Title: The Silver Kiss
Couple: Gabrielle/Draco
Summary: Lily is dying. James is always making a fuss about it.
Harry lives with Blaise, Melissa stays with her friend. Gabrielle has to take charge of everything. She has an enormous weight on her shoulders. A certain someone helps her make it through.
Rating R: it has some bad words and stuff.. So yeah I put R so it won't be taken off.
Newayz on to the story
Chapter 3: Gabrielle
Gabrielle left the library early. It was no use sitting there doing nothing. She had stared at the wall, out the window, and at the clock; anything but write. Her fresh notebook page had become a mass of scribbled out false starts. She would have nothing to show Mrs. Muir tomorrow in their antique session.
I want to write something beautiful about my mother, she thought.
But it had all come out so trite, and she knew it. She wanted to write something important that spat in death's teeth. The trouble was, she didn't want Mrs.Muir to know about her mother. She didn't want her to say "Poor thing" or something awful about God's will like that idiot woman next door, so what she ended up with was something less than honest, and dishonest poetry didn't work.
But I can't write about anything else if I can't write about Mom,
Gabrielle thought. She's the most important thing. God! I'm really blowing school. It was as close being a perfect class as she could imagine, this independent-study business, yet if she continued like this it would be a waste of a quarter. I can't start screwing up in school, she thought. Mom has enough worries.
"Damn," she muttered as she fumbled with her locker. It always stuck. She felt like kicking the stupid thing. Yes she just stood glaring at it.
"It won't melt, no matter how long you stare at it," came a voice at her side.
"Lorraine! You snuck up quietly."
"You've got to sneak about when you cut as many classes as I do."
"Again?"
"Well, What's the use? I'm moving, aren't I? Right in the middle of the Semester. And I'll start in the middle of their Semester. I might as well give it up until after Christmas. Anyhow, it was worth it to see you use your X-Ray Vision."
Gabrielle smiled, yet was sad as she watched Lorraine work her Magic on the locker door. Who would make her laugh when Lorraine moved? Who else would blitherly ignore her requests for peace and quiet and drage her to a party anyway?
"Come to the bathroom with me,"Lorraine said as Gabrielle stashed her books and got out her lunch. "It's between shifts, so we might even be able to breathe in there." They headed for the bathroom nearest the cafeteria. "I'm sorry about last night,"
Lorraine said as she barrled through the swinging doors of the bathroom.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," said Gabrielle behind her,
suprised. Could she dare hope that Lorraine was ready to talk?
They stood in front of the mirros, and Lorraine pulled out a comb and tried to arrange her Auburn curls. "You'd think they'd replace these damn mirrors," she said angrily. "They're all cracked up."
Then Gabrielle saw her friends face change suddenly. Uh-oh,
Gabrielle thought.
"Gabrielle, I don't want to move," Lorraine barely got out before she started crying. "I won't have any friends. I'll have to start over." Gabrielle's hopes plunged. She'd thought they were going to talk about her. It almost made her cry too, but she held Lorraine,
rubbed her back and uttered an occasional "There, There." Inside she was lost. How can I help you, she thought. When I can't even help myself? It was disturbing. Lorraine was the strong one. She didn't do this. The world was topsy-turvy again.
"I'm sorry," gasped Lorraine after a while. "I've no right to feel this way. I'm moving but you....." she sobbed again.
She can't say it, Gabrielle thought. We both know what she means,
and she can't say it. It isn't your pity I want, she thought, and almost pushed her friend away, but stopped herself. Lorraine really did care. It wasn't her fault that people didn't know how to talk about death. Not dad, not the nieghbors, not Mom's friends.
Death's partner was silence. Tenderness for her friend overwhelmed her dismay. "You Nerd. You know you can always tell me how you feel. Usually nothing, including me, can stop you."
"But I feel so selfish."
You always are anyway, Gabrielel realized but never on purpose.
It was just the way Lorraine was. Gabrielle could almost take comfort in the familarity of it. She gently shook her friend "What will I do without you?"
That brought more tears. "I'll miss you so much Gabby."
