My Name is Gabby Simpson (The Vamps Fanfiction)

Exhaustion

About an hour later, a silver car pulled into the parking lot I stood in. I wasn’t sure how, but he had managed to find which bathroom stop I was at and get his driver to bring him there. Apparently, he’d never learnt to drive. I had felt a bit of disappointment when he told me that on our second phone call. Having one person to look like a train wreck in front of was humiliating enough.

He got out, his hair sleep tousled, his eyes wild and anxious. He hadn’t even said anything to me before gently touching my wrist and walking with me toward the car. He helped me into the back, and rather than going into the front like I’d expected, he climbed down next to me. With a flush I realized how helpless I must’ve seemed. 

The car set to life immediately, and we entered onto the road. I hadn’t been in a real car for… at least eight years, I startled. And one this nice, I had never been in. The clean leather seating was heated, and there were cupholders on either side of me. It smelt of cleanliness. I inhaled a deep breath.

“I wasn’t expecting you to call,” Bradley said again. He sounded nervous, like he didn’t know how to go about what he wanted to ask.

“I wasn’t going to,” I said softly. But I wasn’t expecting… “I hope this isn’t too much of a bother. It must be the middle of the night, and you were probably sleeping or whatever. I… I’m really sorry, if I had someone- anyone- else I wouldn’t have asked you to do this for me. I’m sorry-” I was rambling, and probably would’ve rambled much longer had he not cut me off.

“Stop apologizing,” he said. “I am glad you called.”

I didn’t say anything.

“On the phone…” He continued. His voice was filled with tension, and concern. “I don’t know what happened, but... Gabrielle, your eye… Are you okay? No, that’s a stupid question, you’re obviously not. I know we’ve only met a couple hours ago, but don’t be afraid to tell me. I won’t tell anyone else; I won’t tell the police. You are safe, and I’m- I’m here for you.”

He must’ve thought that my continued silence was because I was still so reluctant to tell him, and in a way it was, but most of all, I didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever said anything like that to me before.

I was in a weird, trancelike state. “No,” I told him. “I’m fine. Really.”

“I don’t believe you, Gabrielle,” he said. It reminded me of this afternoon, all over again.

“It’s- it’s Gabby.” My breathing became heavy, slow.

“Did you get involved with other kids? Did you steal something? Gabrielle… Gabby. Who hurt you? Let me help.”

Exhaustion began to catch up with me. “No... I don’t need your help.”

His eyes were pleading. “Yes you do. You called me.”

I still didn’t say anything.

Finally, he sighed. “Will you at least tell me if you’re alright? Do I need to bring you to the hospital, or-”

“No,” I said. “I’m fine.” My eyelids became very heavy. “I- I fought them off, myself. I don’t need help. But maybe if… if I could- if you could drop me off wherever my friends are. I don’t want to waste anymore… of your time. You’ve done enough, thank you… Bradley.” I wasn’t even sure half of what I was saying, but it probably sounded like nonsense. My head rested on my shoulder.

“I’m not dropping you off anywhere. You’re coming back to my place.”

I didn’t understand. Is that what he wanted? Or not?

No matter what, it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted Jared. I wanted Nia. I wanted to roam the streets, free and ruthless. No one controlled me. Me. Gabby Simpson. The girl who’d existed, fine and strong for ten years, without anyone to look after her. I didn’t need a family.

Right?

“No,” I tried to murmur, but I was already falling under. “Please. I’m… fine…”

Bradley touched my wrist again, and I flinched, startling both of us. His hand fell back to his lap.

“I’m sorry for what’s happened to you, Gabrielle,” he said. His voice sounded far away, as if the land of sleep were miles away from reality. He’s not talking about tonight, or today, I realized. I was barely able to comprehend, but I understood this. He was talking about all of it. My life.  

And in the end, it didn’t matter what I wanted or didn’t want.

This was happening.

I apologize this was kind of a crappy chapter and it took me a really long time to upload, but thanks for reading anyways! :)