Five

    GIGI'S POV

Tears streamed down my cheeks, uncontrollable and persistent. I tried to stop them from flowing, to put up a strong facade, but my emotions wouldn't allow it. People were coming, and I didn't want to be seen in such a vulnerable state. However, something happened that made me forget all about the tears, all about the people, and all about the hurt.

She said I could have Onix for myself.

That statement, as small as it may seem, was enough to dry my tears and make me forget all about my misery. Onix, the one person that made me happy, the one that could take me away from my reality, could be mine.

I quickly wiped my tears away and started walking back home. I looked back and saw Max, my brother, parked at Conner. He had seen everything, and he didn't do anything to stop the people who hurt me. I felt a pang of anger towards him, a growing hatred for his apathy towards my pain. He was supposed to be my cover, my support system, not one of the people adding to my misery.

As he drove past me, our eyes met, but he said nothing and didn't stop to pick me up. It was no surprise; I had grown used to his disregard for me. This was all happening because I refused to follow Onix, the only thing that brought me joy. If I had followed Onix, that idiot girl wouldn't have seen me and messed around with me.

When I got home, I headed straight to the kitchen to get my food. However, my brother was there, blocking my path. He had something to say, as usual.

"Everybody is taking you for a fool, and you won't and can't do anything." "All you're good for is eating, plus-size fool," he said, sneering at me.

I started to wonder if he was my real brother. How could he be related to me when he treated me with such disdain? My parents were kind and loving, so how did I end up with a brother like him?

I didn't want to be stuck in this life with people who only brought me pain.

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but think about Onix. The mere thought of having him made me feel hopeful and made me feel like I had a purpose. I knew I had to do whatever it took to keep him—to leave this place behind and start a new life.

The day started out like any other day for me, with the only exception being that Onix picked me up in the morning. However, things took an unexpected turn when the car suddenly stopped working. We tried our best to get it running again, but to no avail. With no other options, we decided to walk the rest of the way to school.

Although this was a new experience for Onix, it was not for me. As someone who is physically different from the other students at school, I have had to find alternative ways of getting around. Walking to school was not uncommon for me, but it was certainly an unusual occurrence for Onix.

As we walked, we chatted and gossiped, enjoying the fresh air and exercise. It was surprising how much more fun it was than driving to school. It was during this walk that Onix reminded me that his birthday was coming up that weekend, and he hoped that I would be able to attend. I couldn't say no to him, especially since I hadn't been to a birthday party since Max's party a while back.

Unfortunately, being different from everyone else at school meant that I was often the target of bullying and exclusion. But I refused to let that get in the way of my determination to survive and succeed. Walking to school and attending Onix's birthday party were just another way for me to show that I could overcome any obstacle.

As I entered the school building and dropped my bag off, I suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom. However, when I returned to the classroom, I found that everyone was staring at me. It was a common occurrence, so I didn't think much of it. However, my teacher soon called me out, accusing me of taking someone's money.

I was stunned. How could this be? I had just arrived at school, so there was no way I could have taken anyone's money. I tried to defend myself, but some of my classmates started laughing, and my teacher didn't believe me. I was given a two-week suspension, which was just another obstacle to overcome.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of another school day, I made my way to the teacher's office. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, knowing that what I was about to say was not going to be well received.

I had been accused of stealing money from one of my classmates. It was ridiculous. I knew I was innocent, but the teacher didn't seem to believe me. She refused to listen to my explanation, and I was left crying in her office, feeling hopeless.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, another teacher walked in. I didn't recognize her at first, but I was grateful for her presence. She asked me what had happened, and I poured out my heart to her.

To my surprise, she believed me. She turned to my original teacher and asked her if what I had said was true. The other teacher was dismissive, claiming that the money had been found in my bag and that was all the evidence she needed.

But I knew that wasn't the whole story. I had arrived at school that day with my friend Onix. I had gone to the restroom before heading to class, and that was when the money must have been planted in my bag.

I begged the teachers to call Onix to testify for me. I couldn't face my aunt alone if I was suspended for two weeks for something I didn't do. They agreed to call him, but as we waited, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The second teacher seemed to be on my side, but the first one acted like she had it out for me. I couldn't understand why she was so quick to believe that I was guilty. It didn't seem fair.

Finally, Onix arrived at the office. I was so relieved to see him. They asked him if I had come to school with him that day, and he said yes without hesitation. I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me.

The teachers conferred for a moment before making a decision. They decided to believe me and let me off the hook. I was free to go home without any further punishment.

As I walked out of the school, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Onix hadn't been there to vouch for me. It was a scary thought. But I was grateful for his support, and I knew that I had true friends who would stand by me no matter what.

As I stepped out of the school gates, I couldn't help but feel lost in thought. The weight of my troubles and worries bore down on me heavily. I was so engrossed in my own musings that I barely noticed Jules and her clique approaching me.

But just as they drew near, a familiar figure appeared, and they scattered like leaves in the wind. It was Onix, swaggering towards me with the confidence of a man who knows he's in control. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me as I saw him coming.

As we walked together, I couldn't help but notice the way Onix carried himself, the easy grace with which he moved, and the unmistakable aura of power that surrounded him. It was no wonder that he had always been one of the most popular kids in school.

But it wasn't just his confidence that caught my attention. As we walked, I couldn't help but notice his spoiled car parked up ahead. It was a sight to behold—a gleaming, metallic beast that sparkled in the sun. And yet, there was something about it that seemed off, like it was trying too hard to impress.

As we drew closer, Onix turned to me with a sly grin. "You like what you see?" he asked, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his arrogance. "It's a nice car, but it looks like it's seen better days," I replied, trying my best to hide my amusement.

Onix just laughed, clearly not bothered by my jibe. "Yeah, it's been around for a while," he said. "But it still gets the job done."

As we walked towards the car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. I knew that Onix was up to something, and I couldn't wait to find out what it was.

"So, have you finally broken up with Jules?" I asked him casually, trying to gauge his reaction.

To my surprise, Onix didn't seem bothered by the question. In fact, he seemed downright relieved. "Yeah, we're done," he said. "I couldn't handle being with someone who only cared about themselves."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph at his words. It was like I had won a great victory, one that I had been working towards for so long.

As we reached the car, Onix turned to me with a mischievous grin. "So, what do you think we should do with it?" he asked.

I shrugged, not really sure what he was getting at. "I don't know," I said. "It looks like it needs some work."

Onix just chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Yeah, it does," he said. But that's not the point. "The point is, we have missed the fun that we are supposed to have with it today."