24: You Idiot

It doesn’t take long for our triangle to become something more. Avalos gets attacked by some desperate girls. They elbowed their way right up to him, their hair swinging and their laughs as phoney as ever. But I chuckle it off because Avalos could use the attention. So many girls want the tall, dark and handsome type, but Avalos is tall, not so dark and handsome.

Avery on the other hand is cautious to every guy that approaches us, last time we were here is still seared into her brain. Mine as well. Wolves. But the guys tonight are just human guys looking to get lucky. No wolves in sight.

As the night goes on my once overly excited self gets tired. My feet start to hurt in the heels I picked out, my slight tipsiness is now gone and there’s a disgusting sheen of sweat coating my entire body.

“Calling it a night.” I shout into Avery’s ear. I expect her to disagree, but she checks her phone and quickly agrees.

We signal to Avalos that we’re leaving and he has difficulty prying the girls off him. I hear his sly replies of ‘later girls’ as he joins us to the door.

The blast of cool night air is everything I needed and more. Avalos orders an Uber for him and Avery as I insist on walking the few blocks home again. I hang out with them on the sidewalk a block down from Young & Restless until the ride arrives.

Avery teases her brother about the girls. The sibling rivalry between them is nothing but familiar and entertaining. I stand back and watch them tease and bicker with each other. They’re happy when the ride arrives, but I’m a little bummed considering this is the most excitement I’ve had all night.

A quick goodbye and wave to their retreating car, I head down the sidewalk eager to get home. Halfway there though, I have to stop and take off my shoes, because the pads of my feet are so sore and my toes are being crunched for too long.

A block from home a set of footsteps come from out of nowhere. They match the pace of my own perfectly. I keep going knowing full well who it is. I don’t have to see his face or feel the coldness of his skin to know. The face that I’m incredibly relaxed and the anxiety I ignored all night is truly ebbing away. Gabriel.

As I continue on my way, I step on a small rock and my leg buckles beneath me and he has the audacity to laugh at me.

“Little witch, little witch. How much did you have to drink?” He still is chuckling behind me, but I keep walking hoping he’ll get the clue.

“You don’t know? I assumed you were lurking somewhere.” My arms fly in the air overly dramatic. My shoes clatter together as I swing them around.

“Business calls sometimes.” He rushes to my side, nearly startling me. “I assume your night out went well?”

“It was going exceptionally well until you showed up.” That’s a lie.

“You know that’s not true.” He teases back calling me out on my lie.

I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, fed up with him. “What do you want Gabriel?”

He gasps as if hurt by my bluntness. “I’m here on a courtesy call for your benefit...or so I thought. I figured you would feeling not so well and-”

“You don’t make things better, you make them worse. As you can see I’m fine and you can go crawling back to Phillip.” And at my words the tearing pain of my unaffectionate disobedience toward Gabriel nearly knocks me off my feet. “Damn it.” I mutter between clenched teeth.

He grabs me by my elbow once again and gently tugs me back up to a standing position. “Are we sure you’re fine.”

In a manic frenzy, I swat and swing my arms in effort of getting out of his grasp but only manage to tangle our arms together. “This is only happening because you’re here. You idiot.”

“Is it?”

I let his words sink in. Technically, this is all my fault because I valued my stupid, insignificant life instead of dying at the hands of some fiend vampire, but that vampire was sent specially to attack me, so no it’s all Phillip’s fault. I open my mouth to detest, but Gabriel holds up his hand stopping me.

“Never mind. Rhetorical question.” He continues to keep pace with me. Reluctantly, he follows me all the way home.

“Well, your company is unwanted and unpleasant. As you can see I made it home and you can leave now.” Another stab of pain digs deep into my gut.

Clearly seeing that I’m in pain he refuses to leave, “I should see you up. You’ll appreciate it.”

“I’m sure I will.” I snap back before I enter the complex. It doesn’t take long to get to my door and I turn to Gabriel to dismiss him, but he leans cockily up against the doorframe waiting for me to open it. All I can do is groan in protest, but it’s unheard.

As I unlock the door, he quickly slides right in. My slow steps are sluggish enough, because within seconds I see him lounging on my couch watching TV...again. “Can’t you do that somewhere else?”

“Yup. But I prefer to do it here.” He props his feet on my coffee table making himself comfortable. “Are you hungry? Would you like a late night snack? I could go for some potato skins from that restaurant downtown. They’re the best.” He whips out his phone and places the order before I can get a squeak of protest out.

How long does he really plan on staying? Even though every ounce of my being is yelling at itself. The part that wants him here wins out, but I blow it off with a ‘what can I really do’ attitude. And what can I really do? Nothing.

I sit on the chair furthest from him. We each stare at the TV, while he’s actually paying attention to it, I’m not really seeing the screen at all. My self preservation kicks in and I zone everything out. I don’t spark a conversation and I give nods and incoherent mumbles of approval.

The rap of a knock on the door snaps me out of it. I hop to my feet and answer it. The delivery woman hands me the bag, gives a quick smile, before leaving. I drop the bag on the table. “Your food is here.”

“Our food.” He pats the seat next to him. “You should eat.”

I’m about to reject the offer just as he opens the styrofoam container and the smell of starchy potatoes, sharp cheese and fresh chives cause my stomach to grumble in demand. Gabriel eyeballs me as if my stomach made the answer for me.

And even against better judgement, I listen to my dumbass stomach and I sit down next to him and grab a hot, still crisp potato skin. Turns out it is so good, too good. And too good food gives my head an illusion of pleasantness and before I know it small talk breaks out between us.

We sit on the couch stuffing our face, watching ridiculous reality TV, and laughing. Laughing. But that’s not the worst part. The part that puts the dagger in my chest is how I allow myself to fall asleep with my head on his shoulder.

I’m startled awake when I’m jostled into his arms. The room blurs around me as he rushes to my bedroom and places me in bed. “Get some rest.” He says before leaning in seeing a moment between us that isn’t there...or at least shouldn’t be there.

I quickly turn over with a groan refusing to let his lips touch me. I made that mistake once and I’m not sure I can control myself if I make it again. I get a little stab of pain in return, but it clears my head. And it definitely needs to be cleared.