Finding 4

Chapter 23

Marley

"I heard that they've been boning since her first week here, and that's why that Mason dude cheated." The whispers from behind me become louder and louder as the two girls behind me gossip.

"I heard that he got her pregnant and that's why they're being so secretive."

They're talking about Callum and I. I'd be lying if I said that the rumors going around didn't panic me. If Keely, or Tierny hears these, and then they question me? Oh I'd be screwed. I can't lie to them, not when they've already found out about it.

Not even that, but my entire reputation could be ruined. Normally I'm not one to care what people think about me...until they think I'm a cheater. I can't imagine people thinking that about me, because it was the worst feeling in the world watching that video of Mason and Emily.

But, life will move on. It's not like I'm staying in Ireland past graduation, and in the mean time, this is just more gossip that will blow over like dust in the wind.

"Yeah but I don't blame the girl," another whisper joins in. "I mean seriously, if Callum Lynch gave you the chance, you're saying that you wouldn't take it?"

"Oh I absolutely would ride him if he asked me to." One of the girls snickers.

I'd be lying if I said a small smile didn't appear on my face from that comment.

"I bet he's giving her the therapy she needs." And there goes my smile.

"Oh yeah," one of the girls whispers. "Her mam died over the summer. I heard it was tragic."

"Why don't you take what you heard and shove it up your ass," Niall says to them, placing his backpack down next to the desk and lowering down into the seat.

All three of the girls go silent, looking at the large boy with wide eyes.

"Thanks," I smile slightly at him.

He sighs and gives me a sympathetic smile. "Anytime Barbie."

I laugh.

Niall actually made me laugh. "Barbie?"

"Well yeah. You look like Barbie." He shrugs. "Can't say you act like her though."

The smile stays on my face as I add "How do you know about Barbie?"

"Kennedy." He says plainly.

"Kennedy?" Why does that name sound familiar?

"Callum's little sister," he pulls out his notebook and sets it on the desk in front of him. "She's obsessed with the tv show they made."

I watch as he opens the spiral notebook, and flips to an empty page. Except as soon as the teacher starts talking, and writes down an equation on the board to solve, he just stares at it like a lost child.

A sudden urge of realization fills over me, and I pick up my pencil.

"You have to add the nine to the sixteen." I write down the linear equation on my paper and scoot closer to him. "Can you do that?"

An ashamed look comes on his face as he stares at the paper. After a moment he finally whispers, "it just takes me a minute."

"That's okay," I say softly. "Take your time. Plus, it's algebra. You can use a calculator, they don't care if you know your math, really."

He looks up at me, his eyes bright. A small smile falls over his face and I pass him my calculator. He types in the numbers and then writes it down on his paper. I explain the rest of the solution to him, and when he gets the answer he smiles at me again.

"I've never solved a linear equation."

"No?" I tilt my head slightly.

Geez, this school is supposed to be one of the best. His parents are paying for a good education, yet he's still not receiving it.

"The teachers gave up a long time ago," he shrugs.

"Well," I lean back in my seat. "I won't give up on you."

Niall smiles at me again, "I don't see how Callum hates you."

I bite back a laugh.

"You're a good person."

I chuckle slightly, but his words put a small flutter of hope inside of me. "Thanks Niall."

"Anytime, Barbie."

<>

"I love buzz," Elijah says, his eyes fixed on the tv that is currently playing Toy Story.

"Me too," Kennedy adds in a more prominent tone. "He's so handsome."

Brody bursts out into laughter and Callum rubs his face. "Jesus help us."

I chuckle slightly, and then zone out everyone else to listen to the conversation that the adults are having in the kitchen. I know it's more serious than ours, because they haven't even broke out the beers or the wine.

"I just don't know what to do," dad says, sounding stressed. "I'm worried about her."

Her?

"She'll come around." That's Tadgh. "Trust me, one of these days she'll feel comfortable enough to open up. You just have to give it time."

"It's been three months." Dad adds.

"Don't stress it, Chris." Maeve says sweetly. "Emotion is a hard thing to deal with, especially as a teenage girl who's just lost her mam."

They're talking about me! And my emotions! Traitors!

"It took me almost two years," Tadgh offers. "She will be just fine. Don't worry too much over it."

I can hear dad sigh and the kitchen is silent for a moment before the fridge opens. "Want some booze?"

I huff and cross my arms, leaning back into the couch.

He's worried about me.

I'm stressing him out.

No, shut up.

I'm hurting him more than he already is.

Shut up, you stupid brain.

Putting more food on his plate when it's already overflowing.

I need it to stop. The thoughts, they have to stop.

And there's only one way I know to stop it.