It turns out that my internal alarm clock didn't work because the next thing I know I'm being woken up by water being thrown onto my face.
"Oh shit!" I yelled loudly as I sat up in bed, gasping. Gabriel stood over me, a smirk on his face as he held the other bucket he had filled with water in his hand, "No! I'm up!" I screamed at him and he chuckled, jumping off of my bed and leaving my bedroom. Only after he left is when I realized something, why was he here?
I got up and went into the bathroom, extremely pissed when I found out exactly how wet my hair was, and what a bitch it was going to be to comb it out, but before I did that I went to the bathroom, a girl needs to pee so don't judge.
I tried to brush my hair out as best as I could and luckily it was hot water that he threw on me because it would've been harder to brush if it had been cold water. I went into my bedroom, pulling out my jeans and a plain grey t-shirt. I decided I better bring a jacket so I grabbed my brown sweatshirt and put it on, grabbing my shoes and putting them on before grabbing my wallet. When I checked the time on my alarm clock I saw it was ten to eleven and I swore internally, I had to hurry up. I practically ran downstairs and out the door, only to see that Gabriel was parked in front of Leslie and Connor in my drive way. Leslie and Connor smiled at me nervously as I walked straight up to him, whispering so low that I hoped Gabriel couldn't hear me.
"Why is he here?" I snapped at him in a whisper and he put up his hands defensively.
"He came to my house at two in the morning, asking, wait scratch that, basically telling me he was going to come on our trip to the city today. I couldn't exactly say no to him Nina, he's sort of in charge," Connor said and I let out a huff, turning around to see that Gabriel was watching me with eyebrows raised, I smirked at him, arrogant asshole.
"So are we taking my car or yours?" Gabriel asked and Leslie hesitated before answering.
"If it's alright I'd like to take mine," she said and Gabriel nodded, UN propping himself from his car and heading to Leslies, not even asking before getting into the back seat behind the passenger seat.
"Sorry Nina…" Leslie started but I turned from her, growling as I opened the car door on the driver's side and got in.
I glared at Connor almost the whole drive there, that was until he fell asleep and I couldn't stand to glare at him because he looked to peaceful to glare at.
"You know it's not his fault," Gabriel whispered and I turned only to see that he was only inches away from my face, maybe that's why I had heard him so well. I didn't answer him, instead we just looked at each other, his eyes showed, it couldn't be but I'd take a shot at it, love? Compassion? Protectiveness maybe?
"We are here!" Leslie yelled and my eyes immediately snapped forward to see we were parking just as Connor's eyes snapped open.
"Finally," he mumbled tiredly as he got out of the car, along with Leslie. I went to get out of the car but a hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me back so I was practically on top of Gabriel. He started to lean in but I pulled away from him instantly, recognizing what he was trying to do. I got out of the car and slammed the door as I heard his chuckle.
"What happened?" Leslie asked as Gabriel got out of the car, I huffed and shook my head; I didn't even want to say.
When we entered the mall my mouth fell open, sure I had been here before, but not in a long time and they had done some remodeling, a lot of remodeling. The ceiling was up about, a lot of feet, and I knew this because there were three floors, and I bet you anything that they were all filled with stores and food courts. The spacing was amazing, so big and airy, as if to make you feel like you'd never be crowded.
"Holy shit," I said and was slapped in the back of the head, I rubbed my head and turned around to glare at who had done it. Gabriel stood there with a dominant look on his face and then he spoke.
"No swearing we are in a public place," he said and I growled, turning around to see Connor chuckling, I shot him a glare and he shut up.
"Let's go to Matt and Danas place, they have some really good sales going on," Leslie said excitedly and we head toward the direction of the store. I wasn't sure what Matt and Danas was, but when we got there I saw it was a huge shopping store full of clothes and jewelry and make up. I separated off from Leslie and Connor, also trying unsuccessfully to separate from Gabriel, he just followed me.
"I can't shop for clothes with someone with me," I said and he raised his eyebrows at me.
"You're going to have to learn how, especially with me," he said and I rolled my eyes at him, turning around to look at the clothes on one of the racks. Did I like the idea of what he said, that he basically hinted that he would come shopping with me every time I went. I picked out some black shorts, summer was coming and I wanted to be prepared for it. I also grabbed a few thin cotton shirts, one was dark red and one was dark brown. When I saw Gabriel looking around I chanced it and grabbed a few bathing suits of the racks, hoping he hadn't noticed that I did.
