He was unusually happy that morning. Okay, it wasn't unusual, somehow Sam had managed to weasel his way into a day off from the wretched firm, and he was determined to spend that day with his girlfriend.

They hadn't been spending much time together lately, mostly because of work, but also because the days they did have off were spent doing the things they put off the rest of the week. He was starting to feel guilty for not even so much as texting her. But she could text him first if she wanted to. He felt a bit conflicted.

Sam had the radio playing as he was pouring his cereal, singing along with the song, when his phone buzzed on the counter.

Gabe-

What are you doing?

Sam-

Eating

Gabe-

Yes… what else?

Sam-

Singing…

Gabe-

Good! Now what should you not be doing?

Sam-

Singing…

Gabe-

Ding, Ding, Ding!

Sam-

You're mean

Gabe-

You sound like a dying walrus.

Sam-

Thanks.

Gabe-

You love it.

Sam-

Well….

'Well, he's not wrong,' Sam thought as he placed the phone back on the counter. Gabriel's bluntness was something to be treasured, at least to Sam it was. He, personally, always took people's feelings into account, but not Gabriel, and that was something Sam admired.

He turned the radio up louder and kept singing along to the countryish sounding song the radio announcer had said was called Honey, I'm Good by Andy Grammer. He thought it wasn't actually all that bad considering he was only singing it to annoy the piss out of Gabriel.

"Copernicus, go scratch his vocal cords out." Gabriel said pointing towards the back door. "Your ears are more sensitive. Don't you care?" Copernicus looked up at Gabriel then continued on her way to his bedroom. "Thank you, thank you so much." He called after her.

Sam shut his mouth once the song was over, and could hear Gabriel's loud "THANK YOU JESUS!" Laughing to himself, he finished his breakfast and took Socks out for a walk.

He was greeted by the woman in the apartment directly beneath him, who always seemed to be waiting by the door to say hello to him. He didn't even know her name, and they'd never had a real conversation before, but she had an infatuation with him. Who didn't though?

Socks barked and tugged at his leash dragging Sam out of the apartments and down the path towards the park they always took. Despite the fact that it was a Wednesday afternoon, Sam figured there would be more people outside than there were. It didn't bother him any, he wasn't the friendly, talkative, walking type anyway.

They rounded the corner into the dog park and Sam unhooked Socks's leash to let him run free. They came to this park often and Socks had made some dog friends with a Corgi, a Bull Terrier, and a Whippet. If Sam knew the people better, then maybe they could both have friends, but until then there probably wouldn't be any puppy play dates outside of the park.

An hour later they were back at home, and Sam was about to leave for Jessica's house. He didn't think there was anything that could ruin his good mood. Not even the traffic that was threatening to slow the five minute drive into fifteen.

"We need to talk." Jess said once she opened the door. Well, that could ruin his good mood.

"What's wrong?" She pulled Sam into the house by his wrist.

"It's work." She started.

"If you have to go in, we can do this another day."

"It's not that. Don't interrupt, I've gotta tell you in one go or I won't at all." He shut his mouth and nodded for her to continue. "So work made me learn Russian, я есть, что вниз, and they were impressed I was so fluent so quickly, and I guess some meeting I wasn't invited to happened and now they've decided they want me out there in Russia. It's not a business trip, I'll be there five months at the least."

"And you agreed?"

She nodded, "This is going to be so good for my career, but I don't want to leave you."

Sam stood there silently, "Well, don't let me be the reason you are stuck in a dead end job. You should go for it." He said dejectedly. "Do you think we could still be together?"

She gave him a pained look, "We could try, I mean, if you want to, we definitely could." Sam bit his lip, it sure didn't sound like Jess cared all that much.

"I feel like you don't want to try."

"I love you."

"But…"

"But, we barely talk when we are in the same city let alone when we are in different time zones. How can we keep our relationship intact when I'm gone?"

"I, I don't know." He stuttered. "When are you leaving?"

"Two weeks."

"And I suppose you want to break up before then."

She looked everywhere but Sam, "It might be easier."

He swallowed hard, "Alright. Can we spend the day as we planned before, and then break up officially later?"

Jessica smiled, "Of course. What is it that you wanted to do?"

Sam knocked on Gabriel's door. He wasn't as upset as he thought he should have been, but that didn't mean he wanted to be alone.

"Hey," Gabriel said cheerfully, then paused, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, i just didn't want to go home yet."

He squinted his eyes at Sam, "I don't believe you, but you can come in anyway."

Sam sat on the couch quietly, Gabriel sitting next to him.

"So, did you want to come with me to the art show? Because I never really asked and..."

"Of course." he said.

Gabriel stared at Sam a moment. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Honestly, I don't know."

"You know what you need?"

"Hmm?"

"To get drunk."

"Why?" Sam asked, "I'm completely fine."

"You look dazed."

"I feel numb."

"C'mon then, let's get you completely smashed." He got up from the couch and went to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of vodka and two glasses.

"I can't I've got work tomorrow." Sam said shaking his head at the glass.

Gabriel pressed the tumbler against Sam's lips, "Screw work. I'll call in tomorrow for you. Drink it!"

He grabbed the glass from Gabriel, "Fuck it, I hate that place anyway." He downed the drink and winced as it burned his throat. He cringed, "You would have cherry vodka"

"Whoa, don't diss my vodka!" Gabriel said pouring two more.

After the bottle was gone Gabriel screwed the lid back on it. "Okay, I'll admit it, cherry is kinda gross."

Sam raised his eyebrows, "I told you."

"You should tell me why you are here." Gabriel stated.

"Because Jess and I are done, and I feel like I should care more."

"Oh." Gabriel blinked hard, "Well, maybe it was for the best then."

"I dunno." he shrugged. "She didn't want long distance, or maybe she knew."

"Knew what? D'you cheat or something."

"No!" Sam exclaimed, "I would never do that!"

"Then what was it?"

Sam put a finger up to his lips, "It's a secret."

It wasn't like they were all that drunk. They could hold their liquor better than most, but Sam had given in to the alcohol.

"You can't just say you have a secret and not tell me what it is. That's not how it works."

"I'm not allowed to tell you."

"Says who?"

"Me." He stated then laughed.

Gabriel pouted, "Fine then. I don't need your secret!"

"You are a bad liar. It's not even a good secret."

"You are impossible!"

Sam yawned in response.

They sat there in silence until Gabriel fell asleep and had somehow shifted so his head was resting on Sam's lap. Sam ran his hand through Gabriel's hair, and whispered, "It's a good secret actually." Then he paused, slightly more sober, "I think I didn't care because I'd rather be with you."

Just remember, Gabriel never heard that…. Aha!