Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Laura POV

My vision came back to me and I found myself on a hard, yet comfy bed.

I groaned and opened my eyes, inhaling the scent that surrounded me. It smelled a clinc, the drugs and the rest.

"She's awake" I heard and I turned to see Gabriel, Christy and Madison staring at me.

"What are all of you doing here?" I asked, a bit confused on how I got here.

"Are you alright?" Gabriel asked, ignoring my question and I did the best thing, ignore him.

He sighed and stared at his feet. "I should go, I'm happy you're alright," He finally said and headed to the door, he turned and sent me a sad smile before walking out.

Why does he always do that to me. He's making feel guilty and I don't like it. He's the guilty one not me.

Right?

Right!!

"Am happy that you're alright too," I heard, the softness of the voice reminded me of the two people that were before me.

Christy and Madison.

"Gabriel called us immediately he heard your screams, he couldn't help you out because you were in the female restroom," Madison said but I just stared at the ground.

What really happened? I thought.

I didn't realize that I spoke it out until she explained. "You fainted, the nurse said that you had a panic attack. She also requested for the names of the girls who locked you in, but we couldn't tell her," She stated.

"Why did you help me?" I asked out of the blue after a brief silence.

"You could have just left me there and walk away, or still, just ignore Gabriel's call," I smirked and continued, "If you think that you can use this against me it's not gonna work," I stated.

"We did this to redeem ourselves," Christy finally spoke up and I laughed hysterically.

"Dear, that's not gonna happen," I smirked. When did I become like this?

I like this new me.

"You have every right to be mad at us. We are apologizing but apparently Patricia and Tammy isn't a part of it. We are sorry for what we've done," Madison said.

"Although, I haven't done anything at all. I have nothing to plead for but I feel that I have wronged a sister by leaving her behind," Christy said.

"You have nothing to plead for so please leave," I started and they stared at me shocked.

"Laura, we are sorry. Tammy is my sister, my blood sister and I have with stand with her no matter what. I did tell her to let her obsession with making you pay go but she just snubbed me and went to gang up with Rachel. It's partially my fault, but mostly not my fault," She said and I found myself chuckling, because she's trying to 'redeem' herself but doing an awful job at it and I can never stay mad at someone for long, I don't even know if I am mad at Rachel, Tammy or Patricia.

It just pains me that they treat me badly now. Let's just get this over with.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I forgive you, both of you," I said finally staring at them. I could see their faces filled up with smiles.

"Thank you," They said, pulling me into a hug, a tight one to be exact.

I missed them, so much. Especially Christy.

"Laura, we heard what......happened," Came Nelly's worried voice. Emma and Harper were right behind her and they froze when they saw Christy and Madison.

"See you later," Was all Madison could muster before walking out with Christy.

Immediately they were out of earshot Nelly and Harper sent me a strange look before complaining.

"What the hell where they doing in here?" She asked.

"They are the one's who helped me," I tried to explain, knowing that they won't take it likely but surprisingly they did.

"Oh," they muttered. "But are you sure that this isn't one of their plans?" Harper asked and I shook my head.

"Because it's kinda odd that they helped you out after Rachel and the rest of them locked you in," Emma said and I shot her a 'how did you know' look.

"Gabriel told us the details, and, he also told us to help explain to you that what he did what callous and stupid, please forgive him," Emma stated and I sighed.

How many times do I have to forgive people today.

"Look, we all know that sooner or later you're going to forgive him and go back to your so called friendship with him," Nelly commented as I got down from the bed and I wrinkled my face showing how confused I was.

"We know that there's more to it that meets the eyes. Laura I know you like him, we know and he likes you too, you're just the one who's making it hard for him to admit it," Nelly said and I frowned.

"What do you mean by me making it hard for him?" I asked and they sighed.

"You always act weird when we talk about two of you being a great couple," Nelly said.

"Yeah, and even when catch you guys playing together, you pull away from him like nothing happened," Emma said.

"Those times that the guys, his friends call you his girl you always act up," Harper said and I sighed.

"It's that obvious" Nelly said

"It's just embarrassing when you guys find us either laughing, playing or me being tickled by him," I chuckled playing with my fingers and at the same time drawing invisible circles on the ground.

"You know what's embarrassing?" Emma asked and I shook my head stating no.

"It's when you know that you are always gonna be the second to someone, Laura. We know that when you make up with your old roommates, you're gonna be leaving us behind," she said and I was shocked.

"How can you think that? I'll never leave you girls behind, you girls have been with me for long now and I'll like it to stay that way. Even if I forgive them, you girls will always be my best friends," I smiled and watched as tears formed in each of their eyes.

They came closer to me and hugged me. Feeling their warmth really kept me at ease.

I'll never leave them.

Never!

"And one more time," Nelly said as we pulled from the hug while the others dried their eyes.

"What is it?" I asked, audient.