I saw Leslie and Connor over in the guys section so I grabbed Gabriel's arm unexpectedly and pulled him over there.
"Shop," I simply said and he shook his head.
"No thanks," he said and I glared at him.
"You make me shop with you there, I make you shop with me here," I said. He shuffled from foot to foot, probably feeling nervous and awkward. What was up with that?
"I'll help you," Leslie said, grabbing his hand and pulling him further in. I wanted to growl at how she had so simply touched him, but I didn't, because I didn't have a reason to. I didn't right?
I walked back there a few minutes later only to see that Leslie was near the fitting rooms and she was looking at two doors expectantly.
"I already have them trying on their clothes in there. I already tried on mine but you should try on yours," she said and I headed to the dressing room, locking it securely behind me. First I tried on the shorts and shirts. They all fit perfectly so I was going to buy them. Now came the real problem, trying on the bathing suits. I didn't like the mirror in here because I couldn't see me from the different angles, and when it came to bathing suits I needed those different perspectives. I tried on one of the bikinis first, automatically without stepping out knowing that it didn't look good. I tried on the black on piece next; I wasn't sure how good it looked on me so I unlocked my door, looking around before coming out. It was only Leslie standing there so I didn't have to worry. I stepped out and walked to the mirrors that were set up at the end of the dressing rooms, looking at myself.
"Oh yeah work it," I heard Leslie say and at first thought she was talking to me, but when I turned to look I saw it was Gabriel. He had stepped out of the dressing room, and he was only wearing swim trunks, his muscles on full display to anyone who walked by. I stared at them for a second, noticing how nice they actually were. The only other times I had seen them were when it was close to in the dark, and this was way better than that.
"Nina what do you think?" Leslie asked suddenly and my eyes snapped up so they were looking into his, he was looking at me with amusement, then when he saw what I was wearing his eyes changed to an emotion I couldn't pin point.
"Looks great," we both said at the same time and I blushed, looking down and quickly walking back into my dressing room. Should I get it? I didn't know, Gabriel said I looked good in it but, I still wasn't so sure.
In the end I when we were leaving the store I ended up getting it, not even bothering to try on the other bathing suits. Leslie pulled us to a bunch of different stores, I barely bought anything else, the only other thing I bought was a leopard print soft blanket, and that was because Leslie complained that my bed was too plain, Gabriel agreed which got me a look from Leslie and a chuckle from Connor.
"Let's go eat I'm starving," Connor said and Leslie agreed so me and Gabriel followed as we headed to the food court. We ended up stopping at a pizza place one, but no way was I eating pizza; I wasn't in the mood for it.
"I'm going to go get some Chinese instead guys," I said and they nodded as I walked away. I turned around to see if Gabriel was following me but I saw that he was just watching me go. Maybe he finally decided to let me do something by myself. I ordered my food and the wait was ten minutes, so I stood a little bit away from the cash register and waited. Leslie, Connor, and Gabriel had already gotten there food and I saw that they were laughing at something Gabriel had said.
"Hey," a voice said behind me and I turned to see a boy about my age standing there, a smile on his face.
"Hi," I said with a smile as I brought my hand out and shook his, "I'm Nina," I said to him as our hands went back to our own sides.
"Dylan, are you new around here?" He asked and I bit my lip, should I lie to him?
"Uh no, I drove in from the country to come shopping with my friends," I said and pointed to the table that they were at.
"Oh," he said and his smile disappeared, "Is that older looking one your boyfriend?" he asked and I blurted out my answer quickly.
"No!" I shouted and he gave me a look and I calmed down, "I mean no, he's my older brother," I lied smoothly and he smiled again.
"Do you want to come hangout with my friends and me for awhile?" he asked me and my eyes probably brightened. A chance to get away from the group, I was taking it.
"I would…" but I was cut off by a voice behind me.
"Hi I'm Gabriel, you are?" Gabriel asked as arm went around my waist and the other went out to shake hands with him. Dylan shook his hand as his smile faltered a bit.
"Dylan," he said then turned to me, "he doesn't look like your brother," he said as he eyed the hand around my waist.
"Oh that's what you told him," Gabriel said and chuckled, "I can't leave you out of my sight for two minutes and your already trying to pick up another guy," he said and laughed, asshole.
"What are you talking about?" Dylan asked and Gabriel spoke up before I could.
