GABRIEL. (UNDER CRITICAL EDITING)

Chapter 5

Sorry for the late update! I've just been really busy with school and my other book, and because of those two things, I'm only updating both books once a week. It's just too much work right now. Anyways, enjoy!

__

Fun-Fact: I've contemplated suicide at least six times.

I've been in this stupid ass cast for a little over four weeks now, and I'm getting quite sick of it. For the past four weeks, Reginald hasn't stopped asking questions yet, his most frequent being "Date after the cast comes off, right?" followed by a small smirk because, well, he's Reginald. Even though he's as cute as can be and his determination is downright adorable, I can't help but be annoyed at him.

Lynn and Mitchell have been their regular asshole selves. Their constant bitching hasn't stop even though I'm injured. I'm still responsible for dishes and getting to the bus stop every morning -alone might I add. Yes, it's a very shitty situation, but I've coped. Good news, though: I get my cast off today and I'm more excited than I've been in years. Sad, right? I know. But sad as it may be, it's true, and I have no problem admitting that.

And since I am, I've decided to go to the very last football game of the season with Bethany and Amber this Friday. Although they don't go to my school, they do go to the ball games. They're a lot better than the ones at their rich, snobby lacrosse-playing school. Reginald invited me last week and I'd told him that I couldn't, but after giving it much thought -and some pretty acceptable begging- I'm going. This will actually be the first ever football game, well any game or school event not during school hours, that I'll be attending. It's also against our school's rivals, so along with Bethany and Amber and a few of their friends, I'm painting up. I've watched Bethany and Amber paint themselves, wear their sports bras and shorts, and leave the house completely covered in blue, black and white paint. It seems fun and very school spirit-y, so I'm doing it with them.

Along with the game, Reginald asked me to go out with him for breakfast the next morning.

"Come on, Gabriel," he'd begged. "It'll be a victory breakfast."

"And what if you guys don't win?" I'd asked.

"I'd still be on a date with you."

So, because of his cheesy comeback that was just too incredibly adorable to turn down, I'm going out to breakfast with him. Lynn and Mitchell don't know, but Bethany and April have agreed to go out Saturday morning then come pick me up from the breakfast joint that Reginald and I are eating at so that we'll all come in at the same time and their parents won't have any suspicions. I don't know what's gotten into Bethany lately, but she sure isn't as sour as usual. Maybe it's because of her new-found relationship with Ethan. After their sexual escapade a few months back they haven't been able to stay away from each other. She seems exceptionally happy.

Despite my joy of finally getting out of the house and going to a football game after four weeks of limping around on a cast, my family's murder anniversary is Saturday as well. Lynn and Mitchell are humane enough to let me go visit their graves every year, and I am always a mess a few days prior to the reunion. After ten years, I still get emotional every time I so much as think about them, and all I can do is hope and pray that I don't fuck up my date with Reginald since it's on the same day. This time of the year is always the worst for me. I don't think I'll ever fully cope with my family being taken away from me.

**

I just got my cast taken off and let me tell you, it feels so good to finally be able to scratch my ankle. Bethany, Amber and I are all in Bethany's car on our way to the mall now. They both insisted that it's only completely appropriate to go the mall and get some clothes for my date this weekend. I don't think it's that serious, it'll only be breakfast. I'll probably still appear sleepy regardless of how good my clothes look. Even though I feel this way, they're dragging me to the mall anyway.