Arabella Rivera "Why?" She asked once we were inside her car, a pout set on her lips from the moment the words slipped out of my mouth. She starts the car and eases out into the main road. I turn to her while fixing my bag on my lap. "Have you seen the guy Gwen? He's a recipe for disaster." I turn away and looked outside. My eyes caught sight of a brown oak leaf keeling down. The color reminded me of a certain brown-eyed boy. "Yeah, I have seen him and he's hot!" She turns to me eyes going the dusk of worry. "What's really the matter Arabella? Today you just seem.....off?" I don't answer her, choosing to keep my gaze outside, contemplating her question. What really was the matter? It was Haiden, I could at least admit that. I just thought after last night, he'd do, more. It was sad to admit that I hoped for a sappy note from him explaining why he left before I woke up. I suppose I was hoping for too much. I exhaled a breath through my nose and turned to stare at Gwen. "How do you do it?" She isn't staring at me anymore, her eyes were rapt on the road ahead as she makes a corner. But when the question tumbles out of my mouth, her sharp gaze swerves to me. "Do what?" Her voice is glossed with puzzlement. I sighed, gnawing my lips for a second before speaking. " How do you detach so easily from one guy? How do you do it?" Why was I asking her this? When had I ever been interested in Gwen's love life? Why did I want to know? From the sudden silence weighing inside the car, I knew I had absolutely shocked her with my question. She definitely wasn't expecting me to ask her this, not even in a million years. She wasn't the only one stunned by my big mouth, I was too. But I kept going on, it was like I had forgotten to set the brakes on my mouth today. Or at least taped it. " How do you shut your emotions and not, feel?" It's extremely silent in the car except for the sounds of the traffic and the chattering on the streets. For the first time, Gweneth had gone mute. But that didn't last long. Just like all the boys she has ever shown interest in."Is this about Christian?" Her eyes made a quick glance at me before settling back on the road. I nearly groaned aloud when I saw the chirpy smile that grew on her face. " Are you finally into a guy and need tips on how to get him?! I've been waiting for this day for sooo long!" Gwen fawns as she slaps my thigh. Had she not heard anything I just said? I rest my head on the seat and closed my eyes tightly. The rest of the ride is filled with talks of her giving me unwanted pointers. I found myself zoning her out, which was the worse decision, considering how my mind got jumbled with images of last night. "So yeah, as soon as his dick is in your face, you just pop that shit in your mouth and suck it-" I zoned her out again. I rather replay the scenes from last night than listen to what she had to say again. __________________ "See you guys tomorrow! Don't forget the party is this Friday!" Samantha waves before running down the remaining steps to her waiting father. Gwen waves her back but I was too lost to even remember the movement of shifting hands. A pinch to my arm forces me to move out of my head. "Okay, the entire day I let this slip. You know, you walking like a zombie and all. I get it, Christian didn't show up at school today but you live right next door. Just go to him if you miss him this much."Gwen complained while tugging my tired body towards her car. He didn't show up today. He said tutoring started today.....well before he went down- Was he avoiding me? Did he not enjoy- I clench my eyes for just a second, a second enough to have me nearly tripping. "Shit." I groan, righting myself. "Finally a word from you!" Gwen yells, letting me go to walk around the hood of the car to the driver's side. "I was beginning to think you had gone mute." She snorted, entering the car and slammed her hand down on the horn. The couple who had been kissing while resting on the hood of her car jumps apart. "No kissing on my baby you little fucks!" She yells. The couple grumbles while walking away. Gwen turns to face me and a perfect brow lifts. "Well aren't you coming? Do you need an invitation? Come on biatch, I need to make a stop somewhere." She exaggerates as I fix myself on the seat. "Where?" I asked as I closed the door and set my bag on my lap."If I tell you, you'd literally kill me." She admits and eases out of the parking spot. "Well in that case, let me out." I grumble, not at all in the mood for anything. I just needed my bed, some forbidden chocolate and a warm shower. Probably play some sad songs too. Preferably Taylor Swift or Olivia Rodrigo. "Too late, I'm already driving. And I'm not stopping." Gwen turns to me a little to poke her tongue out childishly. I rolled my eyes, slumping in the seat as I looked at the scenery as we drove past. I hated feeling this way. Of fearing the unknown, of being anxious yet scared. He, made me feel this way. He filled my head with endless thoughts until I was consumed by him. "Gwen." My eyes twitches after we pulled into the most dangerous street ten minutes later. They were known to bring in illegal drugs while doing other crimes that would make the little hairs on your arms stand on end. "Yeah?" She whispered, a cringe set on her face when I turned to her. "What the fuck are we doing here!? Are you mad! We can't be seen here, I can't be seen here!" I hissed. If my father were to get wind of his 'perfect' daughter being seen on the street that was ruled by drugs and crime then I'd probably get disowned. I would ruin their reputation and crumble my own while I was at it. "Relax. I just need to get some weed from Spencer and we'll be out." She reassures while making a sharp turn. I press my lips together and they thinned into a frown. I didn't like this. I bit my tongue as the curious eyes whump towards us as we passed through. All had been tatted with ink, scribbling on their skin and most had a blunt pinched between their fingers. They looked like the definition of cliche gang members in an action set movie, only that this was real life and what happens here is anything but fabricated. I shivered. Gwen pulls into the parking space of a small wooden house. It looks like the rain had beat it so much that it had started rotting slowly. The light blue paint had long turned chipped and the maroon door looked like it was hanging for dear life. The men whose curious eyes followed us, smiled and laughed among themselves. They were literally just a couple of feet away from us, which left an unsettling feeling sinking into my stomach. "Hey shorty! Need another fix?! I got something stronger than the last time for you!" One yelled and the rest roared with laughter. All sat and stood under the shade of a large oak tree. I turned to Gwen in panic. What did they mean by another fix? It was obvious it was her they were referring to. Whilst Gwen I bet was a regular face around here, I wasn't. I never came here willingly, actually, I never came here at all. "Don't worry about it, they're just talking about the bag of weed I bought from Spencer last week. Nothing big." Gwen reassures as she kills off the engine. I wished she hadn't and just drove us away from this place. Her palm slams on the horn that blares loudly. The sound exceeded against the laughter of the tatted men a couple of feet away from us. A bold man with a white vest and short khaki pants pried the maroon door open and revealed himself into the day. I could spot a snake tattoo starting from the end of his jawline to his eyebrow. "Is that Spencer?" I whispered as he neared with a scowl on his face. "Yep. Don't worry about the scowl on his face, I probably woke him up from a nap. " She laughs. "Can't mess with a man's nap." I couldn't join her in her laughter, there was practically nothing funny about being here. "Hey Reece I told you I don't give shit for free anymore!" He snaps, eyes red when he's near and slams his palm on the hood as he walks to Gwen's side. I jerk in my seat and press my lips together. His eyes fall on me and they scan over my figure in a suggestive way. I shiver, inwardly crawling into my shell. " Who's this Reece? Fresh meat?" His tongue snaked out just like the one tatted on his face to lick his lower lip. "She's off limits Spencer." Gwen murmurs taping my thigh reassuringly. I didn't feel the least bit reassured at the moment. Spencer groans, rolls his eyes and moves them away from me. "Too bad, could've been fun."