20. Friends

Friends

GAbrIELLA

Somehow time passes, between going to classes and hanging out with the twins and Parker, I find myself falling into a routine of sorts. After the big fight with Parker, he relaxed a little, allowing me moments to myself and trusting the twins to keep me safe while he wasn’t around. I honestly think he’s been following me because he shows up in the most random places and brings up the strangest topics. I don’t have the heart to tell him that I know he’s been following me because I actually enjoy being around him, the twins too for that matter. They help distract me from thoughts of my aunt. I know it’s not the healthiest coping mechanism but it’s all I’ve got right now.

I’m not sure how it happened but I started to think of the three of them as my friends.

About a week after the big fight, I find myself walking alone through the hallway heading to the bathroom when I’m stopped by the red-haired girl who faked a seizure. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” She snaps, getting right up into my face. She’s a strange girl, slightly taller than me, built like a cheerleader and she always has this twist to her lips that makes her look like she’s sucking on one of those super sour candies.

“Excuse me?” I ask after far too long a delay for my response to be anything but sarcastic.

“You heard me,” She pokes my chest. “who the fuck are you to come into my school,” poke. “steal my boyfriend,” poke, “and my friends?” Poke.

My hands are shaking with the effort it takes not to grab her finger and snap the bones. I have no idea what to say to her, so I start edging away, preparing to leave when she grabs my arm hard enough to bruise and literally hisses at me. My instincts kick in before I can stop them, my body twisting to break her hold, my fist coming up from the move and slamming into her side. She bends at the waist, wheezing from the power behind my punch.

“Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t like people poking me. I don’t know who the hell you are, besides you being a bitch who fakes having power seizures to get attention.” I lean in closer and whisper, “But if I were to steal anyone’s boyfriend, I’d pick someone you haven’t put your disgusting hands on. Diseased seconds aren’t my style.”

I’m walking away before she even stands herself back up. On impulse, I head to the guy’s dorm room instead of back to class. Not for the first time I wonder why this school prohibits cell phones, they’d be handy right now.

I literally flop down onto the couch in their dorm room and next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by Parker. “You joining us for dinner?”

“Yeah, just give me a minute to wake up properly.” I run my hands through my hair and groan, “And fix my hair.”

“Why, you look beautiful no matter what.”

“Thanks, but that’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard.” I grouse as I get up and head to his room so I can fix my hair in his dresser’s mirror.

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes at my reflection as I pull the hairband out of my hair and retie it.

“Come on, the twins are waiting for us in the cafeteria. I don’t want to miss out on the good food.”

I smirk, my mind going straight to ways to delay him just so I can annoy him but then I remember that bitch from earlier and hurry myself out the door.

As we’re walking, a really cute guy draws my attention, giving me a little wave before stepping closer to say hi.

“Fuck off!” Parker snaps before the guy can even open his mouth.

“You need to stop, we’re friends, friends don’t run potential boyfriends off.” I shove him in the chest just so I don’t appear to be too overwhelmingly happy at his possessiveness.

“That guy? You can’t possibly-.” I smother my grin with my hand pretending to hide my face. I really had no interest in the guy, while he was cute, he just wasn’t… well, he wasn’t for me.

“What I do or don’t do is none of your business.”

“It is my business if it’s with him!”

My curiosity wins out, I want to know if it’s just that guy or if it’s all guys in general that Parker doesn’t want me talking to. “You don’t even know him.”

“I know him, he’s just like every other guy here. All he wants is to get into your pants.”

Whoa that escalated fast. “Excuse me?”

“What part of that didn’t you understand, every single guy at this school wants to fuck you!”

“Every single guy?” I ask meeting his heated gaze dead on.

“Well maybe not Marcus, pretty sure you’re missing the right anatomy for him.” He nods to a guy who is so obviously gay he might as well be wearing a mini skirt and hooker heels. The laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. “I’m not interested in dating anyone here.” My gaze meets Parker’s once again, this time to gauge his reaction. Just as I suspected, his deep blue orbs flash with annoyance at my obvious lack of interest in dating him . If only he knew just how much of a lie that is. Okay, maybe not a lie, more like a half truth, if I could choose between the three of them, I might consider changing my tune, but seriously, the three of them are all uniquely intriguing. They all have their pros and cons, but I can’t work out my own heart, let alone risk our friendship with my mixed feelings.

What if I choose one of them and the other two fight with the one that I choose? What if I mess things up and it tears our friendship apart or worse still, what if I choose one of them, only to figure out later that I picked the wrong one and end up ruining everything we’ve built….

“I could never choose anyone from this school to date.” I add to hide my uncertainties.

We arrive in the cafeteria just as the line reaches the door and Parker groans. He’s done the same thing every night since I started staying in their dorm room. Usually I join the twins in getting here early but tonight I’m all out of sync because of that red-haired bitch. Speaking of, she walks right up to Parker and throws herself into his arms. My jaw hits the floor as I’m practically shoved aside so he can catch her.

With a glare at her, I drop my tray and head over to the twins, with my head held high. I won’t let her get to me. The guys are my friends, nothing more. Despite how I feel about them secretly, they’ve never shown any interest in taking our friendship further than just friends.

I repeat this to myself as I sit down between Jamie and Drew. “Anyone else lose their appetite just now?” I grumble as I lean on Drew’s shoulder.

“Yeah, every time the bitch shows her ugly face my appetite leaves.” Drew rumbles beside me.

“I thought he didn’t want anything to do with her anymore.” Jamie adds and my eyes go wide.

“Wait, don’t tell me she’s the on again, off again girlfriend.” I groan and put my head to the table.

“We thought you knew.” They both say as Drew pats my back gently.

“She cornered me during last period in the hallway and accused me of stealing her boyfriend. I thought she was just delusional so I told her I’d never want her diseased seconds.” Now I feel really bad. Not only did I practically accuse Parker of being diseased, but I insulted his girlfriend. I’m such an idiot.