XashXdawnX - Here's another chapter to It's a Bet! Hope you all enjoy!
Also please read this important Author's Note before reading the chapter. As of late, I've been suffering from some personal issues that have been impacting my writing. Yes, I am still working on my stories, but due to these issues, it is at times hard for me to write. But I'm not losing hope or anything, because of you all, the readers. I don't want to let any of you down, but please understand that this is why there is or will be delay at times for updates to this story and any of my others if you read them. Thank you and also if you want to know more, PM me and I can talk to you. It always helps to talk to others.
Now without further ado, on with the story! Enjoy!
Leaf walked into her house and shut the door quietly.
"That you?" a gruff voice asked.
"Yeah, I'll be back down in a minute. I just need to drop my bag off." she replied.
"Hurry it up."
Leaf nodded her head, though the other person couldn't see her. She hurried upstairs and threw her bag onto her bed. She took a breath and walked back downstairs.
... ...
Later that day...
Leaf opened her bedroom door and walked into her room. She grabbed her bag from her bed and walked to her desk. She needed to get her homework done.
"Okay so I have some math homework and I need to finish my lab report from Chemistry..." she muttered as she looked at her planner.
Sighing, she grabbed the needed books and notebooks before beginning.
Halfway through her math homework, crashing came from downstairs. She stopped and listened. Yelling was heard.
She set her pencil down and stood up, walking out of her room.
Back at Ash's...
Gary walked into Ash's house and walked to Ash's room.
"Hey, was everything okay?" Dawn asked as Gary sat down.
"I...I don't know." Gary replied.
He was still in a daze after everything that had happened within the pass thirty minutes.
"We heard yelling." Ash said after a moment.
"Yeah...I kinda lost my cool with her."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
"She thought I only cared about winning the bet. I don't care about the bet anymore...I just want Leaf back. I almost had her...she was on the verge of opening up to me, but someone called her."
"Who called her?" Ash asked.
"I don't know. Whoever it was though, they were yelling at her. After the phone call, she completely closed up. She was quiet and it was like she was in a daze. She was clutching her bag the whole ride home."
"Wait...that's something she does when she's nervous or scared." Dawn said.
"I know...I just don't know what's going on. She's hiding something. She's terrified to be the Leaf that we all know for some reason. And I can't figure out why."
The next day...
Leaf checked her appearance once more. Black skinny jeans, a plain v-neck tee, a jean jacket over her shirt, and some white converses. She had straightened her hair and had done her makeup darkly.
"As good as it's gonna get." she muttered and grabbed her bag.
... ...
Leaf parked her car and sat inside. She needed to gather herself. After this weekend she needed her walls to be up. She needed to be her cold self again. She had somehow managed to lessen how cold she had been, but that needed to change. She needed to be the cold and non-caring Leaf.
She glanced at the clock. School didn't start until ten minutes. She could skip today and avoid those she needed to. Yep. That's what she was going to do. School wasn't an option today.
She put her car in reverse and sped out of the parking lot.
Little did she know three people had watched her do this.
... ...
"She just decided to skip." Ash said as he looked away from the parking lot.
"She's avoiding coming to school today. She doesn't want to face you." Dawn added.
"Where would she go though?" Ash asked.
Gary glanced at the way Leaf had gone. He had a pretty decent idea as to where she was going.
"I think I know where she's headed." Gary said, softly.
"Should you go comfort her?" Ash asked.
"I don't know if that would be the best idea." Gary replied.
"Gary, right now she needs someone. She was calling out for help this weekend, but that phone call prevented her from revealing whatever it is that has her scared. She needs to know that no matter what she does, we're not going anywhere." Dawn said.
"You should go." Dawn urged.
"But why me?"
"You got through to her, Gary. The old Leaf shows herself around you. You almost had her." Ash explained.
"Cover for me? If Gramps finds out that I skipped..."
"We got you, Gary. Go to Leaf."
Gary nodded his head and picked up his bag by his feet.
"I'll keep you guys updated."
"You better."
Gary started walking off, but Dawn called out to him. He turned and faced her.
"Good luck,"
He nodded his head at her words. He was going to need all the luck imaginable to deal with Leaf.
