He held her hands, her soft fingers with the lightly polished nails, in his own, and looked up to see her smiling back, those long lashes reflecting the light of the candle that sat on their table. Their fingers intertwined, until their palms were touching and sitting in the middle of the table.
"So, I figured we could try out a new place." He eyed the scenery, it all had a italish-ish air to it, not to mention pricey. "I heard that you had a thing for European styled restaurants."
Jessica laughed, flicking a strand of her blonde hair back into place behind her ear. "Well, someone guessed correctly. I do, I love it."
"What are you ordering?" He had barely taken a look at the menu, anything that she liked he wouldn't mind having a second plate of, they mostly met up on their tastes from the many times when Jessica had to order dinner for Sam when he arrived home late.
"Well, I was thinking an antipasto plate before, and- hey, isn't that Gabriel?"
Gabriel strode out, holding several plates with phenomenal balance as he easily made his way across the room to another table, his honey coloured hair combed back and dressed in a fine white shirt, with black pants and a waist apron; typical waiter attire.
Sam watched as he placed the plates down, had a small chat and a quick laugh with the guests, and then stole one of their glasses to refill it. As he rounded his way back, Sam waved to him, and Gabriel's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Why, isn't it the lovebirds!" He skidded over to their table, stopping right in front attention and placed his hands in his pockets, glass and all. "What a coincidence!"
Jessica smiled and got up to hug Gabriel, she had started to take a shine to him ever since he started showering her with gifts here and there, and always seem to have the money to afford two tickets to some amusing event for Sam and Jessica. "I had no idea you worked here!"
"Well, yes, now you know my reason for running out the door everyday. A lot of the times I work mornings right after classes."
"Really? Must be long hours."
"Ah, no, I'm grateful." He placed his hand to his heart in a melodramatic way. "I have family connections here, what would I do without my dear cousin employing me? I might have not gotten a job!"
A bark of command came from the kitchen, some growling person telling Gabriel to stop flirting with the customers and get back to work.
He cleared his throat, ripped out a pocket notebook, and grabbed a pen that rested behind his ear. "What would my prince and princess request from me, this evening?"
Jessica expressed her craving for the italian appetizer, but couldn't understand most of the other pieces of the menu. Gabriel brought them a full coursed meal, stopping, saying a few words to each time he delivered, referring to them as the 'Royal Highnesses', and showered them in nearly every flavor of soda that was offered.
Jessica left the restaurant, enthusing about the place and excited of the thought that they could go again. Sam felt a bit sick after the meal though, and kept hearing Gabriel trying to cover his teasing snickers about his weak stomach.
"Well, quite an extravagant show you put on last night." Sam sipped at his usual coffee this morning, watching Gabriel with an interested eye, who seemed to show a lack of interest in his cake. "Any reason for it?"
Gabriel chuckled, flicking the page of a book he was reading. "Do you think I had ulterior motives?"
"Well you paid for the whole meal afterwards."
"I always do things like that." Gabriel's gaze broke from the book. "Are you doubting my innocence?" He sounded almost offended, though it was mocked.
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, just wondering."
Gabriel slammed the book shut abruptly, shaking the table. "Actually, yes, there is something I need. We have a test coming up."
This was already old news to Sam, he heard about it last week, and didn't really think much of it. "Yeah, and?"
"I kinda . . . need help."
"Why? We pretty much do all of our homework together, I'm sure you'll be fine."
Gabriel shook his head. "You would think so, but I am an acute sufferer from test anxiety."
Sam chuckled, taking another sip from his cup, studying Gabriel from over the rim. He seemed serious enough, thought it never dawned on him that Gabriel was actually worried about something.
"Sure, I don't mind." It was a little amusing to see his friend hung over on a trivial thing, when usually he pranced through life without a care in the world.
"This test is important you know."
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about it."
Gabriel was a very dedicated student if he sat down and actually tried, though Sam caught him sleeping sometimes in class, and Gabriel often asked to borrow things from him, like an extra notebook, a few pencils, and one time his cellphone for some odd reason. Though he always made up for it in the end, it was a little troublesome to poke Gabriel awake during a lecture and force him to sit up, he gets a bit annoyed.
"So, you pretty much got everything down, actually, I don't see a reason to worry." Sam flicked through all the notecards for memorizing the major concepts. Economics sometimes was a bitch, but if you could dole out everything like a drone it usually ended up favorably for you.
"Are you sure there isn't anything else I can't go over?" Sam looked up to find Gabriel's intent gaze a little unsettling; he was really shaken up about this it seems.
"No, you got everything. I'm sure you'll do fine."
Gabriel exhaled and leaned back in his chair. "I can't afford to slack off in this class again."
Sam start leafing through the papers, thought mostly out of interest what exactly Gabriel wrote for his homework. "Hmm, why?"