"Don't ever call us girls, we are ladies," she said sassily as they turned and cat walked out of the room and I rolled my eyes.

"What have I done!" I cry sarcastically as I headed to the door but was cut short by Emma who poked her head out of the door.

"We are going to tell the nurse that you are awake, so stay put," She ordered, I rolled my eyes and dragged myself back to the bed.

In a few minutes, the nurse came in after knocking softly on the door.

"How are you feeling?" She asked smiling.

She was wearing a white long coat over her polka dot dress. She had long curled black hair which swang freely as she walked.

"I am fine I guess," I simply said, she walked closer to me, checking my temperature with her hand.

"We both guessed right," She chuckled and I smiled, just trying to act nice, even if I find nothing funny in what she said.

"Can you tell me who locked you in there?" She asked and I shook my head. Madison wouldn't be so happy if I spill the truth.

"I can't seem to remember some things that took place in there," I said, am going say I lied because it's partially the truth.

Her expression changed instantly and her look almost made me question her. "You had a panic attack, both you don't have amnesia, so why can't you remember," She asked.

"It seems like you don't want to tell me. Are you being bulled or something?" She asked her smile fading.

"No, I haven't," I replied sincerely and she sighed. Have I? Someone should answer that question.

"You can go, lessons are already going on," She said almost unaudienced and I picked my self up and walked to the door but before I left I heard her murmur. "Oh, kids I so hate them," she murmured in disgust and I huffed gaining her attention.

I turned to her and said, "Ma'am don't get so angry you won't get one with that attitude and, FYI I am not a kid, I am a grown lady," with those last words I turned the door knob and left the room to my classroom.

I walked in after getting a query from Mr Donald our history teacher.

I didn't bother to look at Rachel and her goons, I'd like to stay clear from them by all means.

My eyes locked with Gabriel's for some minutes before I sat down feeling odd. A kind of odd that I liked!

"How did it feel?" Nelly whispered, smiling at me and I sighed.

"It feels overwhelming" I smiled back and she nods. "I am glad you like it, cause you'll get use to it soon" she whispered staring at Gabriel oddly then back at me and I just rolled my eyes at her behaviour.

*

After the morning lessons, lunch time came and we sat down on a table. By we, I mean us ladies. I supported my head in both my hands pondering over the things that just happened in a few minutes.

My friends sensed that I needed space to think so they just attended to my lunch that I gave them. I lost my appetite some minutes away. The very time that it was announced that Gabriel is now my project partner till we pass on to another class.

Apparently, it was shared according to the way we were seated. Gabriel was behind me and that made him my partner, Nelly's partner is Ricky while Harper's Max.

I can't just think straight because we have a project today and I can't follow him yourself the orphanage so he'll have to follow me to the mansion. Not that Mr Howard would be angry but it'll feel awkward being around him.

I didn't know when my eyes drifted to Gabriel's and we stayed like that for some time. I liked the feeling, I am finally admitting it.

"Laura, are you sure you're not hungry?" Emma asked, and I shifted my gaze to her.

"Um, each I am fine," I blurted out and turned back look wanting to continue my staring contest with Gabriel, but I caught him standing up and leaving his friends behind.

"I'll be right back," I said as I stood up to go after him. I didn't know what took over my body but it just walked on its own, out of the cafeteria.

I looked for Gabriel every where but I didn't see him, I felt somewhat sad guessing he went to bathroom or something, I really don't know.

I made my way back to the cafeteria to get some food, now am exhausted. Really exhausted, I was just searching for him and it led to this.

"Looking for someone?" I heard. Gabriel voice echoed in my eyes and I sighed him leaning on the wall close to the cafeteria with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, I just found him," I smiled, suddenly forgetting what happened between us earlier.

"Him?" He hummed and I rolled my eyes. Jealousy!

"Yeah you," I smiled and we shared a brief chuckle before his face hardened a little and he came closer to me.

"I am sorry I hurt you," He said softly and I nodded feeling excited at how he makes me feel by just saying a word.

"It's okay," I said staring into his beautiful eyes. That I could look at all day long.

"No it's not, I am the cause of what happened to you, it's my fault," He states and I see regret in his eyes. He's gonna make me emotional right now. Please stop!

Knowing that he wouldn't stop immediately, I pulled him by the collar and muttered, "I forgive you," before pulling him close and I....kissed him.

I didn't know where I got the courage to do it, all I know is that I just did it just in the name of shutting him up but it got intense.

He pushed me to the wall and kissed me like his life depended on it. He sucked my lower lip before our tongues danced to the rhythm. His fingers travelled down my body as we kissed, going lower than my waist and I couldn't help but feel excited.

What am I becoming.

I wrapped my hand on his neck trying to deepen the kiss, he used his hand to raise my leg up to his waist and I unconsciously jump and put both legs on his waist with my back against the wall as we kiss passionately... He was picking up the pace and I happily followed behind...

It felt magical!!!