Haunted

b o y f r i e n d

𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧 Gabriella 𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧

"Thank god you agreed to help us," Gibsie sighed dramatically when I pulled open my front door.

I had invited him and Johnny over to help them with Science, because in Gibsie's words 'he couldn't live without my help'.

"Anytime, Gibs," I laughed, as they followed me to my sitting room.

"How's BCS treating you?" Johnny asked, dropping down onto the couch.

"Good, I surprisingly really like it," I smiled, my mind going straight to Joey.

"So, you don't even miss us?!" Gibsie scoffed.

"Let the girl live, ya eejit," Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Of course I miss you guys," I chuckled, "BCS is just so...different."

"Well, Tommen isn't the same without you," Johnny offered.

"Speaking of Tommen, how's Adeline?" I asked.

"She's-" Johnny went to answer but Gibsie cut him off, "She's fucking amazing. I swear she gets more talented by the day."

I smirked at him and gave Johnny a cheeky grin. It was no secret that Gibsie was head over heels for Johnnys little sister Adeline. Since I'd known him all he ever did was talk about her.

"Fucks sake," Johnny muttered, obviously annoyed by Gibsie's crush.

"And how about you, Johnny? Fallen for Addy's friend yet?"

He exhaled a frustrated breath and shook his head, "Nope. I've already said I'm not interested."

"He's insane for that," Gibsie chimed in, "Grace is a total ride, Johnnys just got his head on the rugby pitch."

"Well, I for one think you'll fall for her one day," I laughed, "It'd be straight from a romance book."

"Let's stop talking about my love life, and maybe talk about yours," Johnny offered.

"What about mine?" I felt my face flush.

"We've heard Katie saying you have a boyfriend," He shrugged.

"Yeah," I nodded, "I do."

"What?! And you didn't tell me right away? I thought we were friends?" Gibsie huffed, crossing his arms.

"We only just started officially dating," I assured him, "It's been a tad complicated."

"Complicated how? Because I will kick him to shit if he's being a dick," Gibsie replied.

"No, he's a great guy! We've just been taking it slow."

I left out the bits having to do with him ghosting me a few weeks back and his drug addiction. Because that wasn't Joey.

Joey was sweet and handsome and extremely hilarious.

And that's who deserved to be seen.

"I want to meet the lad that finally wooed Gabriella," Johnny smiled just as my mother entered the room.

Fucking fuck.

She obviously had no idea that I have a boyfriend—considering her incessant need to pick apart everyone—and I wasn't planning on telling her.

"Did you just say Gabriella has a boyfriend?" Mam gaped, her eyes shooting between my friends and I.

I gave them both looks of warning and Johnny shut his mouth but Gibsie nodded and said, "Yup, it's the first I'm hearing of it though."

"Me too," Mam looked to me with hurt all over her face.

But come on, she had no one to blame but herself. She made it impossible to tell her anything.

"Do you boys think he's good for Gabriella?" She looked to Johnny and Gibsie.

I was almost never allowed to have boys over but these two—alongside Patrick—were the exception. My mam loved Johnny—I think she might have a slight crush on him—and she loved Gibsie's need to flirt with her.

"We've not met him," Johnny explained giving me a sheepish grin.

"I'm sure he's a stand up lad if Gabs is with him," Gibsie grinned, "Just like I'm a stand up lad, Mrs. Armani."

My mam had my step-father's last name which was annoying yet understandable. My father had put her through a lot, and I understood her need to erase that part of her life but it was another on the list of things she picked me apart for.

"Oh, Gerard," She shook her head, "What have I said about your flirting?"

"I'll never stop," He shrugged.

My mam locked eyes with me and a look I'd never seen before appeared on her face, "I would like to meet this boyfriend of yours. Maybe you could invite him over to dinner sometime."

No. No. No.

My mother would have a heart attack if she met Joey. He was practically everything she'd told me to stay away from. Not to mention Joey would probably have a heart attack if he met my mother.

It was just never going to happen.

"Um sure," I replied, knowing it was far from the truth, "I'll ask him when he's available."

My mam knowing I had a boyfriend was just an added stress in my life that I did not need. She'd be on my back about it until he came over.

And knowing her she'd be telling me everyday that I shouldn't have a boyfriend after what happened at Tommen.

But I didn't care.

Joey was worth every horrible thing my mother would say to me.

He was worth it all.