i.
Think of the band. It's what he's been saying lately.
Don't go running off after a girl.
No. The band, man. The band.
Gabe's always been good with excuses.
ii.
Gabe doesn't understand how feelings work. He likes to sing them out instead.
Lately, his songs are too sad, too mellow, too personal.
He sticks to party songs that don't remind him of people he can't have.
iii.
Whenever he asks Gavin 'GGGGs for life?' he's really asking him to stay.
It just wouldn't be the same without him.
iv.
When Gabe sings in front of an audience, he feels this energy coursing through his veins.
The energy burns in him and the world blurs and buzzes.
When Gavin leans in to sing with him, everything comes into focus.
He thinks this is what waking up feels like. This is what alive is.
v.
They have this habit of speaking without speaking, of saying things with their eyes. They say things out loud and to everyone else it seems ordinary.
When Gavin tells him to drop the rock star act, he's really asking 'who the fuck are you, now?'
When Gabe lets him go he's saying 'I'm not going to back to nothing'.
vi.
Gabe remembers when Gavin first approached him.
He was singing one his originals on a bench on the less crowded side of the park.
"You're the one from music class, right? The one with the killer vocals?" Gavin had asked.
"And you're the one with that smile," Gabe wanted to say.
Instead, he says, "Yeah. Why? Want to form a band?"
vii.
There share a glance during prom.
'Prove me wrong.' Gavin seems to say. 'Be better than this.'
Gabe doesn't know what to do with the emotional avalanche he feels when Gavin looks away.
viii.
After the song, Gabe apologizes with an awkward laugh and a racing pulse.
"I'm sorry, Gavin," He starts. "You and I. GGs for life?"
In his head, there are only two Gs.
"Of course, man," Gavin replies with a smile.
At the end of their handshake, they hug.
Gabe holds on a little longer- a little closer- than usual.
ix.
Gabe thinks that maybe he was destined for heartbreak.