Are You Afraid of Musicals?

Chapter 2.8: Broken Bond

Gabby's pov:

I'm standing in front of my locker, leaving there the books I don't need, as I wait for my friends to go together to the cafeteria.

After Jave's failed attempt of messing with me a few weeks ago, I'm being more careful and I try not to go alone to the cafeteria. I know he's just going to insult me or something like that, but I'd rather to avoid it anyway.

As I wait, a few guys of the soccer team wave at me, and I return the greeting with a smile.

Since I played with them the first time, some of them started being very friendly towards me and now I'm kind of cool I guess.

Now practically everyone knows that I play soccer and that I'm friends with some of the guys on the men's team, which increased my popularity and now, the majority of the bullies are staying away from me.

Everything is going nice and my anxiety is doing quite better since my talk with Dani a few days ago.

I was scared that she would see me differently after... seeing that part of me, but if she does, she's not letting it show. I'd actually say that we're closer than ever.

I don't know how to describe it, but I can say that something has changed.

I've been hanging out with her and her friends for almost three weeks now, and I'm learning a lot about their dinamics. She's a completely different person when she's alone with the people she trusts, she's still Dani and she sticks to her character, but I can see how she lets loose a little bit more.

She's funny, a bit messy and she loves to flirt with her friends. She's always teasing Gina, EJ, Ash and even Carlos, when we all know he's gay.

She's also very kind and caring, even if she does not want anyone to know. The day after our talk, when we were at lunch making plans for that evening, she suggested on going to the library before leaving.

Everyone looked at her as if she had grown another head, and she said that she was sick of having to deal with her homework after our hang outs, when it was late and she was tired.

She put it as an opportunity of doing our stuff together and making things faster as they would have the help of the Teacher's Pet herself, which would be me.

That was the first time I didn't felt humiliated or frustrated at someone calling me that, cause the way she said it, friendly and teasing, made clear that she didn't mean it as an insult but as some kind of Dani's style compliment.

Everyone agreed and since that day, we go to the library for an hour before hanging out, and I'm much less stressed about having to deal with everything all at once by myself.

-Hey you.- Luke says, his voice light as he waves at me.

He does not stop walking as he and Connor pass by me, so I close my locker and I join them.

-Hanna and Jai?- I say as I smile at a group of guys of the men's team passing by.

-Already at the cafeteria.- Connor says as he and Luke try not to laugh.

I'm about to ask them what's so funny when we arrive at the cafeteria door and before I can say anything, they bow mockingly.

-Your popular highness.- They both say at the same time as they bow, trying not to laugh.

I know that my face is redder than ever as I quickly go through the door, trying to hide my embarrassment by keeping my head low.

Both of them laugh and make their way towards me. -Idiots.- I mutter when they reach me, only making them laugh even harder.