"Because if I fail, then I might not get through my years of college. If I don't pass through college, then my parents will once more have their grip on me."
"What's so wrong with you parents?"
He clasped his hands together, and his fists tightened. They seemed to tremble. "Let's just say they aren't the most friendly of people, especially not to me."
With the tone in his voice being the way it was, Sam decided to leave his questions at that.
The day of the test came quickly, and Gabriel was jittery more than usual. He didn't even order coffee, instead some juice drink that he barely touched.
"Are you really that upset?" Sam felt a bit sorry for him, it seemed like helping him to prepare didn't ease his nerves at all.
"Well, I hardly got any sleep at night. I don't know why I'm like this." He nervously laughed, tapping his fingers on the table in a rapt way. "Tests were very important when I was growing up. They accounted for a large part of your grade."
Sam pushed back his sleeve, his watch ticking down to what seemed to be Gabriel's demise.
"It's time."
"I know, I know." Gabriel took a deep breath and stood up. He looked at Sam, and seemed almost frightened.
Sam placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and squeezed gently. "Gabriel, man, you can pass this."
"I hope so." Gabriel let out another shaky breath. "I really, really hope so."
It wasn't the test he was afraid of, it was what would happen if he didn't pass.
After they sat in the building for three hours taking a final, Sam had to meet up with Gabriel on his way out the classroom and drive him home, because he was too stressed out to pay attention to the road. Sam thought about dropping him off at his own apartment, but thought better of it if he stayed over with Jessica and had dinner, might ease his nerves a bit.
Gabriel was most delighted that he could stay over, and he brightened up considerably in Jess's presence. They chatted, joked, and most importantly laughed, which seemed to have a great effect on Gabriel's mood about the test. It was a pleasant evening.
Gabriel stayed over the night, and got up early int he morning to check his results. Sam had just gotten up and stirred his coffee when he heard a loud cheer erupt from the guest bedroom as his friend threw open the door, danced out and nearly tackled over Sam with an enormous hug.
It appears he had passed.
"Ah, Sammy! Thank you so much!"
Sam coughed. "Ha, no problem buddy." Gabriel was squeezing him to the point that it was getting hard to breathe.
Gabriel let go, but patted Sam on the cheek. "Really, thanks, I don't know if I would have survived this test without you." He ran back to his room to change, and Sam bit the inside of his cheek.
He suddenly remembered that now, hopefully, Gabriel could return the favor.
"So, wait, really, you have no clue?" Gabriel laughed heartily, listening to Sam's own lament while he happily drank his coffee once more while browsing through the stores at the local mall. Sam had driven to the area, but was rather lost when he got there, and Gabriel took the lead.
"I don't know, arent' you two usually best friends? You always get her stuff and she seems to love it."
"But, wouldn't it be unfair for me to get her another present for her birthday when it seems like I am the one buying everything for your girlfriend?"
Sam sighed. "Yeah, I know, but I seriously have no idea what she could want! I don't want it to be something usual, or stupid for that matter."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Tall words for a clueless man. Okay, listen here, what women love most of all- are you getting this?" Gabriel stopped, and motioned for Sam to come closer. He leaned in. "Women love gifts that are from the heart."
Sam was still lost.
"You know! It has to be expensive, yet with meaning! If you show that you actually care about her with the present you get, then she'll love it."
"Okay, so what would be something personalized."
Gabriel flicked his arm out to the store in front of him, it was a jewelry engraving store.
"So what? You buy her jewelry all the time."
His arm dropped, and he rolled his eyes. "Man, I feel so sorry for your mother. Were you dropped to many times as a child? Look!" He pushed Sam into the store.
"You idiot, not only jewelry," He led his friend up to the counter pointing to a display necklace that was carved with random people's names and dates, "there is /meaning/ behind these gifts, dates, events times, something only you two remember! I couldn't ever get her engraved items, well, because we don't have the special connection that you have with her. C'mon Sam, she's your girlfriend for crying out loud!"
"So, you mean like a special time or something? How about . . . when we first met?"
Gabriel gave him a thwack on the back. "That's my boy! Now you are finally having some common sense."
They placed an order, and it would be done within the hour, so they were free to roam the mall as they pleased.
"Oh, yeah, getting anything for your brother? Christmas is close, you know." Gabriel had been looking at new ties for his work.
"Ah, maybe, I don't know." Sam scratched the back of his head, the subject was a bit awkward to him.
"Why not? Is it really that bad of a relationship?"
"Well, no, it's just that he kinda went off and did his own thing growing up, so I don't really know him. He lives far away, so I never visit. I wouldn't even know where to start . . . ."
Gabriel picked a coal-black one with a striped pattern. "Are you going to at least call him?"
Sam started inspecting the store wall. "Maybe."