"Nina has a problem," Gabriel said and right off I knew this was going to turn into something I couldn't change, "see we brought her here to see how well she could control herself, mainly around the guys here," Gabriel said and patted my shoulder with the hand that wasn't around my waist, "you aren't doing a good job Nina," he said and smiled, turning back to Dylan, who had a confused look on his face.
"Huh?" Dylan asked and again Gabriel talked before I could.
"Nina is a sex addict," Gabriel said bluntly and I almost choked on my own spit.
"What?" Dylan asked exasperated.
"Yeah we brought her here to see if she could control herself, and I guess she can't," Gabriel said and then continued, "I mean I can barely keep her out of the bedroom for five minutes back home…" Gabriel started but Dylan interrupted.
"Uh I actually got to go," he said and then looked at me weirdly, "It was nice…" then he changed what he was saying, "bye," he said and turned, walking away quickly.
"Your food is ready," a Chinese guy said to me and I turned, grabbing my food and heading back to the table. Gabriel tried to lead me to sit next to him but I snapped away from his grasp and sat next to Leslie instead. I ate my food silently, not even bothering to join into the conversation they were having. I was beyond pissed, and I was going to show it. After we were done eating I bought a Pepsi from the vending machine and we headed back to the car. I walked slower, letting Leslie and Connor go ahead of me, Gabriel had gone to the bathroom so he wasn't with them. Suddenly a hand grabbed around my wrist and pulled me back so I was against someone's chest. I looked up to see it was Gabriel but before I could say anything his lips were against mine, moving in urgent motions. I thought that it was weird, but the even weirder thing was that I kissed back, moving mine in the same urgent tone. He growled and pulled me so I was shoved against the outside wall. That's when it hit me, I was standing here, kissing, and not just anybody, I was kissing Gabriel. I gasped in shock and shoved him back abruptly, looking at him with shock.
He stood there with lust purely written all over his features. Lust and…love. I gasped again, picking up my Pepsi bottle I had dropped on the ground and practically running to Leslie's car. I got there just as Connor was getting into the passenger seat and I grabbed him, pulling him back and hopping in the car instead, no way was I sitting back there with Gabriel, that asshole.
"What's wrong with you," Connor asked as he got into the back along with Gabriel. Leslie got into the driver's side, starting the car and pulling out.
"Can I drive?" I yelled out quickly and she slammed on her brakes in surprise.
"Uh, sure," she said hesitantly, and we each got out of the car, switching places. I knew that if I was driving maybe everybody wouldn't try to talk to me. As we drove Leslie and Connor were talking about watching a movie when they got home and Gabriel was staying silent, as was I.
"So Nina what happened to you, you're being really quiet," Leslie said and my hands tensed on the wheel.
"Nothing, just an encounter with an asshole," I said and Gabriel scoffed. I was thankful that we were almost back because I did not want to be in the car anymore.
"Look's like Gabriel disagrees," Connor said and I growled, keeping my hands on the wheel, the only thing keeping my hands down from slapping him in the face.
"She's just mad at me," he said as I kept driving.
"Why?" Connor asked at the same time I said, "Shut up."
"I kissed her," he said to him and Connor laughed.
"Doesn't explain why she's mad," Connor said and I hoped that Gabriel would not say anything.
"She's mad because she liked it," he said simply and I slammed on the brakes, thankful that there were no other cars around because we were closer to the country.
"Jesus Nina!" Leslie shouted and I growled, turning around in my seat so I was looking at Gabriel.
"I did not like it; it was disgusting and gross, especially since it came from you!" I shouted and then I turned around and started driving again.
"Keep telling yourself that," Gabriel said and I growled, stopping the car again.
"Leslie can you drive please," I said to her.
"Why?" she asked and I immediately answered.
"So I can beat that asshole up!" I shouted and unbuckled my seat belt, turning in my seat, trying to reach Gabriel so I could slap him and punch him, anything that would hurt him. Everyone was laughing, including Gabriel, as I kept hitting him over and over. They stopped laughing when the sound of sirens came flying by us, toward the little town we all lived in. Gabriel tensed, and then somehow made his way into the front, cramping it up.
"Let me drive," he said urgently and I slid away from the driver's seat so he could sit. We waited in silence as he stepped on the gas and made us fly forward on the dark road. When we got closer to the town I saw flames erupting into the sky and Gabriel immediately turned and went toward where the fire was. I gasped when I saw the local bar up in flames. Right as Gabriel stopped the car I jumped out of it, running toward the building.
