Home is Where the Heart Is

Chapter 4: Discoveries

So here I am, leaning against the chilly brick alley, facing my friend. Concerned friend, I should add. It was getting awfully cold outside, at 56 degrees (bipolar weather out here).

"So..", I paused to draw in a breath. Mistake, because it nearly frozen my lungs, hack wheeze cough cough. "Well..what did you need me for, mister?"

Gabe rolled his eyes and gave me an unsatisfied exchange. He leaned closer to me until he was inched from my face. He fished through his pocket and pulled out his best friend: a cigarette.

"Baby, ya got a lighter?" he amorously asked. Oh, no, not this attitude again. Offering back a tiny smirk, I pulled out my lighter (he is the only one in our group who smokes, therefore we all carry an extra lighter).

"Alright fine. May I remind you I like someone else?". He nodded at me, puffed in, and blew out the hazy smoke cloud. "Damn right I do. But listen, I've got some news for ya."

News? Oh dear, well I bet this is probably one of those unimportant, Did-you-hear-this-one-do-this-to-that-person-that-pissed-off-the-other-person? rumors, mainly amongst the populars. Well either way, my eyebrows perked at this. "Tell me."

Inhaling the gases like there was no tomorrow, I grew impatient. You see, Gabriel likes, no LOVES his cigarettes, and he is only 17. yet he had a flawless physique and appearance. He is just well fit which I guess balances things out.

"Mmmphm sorry. 'nyway, I have noticed you look tense and stressed lately. What's up?"

"You want me to tell you? You can NOT tell anyone else, and I trust you with my heart."

Giving me "the look" again, he blew the smoke in my face. "No problem. Shoot."

Oh how to put is, how to put this. With an hour remaining, I decided to just spill it out. "Well, my paranoia disorder hasn't changed a bit lately, but issues are just reoccurring now. And personal life is just a hellish misery, you see, since Anthony's death, my mom has not been the same."

"Go on."

"She has been taking out life on me. She treats Amelia like she is a prized, golden possession and treating me horribly. Then, here, I fear my friendship between Suki is falling apart. I see her flirting with Beckett, but he is blunt whenever we discuss that thing."

His eyes perked open when I said that. "Funny, she has been like that. And lately, she has been telling Jade and I that she doesn't like you."

Doesn't WHAT?! A close friend..I cannot afford to hear that. "Really? Like how?

"Well", he spat out his cigarette (finally, because I was suffocating on the gases) and zoned out for a bit. "Well.."

"Well what?"

"To put it this way..she mocks you and how you suffer from your disorder. She has been jealous of you and Beckett and vents to us on how she 'doesn't believe your family bullshit'. Well to hell with her, I back you up."

So much years of pointless appreciation and trustworthiness murdered and fiercely left to burn, wasted. For nearly 16 years. I feel horrible now, well nice to know that.

"That's nice.." was all I could stammer, while fighting back tears. "I-I'm sorry I have to go."