Please, enjoy and review!
Chapter 02: Fuddle.
You went back to what you knew, ao far removed from all that we went through and I tread a troubled track; my odds are stacked... "Back to Black," by Amy Whinehouse.
Thump, thump, thump. Head pounding; eyes aching; stiff back. Gail could feel her heart falling in beat, with the tick of the clock above the stove. Her mind raced, frustration seeping deep within the pit of her stomach. Who did they think they were?
Gail felt utterly alone; literally and figuratively, due to her mother's presence at the bakery across town, rather than home. There was a bump forming on her head, stinging. What an awful first day of school. What was so important, to Scott and Stiles, that they didn't even show up to school? They didn't even miss school to play video games, despite Stiles morbid addiction to shooting Nazis, on his console.
Did Stiles even obsess over shooting Nazis attacking him through the TV, anymore? Gail wasn't sure; it had been so long, since she'd last had an actual conversation, with him. Did Stiles still love Lydia? Did Scott still favor brownies to chocolate chip cookies? Did Scott still need an inhaler?
Gail wondered if she even knew her best friends, anymore.
It drove her crazy, to know that they kept so much from her, without even a hint as to what it was. She didn't use to question it; Scott and Stiles always had her best interests, at heart, but it had been nearly a year. Was there no end, to the spinning web of lies? Would they ever be honest and open up, about their alternative lives? All Gail knew for certain, was that it all tied together with the recent trail of crimes and the Hale family.
Somehow, a few other students were involved, too, but Gail didn't know any of them.
Gail didn't know a lot of things, she realized, with anger. Clenching her hands; she let her short, heavily bitten nails dig at the skin of her palms. The phone in her pocket beeped, repeatedly, the ringtone for Scott flooding throughout the kitchen.
Clawing at the pocket of her skirt, she dug it out and silenced the call. Releasing a frustrated growl, she tossed the phone across the room and watched with satisfaction, as it bounced off the cabinet and fell to the floor. Heaving herself from the floor, she padded out of the room and made her way upstairs, yanking clothes off as she went.
"She's not answering." Scott sighed, looking up from his phone, at the sound of Gail's voice mail.
Stiles shrugged, frowning. "We ditched school; I can't imagine she's the happiest camper, right now."
"Gail always answers, though." Scott reasoned.
"Not this time, obviously." Stiles snorted.
Steam trailed out of the bathroom door, filling the bedroom with a sweet aroma. Wrapping a towel around her hair, Gail opened her curtains; allowing light from outside to fill the room. Adjusting her T; she flopped down onto her bed, reaching for a book on her bedside table. Calm settled over her, the finality of everything slightly less overwhelming, after a long bath. She wasn't happy with Scott and Stiles, still, but she was reaching a peaceful acceptance of their choices.
They'd been her best friends, for years, and they had been a constant support for her, when her dad had died. She hadn't told them that she'd gone with her mom to release her dad's ashes, but they hadn't really been around to tell. Both parties were at fault, in the end.
She was still annoyed with them for standing her up, though.
Stiles may have texted her, but that didn't mean much, when a text the moment they decided not to come, would have been better timed.
Sighing, she curled up, against her pillow. Opening the book, she turned to the page she'd bookmarked and began reading, allowing the imaginary world to pull her in. Life needed to be put on pause, for now.
If she felt better, later, she would call Scott back.
"Do you think she's alright?" Scott asked, worried. It had been three hours, since he'd called Gail and she hadn't responded.
"As long as she's not dead in a ditch, for sure…" Stiles answered, off handedly, eyes focused on the TV. He cheered, as he killed a zombie; his score doubling. Scott groaned, running a hand over his eyes.
"Don't joke about that, Stiles."
"What? I thought it was pretty hilarious. Chill, Scott. She's probably doing some girly crap, or something."
"Gail never does 'girly crap.'"
"You haven't seen her underwear collection, have you?"
Scott stared at him, bemused, "And you have?"
Stiles grinned, leveling up in his video game.
"Gail, I'm home! Why is your phone on the kitchen floor?" Mona called up the stairs, her daughter's phone in hand. There was a long scratch on the screen, and it chirped, alerting of a low battery. Gail sat up, closing the book, and made her way towards the stairs.
"I forgot it, sorry!" Gail laughed, taking the phone from her mom's hand and hugging the elder woman. "How was work?"
"Good, we finished this week's orders. The cake for the wedding on Wednesday came out beautifully. You should just see it! Oh, they marzipan flowers are gorgeous." Mona reminisced, lighting up at the thought of her bakery.
"Send me a picture of it, tomorrow?" Gail asked, smiling.
"Of course, sweetie," Mona nodded. "What do you feel like for dinner, tonight? I was thinking we could have salmon."
"Anything sounds good, mom. I'm starving."
"I'm sure you are, after your day! How was school? How are our boys?" Mona asked, in reference to Scott and Stiles, as she headed for the kitchen.
Gail followed, "It was long. Stiles and Scott never came. They were busy with something, I guess."
Mona frowned, glancing over her shoulder, as she opened the fridge. "I'm sure they'll be back, tomorrow. Think of all you have to catch up on! Are you excited to show them your 'new look'?"
Gail fidgeted with her phone, reading the texts from Scott. "I don't know, anymore, mom. I was really excited, to see how they would react, seeing me all girly. But, you know… I just dunno. They probably won't even notice a difference."
"They'll notice, Gail," Mona stated. "They notice everything about you, sweetie. You mean the world to them. Scott and Stiles are not whole, without you. They've proved that, several times."
"I hope you're right, mom. I really miss them." Gail sighed, biting her lip.
"Of course, I'm right! I'm your mother." Mona grinned, winking.
I'm not happy with you, Gail texted Scott. You broke your promise.
I'm sorry. We're sorry. Stiles will pick you up, tomorrow? Scott replied.
Forgiven. Alright, bring coffee?
Stiles shouldn't even be near coffee, G.
Scratch that, Scott. A bottle of water will do,Gail compromised.
Your wish is my command, Scott confirmed.
You're with Stiles, aren't you?
Yeah. He says he'll text you, tonight.
Video games? Gail asked.
As always. It's zombies, this week, Scott responded.
Oh, man.
Gail leaned against the counter, watching her mom make dinner. If she was lucky, things would improve, with time. It didn't feel like it would, though.
Optimism never worked out, for people, after all.
Would Scott, Stiles and her ever be close, again?