The stood for a while for a while, holding each other. It was more rare that Lorraine let herself be fragile. After her mother left she was too afraid to breaking for good. At least that was what Gabrielle had guessed from watching her. We'll have another thing in common now, Gabrielle thought, but at least you'll be able to visit your mother. There was bitterness in this thought. She stroked Lorraines hair in an attempt to atone. This was a moment when she could slip gently past Lorraines guard. I'm afraid thought too, she prepared to say. I'm afraid my mother will die, and my father will grieve forever, and I'll always be alone, because you're going too.
But there was a bell ringing somewhere, and second period Lunch was signaled. Damn,Damn, Damn, Gabrielle thought.
The Door burst open, and a group of girls crowded in, already distributing cigarettes. Lorraine pushed Gabrielle away and hastily splashed water onto her face. A blonde wtih garish makeup stood staring at them wtih her lit cigarette in her carefully poised hand.
"You guys queer or something?" she asked jeeringly.
"Piss off, Morgan," Said Lorraine, putting her arm around Gabrielle protectively. "You know, you could break you wrist holding a cigarette like that," and Gabrielle found herself being swept out of the bathroom. Things were back to normal.
In the Cafeteria they sat at their usual table near the back door.
"I'm going to get a death burger," Lorraine said after checking her purse, and jumped up. "Hold the fort."
Gabrielle smiled with wry affectionat Lorraines tactlessness. Just after Lorraine left two girls Gabrielle regonized from physics class sat at the other end of the tbale. They unwrapped their sandwhiches and chattered between bites. Gabrielle felt a little guilty about listening but it seemed impossible not to, especially when they sat so near her. She chased an idea for a poem around her head, about a silver boy in the moonlight, but finally the word murder caught her attention and held it.
"She was Shiela's Cousin," the dark one said dramtically as she leaned across the table.
"Really?"
"Yes, the found her with her throat slashed."
The tall one shuddered. "God, it's like Jack the Ripper or some-
thing."
"Ugh," they agreed in a unison.
Lorrain returned with her lunch, and the other conversation faded into the background. "Have you been reading the paper lately? Gabrielle asked Lorraine.
"Not really. Who's got time? Why?"
Gabrielle glanced at the other girls at the end of the table, still engrossed in the details of the murder. "Oh, there was something in the news. I saw a headline, but I didnt' read about it. I thought you might know."
"Not me. They call me Miss-Oblivious," Lorraine camped in her Saturday-Morning cartoon voice."
Gabrielle laughed to cover her irratation. It was to true. "Never-
mind."
After school her father was outside to pick her up. "Hop in. We're going to the hospital," he said, but that was about all he said on the way. He concentrated on drving with the intensity of a newly licensed driver, as if one thing could block out all others. Gabrielle watched him carefully, waiting for news, but in vain. She wanted to break the silence but couldn't think of an opening remark. Then they were there.
People always talked about hating the smell of hospitals. As they went up in the elevator, Gabrielle thought this one smelled rather pleasant, like evergreen or something. It was irratating that there should be anything to like. She worried a piece of paper in her coat pocket to shreds.
At the door she hestiated, afraid to go in, what does Mom look like this time? She wondered. Her father opened the door for her and she had to step inside. Gabrielle's throat seemed to close up when she saw her mother, a fragile stick figure in the bed, wtih arms more bruised than ever from the needles and tubes.
"Mom?" she said in a slightly cracked voice.
Eyelashes fluttered, around her mother opened her eyes she smiled weakily and her skin, dry as old parchement crinkled with effort.
"Gabby," she whispered back in a voice just as cracked. "Darling."
The bed whined as she moved into a sitting position.
Gabrielle's gaze flicked around the room. She was repelled once more by the instutional green walls, barely relieved by a drab forest scene, and a calender that marked off the days for the record keepers. Her mother's name was in a slot above the bed, so each impersonal shift would know who she was. The medicine cabinet,
cupboards,drawers, and the counters were all painted white, and as easy to clean of stains as the pale tile floor. An unused television was tilted toward the window.
Her father nudged her forward. She started to sit, then wasn't sure.
She glanced at him and he nodded so she can lowed herself into the chair at the bedside. Her father fussed around his wife, fluffing her pillow, straightening her sheets, all smiles, and all teases.
Where was the silent man who had driven here? Gabrielle wonder-
ed. When he was satisfied the patient was comforatable, he flopped down into a chair on the other side of the room, giving them space to talk. He seemed to delfate when he put her mother's life on sight.
