forum The Right Way

Started May 27, 2019 by @PrettyLittlePyro

tune

"Oh, sweetie. I'm so sorry. My little Gem." Gemma's grandmother went over and hugged her.
"Aw, grandma, it wasn't that bad. What's for dinner?" Gemma tossed aside the subject, pulling up a chair.

Karen answered. “Hey, N.”

"Roast beef. Thought you might like it." Gemma's grandmother slid her a plate.
"No gravy, right?" Gemma looked up, a little concerned.
"No. I know you hate those greasy things."

“So, Gem and I broke up,” Nia said in a calm voice.
Her sister hissed angrily. “I’m gonna kill-“
“It’s fine,” she soothed her. “She wasn’t good for me anyway.”

"Thanks, grandma." Gemma told her, starting to eat. "Where's grandpa at?"
"Out gardening." Her grandma chuckled. "It's really all he's good for."

“Is this when I can say I told you so?” Karen asked.
Nia laughed. “If you do, I will drive over to your house and punch you.”

Gemma tilted her head, considering this. "I suppose. You would know."
"Dang right I would, little Gem." Her grandma smiled up at her. "You'll get to the point one day, with one of your boyfriends or girlfriends - you get to know every little nook and cranny. It's just like being a mother, let me tell you." She sighed, and Gemma giggled a little despite herself.

Karen snorted. “Nice try. You might be able to get my stomach, by that’s about it, Shortie.”
Nia groaned. “I told you not to call me that!”

(my friends do that to me alllll the time)
Finishing her food, Gemma took her plate up to the sink. "I should probably get going, grandma. Remember to take your pills tonight - I'll text you again to make sure."
She waved a hand. "Oh, Gemma. You know I don't forget these things."
"You're getting old, grandma. Just in case. Oh-" She remembered as she slid on her sandals. "Don't forget to let grandpa take his too."
"Gemma, Gemma, Gemma. No need to worry. Hurry along now."
"Alright, alright." Gemma giggled a little as she went outside, waved to her grandpa, and got in the car, speeding off down the highway back to her house.

(Me too. It sucks.)

Karen laughed. “Shortie Shortie Shortie Shortie!” She sang.
Nia couldn’t help but laugh.

I mean, just look at their relationship. I learned from the best. Gemma thought to herself, turning off the car and opening her back door.

“You should come over,” Nia said, voice amused.

Gemma slouched on her couch, making sure the door was locked before turning on her TV to distract herself from her grandparents and Nia.

Karen said, “I might. I’m feee this weekend. And I might bring Dess. Did you know that she has a closing your age?”
Nia sighed. “Not right now, K.”

Gemma eventually turned off the TV and got up to her room, quickly changing into a silvery-blue nightgown and getting into bed. Her phone was still in the living room; she'd forgotten to text her grandma and grandpa to take their pills tonight.
(boy I wonder what's gonna happen)

(Right?)

Nia lay in her bad that night, staring at the ceiling. Stars shine in through the dark window.

Gemma woke to her phone ringing loudly in the other room. Groaning, she rolled over, got up, and canceled the call, bringing her phone back to bed with her. "It's too early for all this." She mumbled, turning out her light again.

She soon fell asleep, determined not to think about Gemma.

As light filtered in through her windows, Gemma got up and out of bed, glancing at her phone. Fifteen missed calls from an unknown number. She shook her head. “God. Stalker.”

That day, Nia hung out with Karen and her friend Dess. They had fun, and talked, as she managed to forget Gemma for a while.

Eventually, the number called again as Gemma was eating breakfast. Angrily, she picked it up. “What do you want?”

It was easy, forgetting about her. Nia was happily chatting with her sister and friends, without a care in the world.

Gemma quickly put down the phone, tears welling in her eyes. She had to get back there now. It was her fault. All her fault. If she hadn't…if she had just called, none of this would have happened. She set down her bowl in the kitchen, accidentally crushing the spoon and cracking the counter with pressure. Cursing under her breath, she kicked some shoes on and got in the car.

Nia pulled her hair from her face and laughed at something Karen had said. "You're an idiot," she said fondly. She was clueless to what was happening to her ex-girlfriend.

Gemma slammed on the gas, thankful the roads were mostly empty as she zoomed through them. The empty water bottle can in the cupholder began to crush slowly, Gemma herself unaware of what her power was doing. Her mind was fuzzy. It was…too much, and yet such a helpless feeling, at the same time.