"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.
