They Do Exist

They Do Exist (5)

Chapter five:Why Can’t We Be Friends?

The weekend went by slowly.It was filled with me doing chores, sleeping and trying to teach my dog how to do cool tricks while bribing him with new tasty treats.

Monday went by rather fast.Gabe was mad at me, and went out of his way to ignore me, making me feel rather guilty.Brandon said he fell asleep by accident when he got home Friday, and since then we’ve been better.I was mad at first, but I guess I’m over it now.

Tuesday at school Wendy convinced me to talk to Gabe.

“He’s just trying to be nice, and hey.He knew your Granma pretty well, right?Maybe he’s the only one you can really talk to about it.Don’t be so guarded Layla.”

“I know.It’s just hard.I’m so use to being ignored and not talking to people, and now one of the most popular boys at our school wants to be my friend?It freaks me out.”

I thought it over the rest of Math and figured I had to do something about it.I was kind of a bitch.

“Cooper!”I called as I made my way into Biology.

“Hey little one.”He smiled at me.

“Little one?”I raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah.Little one.It just fits you.”I laughed.

“Ok…”

“If I were to apologize, to your friend Gabe.What would I say?”I thought I’d just uh, throw it out there.

“I don’t know.Just tell him that you’re sorry.Why?”

“I said some things Friday I probably shouldn’t have and I wanted to say sorry.”I grunted, flipping through my textbook as the bell rang.

“Well.I’m sure if you just pull him aside and talk to him, he’d understand.”

“Thanks Cooper.”I grinned at him.

“Any time little one.Now..about last night’s homework.”He batted his eyelashes at me as I laughed and helped him out.

My palms were sweaty when it reached lunchtime.I knew I had to apologize soon, but still.I’d have to approach the douche bag table with Matthew there in order to talk to him.

I walked up, and literally felt my face go red.And it takes a lot to make my face do that!

The table grew silent, and Gabe was faced the opposite way, but Matthew saw me first.

“What do you want Ugly?”Ouch.Gabe turned around at this, and I could have sworn his eyes lit up.

“Nothing you plan on giving me, Matthew.I just wanted to talk to Gabe.”I said the last part looking down at him.

Matthew stood up announcing it to the cafeteria.“I’m sure my man Gabriel here, wants nothing to do with you Layla.No one does.So just turn around and go back to your little nerd table, alright?”

“I’m not asking, you.I’m asking Gabe.”I said, not breaking eye contact with Gabe.

Matthew started to laugh, but as Gabe got up and smiled at me, his laughter died off.

“Let’s go.”He said, grabbing my hand and pulling me out into the hallway where we didn’t have an audience.

I paced the hallway for a second.“Really.I don’t see why you hang out with him he is such a jerk!” I ranted angrily.

“At least he welcomed me into the school.”Gabe spoke, and I froze.Great.Make me out to be the bad guy.

“Besides, I think he has a crush on you or something, he’s constantly talking about you.Its really weird.”