Chapter 1 - Gabriella #2
I shook the memory away. It was crazy how easy it all came, how so much had changed. After that, Westley met me here every Tuesday at eight-thirty, and we sat in the back corner in silence. Sometimes we talked, other times we chuckled, trying to be quiet. It was honestly the highlight of my week.
I headed to the back corner and hummed as I moved.
I had a skip in my step as I moved. I found the two couches pressed together, with a lamp in the middle.
I looked out the window, wondering if a book was hidden behind the curtain.
I couldn’t help but smirk, knowing it was Westley.
He just hid his books in random spots rather than checking them out.
His excuse was that he didn’t read, so why did he need a book card?
I always teased that Marium would have his ass if she found out, and somehow she still hadn’t. That or she did and wasn’t saying anything.
I glanced at my phone, checking the time as I sat down. I waited, flipping my book open and reading a little. The minutes seemed to click by, and I checked my phone again. I frowned, my stomach dropping. Westley was never late. If anything, he was here before I was.
I set my book down and pulled myself up. I walked back toward the front desk and scanned the space. The library had two floors, but you could see up to the second floor. There was a handful of people, but I didn’t see Westley.
I then heard the laughter. I followed the noise, heading back toward the west side of the library, where there was a small coffee station. Some tables and chairs were placed out. I then spotted Westley with two other people.
My heart sank as he spoke, seeming unaware of the time. How long had he been here? And how long had he been back here? Did he forget about our meeting? Did he care?
I didn’t know who he was talking to, but I could tell they were close. But then again, who wasn’t close with Westley? He was easy to talk to, funny, and honest. It was why I liked him so much.
“Oh shit, didn’t you say you had something to do?” one of them said. Westley looked down at his phone and then placed it back down. He shook his head. “Nope.”
My heart sank. He forgot. But how? We had been doing this for months. There was no way he forgot, right?
I bit my lower lip. I turned, knowing better than to get myself worked up. I shouldn’t be getting butthurt that he forgot. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything. He had a right to forget.
I shook it off, but I felt something wasn’t right.
And I had been right. He didn’t show the next week, or the next. Suddenly, my Tuesdays went from my favorite days to a day I dreaded.
I sat on the couch, stuffing my face with ice cream. Another Tuesday that Westley didn’t come. I was questioning if I should even continue going, but I was going before he even joined me.
I sighed, changing the channel on the TV, and looked at Snow sitting next to me.
I rubbed my finger over her back, watching her lean into my touch.
Just then, I heard the front door open. I jumped as Hazel stormed in, slamming the door shut behind her.
The entire apartment shook, and I stiffened as I looked at her.
My eyes widened as she stormed toward me, looking pissed and frustrated with red eyes.
“Wha…” Before I could even get the words out, I noticed she had something dripping out of her hair. Her jacket was torn on the left sleeve, and her makeup was smeared. It took a lot to rattle Hazel to tears, so I knew something had happened.
“I got ganged up on,” she snapped, her hands shaking at her side. “They pinned me to the ground, after throwing eggs at me.”
I set my ice cream down and slowly pulled myself up. Hazel was shaking with anger now, her jaw grinding together, and I could see tears building in her eyes. “I hate this town. I hate everything about it.”
I didn’t even know what to say. I figured if we kept our heads down and just tried to stay together, maybe things would be okay, but they weren’t. But this? This was worse than just stares or someone whispering something when we walked by.
“Is your lip busted?” I asked as I moved closer to her.
“Yes, because I fought back, and Veronica punched me. I was tired of just taking it.”
My heart sank. Veronica. Of course. She was dating Kyle, a popular big shot.
Not like Brandon or Kaleb, but people liked him.
Why, I had no idea. He was a douchebag who thought it was fun to pick on Hazel and me.
He was constantly saying that we were evil witches plotting to take their town down.
That we had something to do with our town being ripped apart.
Hazel glared at me, waiting for me to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how I could help. I had been trying so hard to make things work, and it didn’t seem to matter.
“Are you okay?” I finally asked.
Her lips curled in. “No, Gabriella! I’m not okay.
I hate this bloody town!” She turned, storming down the hallway, and I heard the bathroom door slam shut.
I swallowed, looking around the apartment.
This pitiful, disgusting apartment. I thought of the life we had.
The sad, pathetic life we had managed to pull together.
Was this a way to live? Was this honestly the best we could have?
I thought of our lives in our old town. It wasn’t much better, but at least we were looked at or treated like we were criminals. Somehow, this place was worse.
I walked down to the bathroom and knocked on the door. I slowly opened it to find her sitting on the toilet. She ran a rag through her hair, her hands still shaking. I leaned against the door and let the silence settle for a moment. Neither of us was happy, so what was the point of staying?
“Do you want to leave?”
Hazel’s hands froze, and she looked at me. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, leave the town, Hazel. Pack a bag and just leave it all behind. Find a new place to settle down.”
Hazel remained silent for a moment before she tossed the rag into the tub. “Is there a better place, or is this all we deserve?”
I hated how she said it, how she sounded so defeated. This wasn’t the life I wanted for us. It wasn’t the life I felt anyone deserved.
“We will never know until we try.”
We planned, and a few days later, we were ready. We told no one, thinking it would be easier that way. It wasn’t like there would be tons of people looking for us when we left. The few that would, would soon forget about us anyway.
We both packed a bag and headed out. We asked the neighbor across the hallway to take care of Snow for a day. We figured it would be easier to give her up than try to travel with a kitten.
I hated the twisting in my gut, but I pushed it away. Hazel’s lip was still a little swollen, reminding me that this was what was best for us. A fresh start somewhere else, where no one knew us.