Haunted

g i r l s

𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧 Gabriella 𖤣𖥧𖡼𖤣𖥧

It'd been a few days since the breakup and I was doing everything in my power to distract myself. Unfortunately, it was winter holiday so I didn't have school work to rely on.

I was instead seated at Katie's vanity while she ran a straightening iron through my hair.

I still felt broken. It was taking everything in me to not cry as I looked at my haunted reflection in the mirror. I bore dark circles under my puffy red eyes and my cheeks were sunken in. I hadn't been eating. The only food I'd consumed in the past seventy-two hours was a bowl of oatmeal.

"Are you going to come to Hugh's New Year's party?" Katie hummed, grabbing a section of hair near the front of my face.

I didn't want to go to a party. I wasn't a party girl, but it would distract me. I needed to be distracted.

"Um, sure," I shrugged. "As long as Joey won't be there."

"He won't," she shook her head. "I don't think Hugh even knows the guy."

"Okay, then I'll be there," I nodded.

"Yay!" She squealed, dropping the straightener to pull me into a hug. "All the guys will be there, it'll be like a little Tommen reunion."

I wasn't sure if a Tommen reunion was in my best interest—all things considered—but at this point getting drunk and hanging out with my friends sounded amazing.

"I hope none of the assholes are there," I mumbled. 

"None of them have been invited." She smiled at me through the mirror. "But, if they show up I'm sure any of the lads would be willing to throw a punch for your sake. Aoife and Casey will be there too."

I nodded, smiling over the fact I had a solid group of friends. My family might be dysfunctional but my friends were anything but.

"There, your hair is done!" Katie giggled, placing the straightener down and clasping her hands together. "You look beautiful."

"I look exhausted," I sighed.

"Don't say that, Gabriella, you are beautiful," she shook her head.

"I love him, Katie," the words fell out of my mouth. "What am I supposed to do with that?"

She frowned, sadness taking over her features. "I think he loves you too. Obviously he's struggling and I think he needs to help himself before you two can be together."

"But I want to help him." Tears pricked my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. "He's so good, Katie. I know it might not seem like it, but he is. He was dealt a bad hand in life, and he's still such a good person. I just wish I could take his pain away."

"And you're just as good, Gabs." She wrapped her arms around me. "You've got the biggest heart, and I'm not surprised you want to save him. This isn't something you can save him from, though. He needs to heal himself. In the mean time, you should try and have fun. You'll come to the party and hangout with your friends and occupy that brilliant mind of yours."

"No one understands." I sniffled, unable to stop the tears. "I know you, Aoife and Casey must think I'm insane, falling in love with someone so hell bent on ruining his life. But he's so much more." I was flat out sobbing now, "he's so sweet. I've never been able to be myself around a lad until him. He just gets me, Katie. I don't know why he loves me. I'm a swot and I'm awkward but he doesn't care."

"We don't think you're insane," she shook her head. "We just worry about you. We don't want you getting hurt, and here you are hurt. I don't know Joey, and from what you've said he seems like a good lad. I just don't like how he makes you cry."

"I'd rather be with him and hurt than be alone and hurt." I sobbed, maniacally trying to wipe my tears away.

"And that's why we are worried." She held me against her chest. "I won't tell you what to do, but I think time away from each other is good."

"I hate love," I sobbed, clinging to my best friend. "This sucks."

"This isn't love, Gabs, it's heartbreak," she soothed me. "We'll have the time of our lives on New Year's, I won't leave your side."

"Okay," I nodded, wiping away my tears.

"In the mean time, let's watch a film. Maybe I can call Aoif and Case as well."

"Yeah. That sounds nice."

A sense of security washed over me. Even if my love life had gone to shit, I had these girls. They were my rocks. Casey was my protector, Katie was the advice giver and Aoife was able to lighten my mood in an instant.

I needed them. I was entirely grateful they'd stuck by my side through all the shit this past year.

When everyone else seemed to run, they stayed.