"So...Did you talk to her?" Mohinder asked.
"Talk to who?" Gabriel replied in question.
"You know that cute Spanish girl you were staring at in Gym Class yesterday."

"I wasn't staring, and Spanish people come from Spain."
"Ha! Whatever Gabe you know you like her," Mohinder said, "Gabriel and that
one girl who is not Spanish, but Hispanic, or maybe Mexican whatever he said,
sitting in a tree ABCDEFG! Ha, I crack myself up". Mohinder said to himself,
not noticing by then Gabriel already started for homeroom without him.

"Gabriel, come here". Mrs. Gladice demanded.
"Ye-yes Mrs. Gladice," Gabriel said, as brave as he could. "What were you
doing in the girls' locker room yesterday?"
"Uh... I thought it was still the boys' locker room."
"It was still lunch should you not be in the cafeteria or outside in the
amphitheatre?"
You don't understand, I can't eat lunch in the lunchroom without being
teased.
Gabriel thought.
Yes, I will eat lunch in the cafeteria today. I don't have anywhere
else to go.
He thought.

"Okay class!" The Art teacher yelled so they would know it was time for
class to begin. I am giving you guys your first assignment. You are to pick a
superhero name and write a whole comic book based on your super hero," She said.
"Aw man!" The class groaned.
"Do as I say students, you don't want your parents having
to interfere, right," the teacher said politely. Isaac was already halfway
finished with his comic called 'Saint Joan' which was about a muscle mimic
girl in high school who would be a normal teenager by day, but fought crime by
night.

Elle decided on a comic called 'Princess Elle' she had the amazing ability to
sing, which she didn't really fight crime she only rode around on a light blue
unicorn spreading peace throughout the world.
How girly and Elle of her, Gabriel thought, my comic is going to be so cool,
umm... It will consist of a boy who could control clocks and uh... Make them
do whatever he wanted them to do, since I already have that power, kind of,
this should be easy.
Gabriel isolated himself from the rest of the class
because he was afraid of what they thought of his comic and drawings.

Mono, Gabriel thought as he glance at Maya, then quickly looked away once he
saw Alejandro glaring at him.
"So... Gabriel what is your story about?" Elle asked.
It is basically about my confident alter ego. I don't know I guess I am writing a comic about
the King of Clocks, he can fix anything just by observing it." Gabriel
answered.
"Why is he called the King of Clocks then? Should not he be called
something like Repair Guy or something?" Elle asked sarcastically.
"No, because he first recognized his power when he took after his father
and repaired his first watch," Gabriel answered more interested in his alter
ego than he had ever been.

Cool I can't wait to read it!

Elle skipped off
before Gabriel had a chance to tell her he wasn't letting anyone read it.
If there was something I loved as much as my mommy it would be fixing clocks
and seeing how things work, He thought as his nose began to flare.

The rest of the morning went by fast because it wasn't as exhilarating as his
first day back to school. Finally it was time for him to face his fears and
sit at a lunch table for the first time in a while, but where would he sit?
Hmm... Where do I sit, Gabriel looked around trying to find an isolated
location where no one could bother him while walking at the same time.

Perfect timing for Nathan to trip the dork. Oh no, don't worry nothing is on your
pants. Phew.
Although he was relieved about his pants he was still embarrassed
that half of his lunch was on the floor and the other half on his face.
"Ha, hey Gabey Bear!" Niki mocked him as loud as she could so everyone
could laugh even more at his pitiful expression.
Why don't they just leave me alone?
Although Gabriel was strong on the inside he could hold his tears in no
longer, he began to cry in front of the students, the teachers, the staff, and
his crush. He quickly lifted himself and ran as fast as he could home.

His mommy was at work so he didn't have to worry about covering up what
happened today. He ran to his room and fell onto his bed as he cried. Why
can't I be cool, why can't I be special? I want to be special, I have to be
special. I can't go back to school tomorrow; they will only laugh at me. Why
does everybody hate me?

Ding Dong! Ding Dong! His doorbell rang twice waking him up from the
wonderful dream world.
"Who is it?" Gabriel asked knowing it wouldn't be his mother since she
wasn't off of work until 6:00 today.
"Mohinder!" Mohinder called from outside. "I have your assignments!"
He yelled.
"I don't need them or want them, just leave me alone."
"Fine!" Mohinder yelled from outside and got in his car and drove away.
Gabriel opened the door after he left and saw his Science and Math book lying
on the floor with his assignment pad. He also saw a torn in half comic book
with a giant clock on the cover and a man with a huge glasses in front of the
clock. His day was only getting worse and to top it all off, he still had to
go to detention today and if he didn't go the office would notify his mother.

