A Million Trillion Billion (What's Eating Gilbert Grape Fanfic) *ORIGINAL*

Chapter 4 - Because I'm Gilbert

As soon as I finish my last lecture I go to the block where Becky is. I know she'll come out soon.
"Hey Janie. You look flushed." Becky touches the back of her hand to my cheek. "Is everything okay?" I nod. "Yeah, I'm just a little warm." I say, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Well... Okay, as long as you're sure." She says, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
I nod.

We start the walk to our house. "So anything interesting to tell me?" Becky says. "Well, er yeah actually I-" I'm cut off by someone blocking our path. "Janie. I need to talk to you." Leon holds his hands out in front of us. "Who..?" Becky trails off raising an eyebrow. "Janie." Leon frowns. "O-Okay." I say, unsurely. "Um.." Leon looks at Becky. "She's fine. You can tell her anything you're going to tell me." I say. Becky smiles at me.
"First off. Why didn't you tell me that you already knew Jimmy and Marc?" Leon folds his arms. "I never got a chanc-" "What about the first day? There was your chance. And you hit them?! And then yelled at them in the cafeteria?! What is wrong with you?" Leon exclaims, shaking his head in disappointment. "I never would have picked you to be the violent type Janielle." Leon says. No one ever uses my full name.. I hate it. I hate it a lot. "I only did it because they were being assholes and were hurting my friend." I say in defence. "And you couldn't of just told them to stop?!" He continues. "THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN! NOBODY EVER LISTENS TO ME!" I shout, and then step back. "Sorry.." I trail off. Leon has a deep, disapproving look on his face. Why do I feel like I'm the one to blame? Why is it suddenly me who's screwed up? I didn't do anything wrong! I don't think...
Leon mutters 'whatever' and walks off.
"Woah, okay. What happened?!" It's Becky's turn to frown now. "I sort of yelled at Jimmy in the cafeteria." I say, pushing my hair out my face. "Yeah I got that. Why?" Becky looks concerned. I may have forgotten the part about them beating Arnie up and me defending him when I first told Becky about the whole situation... "Why is he saying you're violent? Is there something you're not telling me Janie?" She says. "On my second day here, I saw these two guys, Jimmy and Marcus, beating Arnie up." I say. "So I told them to shove off and pushed and slapped one of them because he deserved it." I shrug. "Also, they're in one of my classes, and I sat with them at the cafeteria today for some stupid reason and it ended up in a fight because they figured out who I was." I say. Becky's eyebrows shoot up into her hair. "So... Was that guy one of them..?" She asks. "Yeah but I only met him a couple days ago, on our first day. He was in my first class. He's friends with the other two which I didn't realise." I say, scratching the back of my neck. "That was Leon." I say. "Okay well, thanks for telling me." Becky says, touching my shoulder for reassurance. "I don't blame you for what happened with Arnie, I would've done the same thing, if not worse." She says with a laugh. "If Leon's a good guy, he'll realise they're in the wrong y'know?" Becky says as we start to walk again. "Yeah I guess. Look, it's not a big deal, as long as I keep them away from Arnie. I can't have anyone hurting him." I say, a worried look creeping into my face.

I head up to Gilbert's house. I start to hum to myself, smiling.
Suddenly someone gives me a hard shove. "I knew you'd be here." Jimmy has me pinned to the ground. His hands gripping my upper arms. I frown. "What do you want." I say firmly. "Well, considering I let you get a few hits on me, I figured I'd make it even." He slaps me across the cheek. I can't move my arms to defend myself. I feel so vulnerable and weak. He's kneeling on my thighs to keep my legs down so I have no help there either. He slaps me again. "Stop! Pl-" He covers my mouth with his rough, dirty hand. "Mmmf!" I struggle to breathe. He straightens his legs so his feet lay on the ground and I take this opportunity and use it. I lift my right leg up and push my foot into his middle, kicking him hard. He flies back and I stand up, clutching my cheek. "Huh, so it seems the princess knows her martial arts?" He stands up, and walks towards me. He goes in to punch me but I move to the side just in time. Unfortunately he gets a punch in with his other hand, straight to my jaw. "Argh." I say in pain. I compose myself, staring at the tall, blonde haired, obnoxious dick standing in front of me. "JUST. GO. AWAY!" I say, punching him hard with each word. "Make me." He says, and before I know it, I'm being tackled to the ground again. I close my eyes, all I can do is sit there and cop it.
"GET OFF." A voice bellows from above me, I open my eyes. Gilbert kick Jimmy off of me, and helps me up. "You can't keep hanging around here, go home James. Leave her alone." Gilbert shouts, standing in front of me.
A melancholy Jimmy hangs his head as blood drips from his nose, and trods off.
"Oh my god Janie are you alright? Are you hurt?" Gilbert looks me up and down, grabbing me by the shoulders. Before I know it I'm being pulled into a hug. "I'm sorry about him. I was terrified he'd hurt you." Gilbert says. The feeling of his strong arms wrapped around me is comforting, and I feel safe. And more importantly.. loved.

I'm inside the house now, Amy put my shopping bags in the fridge for now, and gave me an ice pack for my jaw. At least my teeth aren't bleeding, just a massive bruise and a black eye. I chuckled when I first saw my face in the mirror Amy gave to me. I look like I had been sweeping a chimney and then decided to use the ashes as face paint afterwards.
"Janie! Are you okay Janie?" Arnie bounds into the lounge room looking really worried. He puts his hands on my shoulders and looks me up and down, and then fixing his glance on my eye. "Aw no, no no no." He says, lightly brushing his thumb over my cheek. "It's okay Arnie I-" He wraps his arms around me, hugging me tight. I wrap my arms around his neck, smiling to myself. "You guys ready to go?" Gilbert walks in, as Arnie pulls away from the hug, turning around to face Gilbert. "Yeah Gilbert!" Arnie throws his hands in the air, squealing with excitement. I chuckle. "I'm all ready to go." I say, walking into the kitchen and putting the ice pack back in the freezer. "Well, let's go." Gilbert says, swinging his keys around his finger. We climb into Gilbert's truck, Gilbert, then me, then Arnie. "Nice wheels." I say, nodding in approval examining the truck. "Thanks Janie." Gilbert says, shoving the keys in the ignition.

"IT'S THE TREE OVER THERE ISN'T IT?" Arnie exclaims, taking another guess. We've been playing I Spy for half an hour now. They don't exactly have furniture stores at every corner in Endora. "Yes! You got it!" I high five Arnie, as he squeals in delight.
Suddenly he stops, and stares out his window. "Arnie? Wh-" I follow his gaze and realise he's staring at Marcus who is flipping him off as we drive past. Arnie faces the front now, a sad look appearing on his face. I put my hand on his shoulder and rest my head on top of it. "It's okay Arnie, he's a jerk and you don't deserve what he does to you. He doesn't deserve to waste our oxygen." I say, smiling as I shoot Marcus's own comment back his way. Arnie laughs. "Haha good one Janie!" He says, becoming his happy self again. He flicks his finger against his nose, and I smile.
"Who's your big brother Arnie?" Gilbert says, glancing at Arnie. "Gilbert." Arnie exclaims. "And who's gonna protect you?" Gilbert continues. "Gilbert." Arnie says. "Why?" Gilbert asks Arnie. "Because you're Gilbert." "Because I'm Gilbert."