Free Renegade Rupture by J. C. Fiske Page B

and let out a deep sigh.
    She actually let that Strife touch her. Probably in ways you could never even . . .
    “DAMN IT! SHUT UP!” Gisbo yelled as he slammed the book shut and grabbed at his head.
    “Gisbo, I, I didn’t even say anything,” Nina said, leaning back in her chair, and her eyes began to water.
    “No, it’s not you, Nina, it’s . . .” Gisbo started.
    “It’s the Drakeness, isn’t it?” Nina asked.
    Gisbo didn’t reply as he stared at the floor.
    “Gisbo, I just wanted to say I don’t blame you for what happened in the courtyard earlier; it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t mean to push me down. It’s this Drakeness, it . . .” Nina started talking and Gisbo zoned out.
    Look at her, like she has nothing to apologize for, the voice said.
    “And like you don’t have anything to apologize to me for? Really? I told you all about Malik, what he did to Kinny, and you never, EVER, in all this time we’ve been together, never thought to mention to me that, oh, yeah, he used to be your boyfriend?” Gisbo asked.
    “Gisbo, I, that whole situation is complicated and . . . and what do you mean we’ve been together? Is that what we’ve been? Together? You never asked me to be your girlfriend, you’ve never asked me to hang out with you since we’ve been back. Is that what we are? In all my life, I’ve never felt more alone!” Nina said.
    “I don’t wanna listen to this right now,” Gisbo said. He got up and put his book back on his shelf. Nina stood up and folded her arms.
    “Gisbo, I don’t know how else to do this! It needs to be now! Just, please, there’s a dance soon, and well, I wanted you to take me and . . .” Nina started.
    “I don’t dance,” Gisbo said.
    “Well, I, I can teach you! It will be fun, we don’t have to . . .” Nina started.
    “Don’t want to learn,” Gisbo said.
    “Gisbo, what . . . If I’ve done something to hurt you, I want to know! Please, let me fix this! I’ll do anything!” Nina said.
    Listen to her rattle on; you don’t need this in your life, the voice said.
    “Nina, maybe I’m just a little freaked out that you seem to know everything there is to know about my life. Maybe I don’t find it at all exciting or thrilling that you know more about me than I know about myself. Maybe I have too much on my mind right now to worry or be nagged about going to a stupid dance with you, and maybe, just maybe, I never asked you to be my girlfriend because I never saw this going anywhere just to prove you and your stupid visions wrong, how about that? Is it ok if I think on my own too? Or are you going to tell me what to think next?” Gisbo asked.
    “Gisbo, I’ve never told you what to do or what to think! You know I can’t control this, it’s just how I am, and I’m not nagging! I just thought it would be fun if we went together since you’re supposed to bring a date. I just assumed . . .” Nina said.
    “If you want a date so badly, why don’t you just bring your boy toy Malik? I bet you two have SO much to catch up on,” Gisbo said as he stormed out. Before he could, Nina grabbed his arm.
    “Let go of me,” Gisbo said.
    “GISBO! Stop this! This isn’t you! It’s the Drakeness talking, it,” Nina started.
    “NO! No, it isn’t! Nothing is more powerful than my will, NOTHING! Nothing controls me or my thoughts or my future other than me! Understand? Not the Drakeness, not the damned Phoenix, and certainly not you! You want the truth? Looking at you sickens me knowing that Malik was all over you before me. That’s not the Drakeness talking, that’s me talking! Understand? Just leave me the hell alone! Every time I’m around you, I just, you make me think of him now and I just get so, so,” Gisbo started as the support beam on his wall morphed into Malik’s laughing face. Without a second thought, Gisbo hit it with everything he had, knocking a hole right through the side of his house. Nina jumped, startled.
    “Gisbo, you’ve been