He slouched, his hands dug deep into his tweed pockets, and glanced at Gabrielle with worried, unspoken questions. Gabrielle wished he's ask them.
"A great view of the parking lot you've got," she said."
"I'm glad you like it." Gabrielle was shocked at how faint her mother's voice was despite the ironic tone.
Gabrielle reached her hand and noticed a tightness around her eyes that she knew meant pain, as did the way her mother's other hand twisted and grapsed the blanket. Gabrielle wanted to reach out and stop it. It hurt her to watch.
"Are you eating?" Her mother asked.
"Are you?" Gabrielle shot back, glancing at the barely touched meal still sitting on the beside tray.
"Touche."
"Come home soon, Mom. I miss you."
Gabrielle felt her hand sqeezed gently. "I'll try, darling. I'll try."
Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears. Please don't cry, she begged herself. Don't upset her. "Guess what," she said grasping for something to say. "The Rose by the gate still has a bloom on it."
Her mother smiled. "Sill old thing. It doesnt' seem decent at this time of year, does it?"
They were silent for a while. Gabrielle hated the way hospitals sucked everything you wanted to say right out of your head.
It's bad enough that they leave the door open so the nurses can come and go, she thought, but her Dad sat there like some kind of Guardian Angel.
"I just needed to see you," her mother finally said.
"Okay." Gabrielle said fighting back tears.
"You need to eat more sweetheart. Wear some makeup."
Gabrielle laughed gently, and sniffed. " I remember when you would have to take a wash cloth and wipe it off for me and now you're telling me to wear it. Do I look that bad?"
"Heavens, No. But you're old enough. You should get your hair cut in one of those new styles."
Gabrielle stroked a baby fine tuft of her mother's newly grown hair.
"Like you. Huh?"
"Well my punk look wasn't exactly intentional." She smiled "And it looks like a pretentious on an old Lady like me."
"But you're not old," Gabrielle said her voice wavering.
"I'm thirsty," her mother said, still deft at diverting disater. "Pour me a glass please."
As Gabrielle reached for a pitcher, a nurse poked her head around the door. She nodded at Mr. Potter, who then stepped forward.
"That's enough for now," he said holding Gabrielle's shoulders firmly, kissing the top of her head.
"James NO," he is wife protested, struggling to sit up.
"You know what the doctor said," he answered unyielding.
I'm being squeezed out again, Gabrielle thought bitterly, but she leaned and kissed the cheek offered to her.
"They totally ignore what I want around here," her mother, said as if apologizing.
Outside the room her father tried to give Gabrielle cab fare, and some extra money for dinner. She wanted to ignore it, but he closed her hand firmly around the bills with his large dry hand.
"What did the doctor say?" she asked.
He Finally looked her in the eyes. "Gabby, The Doctor think you wear your mother out. I think seeeing you does good for her, but he's the doctor. Let's try his way and have you stay away for a while. I want what's best for her."
"So you're on his side......."
He cut off her protest with a gentle finger to her lips. "Get some pizza. Invite Lorraine over to keep you company," he said. "I'll stay for a bit longer." He stroked her cheeck and left her in the hall.
What if I screamed and cried and made a fuss? She thought. What if I had a tantrum and begged them not to send me away? But she couldn't do that to them. She bit her lip and turned away. not some-
thing Gabby would do...but her mom is the most important person to her.....she wouldnt' hurt her. Newayz back to the story
Outside, she found one of the cabs that always lingered there.
She rode home, worrying about her mother.
She paid the cabdriver in front of her house, but when she got to the front door, she couldn't bring herself to fumble the key into the lock. She shoved itback into her jacket pocket. I can't face the silence right now, she thought. It's suffercating.
She went to the park and watched the children play until they were called away to dinner. It was company of sorts, yet undemanding.
A few stragglers came back to defy the dusk curfew on the play-
ground, but as the shadows because deeper, and the lights came on,
even they were called back to warm beds and houses full of parents,
brothers, sisters, and blaring Tv sets.
I wish my family was back to normal, she thought. She missed the old days. Now she had to be the responsible one. Since Harry and Melissa were at other people's houses. I hate doing the laundry. I hate having to remind Dad the phone bill's are due.
Mom always looked after us. The old anger rose again. She thumped her knew gently with her fist as if to subdue it. She thought she'd gotten over that. It's not her fault, Gabrielle told herself. It's stupid to think that. She's not going away on purpose. But Dad's going to be a vegatable who's going to look after me?
