The Libby Garrett Intervention (Science Squad #2) (7 page)

She opened her mouth, shaking her head, but I cut her off before she could yell at me again. “You’re right. You don’t know me. But you know
them
.” I waved my hand around the circle. “They’re your friends. You’ve trusted them for years. Do you think they would lie to you? Or hurt you on purpose if they didn’t feel it necessary? You have a whole group of people here who care about you and want you to be happy. You should listen to them.”

“Please,” Avery whispered. She sat up out of Aiden’s embrace but threaded her fingers in his as she looked at Libby. “Libby, I love you so much. I will never cut ties with you. Never. I won’t give up on you. But if you don’t acknowledge that you have a problem and agree to let us help you tonight, then I’ll be forced to go over your head. I’ll go to your parents and explain your relationship with Owen to them. I’ll show them the letters your friends have written. I will recommend to your parents that you might need counseling. I will talk to Owen and ask him not to see you anymore. I’ve spoken with Grayson, and we’ve both agreed not to hang out with the two of you together anymore. Nor are you allowed to go up with me when I visit Grayson at school, and Grayson won’t bring Owen down here, either. We are no longer going to aid your addiction to Owen Jackson in any way. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, but I hope you understand and choose to forgive me.”

Avery stood then, and as she collected all the letters her friends had written and placed them in her backpack, Libby turned to the one person who’d stayed silent. I was very curious to see where this was going to go. I’d never been able to figure out Aiden Kennedy. He was Avery’s best friend and Grayson’s younger brother. He seemed like a good guy, and he was accepted in Avery and Libby’s circle of friends, but he was still somewhat of an outsider. Avery was the only person in the group completely comfortable with him, and he with her.

His interaction with everyone else always seemed careful somehow, or brittle. It was the worst with Libby. There was real friction there. They both did a good job ignoring it—I think for Avery’s sake—but it was clear to me that they didn’t like each other. At first I was surprised when he’d shown up tonight, until I saw how he’d been with Avery. She had needed him here.

“What,” Libby asked Aiden, with enough hostility to start World War III, “No
Libby sucks
letter from you?”

Aiden didn’t react to her antagonism. “I don’t really care what you do to yourself. I’m here for Avery. But I also have no right to judge you. I went psychotic over a relationship once, too.”

Libby bristled. “Do
not
compare my mistake this weekend to your epic brain fart last year.”

The Great Aiden/Avery Fallout. I heard the story not long after Avery started working at Jo’s, but I had a hard time understanding it. Avery and Grayson both spoke about it as if it were up there in awfulness with the Holocaust. But Avery and Aiden are still so close, and she and Grayson are so right for each other that I can’t picture Avery ever being with anyone else. Especially not with Aiden, who is the exact opposite of his older brother. I guess it was just one of those had-to-be-there things.

“I’m sorry,” Aiden said, “but the similarities between your personality changes caused by your relationship with Owen, and my temporary lapse in sanity last year, thanks to Mindy, are noteworthy. I would also like to point out that my fall only lasted a few months. You’re pushing the year mark, with no end in sight.”

That set Libby off again. “Excuse me? I think
not
. My relationship with Owen is nothing like yours was with Mindy. You got a girlfriend and immediately turned into Sphincter Extraordinaire. You were a completely different person. I made
one
mistake. You are all completely overreacting.”

Aiden’s face flushed with rage and he lost all that calm control he’d had. “Wake up, Libby!” he shouted. “Missing the science fair wasn’t
one mistake
; it was the
last straw!
Take a look around you.” He gestured to the whole group. “None of your friends can stand you anymore. They’re only sitting here right now because Avery asked them to come.”

Libby glanced at the rest of the group, seeking confirmation to Aiden’s statement. Brandon shook his head. “That’s not true. We came for you, Libby, like we said. We still care about you. We just can’t watch you do this to yourself anymore.”

Libby continued to stare at her friends. “Maybe I’ve changed a little this year,” she said, “and you’re right; I haven’t been the greatest friend. I get that I’ve screwed up, but you can’t seriously want me to give up Owen. I
love
him.”

I barely resisted the urge to shake some sense into her. Wanting to hook up with him, I could understand—Owen made the rest of us guys look ugly—but how could she possibly
love
the jerk? He treated her like garbage. Didn’t she know that? Hadn’t she ever been in a relationship where she was treated with respect? Had a
real
boyfriend who loved her the way she deserved?

“You don’t love him,” Avery insisted, which made me feel better. “You’re addicted to him. You’re in lust with him. You’re obsessed with him. He’s like a drug for you. He makes you feel good in the moment, but he’s ruining you. He’s not good for you, and you can do so much better.”

Libby finally got emotional instead of just angry. “No, I can’t!” She stopped when her voice broke. She didn’t cry, but I knew she was close. “You can tell me how awesome I am all you want, but the facts don’t lie. I am fat. If guys take notice of me, it’s to tease me or put me down. No one has ever liked me in
that
way before. Owen may not be as perfect as Grayson, but at least he wants me. He’s attracted to me. That’s better than nothing.”

For the first time since the intervention started, I felt sorry for Libby. I hated what she was doing to herself, but I could understand why she did it. She was lonely. She was desperate. She honestly believed no one would ever love her the right way. I knew what it felt like to believe that you weren’t worthy of being loved. I understood all too well the abuse people put up with because they’re starved for affection. I’d been there.

I couldn’t be angry with Libby anymore for choosing to stay with Owen, but I became even more desperate for her to see the truth. Even if she was right, and no one else ever did love her, nothing
was
better than staying with someone who constantly hurt you. Sometimes you had to walk away, even if you didn’t want to, even if you truly loved the person you were walking away from. Libby needed to walk away, before she ended up like me.

