The Label Maker

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: THE LAST GIFT

Gwen crashed into her own room, nearly tripping herself in the process. She saw RJ standing at the window, looking out at the darkness. She slammed the door behind her, causing him to look back. She sprinted into his arms. He stumbled back, but held her tightly.

"I should have stopped it. I never should have let Leo continue," she apologizes, burying her face into his chest. He stood frozen, not saying a single thing. He just stood there, letting Gwen hold him. She could feel his heartbeat. It was still racing out of his chest.

"It wasn't your fault Gwen. You didn't do anything wrong.," he finally says. She felt his chest rise and fall in a slow motion.

"Well I could have done something. Maybe have told Leo to stop. Maybe I could have kicked him in the shin under the table," she suggests. He laughed at the remark, making Gwen smile as well.

"As amusing as that what would have been, it wouldn't have stopped him. It wouldn't have stopped me. My behavior was uncalled for. I was acting out of anger and not thinking about the things that were coming out of my mouth," he persuades.

"Your behavior was nowhere near his in comparison. You were acting exactly how you should have," she defends.

"But I ruined your Christmas dinner. Come on Gwen, I know you are upset. I know your parents are upset. I heard your dad yelling downstairs," he reminds.

"He just found out I was sexually harassed by a neighbor. A man he had over for Christmas dinner. I would be upset too," she upholds.

"What happened after I left?" He asks, suddenly interested in what happened.

"Well there was lots of yelling. And then Farrell punched him in the jaw and called him a filthy pig," she explains.

"Oh wow," was all he said.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?" He asks, looking at her. She itched her shoulder. She was sweating in her dress and it was becoming itchy.

"I'm fine. Just a little shocked I guess." She shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't that she wasn't okay. She was just worried about her friend. He needed more support than her. "I want to know if you are okay."

"I don't really want to talk about it," he admits, looking down.

"Hey," she says, lifting his head. She made sure he was looking her straight in the eyes before she continued. "I get it if you don't want to talk, but you have to understand after your outbursts, I'm going to want to know something."

"I said I don't want to talk about it," he says, turning away from her.

She grabbed his wrist, slightly spinning him back to her. "I'm not done talking." She took a deep breath. "All I'm saying is that I'll give you all the time you need, but I'm here for you. I know I don't have it as bad as you, but I know what having unstable parents is like," she reminds. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He was just as frustrated as she was about it.

"Gwen, it's not that I don't trust you because I do. I really do trust you. I just don't want to inflict my burdens on you," he confesses, still not meeting her eyes.

"I want to know. I want to be there for you," she proclaims.

"I'm telling you that you don't need to be there for me," he reminds.

"But I want to be," she repeats. He sighed knowing that Gwen wasn't going to give up this time. Gwen knew he didn't want to tell her. If she were in his shoes, she would feel the same way.

"RJ please," she pleads. He let out a breath. She could tell the decision was eating at him on the inside. She didn't want to give up. She was his friend and she wasn't going to abandon him. She waited for him. She was willing to wait. After all, he waited for her when she was harassed. Gwen knew RJ needed time. Gwen was ready to give him it.