Chapter 34: Chapter Sixteen

[UNEDITED]

"Don't you pull that face at me, Gabby, it isn't normal. And you know it."

Rob stared at me, "I'm being serious, Gabby, he's always there, it's creeping everyone out. Even Andrea doesn't like him."

"The whole school doesn't like him, Rob, it's not gonna change anything." I muttered, "He's alright, you just need t give him a chance, Rob."

He scoffed, leaning against my kitchen counter, and dropped his spoon of cereal into the bowl in frustration, "Like Jayden got a chance, right. Or the guy before that. Or the guy before that guy! Gabby the list is endless, and he's not a good person. Why are you defending him?"

I shrugged, wordless.

"Why did you guys become so 'buddy-buddy' anyway. For the last week, you've been attached at the hip, Gabby. It's weird. You never gave him a second glance, and now you're practically dating!" He exclaimed, backing away from the counter and flinging a hand through his hair.

"We're not dating, Rob. Cut it out-"

He interjected, "Then what is it! I would love to know, Gabby!"

I ignored him, not appreciating all the yelling, "Can we just go, I don't want to fight with you today." I murmured, sliding away from the counter.

I walked away from him, looking for my dad. He was in the dining room, sat at one of the chairs, scribbling on what looked to be documents. I closed the door behind me, causing him to flinch.

I gave him a small smile and twiddled with my thumbs, "We're off to school now, dad. I'll see you later, okay?"

His tried eyes glanced at me, as he grunted a quick, "Bye." Before continuing writing on the papers, I didn't ask why he was in such a foul mood; he had been like that for the past few days, and every time I had even tried to get more that a few words out of him he would shut down the conversation before it would even start.

I ignored his mood and short replies, turning out of the dining room and ushering Rob out the front door.

But there he was, standing in all his glory, his black hair messy with his piercing brown eyes watching us as we opened the door. He threw his cigarette to the ground, stomping on it and looked towards me, completely ignoring Rob.

"You're riding with me today." He said, not even sparing me a second to think about it, he walked towards a black car I could only assume was his.

I turned to Rob apologetically, who had a stunned look on his face which slowly morphed into one of irritation. He shook his head, "Are you being serious?"

"I'm sorry, Rob." I uttered, guilt scratching at my stomach, he looked at me with disbelief.

"I-I always give you a ride to school on Thursdays?" He questioned, bewildered.

I bit my bottom lip, "I'm really sorry..."

He shook his head and scoffed under his breath, he minced over to his silver car, his head down, whilst muttering incoherently.

I locked the door behind me, and looked at Adam, he leant up against the drivers door, watching Rob back off of the driveway, his stitches were out, only a small scab with some scarred tissue remained.

I slid into the passenger seat, Adam following. He started up the engine, and began reversing out of the driveway as well, placing an arm over the back of my headrest and twisting so he could see out of the back.

"No bike?" I commented, curiously.

"No bike."

I cocked my head to the side, "Why not?"

He stared back at the road, "I'm not into making a scene."

I nodded, watching the buildings fly past us on the way to our school.

"Can I ask?" Adam started, I looked towards him and hummed a 'yes', "Why do you hang out with a Hermione Granger, like him."

I sighed, "Rob?"

He nodded, glancing at me from his peripheral vision.

"We've been the best of friends since I can remember, you know, he's always been there. He's just always been a part of my life, I guess." I concluded, staring at him.

"What about you?" I asked.

He looked confused for a moment, his thick eyebrows furrowing together, "What about me?"

I inhaled, "Why are you always alone?"

He looked slightly taken back, as a solemn expression filtered onto his face. "People aren't trustworthy. They'll run like startled horses, if you let them."

I raised my eyebrows at his negative look on life, shaking my head slightly. "Not everyone's like that." I meekly suggested.

His eyebrow raised slightly, and only when he cut the engine did I realise we were at school.

People littered around the grass in front of us, froze, gazing at the unfamiliar car parked. "So much for not making a scene." He muttered, standing up from the car and shrugging his classic leather jacket over his shoulders.

I followed, unenthusiastically attempting to keep my head down. Peeking up every now and again to see them all judging me, staring at me with quizzical glares. I felt Adam lean closer to me whilst walking, as he whispered, "remember this is for protection, sunshine. So you don't need to care what they think, it's their pathetic life they're wasting." Before strolling ahead of me, his stance confident.

Once we were in the hallways I quickly caught sight of Andrea, and skittered over to her. She smiled at me, but a grimace soon contorted on her face as she saw Adam.

"I see Donnie Darko is still stalking you," she commented, eyeing Adam cautiously.

I rolled my eyes at her, as Adam leant against the locker next to her, "I've been called worse by better."

I raised my eyebrows, as Andrea ignored him and turned to me opening her locker and blocking the view of Adam's face. "You know it's super creepy, right?"

I sighed, choosing not to reply to her.

"I mean, even Rob and I got asked by people we don't even know, why he's here."

"I'm still here." Adam prattled, whipping his phone out.

Andrea rolled her eyes, and continued blatantly talking about him. I stopped listening a while into it, when Adam looked at his phone and told me that he needed to go. I shrugged, saying a quick 'bye'.

Andrea and I both walked to our lessons.

★★   ★★   ★★

"There's Rob!" Andrea exclaimed, waddling over to him in the Dining Hall, dread began to fill my stomach, and I inhaled, plonking down next to him.

"Rob, I'm really sorry-"

"Wednesday Adams not with you guys then?" He snapped looking up whilst mocking Adam.

Andrea chuckled, "Nice one."

'Rob, I'm sorry about this morning." I whispered, staring at him, he would give me a single glance.

He turned to me slowly, "It's the third time this week that you've ditched me for him." He spat out maliciously, glaring at me. I folded my arms around myself.

"I'm sorry Rob,"

"What are you sorry for, Gabby? What is it! Please enlighten me, because every time it's something new." He yelled, slamming his tray down on the table.

"When are you going to stop treating me like a piece of dirt of the bottom of your shoe! When are your going to start treating me like an actual human being, Gabby! Get over yourself!" He paused for a moment, his voice suddenly lower and quieter, "When are you going to realise that eleven years of friendship beats whatever the fuck you have going on with Valentino."

With that he pushed the chair away, glancing down at me, "You know what, Gabby, when you decide to tell me what the fuck is really going on, you can come find me." And with that he stormed out of the hall, everyone's eyes trained on him.

"What did I get myself into..." Andrea muttered, glancing up from her tray.

My hands were shaking uncontrollably, tears prickling at the edge of my eyes, my breathing was shallow, and wildly panicky. I stood up on trembling feet, blinking away the tears and ran after him.

I couldn't have felt worse.