honey » david dobrik au

thirty five

"I can walk, you know? You don't need to help me," I said, but couldn't help but smile at David, who was looking at me so innocently as he supported my arm.

I had been home from the hospital for a few days, and I officially decided to make my return to school. After much deliberation with my parents, they finally decided it was okay. I couldn't walk very fast or long distances, but I could make it to my classes as long as someone carried my books for me.

"I like helping you. You're like the elderly."

"You hate old people," I giggled.

"You make me like them more," he told me, helping me hobble along to my classroom while people stared into my soul. I was sure they were shocked I was here; I only missed 3 days of school before coming back. Though my teachers were extremely understanding and willing to accommodate me, being home alone and stuck with my crazy mom while everyone else was at school helped me recover rather quickly. "You know to call me or your dad if you need anything, yes?"

"Well, I'm not eight, so yes, I do remember him saying that just two minutes ago when you got me out of his car," I sighed, still smiling at him. "You don't have to worry so much, David. I'm fine. Nothing even hurts right now."

"You're my baby," he lightly hugged me as we approached the door to my first period, trying not to hurt me. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I promise you I will tell you if I'm not," I squeezed his hand. "Thank you for getting me to class. I love you."

The rest of the school day went like that. It felt so different. Everything felt so different, and not just because I couldn't twist in my desk without a severe sharp pain shooting up my abdomen.

School was usually bustling, a happy place to be, but it felt eerie from the moment I passed the new guards at the front door. A locker slamming a little too loud seemed to startle an entire hallway. The cafeteria floor was spotless, but it was almost like I could still see it.

I wanted so desperately to move on, but if it was like this every day, I couldn't.

Home was even worse. Though I was treated like a queen at school, it was even more obvious at home. I was never my mom's favorite, and even though my dad always showed me favoritism, all the attention was always on Ben. Ben needs to raise his grades to stay on the team. Ben needs to put more hours in at the gym. Did you see Ben's touchdown? Ben is still deciding what college offer to take because he has so many. It was never like that for me... until I almost bled out on the cafeteria floor.

Since then, my parents were on me like hawks. Even Ben was being way too nice to me. It felt wrong; it all felt wrong. This was not the way I'd lived the past sixteen years of my life, and if it didn't go back to normal soon, there was a possibility I'd go completely fucking insane.

That's why I was glad there were people willing to take me out of the house, even if it was Corinna and Zane high as hell and bored out of their minds.

Luckily, Ben was out doing God knows what, so all they had to do was get me past my mother, who had probably never smelled marijuana in her life and would likely think Ben's friends were crying over their recent loss and not smoking a joint down the street.

"You know you can't be too rough with her, right? She can't be out for long or she'll start bleeding. She's still getting used to solids, so maybe take her some place they serve soup, just in case. Just be careful with her. I don't want her to get hurt."

"Ma'am," Zane started, followed by a pause so uncomfortably long that I was thankful she pulled them into another room. "We will take fantastic care of Honeylove."

"Alright... have her home by dinner, please."

That was seriously all it took. You'd think she'd be a little more careful letting her daughter who seemed to be a target these days go out, but with that simple sentence, I was free.

All I could think was why hadn't I left earlier?

"So... I want to hear all about it, Honey. It's totally not fair that Corinna knew way before me. I thought we were friends," Zane frowned from his place in the backseat. I was a little wary to be in the car with them, but Corinna swore on her life she drove high all the time and never wrecked. Peer pressure makes you do some crazy things.

"We are friends," I giggled. "If it were up to me, Corinna would've never known. It was up to God, though. I don't know what you want me to tell you."

"Everything! Like when did it start, have you had sex yet, is he your one true love? All the important questions!"

"David didn't tell you all this?" I questioned. "It's been over a month since everyone knew we were dating. What have you guys been talking about?"

"Oh, baby," Corinna sighed, then looked back at Zane through the mirror, "How I wish I possessed her blissful ignorance."

"I'm confused."

"He's been the worst person for the past month, Honey," Corinna explained. "Mean to everyone. Wouldn't even really talk to us unless we directly addressed him. He'd get pissed if he heard your name. You have a bigger affect on him than you realize."

"I just don't understand that."

"You took a bullet for him, babe. How can you not understand him being miserable that you aren't together?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "He was in love with Liza. So being in love with me shouldn't be that big of a difference."

Zane chuckled from the backseat and I turned to look at him, ignoring the pain in my stomach. I said, "What?"

"David was not in love with Liza," Zane frowned like I was stupid for being confused. "David was in love with Liza being in love with him. He just wanted someone to want him. He wasn't upset when they broke up because he missed her, he was upset that his image was messed up."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," I turned back around because I felt like crying. The medicines I was taking made me too emotional. "He probably thinks the same thing about me."

"He doesn't," Corinna told me. "He's in love with the person you are. The sweet person who talks to the school shooter when everyone else avoids him. The person who protects her friends at all costs. The person who is so carefree and chill. He loves you, not how you make him feel. You made him feel miserable for the past month—not that it's your fault—and he still loves you. You need to stop worrying so much. Now let's go eat before I get hangry."

"Okay."

Xoxo abby