Are You Afraid of Musicals?

Chapter 2.4: Change

Gabby's pov:

-You said you wanted to talk. I'm listening.-

The moment those words are out of my mouth I can immediately see the change.

Just like last night, her expression becomes unreadable, her body straightens and suddenly she's her usual self.

-I just want to know where my car is.- she flatly says, as if it was the most obvious thing in this world.

Well, no.

I've seen her doing this last night and I know that it's just a facade. It's actually impressive how good she is at keeping appearances, like she's been doing it all her life, which's also a bit concerning.

But I'm not letting her get away with this so  I cross my arms and I look directly at her with an unimpressed expression.

-Drop the act Dani, there's no one watching.-

She completely ignores me but I know that I hit something inside her. That scary passive aggressive tone that makes even the teachers let her get away with whatever she wants, present in her voice as she talks.

-You're going to tell me where it is Gabby.-

That voice might work every time, but not today. I'm not backing up, so I just stay how I am, arms crossed and waiting for her to drop the mean girl facade, which is already trembling.

She's not being able to fully pull it, just like last night I can see her tiredness and discomfort through her eyes, but she keeps trying to hide it.

It's actually hard for me to be so cold with her when I know that she's struggling. Everything inside me is telling me to back down and help her somehow, but I need to be strong so what happened last night don't happen again. She can't keep doing this to herself.

After a few seconds of just looking at each other she realizes that I'm not going to tell her anything and she sighs, as she rubs her temple with her hand.

-Look, we're talking about a $300K car, I really need to go get it.- she says, her normal  voice coming back but she's still a bit annoyed.

-That sounds like a lot of money to lose for a simple "sorry"- I answer flatly, looking at her completely unimpressed.

Maybe fighting fire with more fire is not the best idea, but at least I have to try.

She looks taken aback for a second and then she pushes it back, not letting it show.

I expect her to snap back at me, but she just stops looking at me as she takes a deep breath.

-I just wanted Taylor off my back, ok?- she says, her tired and raspy voice showing up again.

She's not able to meet my eyes as she says it, her expression hiding something underneath, maybe guilt? Regret?

But I can't stop myself before answering, cold, sharp and a bit louder than I intended.

-By throwing me directly under the bus?-

Now she meets my gaze, I can see the hurt into her eyes before she hides it again.

-Well yeah, I'm the raging bitch that would betray her friends just to get what she wants, shocker!-

What she says hits me like a slap. I'm silent, my eyes trying to find hers but she quickly looks away every time. I know she already regrets what she said, but it's too late.

There's something in the way she said it that keeps echoing into my head, making my heart ache. She said it believing every single word, mocking herself.