Between Love and Friendship (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

After school that day, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I needed to confront them, just like Promise had told me to. There was no other way that my problem could have been solved. And I wasn’t going to give up on my friends so easily.

Instead of being a baby and crying about it, I realized that being all depressed wouldn’t change my situation. And I knew that it was hurting me more than it was hurting them, if it hurt them at all. But still, I wanted to fix things. My friendship couldn’t be over just like that, if I had meant anything to either of them in the past.

Some things are worth fighting for. My friendship with Gabriel, especially, was one of them.

As soon as we were dismissed from tenth period (since that week consisted of extended days), I found my way to the school’s back exit. We were supposed to leave through the schools main exit, in the front, but Gabriel and I had a tendency to break the rules. It was easier for him to get to his bus that way. Also, we usually met up after school to talk or play basketball. Sometimes Annabelle was there too, but she was often in a rush to get home since she had to babysit her sister.

I figured she’d be there today, though. I mean, considering that they were together. It would’ve been the perfect time to talk to both of them.

When I walked outside, the sky looked cloudy. I frowned. I had forgotten to bring an umbrella. I braced my back against the side of the brick building and waited. Five minutes went by. Then ten minutes.

Soon it was going to be fifteen. I was beginning to leave when Gabriel finally stepped out from the dark red doors. Annabelle wasn’t with him, and he seemed almost surprised to see me. “Hey,” I greeted, smiling awkwardly.

He gave me a quick nod of acknowledgement, and began speed-walking off.

“We are not doing this again,” I said, grabbing his arm, and forcing him to turn around. He complied. Most likely it was because he wasn’t expecting me to grab him like that.  He could have easily pushed me off, but he chose not to.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. “I need to talk to you.”

“I’m-I’m late for my bus,” Gabe muttered quickly, as if it was an apology. “Now’s not a good time.”

“Then when is? Not during English, not during lunch and not-”

“Look, I just don’t wanna talk right now.” He said, cutting me off.

And he probably never would.

“You might not,” I released my grip on his arm, and walked in front of him. “But I do, and I’m not leaving you alone until you agree to hear what I have to say.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked him in the eye.

His face broke into a smile. “God, you’re so stubborn,” He said, running one of his hands through his hair. “That’s one of the things I love about you.”

Love, I thought. He loves something about me.

“So you’ll listen?” I asked.

“If that’s what makes you happy, Princess.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Princess? Since when do you give me pet names?”

“Since now. You got a problem with that?” He asked, while mockingly getting up in my face, as if he wanted to fight me. I laughed and pushed him off, so that I could have space to breathe.

“No,” I said with realization. “No, I do not.”

“Good.” He smiled, casually flinging an arm around my shoulder. I couldn’t help but notice that my body fit so well against his.