"Nina!" Gabriel shouted and I heard running footsteps behind me before arms went around my waist and pulled me back.
"Let me go!" I screamed but he didn't do it, instead he pulled me back to the car and slammed me in the side of it, his face inches from mine.
"Stay here," he said ran back toward the bar, toward the police that were standing outside and yelling urgently. I saw him talking to one of them and the officer was talking back urgently. Gabriel kept glancing back at me, panic written all over his face. Then I realized something, my mom could've been in there. I froze and tensed, just watching as the fireman put out the fire. Gabriel had come back and was talking to me but all I saw were his lips moving, I didn't hear him. When the fire was finally put out I saw paramedics going into the building with masks on and gurneys, they were empty when they went in but full when they came out.
"Nina, come on, we have to go," Gabriel voice probably broke through my daze, but I didn't want to leave. I looked around and saw that the owner of the bar was alright, sitting on one of the ambulance trucks with an oxygen mask over his mouth. I pushed past Gabriel and ran as quickly as I could over to him, just slipping out as Gabriel's grasp right as I got there.
"Samuel," I started but Gabriel cut me off.
"Do not tell her anything," he said and Samuel gave him a look and then looked back at me.
"I need to ask you something," I said and he nodded at me, telling me to continue, "Did you see my mom in there?" I asked and he tensed, looking at Gabriel, guilt written all over his face before he looked back at me, slowly nodding his head at me. My breath caught in my throat as that simple nod hit me. My mom had been in there… Gabriel growled at Samuel then tried to grab me, but I slapped him away and walked back a ways, turning away from the now burnt building, my breaths coming in and out shaking. No, it could not be, that could not happen, not to me. What did I do that would have caused my mom…to be gone.
A hand was on my shoulder and I flinched at it, not really wanting to be touched. The person didn't say anything, but instead lead me to Leslie's car. He opened the back door and was about to push me into the car when I jumped back, so quickly that I fell and landed on my butt. I did not want to get into that car; they would have to force me.
"I'm just taking you home," Gabriel said and I shook my head, I didn't want to go home either, it would remind me too much. I got up and shook my head.
"I think I'll walk," I said quietly and turned, starting to walk to way toward my house. When I was sure they weren't following me and that I was out of sight I turned suddenly, heading to the woods. It took me awhile to get there but when I did I headed into it, stopping when I got to the old town ruins. I sat down on the ground, bringing my knees up so my chin was resting on my knees.
My mom was dead, it was hard to believe but she was. Her life was that bar, she went practically every day, not coming home until late. But wait, what if she decided to come home early today, yeah she wasn't dead, she's probably a home right now, watching the news and thinking 'I'm glad I wasn't there.' Yeah, she was at home and I should probably get there before she gets worried. I got up, my legs wobbling a little bit but not so much that I fell.
"I thought I'd find you here," Liam's voice said from behind me, I turned around and saw he was standing there, his hair looking ruffled and some of his clothes looking burnt.
"What happened to you?" I asked him and he looked down.
"I tried Nina, I really did please don't hate me," he said as he ran his hand through his light brown hair.
"What are you talking about?" I asked him and he sighed.
"I tried to get her out, but she was unconscious…and I couldn't wake her up. I think a wood beam might have fallen and hit her head…" he trailed off then looked up, "the fire was surrounding us and I tried my best to get her out, but I think she was already dead before I got there. I tried Nina, but I had to get out," he said and I was still confused.
"Who?" I asked and a few tears streamed down his face, I had never seen him cry, but it made me want to.
"Your mom," he whispered and I gasped.
"She wasn't there. She decided not to go today," I said confidently, trying to convince myself more than him.
"Don't make this harder than it is," he said and stepped forward, I stepped back, "she was in there," he said and I shook my head.
"Stop lying," I said and he looked at me with a sad and pitiful look, he wouldn't fool me with things that weren't true, "You're lying!" I yelled and he flinched, his face changing afterward.
"Gabriel," he whispered and suddenly a hand was around my eyes, I went to scream but something sharp poked into my arm, making me feel instantly tired. The hand disappeared from my eyes, but I still couldn't see because they were closed. There were arms holding me up as I slowly went into unconsciousness, my mind drifting into thoughts that I tried to deny. My mom was dead…