... ...
Before he reached his final destination, he made a stop at the coffee shop and picked up her favorite drink. Then he made his way to where he hoped she had gone. If she wasn't there, he didn't know where else she would go.
He pulled to a stop and got out. He was literally in the middle of no where, but there was a worn path that he knew very well. He had passed Leaf's car a few miles back, so she must had parked and walked to reach the path. He made his way along the path and eventually, came to a clearing with a river. Sitting on the ground, staring at the river, was Leaf.
He approached her cautiously, but stepped on a branch, breaking it. Leaf jerked her head around and saw him.
"Wh- How did you find me?" she asked.
"Whenever you were upset or needed to clear your head you came here. You told me about it and I come here from time to time." Gary replied and extended her drink towards her.
She eyed the cup and raised an eyebrow.
"It's your favorite."
She grabbed the cup and held it in her hands.
Gary sat down next to her, but kept enough distance between them so he wouldn't make her more uncomfortable.
"Do you want to talk about what happened this weekend?" he asked.
"What I want is for you to stay quiet. I might talk once I finish this." Leaf said, holding her cup up.
So the two sat in silence. Leaf drinking her coffee and staring at the river while Gary studied her carefully. She was drawn up. Her makeup was done darkly, which was an odd thing for her to do. She seemed tired and drained. But she still held her confident stance, although there was something lacking with it. It wasn't quite its usual boast of confidence.
Leaf finished her coffee and set the cup down beside her. She was quiet for a few moments before she broke it.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"I want you to talk to me about whatever you're afraid of. The reason why you can't be Leaf again."
"I am Leaf, Oak."
"No, you're not."
Silence filled the air around them.
"Why won't you let me in, Leaf? I just want to help you."
She looked at him. What Gary saw in her eyes made him frown. Her eyes were dull, lacking the usual mischief and fire. Hidden in them he could see the fear, but he also saw anger.
She gave a small laugh. "If I told you, you wouldn't look at me the same."
"Try me, Leaf."
She looked at the river. She picked up a rock that was beside her and threw it.
"There's nothing to tell."
She got up and dusted her pants off and walked away.
"Leaf!" Gary cried, hopping up and chasing her.
She ran ahead and Gary saw a branch hit her face, but she continued to run.
"Leaf, please!"
He grabbed for her, but she jerked away.
"Don't touch me." she said, stopping and looking at him.
Her eyes were cold.
"Sorry." Gary said, holding his hands up.
"Just go back to school."
"Leaf, please just talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about, Oak. There's nothing."
She looked down at the ground.
"Leaf...please."
He had heard a slight waver in her voice. She was close to breaking again, but she was refusing.
"There's nothing! Okay?!"
Gary reached out for her. She swung her hand and it connected with his cheek.
"I said don't touch me!" she cried.
Gary stared at her in shock after her she slapped him.
"I- Gary-"
She took off running and Gary let her go this time.
That afternoon...
Gary drove over to Ash's house after school let out, to fill Ash and Dawn in on what had happened. He decided it would be better in person than over text, so he had sent a message to them asking them to meet him at Ash's after school.
He parked his car and walked into Ash's house and found his friends in the living room.
"So what happened?" Dawn asked as he sat down in one of the black chairs.
"She didn't open up. I pushed, but it backfired and blew up in my face." Gary replied.
"How?" Ash asked.
"She slapped me."
"What?"
"She slapped me. She had ran away and I chased after her. I went to grab her and she yelled at me not to touch her. Then when I tried again she slapped me. She seemed shocked at what she did afterwards, though. She was stuttering and just looked shocked. She ran off and I let her. I figured it was best if I just left her alone."
"I really thought she would open up..." Dawn muttered.
"I think she wanted to, but she's scared. I saw fear in her eyes...she looks so broken even though she's trying to appear tough. I could see it hidden underneath everything."
"Maybe if we give her time and space?" Ash suggested.
"Maybe..." Gary replied.
"But what if she doesn't?" Dawn asked.
That caused silence to fall over the three. Each of them lost in their own thoughts. Each of them worried about Leaf. Each of them wanting to help her, but having no idea how to do so.
Silence filled the room.
Please R&R