Thrust Into His Arms

GWENETH

Maverick and I went to see Curry after school like we planned. She is looking way more distraught than I imagined. Like how a spot ground looks when the flowerbeds on it are suddenly uprooted just before a different one is planted. It would seem so empty, bare and almost desolate as it’s beauty has been stripped away.

Curry reminds me so much of that right now. And I really do sympathize with her. Loosing someone is not at all a pleasant thing. And I know how much she loves and cares about Courtney. But I really cannot do that wholeheartedly as I really want to know about those pictures. I should have asked her by now and gotten it over with, but I do not want Maverick to be aware. He has been the one doing much of the consoling since we came. Sitting on a small space on the hospital bed with her and patting her back sometimes when she wants to start crying.

We had been told to pay very close attention to whatever she does by the nurses and her mother whom we met here before she left to go get something from home—because Curry would apparently be spending the night here. And stop her as well as alert them. Because she had somehow tried to attempt taking her own life due to the profound grief of losing Courtney.

One of her hands is currently tied to the bed frame on her right to prevent her from reattempting it.

"I am tasty. Can you please get me a drink from the vending machine? It is on the floor below. The one here is faulty." She suddenly requested Maverick. I became alert, subtly tapping my fingers against each other. Biding time and waiting for him to leave and taking the opportunity as soon as his back retreats out of the door.

He agrees, "Yeah sure. What do you want to have?"

"A can of cider."

"Can you have that in your current state?" He asks with concern.

"Yeah, it is not like I had intestinal surgery." She would have added dumbass had it been the situation was normal. Like when the three of us are together at school.

"You can have it. It should help improve your mood if only for a little bit. Go get it for her." I additionally urged.

"Okay. I will be right back." He says. "No rush. Take your time." She tells him right before he leaves. We both watch him do so and turn to look right at ourselves after.

"There is something you wanna ask me right? I figured you cannot because of him being here. Because you would have by now as it is all over your face."

"I am so greatful for the thoughtfulness Curry." I commended, making sure the creeping sarcasm in my voice could be well heard.

She starts, "How did you find out? You weren’t supposed to."

I let out a small, cracked laugh at the sheer audacity. "Is that an extenuation attempt?

You and the others—you had planned it with them from the start to distribute my nudes without me being aware!"

"It was only Courtney and I.

I personally took the photos. The others do not know anything about it. I was the only one she could trust." That made me abruptly stand up from the chair I’m sitting on and loom over her in an instant, "Do you hear yourself right now?" I say agitatedly.

What is getting to me the most is her flat expression and lack of remorse. She could have at least pretend to be sorry—but she isn’t.

"That is why you became close to me from the start right? She sent you to me. And I accepted to be friends with you and fell into the trap like a fool. It was your plan all along?" That came out sounding like a question when it should have been a claim. I have been doing a lot of thinking right from that night when I had found out about the photos. The way she suddenly drew close to Maverick and I when no relations whatsoever existed before that.

That now starts to seem suspicious, bringing me to the claim that she intended it right from the start.

"How could you do that to me? Do you know what I’m facing now because of you! I’m being blackmailed and threatened with expulsion because of what you both did!"

"I know I have no reason to be believed, but that was not why I approached you. I genuinely did because watching you and Maverick made me realize that I did not have any real friends at all, and I wanted to make some. It wasn’t because of any ulterior motive—there was none—okay, but along the line—"

"That is supposed to make me feel better? If you saw me as a friend, or anything close to that, you wouldn’t have done this!" I cried. "Even if I were to explain to you, you still would not have an idea of what I’m facing now because of what you did.

So what—you were crazy in love with her, did whatever she asked to be close to her and make her happy at the price of putting me in jeopardy?"

"Well I am sorry, okay! Can you please stop pushing it for a second? I am already dealing with so much right now." She yells irritatedly.

"What?" I say in disbelief at how irritated she sounds like she has any right to be.

"I said I am sorry. I did it for a chance with her but now she is no more.

You would have done the same if you were in my shoes. She wanted you gone, and I had no choice but to support her.

I am already being punished for that, what more do you want?"

My hand moved and slapped her before I could even realize it. I am shocked, but then she deserves it.

"What is going on?" I look to the door at the sound of Maverick’s voice to see him staring transfixed at me and Curry. I was instantly filled with shock at his presence. Was he supposed to return so soon? And his expression tells me that he must have heard a little of the talk enough to try understanding it.

He zeros his eyes on Curry, asking. "Did you really do that?"