I wonder if anyone would remember my birthday, or even care. We were all
friends in Elementary School, I wonder what happened, did I change or them?
Gabriel thought while he took down the notes his Science teacher wrote on the
board. He was the only one with a page full of notes. Everyone else's papers
only consisted of their names and the date, saying September 21, 1991. Yes.
Tomorrow was his sixteenth birthday.

"Hey Gabriel!" Mohinder said.
"Hiya!" Gabriel said happily for the first time in weeks.
"Why are you so cheerful today?" Mohinder asked.
"Well, I know what mono means," Gabriel said, proud of himself that he
learned the word.
"Okay and that explains your excitement," Mohinder asked very confused. "Well
mono means cute and there is a possibility that Maya was talking about me,"
Gabriel said as if Mohinder was in his head.
"Yeah, what are you talking about Gabe?" Mohinder asked.
"You know that time I was picking up my books and Maya was like 'El es
mono'?" Gabriel said.
"No I wasn't there," Mohinder said.
Oh yeah he didn't know me until after Science class...
"Never mind Mohinder, you will be forever perplexed." Gabriel said mocking
his friend.

I never knew how comfortable it was to sit at a lunchroom table and eat
lunch.
"Eww," Gabriel said looking down at the sandwich his mother made for
him this morning.
"What are you 'ewing' at," Mohinder asked.
"My mommy packed me a tuna fish sandwich," Gabriel enlightened his friend
with his hate for tuna fish. After he spat the sandwich out in his napkin he
looked up and saw Maya drinking some sprite. When she noticed him looking at
her she smile and waved. Gabriel looked around to see who she was waving at
and realized no one was behind him. He lifted his hand knocking Mohinder's
spaghetti onto his shirt and his juice all over the table. Maya giggled at his
clumsiness.
I am such a dork.
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry Mohinder!" Gabriel said afraid of his reaction.
Mohinder burst out laughing at how "graceful" his friend was. Good thing
Nathan's not here today.

"Gabriel is tomorrow your birthday?" Matt asked.
"Yeah, how did you remember?" Gabriel asked.
"You were talking to yourself about it and I just heard you." Matt answered.
"I never actually said that out loud, at least I don't think I did," Gabriel
said, "Matt, sometimes I think you are reading my mind," Gabriel finished and
walked away.
...The next day after school... I must get to the point so sorry I didn't
tell you about his fabulous birthday at school.

"Hey Gabe!" Matt yelled down the street before Gabriel could reach his house.
"I made something for you, but with the help of my mom of course!" He said.
"Huh?" Gabriel said confused asking why as he walk towards his friend. "You
know, today is your birthday! I wanted to surprise you because no one else
knew." Matt showed Gabriel a container in which consisted of a pink icing
vanilla cake with the number sixteen on it, except the six was upside down
making it nineteen.
"I did the writing myself." He said.
"I can tell, thanks, Matt." Gabriel couldn't hold back how happy he was and
completely smashed the cake in between himself and Matt, giving Matt a hug for
caring. "You're a great friend." Gabriel said as he happily drifted away from
his friend.

"Homecoming dance is next week," Mohinder said.
"I know," Gabriel replied.
"Are you going?" Mohinder asked.
"No," Gabriel said as he walked towards his next class.
"Why not?" Mohinder asked, catching up with Gabriel.
"Because it isn't for me, plus a marathon of Star Trek is going to come on
that Friday," Gabriel said to his friend. "What, are you going?" Gabriel
asked.
"I do want to see what social events in America are like." Mohinder replied.

"Maybe you should ask Elle to go with you, you guys are always flirting with
each other," Gabriel teased.
"No we aren't," Mohinder said secretly enjoying the fact that Gabriel thought
Elle flirted with him.

"Hey Elle," Mohinder said.
"Hi Mohinder," Elle replied.
"So... Are you going to Homecoming?" Mohinder asked.
"No, no one would want to go with me." Elle said. Mohinder took in a deep
breath then turn towards Elle.
"Since no one is going with me or you, we could go together, but as friends
of course," He said, relieved to get it out of his system.
"Okay," Elle said delighted to be asked out for the first time in her life.

"Hey Gabe," Matt said after he sat next to his science partner.
"Hi," Gabriel replied.
"Did you hear?" Matt said to him.
"What?" Gabriel asked.
"Well Elle and Mohinder are going to homecoming together and also Peter and
Maya," Matt told his unfortunate friend, "I knew Mohinder wanted to go to
homecoming with Elle."
"Did you say Peter and Maya?" Gabriel asked with jealousy in his voice.
"Yeah, we are about the only juniors without dates, but I am still going for
the music and food." Matt said. Gabriel sighed and starred at the teacher
trying not to show emotion over what Matt told him.
I don't even care if I go, if I go, it's not like I matter. Matt looked at
his friend sadly. Matt wondered.

