Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the character of Gabriel Gray, he belongs to NBC's Heroes. This is merely fan-fiction of my growing obsession with him. I do, however own all rights to Addien Van Bevan.
Author Notes: Just scratching the surface, slight character development. I'm planning on many more chapters and installments on this story. It's an ongoing piece of work.
The night air was thick with pollution and broken dreams, parting her lips she swore she could nearly taste the regret, it's drifted through the entire city like tar. She was Addien Van Bevan, most called Addi, and she was turning nineteen this weekend. It was rare she was out much past the evening hours, clutching her books she swiftly move about the people that cluttered the still busy New York City streets. It was nearly 3AM on the fourth of July, and each bar she passed had, at least, one drunkard crying in the gutter nearby. Heading up her apartment stairs, she silently made her way inside. Her mother lived three apartments down from her place, she practically held her breath as she past. Finally shutting the door and throwing her books on the couch she pressed her blinking answering machine button and began to undress.
A familiar voice sounded from the plastic speakers: "Hey, Addi, guess you're not home. I, uh, was wondering if we could, uh, do something this weekend? Call me back. Bye." He was Gabriel Gray, twenty-two year old watchmaker, the boy whom has held her heart since they first locked eyes four years prior. His awkward message was enough for Addien to come galloping from her room pantie-laden, stomach full of butterflies. The smile was uncanny; a smile so bright it could outshine the Northern Lights, causing the strongest star to dim in shame. "Yes!" she exclaimed like a child, hopping around her living room wearing nothing but her undergarments and that smile. Gabriel lived four apartments down from her mother, seven away from her. Sometimes she swore if he listened hard enough he would be able to hear her heart skipping beats.
Glancing at the clock, she saw it was mere moments before dawn, before she could call him back to make plans. "I wonder if this is about my birthday?" she wondered to herself, floating off to her bedroom. In her eighteen birthday's before she had never truly had a traditional 'birthday party', her mother would scoff about how she had no life, and no friends to invite to a party. Her mother called her worthless. Everyday since her father left ten years ago. That night, Addien went to bed smiling. The endless possibilities of her heart hummed her softly to sleep.
--
Her alarm clock had malfunctioned, replaced by a subtle knock on her apartment door. Springing from beneath the satin sheets she bolted toward the sound. Stumbling around in her sleep induced stupor, she quickly, and clumsily, swung the door open. Pressing her glasses to her face Gabriel's image slowly came into focus. "I didn't wake you… did I?" he asked quietly, giving a quick glance down at Addien's outfit; wife beater and boy's briefs. She shook her head 'no' and tugged gently at the bottom of her shirt.
"You want to come in, Gabriel?" she asked, turning out from the door frame, allowing him to enter. He smiled and walked past her, settling down beside her books on the sofa. "I made a mental note to call you back, I, gosh, I can't believe I slept so late." she added, stretching her arms behind her neck. "Want some tea?" she asked, pointing toward the kitchen.
Gabriel nodded, chuckling beneath his breath as she fumbled her way around the kitchen. "So, about making plans for this weekend? Are you up for something?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at her head darting up from under the cupboards. Her short muddy colored hair sticking up in bunches, her eyebrow that was always delightfully cocked in the air, as if always in question of your nobility. "It's been awhile since we've seen each other, just, uh, us. You know? I just, I guess, miss that." he trailed off, turning his face toward the living room wall.
The sound of the kettle hitting the floor made Addien cringe, shrugging her shoulders tightly against her neck. "Yeah, I doubt I'll be doing anything." the moment the phrase past her lips she regretted it. 'Smooth, Addi. Real smooth.' she thought, rolling her eyes. She knew it had sounded as if his company was a last resort. "I mean, I really miss you, Gabriel." she added quickly, gathering herself to her feet and placing the water on the stove to boil. The air rapidly became heavy with awkwardness, Addien stared blankly at the back of Gabriel's head, wishing she could hear the words he wanted her to say. "Is Chai still you're favorite?" she asked softly, knowing the answer long before he confirmed.
Balancing the two cups carefully in her arms she made her way over and settled down beside him. Gabriel thanked her and sipped lightly avoiding eye-contact. Addien scanned over his body slowly, exhaling softly through her nose, trying to draw in his scent. Drinking slowly, and letting her eyes close she imagined his lips pressed against hers, hands cupping her breasts, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. "I met a girl." Gabriel broke the silence, snapping Addien back into reality. Spilling what was left of her tea into her lap she blinked rapidly, trying to process what he had said.
"What…?" she asked, trying to sound more excited then crushed.
"Yeah, I met this really nice girl at work." he began, keeping his eyes pressed to the floor and slowly finishing his drink. "She was dropping off her father's old pocket watch to be restored for his 40th." he trailed off, raising his eyes to her. "I really like her Addi." he concluded, as a wave of understanding washed over her. "I think I'm in love." he added quickly, not noticing Addien's mouth hanging agape.
'That's why things had been so awkward.' she thought. 'He met a girl. He's in love.' Addien straightened her spine and plastered on her best smile. "That's so great, Gabriel!" she slapped his knee playfully, tipping her head at him. "Why didn't you tell me sooner!" she laughed, standing and collecting their teacups and saucers. "When do I get to meet her, eh?" she added, trailing off to the kitchen quickly as the tears quaked in her eyes. Turning the faucet on she let the hot water run as she slid onto her hands and knees, losing control.
"Maybe this weekend?" she heard his voice sound from the living room. Completely happy, his voice dripped with happiness, something she had never conjured up in him. Something she would never conjure up in him. "I got her phone number, Addi, can you believe that?" he gushed "She's so beautiful, too. You wouldn't believe how much so." she bit her lower lip until she could taste her body's copper. "Maybe Friday I could go out with her alone. Then maybe Saturday you could tag along with us to this concert I got tickets for." Addien shook her head in disbelief, her birthday was this Saturday, he had completely forgotten. "Where are you, anyway?" he added, standing and peering into the kitchen.
"Dropped my earring." Addien shouted from the tile floor, wiping her eyes quickly and standing. Gabriel was standing in the doorway by the time she turned around. His head was slightly tipped, with his eyebrows furrowed.
"I don't have your ears pierced…" he said, slightly squinting his eyes toward her. His thick-framed glasses pushed up atop his cheeks.
"I got them done a couple weeks ago." she responded, shoving the hoop through her ear again. "It's no big deal." she coughed, sliding past him, pretending to ruffle her hair, hiding her red swollen eyes. "Well, I've got errands to run, and you probably have to make plans for this weekend." she turned her back towards him "I won't be able to go with you two this weekend, I just remembered, I have a Psychology test I need to study for, it's Monday." without turning around she turned her head and glanced slightly over her shoulder "You know the way out."
The statement was cold, Gabriel felt it and took a step backward. "Yeah…" she stammered, replaying the entire conversation in his mind, trying to find the fatal error. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, then?" he asked, leaning his head forward, as if expecting her to whisper a secret. Minutes past, until finally Addien walked out of the room without another word.He got the picture, and closed the door tightly behind himself.