knew that.

"Are you two dating?" Shannon asked.

"No. We are just friends."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why aren't you dating her?" She grinned cheekily.

Because I'll ruin her life.

"I guess because we are good as friends," I shrugged, making up some bullshit to satisfy my little sister.

"She seems smart," She pointed out, "And kind."

"She is," I nodded.

"Do you have a crush on her?" Shannon giggled.

"I'm not a twelve year old girl, Shan. I don't get crushes," I chuckled.

She rolled her eyes and shoved another chip into her mouth.