The New Girl

Outed

The guilt in my chest was unbearable at this point. I promised Dom that I wouldn't mess up again, like I had done at Seneca. But I did just that. Per usual, Dom is getting stuck in the middle of my petty high school drama and he ends up being the one to deal with all of the consequences.

When I walked through the front door of my house, Dom and Bennet were sitting on couch in the living room at close proximity. Bennet had ditched school today, claiming there'd be nothing relevant to do.

It's probably for the best he missed today though.

"Gabby, are you crying?" Dom asked, immediately sitting up on the couch. Bennet copied his actions.

I came over and sat directly in front of them on our glass coffee table. The tears in my eyes were putting up a strong fight to come out.

"Ayden's ex knows everything about us, Dom." I frowned. "Everything."

Dom's jaw dropped. The fear in his eyes was evident. As quickly as it came, it was gone.

He hugged me, "Don't worry, Gabby. I'm not going to let this get to me again. We will get through this together and I'll be okay."

We pulled away from the hug and I nodded at him.

We're in this together.

Taking both of us by surprise, Bennet mumbled something that I didn't understand and he stood up and left.

Hesitantly, I looked back at Dom who looked so hurt. Something so minuscule had caused Bennet to walk out and it clearly took its toll on Dom.

"He walked out...so easily." He mumbled.

It pains me to watch my brother experience all of this pain. He doesn't deserve all of this.

"Where do you think he went?" I asked softly, sitting in the seat Bennet was previously in. He and I stared blankly at the TV in front of us.

"Ayden's probably." He shrugged. He was trying so hard to mask his feelings, but I could see right through him. He was hurting.

Without asking for Dom's opinion, I picked up and dialed Ayden's phone number to see if that's where Bennet scurried off to in his time of panic.

"Hey, G, what's up?"

"Is Bennet over?"

"Yeah, he just got here - he's downstairs. Listen, Gabs, he panicked and he didn't know what to do." That was obvious. "He feels bad." He added.

"He needs to talk to Dom about that."

"I know, I know. He will in like a half an hour, after we talk, please tell Dom that."

"Okay, I will. I love you."

"Love you, Gabs, bye." I placed my phone face down on the arm of the couch and offered Dom a reassuring smile, going on to explain what Ayden just asked me to tell him.

~•~

Another day in hell, praying that nothing goes wrong today. Can God even hear one's prayers while in hell (aka school)?

"Gabby, she's not going to hold this information in." Ayden reminded me as I closed my locker. We began our walk to psychology after art class.

"I know." I may have already known that, but it still sent chills tingling down my spine.

"We'll be ready for this, Gabs. We just need to stay on our toes."

Indeed we do.

~•~