"Gabriel!" Mrs. Gray called.
"Yes mommy?" Gabriel answered.
"I got you a new sweater vest," She said while quickly walking down the
stairs.
"What for, you know we can't afford pointless gifts," he said looking at his
mother.
"It's not pointless, you're going to homecoming," She said forcefully. "Mommy
I don't want to go," Gabriel pouted.
"But your friend Mohinder is going and Mrs. Parkman said Matt was going,"
Mrs. Gray said hoping to change his mind.
"No mommy, I am watching Star Trek," He said. She came into the living room
and unplugged the TV.
"You want friends, then go and socialize," Mrs. Gray said.
"Fine mommy, I will go," Gabriel said.
He walked upstairs and took his blue and yellow button up out of the closet,
along with his dark blue converse to match the blue sweater vest. He faced the
mirror and looked at his gelled back hair and thick glasses.
I look good.

When he arrived he saw his friends Elle and Mohinder in the left corner of
the Gym and decided to sit with them.
"Why aren't you guys dancing, I mean is this not a dance?" Gabriel asked
sarcastically.
"I can't dance," Elle said.
"Me neither," Mohinder added.
"Okay," Gabriel said backing off and looked over at Elle. "You look pretty in
your dress." He said smirking at his friend.
"Thanks, I will go get some drinks," Elle said.
"Is not the guy supposed to do that?" Gabriel mocked.
"Whatever Gabriel," Mohinder said watching Elle leave.
"So, what brings you here today, I thought you weren't coming?" Mohinder
asked.
"I wasn't but my mommy bought me a sweater vest and forced me to come, she
even lent me her car." Gabriel said.
"Oh no," He then glanced over at Niki, looking at Elle with a sinister grin
on her face. By the time he stood up Niki had already followed through with
her plan and tripped Elle, causing Elle to spill the drinks on her dress and
into her hair. Elle got up and ran out of the into the nearest bathroom,
Mohinder went after her, leaving Gabriel alone.

He looked up and saw Peter dancing with Maya from a distance, she leaned
upwards giving Peter a kiss on the cheek. Like his friend, he stormed out and
into the nearest bathroom.
I thought she liked me. She was the only girl I liked and Peter stole her
from me, Gabriel thought burying his face into his knees.

"Elle?" Mohinder said as he entered the girls' restroom. He saw her shoes
and the stall door slightly open and let himself in. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Do I look okay?" She said thinking about how mean that may have sounded.
"Sorry I shouldn't be being mean to you," She said.
"It's okay," He said, "I will help you clean off your stain and I also found
a comb in your purse." Mohinder said passing her the comb and her purse. He
held out his hand to help her up and led her to the sink. After she combed her
hair drowned her stain in water realizing how see through her dress was
becoming. Mohinder laughed and looked away while she covered herself with her
arms. "Here you can have my shirt."
Mohinder said as he took off his button up and put it around her.
"Can you take me home?" She asked. "And let Niki celebrate her victory, no
you have to be confident and go back in there to dance." He said, attempting
to inspire her.
"Okay I guess we could go back," Elle said.

I guess I'll just go home. He walked into where he saw a group of jocks,
including Nathan.
"Hey Gabey Bear!" One of the jocks said.
They still can't come up with a better insult. They all smiled, proud of
their brilliant plan, while Nathan frowned in guilt. One of the jocks walked
up to Gabriel and pushed him backwards onto the floor and began to punch him.
Oh my gosh, they are jumping me, I have to get out of here! Gabriel rose to
his feet and ran the opposite direction. Nathan stopped his friends from going
after him.

I shouldn't be alive. I have no reason for living. Peter stole the only girl
that may have liked me and everyone obviously hates me.

"Gabriel?" Nathan asked as Gabriel stood up and backed away.
"What do you want to punch me again?" Gabriel asked with tears in his eyes.
"No, I told them not to do what we were planning, but they thought it was
funny. I am sorry." Nathan said sincerely.
"I don't believe you," Gabriel said looking him straight in the eye, "I hate
you." Gabriel said making Nathan feel worse than ever about what he did to
Gabriel.

Gabriel walked off towards his car when he heard Maya talking with someone
around the brick wall.
"I thought he liked me." Maya said hugging her brother. By then it seemed as
if everyone was having a bad night, except for Matt who was enjoying his food
and music.
"Don't worry about him." Alejandro said trying to comfort his crying sister
who was obviously abandoned by Peter. Gabriel looked at her and realizing
Peter had completely ditched her for Simone.
"I want to go back to Elle's house, can you walk me home?" Maya said in
Spanish, which Gabriel slightly comprehended. Hmm... caminata means walk and
La casa de Elle is obviously Elle's house.
"Uh... I could take you," Gabriel said.

