Gabes Guardian Angel

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

Monday morning, the rain poured down, so Grandpa dropped Gabe and Lindy at school on his way to work. They rushed into the building to keep from drowning, along with dozens of other students scurrying to get out of the wet, chilly day. As Gabe shook water out of his hair and his jacket, he said, “See you this afternoon,” and limped down the hall, his legs still sore from his accident.

He followed a trail of wet and muddy footprints. Gabe stopped once and turned to make sure she was okay. He smiled at the sight of Lindy and Elena chatting away. Although Lindy’s voice mingled with the other students—some talking on their cells, others texting whoever—and he could not hear her words, her face crinkled up with laughter as the girls dashed up the stairs to their class, leaving a trail of water behind them.

Gabe, hoping he’d have something to laugh about today—like a passing grade on the science test—swung back around and collided with a rock-hard chest. His backpack fell to the floor with a thump.

Mick snarled. “Hey! Blubber! Watch where you’re going.”

He gulped and stared at his worst nightmare. Move away, ran through his brain. Good idea. He stumbled back a step, but Mick kicked the backpack aside and moved with him, his nose drawn up in a sneer.

“Look, Bud! Blubber can’t even walk right,” he said, his voice taunting. They stood inches apart. Mick’s eyes, usually a blue violet, now stormed dark as a thundercloud. “What do you say, Blubber?”

Say? Gabe breathed in, out, in, out, his mind blank. What does he mean? Then like magic, he woke up. Oh! He wants me to apologize? Wait. For what? I’ve done nothing wrong.

Mick’s set jaw and hot breath on Gabe’s chin showed otherwise.

He swallowed, hard. He should stand up for himself. He couldn’t. “I’m…sorry.”

Mick raised an eyebrow. With an elbow, he jabbed Bud in the ribs. “He says he’s sorry. You hear him? Do you believe him?”

“Come on, Mick. Let it go.”

The warning bell rang, and Gabe jumped higher than a scared rabbit. He hated bells. This time, however, it might have saved his life or, at the least spared him from being called more names. He held his breath when Mick reached out and ruffled his hair.

“Yeah, Bud, you’re right. The halfwit here isn’t worth a trip to the principal’s office.” Mick stared at Gabe, his eyes as cold as a snowstorm. He spoke so softly Gabe barely heard him. “Why don’t you go kill yourself? Nobody will miss you.”

Bud gasped. “No.” He slapped Mick on the arm. “C’mon, we don’t want to be late for class.”

“Don’t panic. I’m with you.” Mick grinned and strode past Gabe, Bud a step behind.

A shiver ran up and down Gabe’s spine, and he leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing. “I k-know he h-hates me,” he whispered. “He made it clear the day I enrolled here, new in town. But…he told me to...” He could not repeat the words.

He shook his head. “No, I imagined it. He wouldn’t say such a thing. Would he?”

***

At lunchtime, he checked the cafeteria for any sign of Mick and Bud before he went in. All appeared clear. Even though he couldn’t eat a bite, very unlike the boy who lived to eat, he got a tray with some meat, veggies, and dessert and carried it to an empty table in the corner.

He kept shaking his head in disbelief. “Mick did not mean it. He only wanted to scare me.” A shudder ran through him. “No, he meant every word, and I’ll remember what he said forever.” He pushed his plate aside. For the first time in his life the smell of food sickened him.

The chatter of students, laughter, and scraping of chairs on the floor, surrounded Gabe. His head throbbed. His stomach rolled. “I’m suffocating. Have to get out of here.”

He leaped to his feet, grabbed his plate and utensils, dumped them in the trash, and ran, ignoring staring eyes as he passed by, not stopping until he reached the boy’s restroom. He stuck his face under the water faucet and let it flow full blast.

“Maybe I’ll wake up and discover this is all a nightmare,” he said, bubbles and water spewing from his mouth. He dropped to the floor and buried his face in his hands. “I’m stupid. stupid. Man! What am I doing? What would Lindy think if she saw me like this? And Grandpa? Don’t lose it, Gabe. They need you.”

He stood up, snagged a handful of paper towels and dried his face and hands. Luckily, his shirt only had a couple of damp spots, not noticeable. He straightened his back, ran a hand through his hair, not caring that he tangled it more, and marched down the hallway to his locker, chin held high. His only classes after lunch were math, gym and study hall, so he’d have time to pull himself together before he saw his sister after school.

“Ignore Mick and Bud,” he repeated over and over on his way to math class. “If I do what they say, they win. Nope! I shall win this one.”