A cold breeze through the park, and clouds blew across the early moon. Gabrielle pulled her demin jacket closer around her. It was time to get out the heavier coats from the storage closet upstairs.
She shivered suddenly as if ice trickled down her spine.
"It's a beautiful night," came a soft voice beside her. She turned around swiftly, her heart pouding. A young man sat there. The lamplight outlined him against the dark bushes behind like a ring of frost around the moon. He smiled at her as a cat smiles, with secret humor. "You scared me," she whispered fiercly. Who was this person invading her bench.
"I'm sorry," he said, but didn't look it.
She regonized him then, from last night. As if she saw this he said,
"We're even now. You scared me."
"Why should you be scared?" She demanded. "It's you creeping up on people."
"Why should you be?" he asked
Gabrielle bristled defensively. " I don't like evasive conversations."
"Do you like any conversations?"
"No. I want to be alone."
" I think you are alone." He reached for her hand. She snatched it away and stood up. How dare he be right, then take advantage of it? He seemed suprised for a second, but then his smile deepened,
and a dreamy look was on his face. "Please Stay." he said in tones soft as a lullaby. His eyes were huge, dark, and gentle. She hesitated for a moment. He seemed so understanding. Surely she could talk to him. Then her anger surfaced again. The mainpulative jerk, she thought.
"I don't know what you're after," she said, "But you can look for it somewhere else." She turned and walks firmly away.
"It strikes me," he called over her in a voice now with an edge to it.
"That girls who sit alone in parks at night are the one's after something."
She was so furious, she could have screamed. She almost turned,
back, but no, she thought, that's what he wants. She walked on.
Her anger carried her home before she knew it. Strangely, it made her hungry. She ate better than she had in weeks.
She hesistated once between moutfuls with a feeling of dread.
Was he wierd? Would he have hurt her? No. He looked like an angel in a Renassance painting. Could beauty hurt?
A.n/ So thats it. You know the drill Press the pretty "Go" button on the bottom and tell me whatcha think.
Don't judge Draco to soon. He seems like a jerk and mysterious.
but is he really like that.....just read and find out.
Hope you liked it Spideria. .
Harry lives with Blaise, Melissa stays with her friend. Gabrielle has to take charge of everything. She has an enormous weight on her shoulders. A certain someone helps her make it through.
Rating R: it has some bad words and stuff.. So yeah I put R so it won't be taken off.
Newayz on to the story
Chapter 3: Gabrielle
Gabrielle left the library early. It was no use sitting there doing nothing. She had stared at the wall, out the window, and at the clock; anything but write. Her fresh notebook page had become a mass of scribbled out false starts. She would have nothing to show Mrs. Muir tomorrow in their antique session.
I want to write something beautiful about my mother, she thought.
But it had all come out so trite, and she knew it. She wanted to write something important that spat in death's teeth. The trouble was, she didn't want Mrs.Muir to know about her mother. She didn't want her to say "Poor thing" or something awful about God's will like that idiot woman next door, so what she ended up with was something less than honest, and dishonest poetry didn't work.
But I can't write about anything else if I can't write about Mom,
Gabrielle thought. She's the most important thing. God! I'm really blowing school. It was as close being a perfect class as she could imagine, this independent-study business, yet if she continued like this it would be a waste of a quarter. I can't start screwing up in school, she thought. Mom has enough worries.
"Damn," she muttered as she fumbled with her locker. It always stuck. She felt like kicking the stupid thing. Yes she just stood glaring at it.
"It won't melt, no matter how long you stare at it," came a voice at her side.
"Lorraine! You snuck up quietly."
"You've got to sneak about when you cut as many classes as I do."
"Again?"
"Well, What's the use? I'm moving, aren't I? Right in the middle of the Semester. And I'll start in the middle of their Semester. I might as well give it up until after Christmas. Anyhow, it was worth it to see you use your X-Ray Vision."
Gabrielle smiled, yet was sad as she watched Lorraine work her Magic on the locker door. Who would make her laugh when Lorraine moved? Who else would blitherly ignore her requests for peace and quiet and drage her to a party anyway?
