Sang's Freedom - The Song Of Ghosts

14:

Chapter 14

Sang Sorenson's POV-

   Gabriel and Nathan saved me a desk in History, and Gabriel spent the hour playing with my hair, though I made sure he left it down to hide the bruise on my cheek.

   Gabriel disapproved of my outfit for the day and kept muttering that there was a reason they took me shopping.

   I guess he didn't support the cargo pants like I thought he would.

   In truth, I had expected to face the urge to yell at Gabriel and tell him that I knew he didn't really want to be my friend.

   I was strong. I was facing the storm and I would pull through. I didn't need his pity friendship.

   But the thing was...it didn't feel like pity friendship. It felt real. Same with Nathan in the way that he smiled and passed me a note to tell me he was excited to see a scary movie together.

Halfway through the hour, the teacher took mercy on us and allowed us to complete our history assignment in groups. Gabriel immediately took my hand, inspecting it for presumably bruising before giving my fingers a squeeze.

"Hey, Trouble. How are you feeling?" His electric blue eyes searched mine in a way that made my stomach clench guiltily.

I forced a big smile to my face. What's the point of hiding that I was in pain? "Great. Dr. Green took care of me. I'll be fine."

Nathan wagged his smartphone in my face. "Don't you lie to us, Peanut. Dr. Green already warned us of your trickery. We are to bring you to the nurse right after the bell rings."

I pouted, moving to cross my arms, but could only wince as pain crawled across my stomach. "I thought he said after lunch."

"Oy, none of that pouting, Trouble or the next time you fall out of a tree I won't catch you."

I grinned. "You wouldn't catch me, really?"

"Not if you keep giving me that lip," Gabriel smirked, rubbing his thumb across my bottom lip in a way that caused my breath to catch as I pulled back. "And no more lying either, because friends don't keep secrets."

"And we are friends, aren't we Peanut?"

The sound of the bell scared the bajeezus out of me, and Gabriel laughed sweetly, helping me to my feet. "Can I take her, Nate?"

"Sure thing...after Sang answers my question. Are we friends, Peanut?"

I found myself nodding. "I think so."

"Don't run off next time, okay? The guys and I could have stopped you from getting hurt..."

"I just fell," I mumbled as Nathan frowned and Gabriel took up my backpack before leading me out of the classroom.

"I used to fall a lot too, Trouble." Gabriel's eyes searched out a path for us down the hall as he took my hand again. "Sometimes I still fall, but now that I have my brothers, it doesn't happen as much."

Does Gabriel know about my mother? He clearly suspected I didn't really fall.

I licked my lips.

And if Gabriel said that he used to fall too, did that mean he was getting beaten at home?

I squeezed Gabriel's hand, wishing I had the courage to hug him. No one should have to deal with that.