Breaking and Entering (Reece Bibby)

Chapter 18

"Seriously, what's your problem mate?"

"It doesn't matter!"

Yelling coming from outside the apartment woke me up the next morning. Thankfully, the shades had been closed so there wasn't much light coming into the room, given that my head felt like it was about to explode. I looked over to the bedside table and found a glass of water and some medicine waiting for me. I couldn't help but smile at how thoughtful Reece was.

"Well clearly it does since you can't be arsed to do anything with us anymore!" Reece's voice rang out, leaving me with no choice but to get up and find out what's going on.

As I left my room, I saw Leah stumbling out of her own, a pair of sunglasses placed over her regular glasses.

"What are they all on about?" She asked me as we both made our way to the door.

"My problem isn't with all of you!" George shouted, just as Leah and I appeared in the hallway. He froze, his eyes wide as he stared at me. Reece and Blake turned to see what he was looking at.

"Then who's your problem with?" I asked, staring daggers at him.

He looked down at his feet, his hands shaking by his side. "It doesn't matter," he whispered, just loud enough for us all to hear him.

"Well if it really doesn't matter, figure out how to make it stop keeping you away from all of us." Blake glared at him coldly. "We're going to get the girls some breakfast, are you coming or not?"

He sighed before he nodded, running a hand through his hair. Reece kissed me on the cheek before he followed Blake as he headed to the elevator. George gave me a quick look before he trudged after the other two boys.

"What the hell happened to him?" Leah turned to look at me.

I didn't respond.

~~~

After the boys got back George didn't stick around to eat with us. Blake tried to put up a fight but Reece calmed him down, telling him it wasn't worth bickering about again. We ate in silence, all of us not really knowing what to say. Everyone was wondering who George was upset with but I already knew. It had to be me.

"Are you going to eat that?" Leah asked, pointing to the sausage on my plate.

I pushed it towards her, not feeling like eating anymore. Reece looked at me, most likely worried about why I wasn't eating much. I stood up and went into the kitchen, no longer able to handle the silence.

"Avs?" I turned around and saw Reece following me. "Are you alright?"

"It has to be me Reece, there's no other explanation." I jumped up on the counter, letting my legs dangle over the edge.

"What are you talking about?" He walked over to me, standing right next to me with one leg rubbing my leg soothingly.

"George has to be upset with me." I looked at him, feeling saddness rise inside of me. "It can't be Leah because they're constantly laughing together. It can't be you or Blake because you're his best mates and he would tell you if something was wrong. It has to be me." I looked down, feeling a tear slip from my eye.

"Hey," Reece reached his hand up and brought it to my chin, lifting my head so that I was looking at him. "You don't know that."

"I have to talk to him, Reece." I jumped down off of the counter. "I have to figure out why he's so upset with me."

"Do you really think that's a good idea? Maybe I should come with you. Moral support and all that." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I shook my head. "It's okay. I have to do it alone."

He frowned. "Fine. But we will all be over here if you need anything."

I nodded and started heading to the door.

"Hey, Ava?"

"Yeah?" I turned back to look at him.

"Don't push him too hard, okay?"

"I won't."

I walked out of the apartment and across the hall to the boys' door. I knocked, waiting to hear the sounds of George coming to the door. When they didn't come I knocked again.

"Go away."

I knocked for a third time.

"I said go away!"

I kept knocking, refusing to let him push me away.

"What do you wan- Oh, it's you." George's angry expression went away for a second when he saw me. It was quickly replaced by a look of pain, before he turned away from me.

"You need to tell me what's wrong." I stepped past him into the apartment before he could close the door on me.

"And why would I do that?" He shut the door, turning around to face me. The pained face had been replaced by the angry one.

"Because I know I'm the one you have a problem with." I crossed my arms. "And I'm not leaving until you tell me what it is."

He shook his head, laughing slightly. "This is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."

I watch as he started to pace in front of me, his face twisting this way and that as he thought.

I lowered my arms. "I just want to help George."

"You can't!" He yelled out, causing me to take a step back. He lowered his voice before he spoke again. "You can't help because there's nothing that can be done."

"Why? What's the problem? If you just tell me maybe I can think of a solution you haven't thought of yet." I took a step towards him, cautiously getting closer. George didn't usually lash out when he was mad but I didn't want to take any risks.

"There isn't a solution that won't get someone hurt." He looked up at me, his eyes filled with pain.

"But George, right now you're hurt." I put my hand on his arm, trying my best to stop him from shaking. "I don't want you to be hurt."

"You can't have it both ways, Ava." He stared at me, so intensely I felt like he was looking right through me.

"George, I don't understand. What do you mean I can't have it both ways?"

He continued to look at me. "I can't take it anymore."

Before I could respond, his hands were around my head and his lips were on mine.