"Come to the bathroom with me,"Lorraine said as Gabrielle stashed her books and got out her lunch. "It's between shifts, so we might even be able to breathe in there." They headed for the bathroom nearest the cafeteria. "I'm sorry about last night,"
Lorraine said as she barrled through the swinging doors of the bathroom.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," said Gabrielle behind her,
suprised. Could she dare hope that Lorraine was ready to talk?
They stood in front of the mirros, and Lorraine pulled out a comb and tried to arrange her Auburn curls. "You'd think they'd replace these damn mirrors," she said angrily. "They're all cracked up."
Then Gabrielle saw her friends face change suddenly. Uh-oh,
Gabrielle thought.
"Gabrielle, I don't want to move," Lorraine barely got out before she started crying. "I won't have any friends. I'll have to start over." Gabrielle's hopes plunged. She'd thought they were going to talk about her. It almost made her cry too, but she held Lorraine,
rubbed her back and uttered an occasional "There, There." Inside she was lost. How can I help you, she thought. When I can't even help myself? It was disturbing. Lorraine was the strong one. She didn't do this. The world was topsy-turvy again.
"I'm sorry," gasped Lorraine after a while. "I've no right to feel this way. I'm moving but you....." she sobbed again.
She can't say it, Gabrielle thought. We both know what she means,
and she can't say it. It isn't your pity I want, she thought, and almost pushed her friend away, but stopped herself. Lorraine really did care. It wasn't her fault that people didn't know how to talk about death. Not dad, not the nieghbors, not Mom's friends.
Death's partner was silence. Tenderness for her friend overwhelmed her dismay. "You Nerd. You know you can always tell me how you feel. Usually nothing, including me, can stop you."
"But I feel so selfish."
You always are anyway, Gabrielel realized but never on purpose.
It was just the way Lorraine was. Gabrielle could almost take comfort in the familarity of it. She gently shook her friend "What will I do without you?"
That brought more tears. "I'll miss you so much Gabby."
The stood for a while for a while, holding each other. It was more rare that Lorraine let herself be fragile. After her mother left she was too afraid to breaking for good. At least that was what Gabrielle had guessed from watching her. We'll have another thing in common now, Gabrielle thought, but at least you'll be able to visit your mother. There was bitterness in this thought. She stroked Lorraines hair in an attempt to atone. This was a moment when she could slip gently past Lorraines guard. I'm afraid thought too, she prepared to say. I'm afraid my mother will die, and my father will grieve forever, and I'll always be alone, because you're going too.
But there was a bell ringing somewhere, and second period Lunch was signaled. Damn,Damn, Damn, Gabrielle thought.
The Door burst open, and a group of girls crowded in, already distributing cigarettes. Lorraine pushed Gabrielle away and hastily splashed water onto her face. A blonde wtih garish makeup stood staring at them wtih her lit cigarette in her carefully poised hand.
"You guys queer or something?" she asked jeeringly.
"Piss off, Morgan," Said Lorraine, putting her arm around Gabrielle protectively. "You know, you could break you wrist holding a cigarette like that," and Gabrielle found herself being swept out of the bathroom. Things were back to normal.
In the Cafeteria they sat at their usual table near the back door.
"I'm going to get a death burger," Lorraine said after checking her purse, and jumped up. "Hold the fort."
Gabrielle smiled with wry affectionat Lorraines tactlessness. Just after Lorraine left two girls Gabrielle regonized from physics class sat at the other end of the tbale. They unwrapped their sandwhiches and chattered between bites. Gabrielle felt a little guilty about listening but it seemed impossible not to, especially when they sat so near her. She chased an idea for a poem around her head, about a silver boy in the moonlight, but finally the word murder caught her attention and held it.
"She was Shiela's Cousin," the dark one said dramtically as she leaned across the table.
"Really?"
"Yes, the found her with her throat slashed."
The tall one shuddered. "God, it's like Jack the Ripper or some-
thing."
"Ugh," they agreed in a unison.
Lorrain returned with her lunch, and the other conversation faded into the background. "Have you been reading the paper lately? Gabrielle asked Lorraine.
"Not really. Who's got time? Why?"
Gabrielle glanced at the other girls at the end of the table, still engrossed in the details of the murder. "Oh, there was something in the news. I saw a headline, but I didnt' read about it. I thought you might know."
"Not me. They call me Miss-Oblivious," Lorraine camped in her Saturday-Morning cartoon voice."
