The Death of Me

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

            I woke up, all of my muscles feeling cramped, and a crick in my neck. My knees popped as I stretched them, and I looked around in groggy confusion when I saw a small pendant light hanging above me. The ceiling was painted a tacky yellow color, and cracks emanated from the light fixture.

            I sat up and rolled my head, my neck sore. My head had been propped up against the front door, and I realized I was laying on the entryway floor, still wearing clothes from yesterday. I yawned and stretched my arms over my head.

            Standing up with half-lidded eyes, I trudged to the kitchen for some cereal. Gabby was sitting at one of the bar stools, dragging a silver spoon through a bowl of soggy cheerios, and chatting on the phone to someone. By the dreamy grin on her face and the way she seemed to be swallowing back giggles, I guessed she was talking to Jay.

            “…yeah, yeah, okay… ha-ha, I know…” she whispered, sounding giggly and quite ridiculous, if you ask me. Or maybe this was just me being bitter. Before I knew it was Jay she was cooing to each night, I had thought how love-struck she was actually was cute. Now, it just made me want to throw her phone into the Mississippi River.

            I silently slipped forward and into the doorway, just so I could hear better and so she couldn’t see me.

            “So, what’d you think of my sister?” she asked. I immediately stood up straighter, and wished with all of my might she would suddenly decide to put her phone on speaker for no reason. It was silence as she listened, and I wished I could see the faces she was making. Hopefully ones of jealousy or intimidation. Why am I being so petty? I’m a horrible, horrible sister. But memories of her bitchy smile the night before offered a moment of solace.

            “Nice?” Gabby scoffed. My jaw dropped, and I could feel the blood rushing to my head. He called me nice, and now she was going to contradict it, wasn’t she? What happened to the sweet little sister I thought Gabby was? “Didn’t you see her clinging to Isaac last night? Desp-er-ate!” she sang, dropping her spoon and then twirling a lock of hair around her finger. I wanted to rush forward and break that finger.

            “I was reluctant in the first place for her to go on a date with Isaac. I mean, Hillary’s my sister and I know I shouldn’t be mean, but…” oh no, please don’t say whatever you’re about to say, “… she’s kind of a slut.”

            I can’t believe this.

            “No, seriously! She’s not even a virgin anymore!” Gabby insisted. I felt my eyes sting, and a nauseating feeling take over me. I clutched at my stomach, and I felt betrayal like a punch to the face. I didn’t want to hear anymore of what she had to say, but I couldn’t move. I was stuck in place.

            Now she was going to use all of the secrets I had disclosed to her against me? Just because I wasn’t a virgin did not make me a slut. It was one time, and I wasn’t drunk and it wasn’t meaningless. Not a slut move at all.

            “I’m serious,” she said, conviction in her voice. I would be angrier if it was a lie, but it wasn’t. But the part about me being mean, or being a slut? What did Gabby think she was achieving? Isaac didn’t once call Jay a bad name when he spoke of him, even though he hates him. And now Gabby was bad-mouthing me? I would never lie about her, even if I did hate her, which I don’t. But if she kept this up, I could see how I could.

            “She’s my sister, and I love her, but I know how she is with guys,” she disclosed, and then sighed all dramatically and regretfully, like what she was saying was painful. The sick feeling grew, and so did my resentment. “She’ll make them feel like they’re oh-so-important to her, and then she’ll dump them, or cheat on them, or just ignore them. I’ve seen it happen before, and… it’s not pretty.” She sniffled and her voice convincingly choked up, and I could only imagine the horrified expression Jay must’ve had just then. “She never learns. I just hope she doesn’t make moves on Isaac. He’s such a sweet guy, and I wouldn’t want to see anyone get hurt.”