Chapter Eight

Gabriel

It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie
The moment to live and the moment to die
The moment to fight, the moment to fight, to fight, to fight,

to fight!

"Sunrise isn't that far off. Are you ready?" Eleanor asked Gabriel when she found him standing in front of the large living room window.

"As ready as I can be, I hope Moose is holding out well. Jared's probably talking him into betraying me." Gabriel sighed as he turned away from the window and grabbed his jacket off the couch.

"Everyone's already at the Ball, they're waiting for their King." Eleanor told him as they left the apartment and headed down the stairs to the parking garage.

"They're waiting on the wrong person then." Gabriel smirked as they entered the parking garage. It was empty, surprisingly, Gabriel had expected some of Jared's goons to be waiting on him. He chuckled, Jared really expected him to come willingly.

Walking over to a jet black Land Rover, Gabriel opened the door and climbed in. Eleanor climbed in beside him as he started the engine. They didn't speak a word as they pulled out of the parking garage and sped down the road.

Normally, Gabriel noticed, patrons of the Grand Ball would begin trickling out as sunrise grew closer but it seemed that the Ball was still in full swing when they arrived. Eleanor gave Gabriel a look that was a mixture of love and worry. Gabriel just smiled at her, assuring her that everything would be okay. She nodded in understanding before getting out of the truck. Once she was out of sight, having met up with their allies, Gabriel left the truck. Looking back at the harbor, he could see the sun getting ready to peek over the horizon. It was time.

It seemed the entire Ball grew quiet as he walked in. Everyone who looked at him stopped speaking and merely stared in shock and wonder. They all probably thought he was a coward, he smirked. How right they were. If it wasn't for Moose, he wouldn't be doing this. He'd be only his way to Europe to hide until this all died down but someone was counting on him. And he'd made a promise to Camille.

"So, you showed up after all." Jared smiled wickedly. Gabriel resisted the urge to punch him as he looked around for Moose. The fact that he wasn't there meant that Gabriel's men had done their job.

Earlier, after visiting Moose, he had ordered that his men stage a 'rescue' by hiding Moose somewhere in the building, but where Jared couldn't find him. To make sure that Jared had no clue, Gabriel had opted to not know where Moose was being held. It made being worried about him more believable.

"Where's Moose?" He demanded and a look of fear passed across Jared's face before quickly disappearing. Good, Gabriel thought, Jared had no idea of his plan.

"He's a free man. You kept up your end of the bargain and I kept mine." Jared lied as he held out his hand and a pistol was placed in it, "Now, everyone in here thinks it's time that we have a new King."

"Really now, and that King would be...you?" Gabriel laughed rather loudly and he could see Jared's anger burning in his eyes. He didn't back down though. By now, Eleanor was barking orders and everyone was standing ready. As Gabriel looked around the ballroom and saw some of his allies nod to him, he felt at home for the first time in years.

"Of course that King would be me! There's no one else fit for the job, certainly not you." Jared sneered as the gun clicked and raised it so that it was aimed as Gabriel's heart.

"Before this is all over and done with, then, let me give you a few pointers. Make sure you're 'loyal' subjects are actually loyal to you." Gabriel grinned as Jared's eyes widened. All around him, patrons of the Grand Ball stepped out onto the ballroom floor.

"What...what is this? You all lied to me!" Jared yelled, "You are loyal to me, not him!"

"That's where you're wrong. I didn't spend years building actual relationships with each of these patrons just so they could turn their back on me. Why do you think no one ever knew I was king? It made getting to know them much easier, including you." Gabriel explained as he reached out and plucked the gun from Jared's hand.

"This isn't over, I will be king." Jared hissed as he backed away.

Gabriel merely watched as he turned and ran out of the building. It wasn't over, he knew, this was only the first battle in the beginning of a war.

"That was intense." Gabriel to see Moose standing behind him. Without thinking, Gabriel wrapped the dancer in a tight hug. Moose laughed as he returned the gesture before they pulled apart.

"Sorry, I don't normally do that. Are you okay?" Gabriel asked and Moose nodded.

"I don't think I've ever had so much fun being a prisoner. I schooled some of those guys in 'Just Dance' and even got eat some real Brooklyn style pizza. It was crazy!" Moose exclaimed and Gabriel laughed.

"Well, I'm glad you had fun but I think it's time you paid Camille another visit. She's probably sick with worry and I believe you have some news to tell her?" At this Moose sighed and Gabriel raised an eyebrow in question.

"Are you sure? I mean, I'm some scrawny kid who's trying to balance school and dancing. I'm a magnet for trouble, as you can plainly see, and I don't know. I'm not you." Moose told him and Gabriel grinned as he began walking back to the truck. Moose followed after him.

"That's exactly why I chose you, you're not me. I've seen so many injustices here in the Grand Ball and I've never had the courage to say anything. Many of those injustices, I've committed myself. I'm not a King, Moose, I'm a dictator. And even though I have allies, there are still so many who want me dead. I believe you can change that. You're kind, compassionate, even to someone like me. You just have to trust and be sure of yourself. And I'll still be working behind the scenes, like a shadow king of sorts. You won't be alone, always remember that."

Moose nodded as they drove to the NYU campus. Gabriel smiled as Moose leapt out of the car and sprinted to Camille's dorm just like he had done two days earlier. Following him, Gabriel made sure nothing was out of place. He was no longer a king, but a knight, and Moose's safety was of the utmost importance.

When he reached Camille's room, he found her and Moose holding onto each other as though today would be the last day they'd ever see each other. Gabriel wondered if he'd ever have a love like that. When they pulled apart, Camille kissed Moose on the cheek before turning to look at Gabriel. His eyes widened as she walked over and hugged him. He returned the gesture.

"Thank you, for keeping your promise." She told him when they pulled apart, "It means a lot."

"I'm sure it does." Gabriel grinned as he watched Moose pace back and forth. He was going to tell Camille the news, "I think Moose has something to tell you."

Camille turned to face Moose who had stopped pacing and now looked like he had gotten a bad case of stage fright. Gabriel offered a reassuring smile before heading back down to the common room. As he boarded the elevator, he heard a scream followed by a loud smacking sound, and laughed. She may not approve now, but Gabriel knew that she'd stand by Moose's side no matter what. He smiled at how lucky his friend was before he stiffened. Friend...

How long had it been since he'd had a friend?

And that's the halfway point! Now some of you are probably freaking out about Moose being the king of the Grand Ball. I urge you, however, to simply read the rest of the story before you cast judgment. So many readers often get ahead of themselves and I confess that I've been one of them. Speculations are welcome though. But you're never going to guess the ending.

Thank you for all the reviews! They mean so much!

~As the Rush Comes~

Disclaimer: I do not own Step Up or This is War by 30 Seconds to Mars