"Tell me all you know, please." She turned and looked into her eyes.
"Wouldn't you just want to know tomorrow, it seems too soon, you just found out." He looked into her puffy eyes.
"Please, tell me, I want to know."
Sebastian sighed, "Okay, well, all we know now is that he was fighting someone. It was just a few blocks from his house, at that park we always hung out at. I got there right after it happened," His voice became strained from holding back tears, "I saw whoever it was running away, I should have chased him, but I didn't…." He trailed off, remembering what had just happened a few hours ago.
"It's not your fault." Gabriella squeezed him tighter.
He went on, "He was still alive when I got there, but he was so badly injured that I knew right then he wasn't going to make it. It killed me inside that I knew I couldn't do anything, or get anyone to do anything. I tried to carry him away, but I… I was so distraught that I couldn't get very far. I started calling out for help and Mrs. Cruunett came running out. She called the ambulance, but by then…it was already too late. He said something right before they got there, 'Tell her I'll always be with her'. I know he meant you. I'm… I'm so sorry Gabs, if there was anything, anything I could have done, even give my own life, I would have done it. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry I didn't do anything." Tears began rolling down his face; he struggled to choke them back.
"Sebs, it's not your fault! You did what you could." Gabriella said, not able to choke back her own cries. They held each other and let their tears roll freely, just having each other there made it a little easier to bear.
Her eyes opened to the bright sun reflection off the water. If was a beautiful sight, one she hadn't seen since the last time she came up with…
And it hit her, again, he was gone. She sat up and stared out over the water. Sebastian woke quietly.
"How are you?" He sat up and positioned himself next to her.
"Empty." She said shortly and sadly. He gave her a hug.
"How about some pancakes?" He said, giving her a smile.
"I'm not going back to my house."
"Good, neither am I. We could go to the Café, you love their pancakes. It'll make you feel a bit better." He stood up and then helped her up.
"And then we can go to my flat and you can get some regular clothes on."
She gave a little snort and began walking with him down the dirt road.
After twenty minutes and very peculiar looks from passerbyers, they arrived at the small café, Beck's. It was a small, whole-in-the-wall kind of café that the locals loved.
'Ding'
The door rang as the entered. The place was fairly empty, mostly elders having their morning coffee before their morning walk.
"'ello Gabriella, Sebastian, 'a 're ya two?" The kind old man, Jack, said behind the counter.
"Hello Jack, we're doing okay. Can we get two orders of pancakes and O.J.?" Sebastian said, as the two sat down in their regular booth.
"Yeah, nah problem, it'll be ready in a few minutes." The owner smiled and went into the kitchen.
The two teens sat in silence, Gabriella playing with her spoon and Sebastian humming. It was an awkward silence, neither knew what to say and both were afraid that if anything was said, it would end up in either, or both, crying.
"'Ere ya 're, two orders of triple stack pancakes and O.J." the man said, smiling, but then his face grew somber and he looked to Gabriella, "And I wanna say, I'm sorry for the loss of Mac, 'E was a great kid. If there's aahhht I can do, daan't be afraid ter ask."
Sebastian looked to Gabriella and then up to Jack, "Thank you Jack, that means a lot to us."
Jack smiled and walked away.
"Thank you." Gabriella gave a small, but sad, smile and dug into her pancakes. Sebastian smiled back and dug into his own stack.
The meal was a quiet one, with the exception of 'pass the syrup please' or 'do you want more juice?'.
"Thanks Jack, here's the money for the meal." Sebastian pulled out the money and held it out to the man.
"Nah worries, Sebastian, it's on the 'ouse." Jack said, pushing the money away.
Sebastian smiled, "Thanks Jack, we'll see you later."
"You're welcome, 'ave a good day." Jack said, waving as the two left his café.
"Off to my flat then? I think I'm getting a cold from these wet clothes." Sebastian said, pulling at his shirt.
"Yeah, I'm sick of the awkward stares I'm getting." Gabriella looked down at her own outfit, a wet, dirty, white gown and dirty white stilettos.
Sebastian cracked a smile, "You do look quite strange, I'm sure no one around here has seen you this dirty or crazy looking."
Gabriella giggled a bit, "Obviously they don't know me that well then. I suppose my hair isn't looking that great either, then?" She said, flattening Sebastian's hair.
"No, not particularly." He smiled as they turned down the street.
"Well, here we are, Casa de Luca." Sebastian said as he opened the door to his flat.
"I think you have some clothes in my room from the night we had a party." He guided her to his bedroom.
"Do you ever clean this place?" Gabriella said as she stepped over yet another pile of clothing. Sebastian just ignored the question and grabbed a pile of girl clothes.
"These aren't all mine, are they?" Gabriella looked through the pile.
"No, some are from other girls, I'm not sure who though…" He said, smirking and grabbing an outfit for himself.
"Hm, great." Gabriella said, slightly disgusted.
"They're all washed!"
"That doesn't take awake the skankness from them." The girl cracked a genuine. She grabbed clothes she recognized and headed to the bathroom. She kicked her shoes off and looked up into the mirror
"AH! Seb, why didn't you tell me I looked this crazy?!"
He answered with a muffled yell and laughter.
She studied her own face, remnants of mascara were on her cheeks, leaves and twigs were stuck in her hair, and dirt was smeared on her forehead and chin.
I know he wouldn't have cared.
Tears began welling up in her eyes again. She tried to hold them back as she turned the shower on. The numbness overtook her again.