Only You

Chapter 7

Another week goes by and I have grown closer to my friends and this town, showing me what I've been missing for so many years after my mom died. I'm not as distant as I have been and I find myself showing more emotion in these last few weeks than I ever did in 6 years. It makes me feel vulnerable but I feel good about it. Laughing and smiling without restraint has become a little addictive.

Nothing has really happened, I ended up in the closet for a few hours on Wednesday but other than that my father hasn't really been around, and my friends only briefly questioned the dark circles and bags under my eyes Thursday morning. Declan still sits with me in the Library, we talk a little. Sometimes about the rest of the group, but mostly he helps me with my math homework, which I am very grateful for. We haven't taken his truck out yet which is fine by me, I'm a little nervous but I'll think about that when it comes.

I haven't really branched our past this tight knit group of people. Most of my peers seem to stay away from me especially when one of the boys is around. I usually just shrug it off, but as it happens more often I can't help but feel that the school is almost afraid of them, and I guess I'm now included too. I asked Lily about it once, knowing she would know the schools gossip but she just shook her head rather sadly and told me not to worry about it. That's also when I realized that the school didn't have any gossip, no top dogs in the schools hierarchy. It makes me think that we are the top dogs, but then why would they be outcasted by the rest of the student body?

All of these question and mysteries lead me to where I am now. Sitting on the floor in Sophie's bedroom looking for a nail polish that I like.

"Hey Soph?" I say looking at the girl with her head hanging over the edge of her bed and her feet held in the air as she texts on her phone.

"Yeah" she questions distractedly still typing on her phone.

"How come you guys don't have any other...friends, I guess? Why does everybody always shy away when one of you is around?" I say trying to find the right words to explain my confusion. She freezes, her phone still in hand and her eyes move over to me. She sighs softly and flips over so she is laying upright looking at me.

"Ronnie that question is a lot more loaded than you might think" she says wincing slightly. "Stuff has happened that has just changed the way people look at us I guess."

"That's the second time somebody has said something like that. First Declan, now you. What happened?" I say getting slightly more upset about the thought of being kept in the dark when obviously it's affecting me.

"It's not my story to tell, Ronnie. It affected each of us in a really strong way but..." she shakes her head and looks down at her fingers "i-it's just not my right to tell you." She says, her voice cracking with emotion at the end.

I sigh, any tension leaving my shoulders. I get up and walk over to her, sitting beside her. I look down at her and gently take her hand. She doesn't move, just continues to look down, blinking her eyes rapidly.

"You're right, Soph, I'm sorry for pushing. I-It's not my right-"

"No Ronnie, it is your right" she sighs looking up at me sincerely "it's not my right."

I nod my head slowly in understanding, "Declan, right?" I state looking down at her. She nods her head slowly and looks back down at her hands.

"Life sucks" she says after a few seconds, giggling a little.

"You're telling me?" I question her smiling slightly, relieved that she broke the tension.

After a few moments she whispers, "Thank you-" looking up at my face, her eyes welling up slightly "-for understanding."