Gabrielle laughed to cover her irratation. It was to true. "Never-
mind."
After school her father was outside to pick her up. "Hop in. We're going to the hospital," he said, but that was about all he said on the way. He concentrated on drving with the intensity of a newly licensed driver, as if one thing could block out all others. Gabrielle watched him carefully, waiting for news, but in vain. She wanted to break the silence but couldn't think of an opening remark. Then they were there.
People always talked about hating the smell of hospitals. As they went up in the elevator, Gabrielle thought this one smelled rather pleasant, like evergreen or something. It was irratating that there should be anything to like. She worried a piece of paper in her coat pocket to shreds.
At the door she hestiated, afraid to go in, what does Mom look like this time? She wondered. Her father opened the door for her and she had to step inside. Gabrielle's throat seemed to close up when she saw her mother, a fragile stick figure in the bed, wtih arms more bruised than ever from the needles and tubes.
"Mom?" she said in a slightly cracked voice.
Eyelashes fluttered, around her mother opened her eyes she smiled weakily and her skin, dry as old parchement crinkled with effort.
"Gabby," she whispered back in a voice just as cracked. "Darling."
The bed whined as she moved into a sitting position.
Gabrielle's gaze flicked around the room. She was repelled once more by the instutional green walls, barely relieved by a drab forest scene, and a calender that marked off the days for the record keepers. Her mother's name was in a slot above the bed, so each impersonal shift would know who she was. The medicine cabinet,
cupboards,drawers, and the counters were all painted white, and as easy to clean of stains as the pale tile floor. An unused television was tilted toward the window.
Her father nudged her forward. She started to sit, then wasn't sure.
She glanced at him and he nodded so she can lowed herself into the chair at the bedside. Her father fussed around his wife, fluffing her pillow, straightening her sheets, all smiles, and all teases.
Where was the silent man who had driven here? Gabrielle wonder-
ed. When he was satisfied the patient was comforatable, he flopped down into a chair on the other side of the room, giving them space to talk. He seemed to delfate when he put her mother's life on sight.
He slouched, his hands dug deep into his tweed pockets, and glanced at Gabrielle with worried, unspoken questions. Gabrielle wished he's ask them.
"A great view of the parking lot you've got," she said."
"I'm glad you like it." Gabrielle was shocked at how faint her mother's voice was despite the ironic tone.
Gabrielle reached her hand and noticed a tightness around her eyes that she knew meant pain, as did the way her mother's other hand twisted and grapsed the blanket. Gabrielle wanted to reach out and stop it. It hurt her to watch.
"Are you eating?" Her mother asked.
"Are you?" Gabrielle shot back, glancing at the barely touched meal still sitting on the beside tray.
"Touche."
"Come home soon, Mom. I miss you."
Gabrielle felt her hand sqeezed gently. "I'll try, darling. I'll try."
Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears. Please don't cry, she begged herself. Don't upset her. "Guess what," she said grasping for something to say. "The Rose by the gate still has a bloom on it."
Her mother smiled. "Sill old thing. It doesnt' seem decent at this time of year, does it?"
They were silent for a while. Gabrielle hated the way hospitals sucked everything you wanted to say right out of your head.
It's bad enough that they leave the door open so the nurses can come and go, she thought, but her Dad sat there like some kind of Guardian Angel.
"I just needed to see you," her mother finally said.
"Okay." Gabrielle said fighting back tears.
"You need to eat more sweetheart. Wear some makeup."
Gabrielle laughed gently, and sniffed. " I remember when you would have to take a wash cloth and wipe it off for me and now you're telling me to wear it. Do I look that bad?"
"Heavens, No. But you're old enough. You should get your hair cut in one of those new styles."
Gabrielle stroked a baby fine tuft of her mother's newly grown hair.
"Like you. Huh?"
"Well my punk look wasn't exactly intentional." She smiled "And it looks like a pretentious on an old Lady like me."
"But you're not old," Gabrielle said her voice wavering.
"I'm thirsty," her mother said, still deft at diverting disater. "Pour me a glass please."
As Gabrielle reached for a pitcher, a nurse poked her head around the door. She nodded at Mr. Potter, who then stepped forward.
"That's enough for now," he said holding Gabrielle's shoulders firmly, kissing the top of her head.
"James NO," he is wife protested, struggling to sit up.