She stopped yelling at Avery and turned back to the rest of the group. “I’m sorry I’ve hurt you guys. I didn’t realize I was doing it, and I promise I will start being a better friend, but I’m not going to give up Owen. You can’t ask me to do that.”

The group sat in silence for a minute as they each decided their next course of action. Brandon was the first to move. “That’s your final decision, then?” he asked.

Libby huffed. “Of course it is.”

Brandon’s face fell and he shook his head. “Then I have to stick to my promise. I’m sorry, Libby.”

When Brandon got up to leave, Libby jumped to her feet. “That’s it? You’re just done being my friend?”

Brandon met her gaze with disappointment. “It wasn’t the outcome I wanted, Libby, but yes. I am done. Unless you change, I can’t do it anymore.”

Like I said, sometimes you have to walk away.

Brandon walked out the door without looking back. Libby watched him go until she could no longer see him, and when she turned around, Levi, Tara, and Aiden were standing as well. “We’re sorry, Libby,” Levi said.

Tara sniffled and looked at her feet as she whispered, “Call us if you change your mind.”

Levi wrapped his arm around Tara and walked her out of the building. Aiden lingered a moment. “As acting copresidents of the science club, the squad asked Avery and me to make it official if you refused them tonight,” he said. “You’re out of science club. I’ve already talked to Mr. Walden about it. He agreed that since you missed the science fair, if the club voted, he would support their decision. You’re not welcome back for the rest of the year, and you won’t get your cords for four years of participation at graduation.”

I was surprised when Aiden managed to look sincerely regretful. His quiet “I’m sorry, Libby,” came from the heart. He turned to Avery then, who had tears in her eyes again, and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry it didn’t work. You want me to stick around?”

Avery squeezed his hand but shook her head. “I’d like to talk to her alone.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

Aiden left, leaving Avery and Libby standing there alone. Avery glanced in my direction. I tried to look encouraging, but I don’t know if I succeeded. When Libby looked my way, I backed away. “I’ve got to finish closing up. You guys take your time.”

“Thanks, Adam,” Avery whispered.

I headed behind the counter to begin counting my till, when Libby exploded again. “I can’t believe you, Avery!”

Avery started to cry. “Libby,
please
. Why would you choose Owen over all of your friends? He’s a jerk. He doesn’t love you, but
I
do. Levi, Tara, and Brandon—we all love you. Why would you throw that away for someone who doesn’t care about you?”

“Because you’re wrong. Maybe Owen doesn’t love me the way Grayson loves you, but he
does
care about me, and I care about him.”

“Are you an idiot? He doesn’t give a
shit
about you!” I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud until Avery and Libby both whirled around to gawk at me.

Libby stomped over to me, red-faced and shaking with fury. “I’ve had it with you, Coffee Man! Stay out of my business! You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about my relationship with Owen.”

I knew I should keep my mouth shut. I told myself to walk away right then and there, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t take it anymore. Libby was hurting Avery, and she was hurting herself. “I know you’ve been dating him for a year, and he won’t even admit you’re in a relationship. He lied to
Avery and Grayson
about you. He doesn’t even like to be seen with you in public.”

Libby flinched, and I knew I’d hit the nail right on the head. I was so frustrated that I raked my hands through my hair and said, “How can you not see that your boyfriend treats you like a cheap hooker? You’re nothing but an easy score to him.”

Libby’s eyes snapped wide open. That was the only warning I got before she smacked her palm across the side of my face. As she stormed out of the store, I put my hand to my stinging cheek—the girl had quite a slap.

It wasn’t until the door slammed shut, rattling the walls and shaking the lights hanging from the ceiling, that I came back from my stupor and realized just how badly I screwed up. Only Avery and I were left in the store, and she was gaping at me in shock. I cursed under my breath and tried not to panic as I apologized. “I’m sorry. The intervention thing was harder than I expected it to be. Everything just hit a little too close to home, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her staying with that guy. Avery, I am
so
sorry.”

Avery dabbed at her eyes with a napkin, and then shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I’ve wanted to say all of that to her for so long now, but I could never bring myself to do it. Thank you, Adam, for doing what I couldn’t.”

Once again, I was completely bewildered by the tiny girl standing in front of me. “You’re
thanking
me for being a giant
gluteus maximus
to your best friend?”

Avery finally smiled. “Yes. You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, and she needed to hear it. I know you were only trying to help.”

Sure. Fat lot of help I was. Libby was probably off making plans for her next hookup right now. Avery guessed my thoughts and surprised me with a big hug. The way she squeezed me, I could tell she needed the comfort as much as I did. “You did everything you could,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

I couldn’t respond. The same hopelessness I’d gone through when I failed to help my mom swept over me. Libby might have needed a reality check, but I felt bad for being the one to deliver it. Avery’s understanding smile made me feel even worse. “I guess it was a bad idea to ask for your help,” she said, after she finally let go of me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this would be so hard for you.”

I shook my head. “I was happy to help. I just didn’t expect to be quite so sensitive to it.” Of course, if it hadn’t been
Libby Garrett
choosing to keep hurting herself, I wouldn’t have lost my cool like that. “I’m sorry it didn’t work.”

Avery grabbed her coat and her keys off the counter and turned to me with a small smile. “I haven’t lost hope yet. Libby’s stubborn, but she’s also smart. She might not have admitted to having a problem tonight, but she listened. She just needs time to process. She’ll come around in her own time, and on her own terms.”