Letting Go

Chapter 19

- Chaz -

"Chaz... It's so early... What could you possibly want?!" Xander asked in a sleepy tone.

I figured he still wasn't up from bed. I, on the other hand... well, I'm prepared but I'm still tired and sleepy since I didn't get much sleep last night. I kept on thinking about Xander and Gabriella... I gotta admit, just thinking of them breaks my heart.

"You've got a date today..." I said with fake excitement in my voice. "Seriously?! With who?" Xander asked through the phone. "Gabriella. Just take her anywhere she wants to go." I said in a flat tone. "Holy crap! Thanks, man! Aren't you coming with us?" Xander's finally awake, I guess. "If it's okay with you..." I sighed.

"Oh... You should come then.. I'm sure things would be awkward with out you around." He agreed. Xander actually sounded like he didn't want me to come. Well, he doesn't have a choice because I told Gabriella that I was coming.

"Okay... Just pick her up after school-- which would end at 2:30 in the afternoon." I said.

"Okay! After school." He confirmed and we hung up.

**

"No way." Gabriella stubbornly said as we walked in the hall way. "Yes! Way..." I said firmly.

"No! Shut up, will you?! I don't want to go out with him! Understand?!" She stopped walking and placed her hands on her hips. This time for sure, she was serious and pissed off. "Wow... Talk about first day all over again..." I rolled my eyes. This was just like the first few days I met her.

"You were beginning to sound like Talyah! You know that I don't like being forced to go out with someone!" She stomped her feet on the ground and made soft thuds. "You know what? I suddenly understand why she's doing all that for you..." I started walking away but she yanks my arm.

"And I suddenly start to hate you again..." Gabriella said in a familiar cold voice she used to talk with. "Look... Xander likes you and..." I gulped and looked down.

"And there's probably atleast ten percent chance that you would like him back. If that happens, then you could be happy again. Now I see that, you being in a relationship affects your whole life.." I sighed.

"You don't know me that well." She shook her head. "Really?" I raised my eyebrow. Gabriella didn't answer. She knew that I knew her very well.

"But still... It's not gonna be Xander..." She looked down. "Maybe it could be him after all..." I muttered. My chest started to feel kinda weird.

' It could've been me instead but you obviously won't give me a chance...' I wanted to say but I couldn't.

**

We sat beside each other without even talking. Class started but everything around me didn't seem important. Gabriella started scribbling on a piece of paper and she looked upset and troubled. I tore a page from my notebook and started to write something to her.

Sorry I pissed you off

I wrote. My penmanship wasn't as legible as Gabriella's. I slipped the paper under her hand. She sighed and read the note. Gabriella weakly smiled then started writing back.

Whatever 

She folded the paper into a small square and slid it back to me. Her writing was really legible and neat. I sighed.

I'm doing what's right for both of us

I wrote again and folded it back into a square. Gabriella had a little smile on her face.