"You know what the doctor said," he answered unyielding.
I'm being squeezed out again, Gabrielle thought bitterly, but she leaned and kissed the cheek offered to her.
"They totally ignore what I want around here," her mother, said as if apologizing.
Outside the room her father tried to give Gabrielle cab fare, and some extra money for dinner. She wanted to ignore it, but he closed her hand firmly around the bills with his large dry hand.
"What did the doctor say?" she asked.
He Finally looked her in the eyes. "Gabby, The Doctor think you wear your mother out. I think seeeing you does good for her, but he's the doctor. Let's try his way and have you stay away for a while. I want what's best for her."
"So you're on his side......."
He cut off her protest with a gentle finger to her lips. "Get some pizza. Invite Lorraine over to keep you company," he said. "I'll stay for a bit longer." He stroked her cheeck and left her in the hall.
What if I screamed and cried and made a fuss? She thought. What if I had a tantrum and begged them not to send me away? But she couldn't do that to them. She bit her lip and turned away. not some-
thing Gabby would do...but her mom is the most important person to her.....she wouldnt' hurt her. Newayz back to the story
Outside, she found one of the cabs that always lingered there.
She rode home, worrying about her mother.
She paid the cabdriver in front of her house, but when she got to the front door, she couldn't bring herself to fumble the key into the lock. She shoved itback into her jacket pocket. I can't face the silence right now, she thought. It's suffercating.
She went to the park and watched the children play until they were called away to dinner. It was company of sorts, yet undemanding.
A few stragglers came back to defy the dusk curfew on the play-
ground, but as the shadows because deeper, and the lights came on,
even they were called back to warm beds and houses full of parents,
brothers, sisters, and blaring Tv sets.
I wish my family was back to normal, she thought. She missed the old days. Now she had to be the responsible one. Since Harry and Melissa were at other people's houses. I hate doing the laundry. I hate having to remind Dad the phone bill's are due.
Mom always looked after us. The old anger rose again. She thumped her knew gently with her fist as if to subdue it. She thought she'd gotten over that. It's not her fault, Gabrielle told herself. It's stupid to think that. She's not going away on purpose. But Dad's going to be a vegatable who's going to look after me?
A cold breeze through the park, and clouds blew across the early moon. Gabrielle pulled her demin jacket closer around her. It was time to get out the heavier coats from the storage closet upstairs.
She shivered suddenly as if ice trickled down her spine.
"It's a beautiful night," came a soft voice beside her. She turned around swiftly, her heart pouding. A young man sat there. The lamplight outlined him against the dark bushes behind like a ring of frost around the moon. He smiled at her as a cat smiles, with secret humor. "You scared me," she whispered fiercly. Who was this person invading her bench.
"I'm sorry," he said, but didn't look it.
She regonized him then, from last night. As if she saw this he said,
"We're even now. You scared me."
"Why should you be scared?" She demanded. "It's you creeping up on people."
"Why should you be?" he asked
Gabrielle bristled defensively. " I don't like evasive conversations."
"Do you like any conversations?"
"No. I want to be alone."
" I think you are alone." He reached for her hand. She snatched it away and stood up. How dare he be right, then take advantage of it? He seemed suprised for a second, but then his smile deepened,
and a dreamy look was on his face. "Please Stay." he said in tones soft as a lullaby. His eyes were huge, dark, and gentle. She hesitated for a moment. He seemed so understanding. Surely she could talk to him. Then her anger surfaced again. The mainpulative jerk, she thought.
"I don't know what you're after," she said, "But you can look for it somewhere else." She turned and walks firmly away.
"It strikes me," he called over her in a voice now with an edge to it.
"That girls who sit alone in parks at night are the one's after something."
She was so furious, she could have screamed. She almost turned,
back, but no, she thought, that's what he wants. She walked on.
Her anger carried her home before she knew it. Strangely, it made her hungry. She ate better than she had in weeks.
She hesistated once between moutfuls with a feeling of dread.
Was he wierd? Would he have hurt her? No. He looked like an angel in a Renassance painting. Could beauty hurt?
A.n/ So thats it. You know the drill Press the pretty "Go" button on the bottom and tell me whatcha think.
Don't judge Draco to soon. He seems like a jerk and mysterious.
but is he really like that.....just read and find out.
Hope you liked it Spideria. .