"So, why don't you ever call anymore?"

      "I'm just starting to settle in, it's different, ya know?" I twirled the phone cord around my finger as I waited for his response.

      "What do you mean, you've been there for like 4 months?" He replied, he's right, I should be settled.

      "Yeah, but you know me, it's hard to make friends, to let people in. I don't want to have to protect more than I have to. They matter." I murmured just above a whisper.

      "So do you, don't do that." He simply told me, I could hear the emotion and sincerity in his voice.

"Don't do what?" I furrowed my brows.

      "Act like everyone else is so much more important than you are. You matter or else you wouldn't be here, talk to me, Mox." He pleaded, he got kind of quiet towards the end.

      A knock was heard on my door, breaking me from my trance. Gave always had my undivided attention. I don't know why I cared about him so much.

"I gotta go."

"But-"

      "Bye, Gabriel." I hung up the phone quickly.

      I walked over to my door and opened it to see all the losers. I looked blankly at them for a moment then looked at the happy expressions on their faces, as long as they're happy I'm happy.

      "Didn't think you guys would be here so soon." I said to them as I leaned against the door frame and pushed up my glasses. I decided that maybe I need to start seeing how good I got it, through is...not very good.

      "We didn't think you'd be ready, but Mike almost had an aneurism trying to get to you." Stan said rolling his eyes, which earned him a Beverly's laugh from the dark skinned boy.

      "Well, what can I say?" He started looking at me, "You're one of my favorite people." He shrugged.

      I laughed at the comment and moved over to let them in, "I'm almost ready, let me just put my shoes on." I said.

      They followed me inside, cautiously. They each had a different reaction to my home. I heard steps come from the stairs and looked to see my brother trotting down them. He looked at the losers and smiled as a greeting.

      "Hey, guys." My brother said to them as if he'd known them forever, he's good with people like that. They all murmured something in return. The sat down in my living room.

      "Where are yo going?" I asked him as I sat on the coffee table and pulled my shoes on, probably something I wasn't supposed to do.

      "Hanging our with Gabe, you know he's visiting, right?"My brother was looking through the window blinds, probably for Gabe's car.

      Gabe is an orphan, just like my brother and me. He just found out that his father used to have a motor shop. And in the old broken down joint, was a car. Gabe spent most of his day working to get the car. He finally got it last year when he turned 16, he'll be 17 soon.

      "Wh-who's Gabe?" Bill asked from his place next to Ben on my couch.

      "A friend we used to know, he was a bully when we first met him. He warmed up to us, well, kinda." I explained, he scrunched up his brows and nodded.

      "He'll be here in a few, we're gonna be gone all day." My brother said as I nodded.

      "Don't do drugs and don't bring home no babies." I said to him making him roll his eyes and going into the kitchen.

      "C'mon, guys." I said adjusting my glasses and making my way towards the door. And I really wished I hadn't.

When I opened the door, right there about to knock was Gabe. He was clad in a black shirt jeans and a fresh pair of shoes. My breathing stopped and I could feel the nearest loser bump into me when I stopped walking.

"Moxie, long time no see, huh?" He was flustered, a trait I see in him before the storm breaks lose. I stepped back to let him in. I could cut through the tension in the room.

"Moxie, is this Gabe?" Beverly asked from behind me, I looked over my left shoulder and nodded at her.

"So, you talk about me?" He asked cockily. Stepping closer to me.

"Leave me alone, would ya?" I whispered. He was so close I could feel his breath on my lips. He took my glasses off of my face and examined them walking into the kitchen.

"You're just gonna let him treat you like that?" Mike asked once Gabe was completely out of war shot.

I shrugged and followed the losers into the kitchen, Mike was the first to speak, "Hey, I'm pretty sure she needs those." He asked menacingly, I newer side of him showing through.

"Well, if she wants them she can come and get them." He shrugged, my brother didn't really like Gabe, he tried to but he didn't. But Gave was the only one that would listen.

"Well, go get them, Moxie." Stan encouraged me. I felt so weak and small, so helpless. I carefully and slowly walked over to him, my eyes on my shoes. And grabbed the frame of stem of them glasses. He quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a fast embrace.

He was warm and smelled of cinnamon. I felt kind of safe in his embrace, like he genuinely cared. It made me forget how he made me feel a while ago. We twisted like that for awhile and he squeezed me tighter.

"Alright, th-that's enough." Bill said louder than usual. Gabe finally let go.

He ruffled my hair, making it look terrible, then laughed, lighten up, she knows I'm messing with her. Right, Mox?" Gabe has nudged me to say something.

My heart clenched with the thought of him. Not in a romantic way, "you know I love you, right?" He asked me once more.

My heart sped up and I slowly nodded, "yeah, right." I breathe a chuckled, one that made me seem unsure.

"I'll have your brother home later, have fun with your..." he trailed off, not knowing what to call the losers, they were an odd bunch. He tucked his hands in his pockets and walked to the front door with Simon.

"Bye, big sister."

"Bye, Si."

"He doesn't love you." Mike spoke suddenly.

"What?" I asked looking at my friends. They all looked at me with different expressions.

"If he cared about you he wouldn't make you feel like shit. You're better than that." Beverly announced.

"If he loved you he would've stayed with you and try to bond with you." Eddie.

"I-if h-he was worried ab-bout you he'd make s-sure you were okay." Bill.

"If he wanted you he would make an effort to be with you." Stan.

The comments made my smile, the traits they threw at me were thugs they showed. They cared.

"You could be trying to get into my pants instead of his."

"Richie!"

I laughed as we walked out of my door. It wasn't me and Bill who were next to each other it was Mike and I. I suddenly leaned over and got a kiss on the cheek.

He looked over at me with a faint blush on his cheeks and a smile upon his lips, "What was that for?" He asked like he was out of breath.

"For saying something first." Who would've thought a homeschooler boy would have as much courage as him?