Downside Up

Chapter Thirty (Your Bones - Of Monsters And Men)

After my break down I wasn't able to go back to school. I got ill and Laurelle took care of me, whilst I had to stay in bed all day and simoultaniously tried to catch up on the lectures that I had missed.

Everymorning Tyde would come into my room with some breakfast, his mum hadprepared and update me about everything that had happened. Hecarefully told me about Izzy and her new boyfriend, whom I knew allto well and I was glad that he had contacted her, because I would'venever been brave enough to ask her about it and after my year inAustralia I would still think that she liked me.

Healso told me that he had talked to Gaby about what has been going on,but he never told me, why she changed her mind about me after hisbirthday party. I was thankful for all the information he gave me anddidn't want to annoy him, so I just accepted the fact that I wasoblivious to things he knew.

Oneday, late in the afternoon after Sage had come home, I heard a faintknock on my door. After I asked whoever was standing outside of it tocome in, it opened slightly and I was greated by an all to familiarface.

Idebated wheter I should hide underneath my blanket or if I shouldjust ignore her but eventually I decided that I was almost an adultand that I could handel this sort of things.

"Hey,Gabriella", I greated the girl standing in the doorway. "Ihaven't heared of you in a while. How are you? And please, take aseat." I pointed towards the only chair in my room that wasstanding infront of my desk and she slowly walked closer.

"Look,Olivia", she started with her voice shaking out of nervousness,"I'm really sorry for dumping you just like that. I guess Ioverreacted a little bit."

"Whytho?" Her eyes were glued to the ground and she shook her head.

"Alot of silly reason actually. I saw the video of you and Tyde dancingtogether and you seemed to be in love with each other and I was angrythat you never told me about your relationship.

Ialso had a huge crush on Tyde about two years ago and I still likehim a lot. He's the only guy I want to be with right now and when Isaw you in my place I felt jealous, because you had stolen him awayfrom me."

"Wait",I interrupted her, "you and David are not a thing? And you havebeen crushing on my host brother for two years now?" She blushedand nodded in agreement, which I couldn't believe.

"Whyhaven't you told me anything about it? I would've invited you to hisbirthday party and you would have been the one dancing with him!"

Sheshook her head. "I know that you never meant to hurt me, but helikes you a lot. And even if I would have been at that party hewould've never asked me to dance with him."

"Howwould you know? I'm sure he likes you better. To me he is not onlysupposed to be my host brother but it feels like he is my actualbrother. I don't think that I will ever like him in a romantical way.I never told him, because I'm afraid to hurt him, but I'm notinterested in that way. He is all yours. I won't take him away fromyou."

Againshe didn't seem to agree but dropped it.

"Anyway",she spoke up, "I wanted to ask you whether you would like to sitwith us during the lunch breaks again. Pipe has barely talked to mein the past few weeks and I would like to be able to have a goodconversation with someone. Maybe he will talk again if you come back.I am quite sure that he has missed you.

AndI have to."

Ismiled at her softly and felt the sudden urge to hug her. "Talkingabout that - you have no idea how lonely I have been without youguys!"

Shelooked at the ground, trying to avoid my gaze.

"Theygave you a pretty hard time, didn't they?" We both knew who she wastalking about and I only nodded in agreement.

"Look",Gaby said, "we will make up for it - I will make up for it,because I was the one that decided to ignore you. You deserve betterand they need to know."

"No",I quickly spoke up, "please, don't. You don't have to. It will justmake it worse. Could we maybe just drop the topic. Hopefully theywill come to an end eventually or they will find another victim, butI don't want to course any trouble."