Chapter Eight:

What a fucking dick. If he thinks I'm going to shed a tear for his dumb ass he is really fucking funny. Who do you think you are yelling at me without even letting me give you a explanation? A Man with serious issues that's what he is, and I'm not letting him bring me in to them. The fact he had the nerve to call me a bitch, I should have yelled back, I really should have. Angelica keeps reminding me that she told me a thousand times that he is complicated and has issues, and honestly I don't want to hear it from her because she only told me that once, a few days after he stopped talking to me all those weeks ago. I really thought he was different but nope he is a basic asshole that expects me to be a whore. I caught him earlier sticking his tongue down another girl's throat and I know he did it to bother me. Obviously, why the fuck would he even come close my locker when his isn't even close to mine. He is so fucking pathetic, it's sickening. I end up bumping into a tall boy as I walk in the hall daydreaming about how much of a dick Gabriel is, my books and papers all fall on the ground surrounding my feet... fucking great.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings." I tell the boy,

"It's fine, let me help you." He helps pick up everything that falls and hands it to me, staring for a moment,

  "Sorry how rude of me, I'm Griffin." He says to me.

I instantly realize he has a light but noticeable Australian accent. "I'm Maddie, nice to meet you."

"Yeah I know you are." He says but quickly adds,

"I mean, I'm Gabriel's friend so he has mentioned you before." Of course he is.

"I have to go." I lie.

"Before you do just know that Gabriel is complicated and says things he doesn't mean... I saw what happened today and I know you didn't have any intentions to hurt him, he's just sensitive." I think I like him.

"Well sorry to break it to you, he isn't my problem to deal with and he never will be, i have issues of my own and I don't need to baby a seventeen year old guy and you shouldn't have to baby him either... you genuinely seem like a nice guy and you shouldn't have to deal with him."

"Sorry I know it's not my place but Gabriel truly does care about you so at least think about talking to him." This guy obviously does not get the message,

"Right now I rather talk to anyone else, see you around Griffin." I walk off before he can say anything more because it is obviously not going to change my mind. I meant everything I said to Griffin and he does seem like a nice guy, him and Leandro would get along I think but anyways he doesn't deserve someone like Gabriel, he's just going to end up hurting him.

I see Leandro waiting for me by the bottom of the school steps. He looks so cute in his uniform, I love it. Without hesitation I run into his arms and give him a big hug that seems to catch him by surprise at first but he then hugs me back, "You really did miss me." He laughs, "I've had the worse day and you always seem to make things better just by looking at me." I admit. "Well I'm glad my face can help, you ready to go?" I nod letting go of him. We walk over to his black BMW and I fill him in on my day as we drive and just what's been going on since we last saw each other. "He sounds like a douche bag." Is all he says to me. Leandro hates talking shit about people so I think that's the most trash talk I'll get out of him. "I cant believe you've almost been here for a month, It honestly feels like you were never not here." He is right, I have almost been here for a month. It's September already... Gosh,  how time goes by. "Well this town is definitely much better with me here." I laugh and he does too.

We finally pull up to this tiny little coffee shop in the middle of town and its so cute. Inside it looks like a little retro diner but with couches and magazines all around. We take a seat at a booth by a window and both buy a cup of coffee.

"My Dad's pharmacy is right across the street." I tell him, "That's your Dad?" "

Yup Dr. Flores."

I don't know why people are always so shocked when they find out who my Dad is. It's not even that shocking, do we really look that different?

"Are you going to forgive him?" Leandro asks changing the subject and he must mean Gabriel,

"I don't know... I mean he fucked up and I'm so angry at him for what he did to me but at the same time we had a lot of good moments and I'm happy when I'm with him." I explain, "You may be happy now Maddie but that's only because you only got a taste of who he really is... I promise you that if you go back and forgive him, what he did is only going to be the start of something much worse." He warns,

"But you don't know him Leandro, I know deep down he is a good person... he just has issues." Why am I even defending him? I don't even want to be with him anymore... like I said I don't want to baby anyone,

"I do know him, more than you do and I know that he tends to take out his issues on the people he cares about. Maddie he is sinking slowly and when he finally hits the bottom, he is going to bring you with him."

Why does everyone have secrets in this town? I cant believe he didn't mention earlier that he knew Gabriel but I did lie to him about Gabriel before... well failed to tell him that he existed in my world,

"Leandro don't worry, he wont bring me down... I wont let him."

He is right in a way, there's no way I can be with Gabriel without getting hurt but at the same time I think he needs me in a way. I hate how he does this to me without even purposely doing it, when it comes to him I cant stay mad... it's so annoying.

I wave to Leandro from my porch as he drives off and then go inside my house. I announce I'm home but no one answers, they must be out. I love how the one time I come home on time no one is here to witness it. I grab a cookie from a batch that my Mom made and go upstairs to my room. I'm so tired, I need a nap. I go to my closet to hang up my jean jacket, "Finally your home." A male voice says and I jump resulting in me dropping my jacket on the ground. "Why are you here?" I ask. I turn around to face Gabriel who is sitting on my bed... I really need to lock my window,

"I'm here to apologize." He says.

"Well apology not accepted."

"Don't be difficult Maddie, I know shouldn't have acted like that before."

Well at least he knows, not that it makes a difference.

"Do not tell me I'm being difficult!" I yell. I grab one of my pairs of heels and throw them at him,

"Can you not throw shit?" He says in a annoyed tone but I continue to throw shoes at him,

"You're a fucking asshole Gabriel, just get out!" I scream. "No I'm not leaving! We got to figure this out!"

"No we don't, I'm not even that mad that you yelled at me, I'm more mad about how you decided to kiss a girl right in front of me!" I yell and throw another pair of shoes.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that but you were going out with another guy, how do you expect me to react?" He asks... did he get hit in the fucking head?

"Gabriel you didn't even let me fucking explain, you just assumed it was a date or a hook up!" "And even though I don't even owe you a explanation... I went to go see a guy FRIEND." I add.

"And who is that?"

"His name is Leandro but I'm guessing you know who that is." I say and he rolls his eyes,

"That guy is a moron, couldn't you talk to anyone else?" Of course he hates the guy... it's Gabriel for goodness sake, he hates anything that breathes.

I get ready to throw something else at him but he quickly comes towards me and grabs my arm, stopping me from any further movement, "Don't you fucking dare." I loosen his grip on my hand,

"Your not my fucking boyfriend Gabriel, you cant do this jealously shit." He stays quiet for a moment and I do too. I don't know what else to say to him because I hate this, I hate him.

"Then lets change that, be mine." He says and my jaw drops, "Your fucking crazy Gabriel, you don't expect me to actually say yes after this shit."

"I do actually because I know you want to say yes, the only thing that makes me fucking crazy is you Maddie... not being able to call you mine is making me crazy, just say yes."

He takes a step towards me and wraps his arms around my waist,

"I'm sorry, I really am but I can make things better... give me another chance."

I want to kill myself for what i'm about to say, "Yeah... sure I guess." Gabriel picks me up, so that I can reach his face and I wrap my legs around his torso and my arms around his neck, "Oh I cant wait for us to kill each other." He laughs,

"I cant wait either."

This is stupid, I know it is. I let myself fall into his arms even though he treated me like complete garbage and I know I should listen to Leandro but I'm sure I can change him for the better and he can change me. Relationships are hard and we just started and it's already hard as shit and no doubt in my mind its going to get harder but I know we can get through all the bad as long as we have each other.