Despite All Obstacles Part V

Recovery (Continued)

WARNING: RISKY STUNT

NOTE: DON'T EVER TRY THIS STUNT UNLESS NECESSARY

BARBARA'S STORY

Back to now:

I can't believe what I just heard from Matt. He saved my life.

"Thank you. I have no idea that it was you," I tell him, speechless.

He spreads his arms in front of me, "Come here. Let me give you a hug."

I let him hug me and I hug him back. We're hugging in the boys' room. Now, I know these evil girls lied to him, yet volunteered to help him save me, even when they hate me openly.

For a guy who acts like he doesn't care, he really does care. "You're family now," he quietly says to me. I smile. This means a lot. We let go and I smile to him. He makes a small one back.

"Now go, before someone else comes in. I need to pee." He walks pass me, wanting to pee in a urinal, but since I'm in here he goes into a stall. This is when Patt comes back out the last one. Glad that Matt didn't see him. He leaves me in the boys' room. I go after him.

"Patt," I call for him. He's standing in front of me, not knowing what to do.

"I'm glad that you're okay!" He tells me, surprised and amazed. He takes out his ponytail. "I feel silly wearing a ponytail when I'm not performing," he says and smiles to me. I smile back. We're finally smiling to each other.

"I'm glad to see your smile again, Patt," I happily tell him. He's now free from darkness.

"Thanks. I'm glad to see yours too," he gladly says. I get to him to give him a hug, he hugs me back, and then we let go, "I'll head back to advisory now. See you, Gracie," he says and happily walks away. I happily wave and watch him walk away. I'm glad he's calling me Gracie again. We're finally friends again.

This afternoon.

After finding out Goldilocks saved my life, I don't know how to feel about her. Sure, she still gives me a hard time like today, and the other four still bump me around, like they didn't do anything major for me...Sigh.

I join the crew during study hour in the library. I don't know why it's called hour when it's like only for an hour and a half or two.

Only Shortcake looks up. Welp, glad to have my crew back. "Gracie, you're back," Shortcake happily says.

I happily shake my head. "Yes, I am, Shortcake."

"'Sup, Barbara," bro neutrally says with a head nod and then back to homework. Bro is still cold to me.

"Bro needs to finish homework," Patt says and shrugs, and continues his too. I sit across Shortcake and beside Patt.

"I miss doing Anime Club. It has been night games and day practices for the third week," bro says to both Patt and Shortcake.

"Yeah, that is true," Patt says to them. I honestly feel like the odd one out.

"Are you okay, Barbara?" Patt asks me. I raise my right brow. Why's he still calling me Barbara? Are we still not cool?

"Why? What's wrong?" Shortcake asks, concerned.

This makes Patt panic to avoid the truth. "Nothing," shrugs, "Just wondering."

I know he overheard Matt and I talking while he was in that stall in the restroom. We start studying quietly.

After the library closes, we take the bus to Patt's. To be honest, bro's place is better, but Patt's feels like home.