Insecure

Too much to handle

Seth pov:

  "That'll be $4.57." The cashier says, smiling at me. I smile back to seem friendly. " Alright." I dig into my pocket and pull out my wallet. "Here you go." I place the money in her hand and grab my cup of coffee off the table." Have a nice day." I tell her while walking out.

I get in my car and start down the road. I'm in the middle of taking a sip of my coffee when I see my new friend walking on the sidewalk. I thought she was supposed to be in the hospital.

Something is off with her though. Is she crying? I pull up next to her and smirk when I see her jump back. She must think I'm some kidnapper or something. I roll my window down and smile at her.

She scrunches up her nose. " Seth?" I lean closer to the window. " Why are you crying?" I see her face flush and her try to wipe the tears away. I take a second to take in her weak form. She is shaking like a leaf and she is sweating like a maniac. I instantly frown. " Get in, I'll drop you home." She looks me straight in the eyes, shock written all over her face.

"W-what?" She stumbles on her words. I smile. " Do I have to repeat myself? You look like you could faint at any second. Let me take you home. " She turns her head to stare back at the long walk in front of her then back at my car. She hesitantly gets inside, making sure that she is on the far edge of the seat.

"So, why are you walking home when your supposed to be at the nearest hospital?" I ask. She doesn't move or make a sound as she bites down on her lip. " I can keep a secret."

She lets out a shaky breath and releases her grip on her backpack, letting them rest on her knees. " I don't want to talk about it." She whispers. I've never seen someone look so hurt in my entire life. " I'm okay, so you can just drop me home. " She insist, her eyes fail to meet me when she says that. I move her head to face me, but her eyes immediately dart towards the car floor.

   "What are you trying to hide? I already know those cheerleaders bully you. So you don't have to be scared to tell me if they made you like this." Her eyebrows scrunch up as she tries to keep tears from flowing. " You can let it out. I won't judge you and what ever those girls told you, you can tell me. I'm trustworthy."

I offer her a small smile. She searches my eyes to see if I'm telling the truth. One tear escapes, then another and then more come out uncontrollably.  I instantly pull her towards me and engulf her into a hug. I pat her head, trying to comfort her as much as possible, but a little part of me can't help but be happy that I finally got her to let her sheild down.

She cries for a few minutes before it starts to turn into sniffles and then she pushing herself away from me. " We should get going. My house is right around the corner." She points out while wiping the tears from her eyes.

Nodding my head in agreement, I shift my car out of park into drive and start on to her house. She directs me to a small apartment complex that could use a little more... help. It's not on the clean side or most friendly neighborhood as I park next to a smelly garbage can and brick building, decorated with grefitti along the sides of the walls.

"This is where you live?" I ask with a more condescending tone than I wanted it to be because next thing I know Isabelle is slamming the door behind her and running towards the sorry excuse for a home. I follow suit exiting my car, but make sure to lock the doors behind me.

"Isabelle! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just a little surprised." I say honestly.  " Well, I didn't ask you to drop me home! You should have just left me on the street!"  I finally catch up to her on the second flight of stairs, grabbing her hand which makes her stop in her tracks. " I'm sorry, I just really want to help you." I explain. She slowly turns around.

" Why do you even care? I just want everything to go back to the way it was! So stop bothering me." She spits out, but her tears give her away. I take another step up the stairs so I'm only one step away from her.

" I know your lying. You don't want your life to stay the same and you definitely don't like feeling the way you do now. No one would."  Her lips quiver as she tries to regain her composure. " I - I don't want you to get mixed in with my problems, so just forget everything that's happened so far." I smile at her and take a step closer.

"You know I can't do that. Remember were friends now." A few moments pass before her face lights up in a deep shade of red as she realizes how close we are and backs away. " So you're really not going to leave me alone?" I pat her head making her face turn into a deep scowl. "Not - a - chance." She folds her arms and looks up at me.

" Then I guess we're going to have to set a few ground rules." I give her a quizzical look before putting my hands up in a sign of surrender. " Okay, lay em' out for me." I say. She puts her pointer finger on her chin and her thumb on the side as she paces the step she is on. " Hmmm, well I don't know. How about... if I feel like your crossing the line you have to give me space when I tell you too and... you don't try to dig up every detail about me." She smirks. I nod my head " Can I make a few changes?"

"Depends on the changes." I clear my throat before responding. " Okay, I will do everything you just said unless I do those things to help you or because you're in trouble." She thinks over what I said before putting her hand out. "Agreed, but don't get to carried away." I place my hand in hers and pull her into a hug. " Agreed." I pull away to see her face flushed. " Now smile." I pinch her cheeks. She groans and pulls away. " Don't do that."

"Yes, your highness." I start down the stairs. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

" Yeah, I guess...and Seth," I turn to face her at the bottom of the steps. "Thank you." She runs up the stairs in a hurry. I laugh as I hear the door slam behind her. "Your welcome."