ReCAP: A NORMAL Novella by Danielle Pearl Read Free Book Online

– and I'm fucking seething
for Rory, more than I would be even for myself. She's been through
enough shit in her life! Her own father betrayed her! Though I
don't know the details. And now she needs to put up from this from
a nasty bitch? Goddamn it!
    Thankfully Rory slips on my shirt, and I
shoot Chelsea a warning glare as I pull it closed in the front, and
Rory wraps her arms around herself, holding it around her. I look
down at her, and she looks so unbelievably sad that it's strikes me
as physically painful. I can't bear it. I pull her back into my
arms, and hug her to my chest, and she lets go, crying softly into
my tee shirt.
    I turn my glare back to my supposed family
friend. "Why? You need to start explaining, Chelsea, because right
now it looks like you harassed and assaulted Rory for no goddamn
reason, and I don't give a fuck how long we've been friends-"
    "She had a baby, Cap," Chelsea says
tremulously. "She's manipulating you! Can't you see? She's the one
who attacked me! I mean, you saw!"
    "Just because she wont the fight doesn't
mean she started it, Chelsea."
    Chelsea looks offended,
and I'm even more pissed that that's what she's upset about – the
fact that I said Rory won the fight – which she clearly
did.
    "You're a stupid, stupid girl," Rory
murmurs, her wet cheek pressed to my shirt, and I'm glad the fight
is returning to her. Not physically, but it's there just the same.
I can't stand to see her look so defeated. There is no winner here,
but there's only one loser, and I'm glaring at her with such
contempt it's a wonder we were ever friends.
    "Excuse me?" Chelsea yelps, and I
practically bare my teeth in warning.
    "I will not excuse you!
There is no
excuse! You're a stupid girl and the sad part is, you're wastin'
your time! If he doesn't want you it has nothin' to do with me!"
Rory rants, and I'm completely lost.
    I thought this was about
Chelsea trying to embarrass Rory with photos of her changing, and
Rory handling it the way only a badass like her would. Who the fuck
is "he" and what the hell does it have to do with Rory? The thought
of Rory and some guy being involved somehow makes nausea crawl
through my stomach, though I have no right to my jealousy. Vaguely
I realize that it's the first jealous feeling I've ever had over a
girl, and I don't like it.
    Chelsea looks worried, though, and whatever
they're talking about, I've no doubt that Rory has just hit the
nail on the head. "What are you talking about, Ror?" I ask her.
    Rory pulls back to look at me meaningfully.
"She's in love with you. She's in love with you and she came after
me because she's convinced herself that I'm the reason you don't
want her," she says. My jaw drops.
    Me?
    I'm stunned into silence.
    "But guess what... he doesn't want me
either! We've never been anything more than friends, we'll never be
anything more than friends! If he doesn't want you, then it has
nothing to do with me!"
    I honestly can't believe
what I'm hearing. But the truth is, the shock over the revelation
that Chelsea might have feelings for me is overtaken by the sting
of Rory's words. Because no, she's not why I'm not interested in
Chelsea –there were more than enough reasons for that before Rory
ever showed up – but hearing it spelled out so vehemently that Rory
and I are nothing but friends, that we'll never be anything more…
it cuts me deeply. And it's irrational, because she's only
affirming something I already knew – that I've known from day one.
The only thing she said that isn't true is that I don't want her
either, and I'm only now realizing just how untrue that
is.
    Chelsea narrows her eyes
at me – at us – in accusation. "It doesn't look like you're just
friends.
God
,
Cap, I was just trying to protect you. I knew she was hiding
something and I was right!" She points to Rory's hip again, at a
small, uneven scar that is definitely not from any C-section, and
my thoughts slide from regrets over my nonexistent relationship
with Rory back