Haunted - BOT ¹

a v o i d a n c e

A/N: Hi! I know it's been a while, but I'm finally back and readyy to get back into the story for my babies Joey and Gabby. guys don't hate me, but since it's been 3 months and counting, I've lost some of the plot. I really wanted to go in depth with Gabby's pictures being leaked, but I have to brush over it for now because I can't remember any of my storylines. I'm so sorry!! However, I hope you can still enjoy what I give. Love you!

✫ ༒ Joey ༒ ✫

"We don't have to talk about it."

"Who the hell is Johnny Kavanagh?" I demanded once I'd found Gabby in the busy corridor.

"A friend of mine from Tommen. Why? What's Wrong?" She asked, her eyes alight with confusion.

"The prick kicked a rugby ball at Shan's head," I scoffed.

"What?" Gabby reached out to clutch my arm. "Is she okay?"

"Mam just took her to the hospital," I ran a hand through my hair. "I mean fuck, it's her first damn day and some prick is already giving her shit."

Gabby chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm sure it's an accident, Joe. Johnny isn't the type to bully people."

"Fuck's sake," I muttered, pulling my phone out to check it again.

Slowly, Gabby released her hold on me. I was surprised to find myself disappointed at the loss of touch. It was one more indicator of just how much I liked this girl.

I looked down and she met my eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"What?" Her eyes widened. "With me?"

I let out a sigh and picked up her hand to interlace our fingers. I used my other hand to thumb through the texts from my sister again.

No new notifications.

Fuck.

Gabby remained quiet by my side, but when I put the phone down, I could sense a hint of anxiety in her dodgy gaze. I looked around, trying to find what had her mind in an obvious twist.

A group of guys down the hall were staring and I could feel my hand tighten into a fist.

The situation with Gabby had blown over after three—maybe four—lads were dumb enough to speak of those photos in my presence, which resulted in three—maybe four—bloody noses. I wasn't suspended for those, especially not since Principal Nyhan knew what those pricks had gotten beaten for. If I had to get punished, so did they—and God forbid he go after the few boys with parents that actually helped to fund the school.

A shit show, I tell ya.

"Don't," Gabby warned, tugging my hand in a scolding way. "Just ignore them, right?"

Of course. That's what I always told her. "Sorry, yeah." I pocketed my phone. "Let's go get some lunch—"

I cut myself off when I tried walking, only for her to not budge—two feet cemented in the ground. My eyebrows furrowed. "Gabs."

"I don't like being in the lunch hall, you know this," she muttered with pink cheeks.

Guilt struck me right to the chest.

Too much was going on in my life right now and I felt like a bloody prick every time I forgot something about the only person outside of my family that meant anything to me.

Fuck.

I didn't even know where she went for lunch these days.

"Don't look at me like that," Gabby quietly laughed. "I usually just eat a snack if I have one. And anyway, lunch is the perfect time to study."

The smile on her face was not comforting.

Picking up on whatever cue it was that she could read off me, she straightened up a little. "Joey?"

"We could go out for some chipper?"

"What?" Her eyebrows pulled together. "Why?"

"What do you mean why?" I tossed right back at her. "Because you're my girlfriend. Do I need any more of a reason?"

"Well, we can't leave school."

"And how else are you going to eat?"

"At home," she replied, pulling her hand away from mine. "Like a normal person. Stop worrying about me. I'm okay."

I stuffed my hand in my pocket, trying not to let myself get angry at her pulling away once again. "Gabby."

"What is this about, hm?" She smiled up at me, but I didn't miss the sadness in her eyes. "You're acting weird."

"And you're hiding from me. I want to talk."

"You?" she mused. "Joey Lynch, want to talk?"

I let out a sigh. "I want you to talk, so I can know where you're at."

She took a step towards me then, a small grin on her lips. It took everything in me not to pull her up against my body here in the corridors. Most people were at lunch already, but there were still a few stragglers behind. "I'm right here," Gabby said softly. "Nothing with me has changed."

"Nothing?"

"I'm still giving and receiving the silent treatment with my mam, studying and homework still takes up half my time, but I did get a new sweater."

"A new sweater, hm?" I chose not to address the situation with her mother. Gabby wouldn't accept any of my apologies for an argument she claimed I didn't start, even though I'd been the cause. And anyway, I could listen to this girl talk about anything. Including whatever clothes she found herself buying.

"Yes, come on." She grabbed my arm, guiding me to walk down the hall.

She started going on about some Rory Gilmore figure and the sweater she wore on a TV show—only then could I breathe.

That was just a small example of the large scale effect she had in my life.

I was drowning. Submerged. But she came in shined through the deepest, most pressurized parts of the tidal waves that kept pulling me under. I'd been clean only a few weeks and even though it wasn't easy, I knew Gabby made it possible.

So, I pulled her under my arm and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, enjoying the warm timbre of her voice because I knew this moment would be over before I could catch it.

And right back to hell, I would go.

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hi guys!! long time no update am i right!

i DEFINITELY wrote this chapter and not my mysterious hacker... ahem (collab era)

i lost motivation for this and im sorry to all my fellow gabbyjoey lovers (stop biting my head off)

i love you

xoxo

-Freyja