Like A Bad Boy

~Chapter Seven~

            “I’m such a bad friend,” My voice was urgent as I paced back and forth, only talking to myself. It was Wednesday morning, and while I was supposed to be getting dressed, I opted for contemplating my quality of friendliness. Was I a good friend to anyone? If Gabrielle dumped me does that go on my permanent record, therefore never allowing me to have friends again? Is this how the whole system works?!

            “He’ll be here in five minutes!” I was pulled from frantic-friend mode and shoved into frantic-late mode. With wide eyes I scrambled into my closet, looking at the DD clothes out of the corner of my eye. I knew I didn’t have much time, so I scooped up a decent DD shirt, but still took a pair of my skinny jeans. Knowing the attention I would gather with heels, I picked up my red toms, eying how worn out they were. After making a mental note to get a new pair, I quickly pulled the outfit onto my body and brushed through my blonde hair, the curls falling down my back. Sighing in discontent, I rushed out of my room only to be greeted by my foot getting caught on the carpet and my face on the floor.

            “What a wonderful morning this has turned out to be,” I groaned, pulling myself up. After brushing myself off, I tightened my bag over my shoulder and jogged out to meet Blane at the end of my driveway where he stood, helmet in hand. I pulled it out of his grasp and dropped it onto my head, situating the straps and positioning myself on the bike. Once the engine revved and he did his initial speed burst, it was smooth sailing. My eyes remained open and it wasn’t as scary as it was when I first started carpooling with the demon.

            “Ciao, little secchione,” Vinny smirked, greeting me with a hug. I laughed and wrapped my arms around him, but pulled away before too long.

            “I must go and mend my friendship,” I heaved a dramatic sigh, waving to them as I walked away. As soon as I left, the group indulged into a heated conversation about god knows what. With a turn of my heel, I strutted across the schoolyard, getting a lot more attention than I deserved. I mean, I stood up to Jenna Maylie yesterday, for god’s sake. I mean, you’ve got to have some balls to do that.

            “Hello, my dear Gabrielle, it seems I have some explaining to do,” I breathed, plopping down beside her in the grass. She looked up expectantly. “I’ve been a bitchy friend lately, and I’m sorry. On Monday I was forced to skip unless I wanted to walk home, since Blane was my ride, and he was going to take me home, but the rest of the boys insisted I stay. So I did, and I went with them to their party that they skipped for. And you want to know what, Gabrielle? I had a damn good time. I got shitfaced, I made new friends, and I didn’t live the nerdy life that I have the rest of high school. Yesterday, I was on an adrenaline high. Jenna said something about my family and that really pulled me out of my doormat form. I stopped letting her walk all over me and I fought back. It’s great, to tell you the truth, Gab, but here you sit and you’re mad at me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

            “I’m not…mad..” She stated. She scrunched her eyebrows together as she figured out what she wanted to say.

            “Then what the hell are you?! You sure were pissed Monday before the fight, and then yesterday when I grew a pair and fought back. Are you, I don’t know, mad at me for standing up for myself? Or are you jealous that I’ve actually done it?” I asked, laughing in disbelief. “Gabrielle, you’re my best friend and I love you, but you really need to work this out. I get it, you’re going through something that you don’t want to tell me, but when the rest of the school knows and I don’t…well that’s when I get mad.”

            “Okay, I’m sorry, Indiana! I don’t know, I guess I was jealous that you were hanging out with Cinque? I was jealous that you stood up to her? I was jealous that…jealous that you’re becoming cool!” Her voice cracked at the end. Sighing, I took her into a hug.