Are You Afraid of Musicals?

Chapter 2.9: Avoiding it

Gabby's pov:

I'm at the library, reading the same page of my history book for the third time, as my brain seem not to be able to retain any of the information.

Later today I'll be playing my first soccer match ever, and surely that has me on the edge, but what really is bothering me right now, is the unspoken tension hanging in the air.

I'm at the library with Gina and Dani, and this is actually the first time that we meet since the Big Red incident last week.

Later that day I had my first practice with the soccer team, I wrapped my foot and hoped for the best and it actually worked out.

But then, as I just had a bit more than a week to prepare for the championship, coach Borjas literally went crazy on me with extra practices.

Without any actual time to rest, my ankle started getting swollen after every practice and I'm actually starting to worry, but I didn't tell anyone about it.

In addition to that, between school, practice and work, I couldn't make any time to hang out or actually breathe.

Now Gina is sitting in front of me and Dani is next to her, rubbing her temple as she looks down at her book frowning her brows.

At first sight she seems completely fine, just bored and pissed about having to study. But as she's holding her notes, the grip of her fingers on the paper is a bit too hard, she's passing the pages of her book a little too fast...

We normally chat and get distracted messing with each other during our study sessions, it's usually fun and a really good time, but today there's a tension hanging between all of us that is adding up to my nervousness.

So focusing today is being rather impossible as I keep getting distracted, my brain going back and forth through all the things that happened on the last days.

The image of Dani snapping at Big Red seems to have a special place in my mind as it keeps appearing, making me feel... I actually don't know how it makes me feel.

I know that Dani was just trying to defend me, that she was standing up for me, but after all what we've been through in this weeks, seeing her cold emotionless self back in action was rough, and I couldn't help but feel that she was back in step one.

Cause it's not about what she said, it's about that she was not able to read the room, to see that Big Red was humiliated and feeling insecure. Everyone saw it and tried to reason with him, to talk things through, but Dani went straight to snap at him and make him leave.

So I don't know why it keeps bothering me, but it does. I can't help but feel a bit... disappointed? I don't know, I thought I was making progress with her, making her opening up more, but I guess I was wrong.

I haven't seen Big Red around the school since the incident either, which is not helping.

So I don't know if it's the best idea to say anything as the ambiance is already tense, but I'm actually worried.

-Do we know anything about Big Red?- I ask whispering.

I can see how Dani stops what she's doing for a moment, but then she keeps going and remains silent. As I thought, she does not like this subject either.

-No... we haven't talked to him since the other day.- Gina answers with a guilty expression.

-Someone should check on him, he was not doing ok.- I say a bit hesitant because of Dani's previous reaction.

If I could go myself I would, but I don't want to make him uncomfortable again. I was the one who made him upset so I don't think he would listen to me.