Maya looked up at Gabriel.
"Are you alright Gabriel?" She asked.
"Yeah it's only a couple of bruises." Gabriel lied feeling a throbbing pain
in his rib and a stinging sensation in his eye. Maya walked up and placed her
hand on his cheek.
"You don't deserve this." Gabriel laid his hand over hers, looking her in the
eye, then he looked up at Alejandro. Gabriel quickly removed her hand and
walked towards his father's old car.
"I am not leaving you alone with my sister," Alejandro said in Spanish remembering the
promise he made of always keeping her safe.
"What did he say?" Gabriel asked.
"He say, he don't trust you with me," Maya replied.
"He can come too, if that's better." Gabriel said.
"Okay," Maya said telling her brother.
Maya fell asleep in the car due to her exhausting day. "So do you want to
knock on the door?" Gabriel asked Alejandro.
"No." Alejandro answered afraid to leave his sister in the car with Gabriel.
Gabriel knocked on the door realizing Matt, who was Alejandro's host, and Elle
would probably still be out, and of course Elle's father would be at work.
Where else could they go? Gabriel asked himself.
"Do you want to go to mi casa?" Gabriel asked trying to make it
comprehendible.
"Si," Alejandro sighed.
Alejandro carried Maya into Gabriel's simple house that only had two rooms
and a great collection of snow globes. Gabriel motioned to him to put Maya
down onto the couch.
"Gabriel?" Mrs. Gray said. "Yes mommy?" Gabriel asked.
She came down the stairs and tears began to gather in her eyes. "Gabriel, are
you okay?" She asked regretting forcing her son to go to the dance.
"Yes mommy, I am fine." He said.
Who am I kidding, I can barely walk straight, I have a black eye and I am
clutching my rib. He quickly let go of his rib. His mom walked up and hugged
him as soft as she could. He always loved his mom's hugs.
"Mommy, this is Alejandro, and she, the one sleeping, is Maya," Gabriel said
gazing at Maya in awe at how much more beautiful she was when she was
sleeping.
"Ahem." Alejandro interrupted trying to keep Gabriel from staring at his
sister.
"Oh I am Mrs. Gray," She said shaking his hand and hugging him.
Mrs. Gray brought out an ice pack and orange juice for her son.
"You know I love you Gabriel?" She said.
"I love you too mommy." Gabriel said giving his mother a goodnight kiss.
"Why?" Alejandro asked.
"Why what?" Gabriel responded.
"Why they do this to you?"
Alejandro asked keeping his eyes on Star Trek pretending to be interested. "I
don't know, but everything happens for a reason, maybe it is just my karma,"
Gabriel replied. Alejandro sighed, feeling bad that he ever assaulted him
since he was mentally and physically abused so much. But he still resented how
much his sister and Gabriel liked each other. Maya woke up frightened to be in
an unfamiliar location and only seeing Gabriel and not her brother.
"Where am I?" She asked turning towards her brother.
"Estamos en la casa de Gabriel." Alejandro answered his sister.
"Gabriel?" Maya looked at Gabriel as she sat next to him, making him very
uncomfortable, especially since Alejandro was glaring at him. She took his
hand.
Oh my gosh, she is holding my hand, I think I may throw up.
"Are you really okay?" she asked still not convinced.
"Yeah I am fine." Gabriel said, putting his hand on her shoulder trying to
comfort her, and then he moved his hand as quickly as possible. "I have to
call Mohinder," Gabriel said changing the subject.
"Mohinder?" Gabriel asked calling Elle's phone.
"Yeah." Mohinder said calmly.
"Elle has to go home so she can let Maya in her house, also Matt has to go
home," Gabriel said.
"Maya's there?" Mohinder asked.
"Yes." Gabriel answered.
"Oh." Mohinder teased. "Maybe you should make your move." He continued. "Shut
up, I don't like her. Also bring Elle and Matt." Gabriel replied. "Well you
looked pretty angry over the Maya and Peter thing." Mohinder replied.
"Whatever, bye," Gabriel said.
"Okay see you at your house." Mohinder said to his friend before hanging up.
"Finally your here." Gabriel said sarcastically forgetting about his
injuries.
"What the hell happened to you?" Mohinder asked completely ignoring his
language.
"Nothing really, I just fell." Gabriel said.
"Fell into what, someone's fist?" Mohinder asked shocked someone would this to
Gabriel, since he had never done anything to anyone else. "It is okay, really
Mohinder don't worry." Gabriel said surprised so many people worried for him.
"Can you take Maya home with Elle?" Gabriel asked.
"Yeah and I will take Alejandro since I am taking Matt." Mohinder said.
"Where are they?" Gabriel asked ready to crawl in the bed with his mommy and
sleep.
"In the car, well I guess I will see you later." Mohinder said with an upset
look on his face.
"Bye." Alejandro and Mohinder both said.
"Bye Maya." Gabriel said looking at her walk off.
"Bye Gabriel," she said when she reached the car.