Friends For Life

Chapter 5 - The Other Side of The Story

“I have everything under control, okay. So stop worrying." I tell my mom as I head upstairs to my room.

“Gabby I’m not worried that things are out of control. I’m worried about you. You spend all your time at the hospital with Haley and--”

“She’s my best friend mom she needs me.”I say not letting her finish.

“I know that and I don’t mind you going to see her. But you can’t just stop your whole life. Before the accident you had your focus on school and that was it. Nothing should change that, you're no different than you were before the accident.”

“Well things are different now mom.”

“I know but school comes first Gabby and you need to stay social. Don’t shut everyone else out because Haley’s--”

“Because Haley’s what mom? Because she’s not here?”

“Gabby come here and sit down. Please we need to talk about this.” I groan and walk toward the sofa to sit with my mom. I know she’s just worried about me and I hate it when I talk to her like that. Actually I never talk to her like that,  that’s probably the first time in my life I’ve raised my voice at my mom, and I don’t like the way it felt.

“Listen Gabby, I understand you’re worried about Haley. But do you really think she’d want you to put your whole life to the side because she wasn’t doing well? And don’t say yes because even I know she wouldn’t want that, and she wasn’t my best friend.”

“But I can’t give up on her mom.”

“Gabby you are not giving up on her, but right now what you’re doing is giving up on yourself.”

I sigh because I know she’s right but I don't want to admit that Haley would hate what I'm doing to myself. I get up and go to my room to get ready for school for the first time in almost a week. I’ve been doing my homework since Alex has been bringing my work to the hospital. So I’m not behind, but I haven’t talked to anyone since I ran out at lunch a couple days ago.

I shove on some jeans with my silver sneakers and a random t-shirt with my gray sweater. I brush my hair and put on my foundation, taking one last look in the mirror I shove my powder in my black purse and grab my fuchsia backpack. I head out to my mom who’s waiting for me in the kitchen to give me a ride just cause I don’t feel like riding the bus.

I text Carrie to tell her I would meet her in the library when I got to school. The car ride is pretty quiet because it's just me singing to the radio. I remember when Haley and I would carpool she would sing to the radio so loudly I thought my ears were going to explode. But then I’d eventually start singing with her because I could never get her to shut up. I get to school and am immediately met by a smiling Carrie with a bunch of other people Haley and I talked to.

“Hello my young Gabby.” Carrie says in a sing song voice. “Off to the library people.” she said in the same voice clapping her hands.

I walk behind the group not wanting to talk to anyone, even though that’s exactly why my mom wanted me to go to school. I get my phone out and text Alex so he knows where I am, but most likely he’s already in the library. That’s where he usually is anyway in the mornings.

“Oh Gabby… don’t be weird and walk in the back.” I hear Carrie call from the front of the group we’re walking in. “Come on slow poke.”

“I know where the library is Carrie.” I bite back getting annoyed for some reason.

“Well you haven’t been to school in like three days so I thought I should refresh your memory.”

“I don’t forget that easily.”