If You Had Stayed (published)

Chapter 2

I was about to agree with Haylie and tell her the plans I wanted to do, when I saw a black hair girl walking towards us from our left. Gabrielle Casey, the biggest bitch in our grade. I despise her more than anything in the world. She prefers to be called Gabby rather than by her birth name. She got everything she wanted and never let anyone stand in her way. Gabby is also a teacher's pet.

As she approaches us, I notice the tiara on top of her head that had HAPPY BIRTHDAY on it in sparkling sliver glitter letters. Her arm was linked around her boyfriend, Lake Terra. He didn't look please about something and I wouldn't blame him. I wouldn't be happy either if I had Gabby as my girlfriend.

Gabby spots Haylie and I, strolling over to us with a smirk on her face, which I wanted to wipe off badly. Better yet, I wish she would disappear off the face of this planet. I didn't need her to come over to us and start saying nasty stuff about Josh like she always does, like she is better than everyone else because she doesn't suffer from a mental illness and isn't considered "crazy" like Josh is.

"Hi there, Haylie. Emily." The way she paused before she said my name was like she wasn't pleased to see me or it was her way to warm up to her insults. "Waiting for Freak, I see." She laughs at her own comment.

I clench my jaw, wanting to pound Gabby's face in with every chance I have. Ever since word got out about Josh's illness, never once did she call him by his proper name. Freak was the main insult she called him by. Not only her, but some other students in our grade call him that too, all thanks to her who started the whole name calling. It tears my heart to pieces to hear how cold-hearted she can be towards someone, especially when they are different. But to me Josh is still a human being, even if he has a mental illness that makes him lose touch with reality. It doesn't mean you have to treat them differently, right?

Haylie could see it in my face of what I wanted to do to Gabby. If it wasn't for the school rules, I probably would have punched Gabby's face in already, just to wipe the smile off her face. Gabrielle Casey wasn't worth getting detention.

"He has a name, you know," Haylie speaks for me. "It's Josh."

"It is?" Gabby looks at us like she was just learning about his name for the first time. "I really thought it was Freak considering he is crazy. The name suits him well."

I frown at her. "Having a mental illness doesn't make him a freak, Gabby. He is still a human being. He just... He has just lost touch with reality."

"Whatever. He is still a freak anyway. He shouldn't even be here. He belongs in some psychiatric ward, locked up in a room with a straitjacket."

I shake my head. "No one deserves that, Gabby."

Gabby rolls her eyes, clearly not giving a care in the world to what I had to say. "Anyway, it's my birthday." She points to her tiara with a big smile. "I'm having a birthday party tonight for my eighteenth. It's going to be big. I don't really want to invite you two, but my parents thought it would be good if I invite everyone in our grade. And if you reject the invitation, I will make your life hell."

Haylie raises her eyebrows at her. "Gabby, you already make our life hell."

Gabby throws her a dirty look before returning it to a happy and smiley one. "You're both invited. And if you do decide to come, don't you dare bring Freak."

I frown at her. "Why can't he come? I mean, he is in our grade too."

I knew the answer already. Gabby didn't even have to give it to me. But I wanted her to say what she really thought to my face. I wanted her to tell me instead of telling it to Josh because he doesn't deserve to be treated like some outcast just because he was different. It's not his fault for his illness, and I just wished that no one held it against him. They shouldn't, but some people just want you to feel bad.