Chapter 15

*Gabriel*

"So that's everything?" My dad crossed his arms, and I placed my face in my hands.

"Yeah… That's everything." I groaned, rubbing my temples. It had been one hell of a night. Dragging Ellie out of the water, and having Avery come to the realization that the bratty thirteen year old thrashing around in my arms was my imprint. I watched the hurt and betrayal wash over her face before she turned and walked back to her car.

After that, I couldn't keep it a secret anymore.

"How long were you planning on hiding this from us, Gabriel?" My mom reached out to grasp my hand, but I pulled away. I didn't need her thoughts in my head right now, especially when my own thoughts were so loud.

"I don't know… I just... " I sighed. We were sitting at the kitchen table. My hair was still wet from the shower I had taken. "I didn't know what to do. You guys always talk about how perfect you two are together… how imprinting saved you. I don't feel that way with Ellie."

I was bound to her, and I cared for her, but other than the imprinting bond… was there really anything there? She was thirteen, and I couldn't connect to her beyond being a brotherly figure or friend… and it was obvious she wasn't looking for any sort of companionship.

"I know this is a difficult time_"

"No! You don't know!" I snapped, a wave of anger washing over me. I stood, stepping back as I shivered. "You and mom always knew that you were bound to be together. You guys had everything handed to you. I'm stuck with Ellie, and she wants nothing to do with me! How the fuck am I supposed to tell a thirteen year old outsider that 'hey, I'm a werewolf, vampire, human hybrid and you're my soulmate'?" My mom closed her eyes, and my dad sighed. I couldn't read their faces, but I could taste the pity in the air.

"Our relationship was a lot more complicated then you think." My mom whispered. My shoulder sagged, and I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Shit, mom… I know. I'm sorry…"

"Gabe, we're your support system. The rest of your family, the pack, they're your support system. You don't have to deal with any of this by yourself. I know it's hard, but we'll get through this together." My dad took a step closer to me, and I felt my shoulder sag. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug.

"It's gonna be okay… I promise." I closed my eyes… Wishing I could believe him.

I groaned, as Mitchell began to laugh again. It was almost midnight, and we were still sitting in the parking lot of the roller rink. It was saturday night and we had to deal with three parties at the same time, children running rampant and getting rug burn on the 80's carpet we still hadn't replaced.

"Jesus, you have the worst luck… huh?" I huffed. One of the kids at the party had thrown up on my shoes, and I was forced to wear the too tight spare in my car. My feet were killing me, and I was exhausted. I hadn't been able to get a good night's sleep ever since that night on the cliff.

"Hey, man, you okay? You look like shit… Seriously…" Mitchell sighed, reaching into his bag and pulling out an energy drink. "It looks like you need this crap more than I do."

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I just need to get home and go to bed." Mitchells lips tightened and he sighed. Putting the drink back in his bag, he leaned back in the passenger's side seat and closed his eyes.

"What's up with you?"

"Nothing_"

"Bullshit. Since the night of the bonfire, that I wasn't invited to by the way, you've been miserable and distracted." I snorted, and put the key into the ignition.

"You weren't invited because you and Avery fight like a pack of wild dogs every single time you get into the same vicinity"

"That's because she took my sister's heart, chewed it up and spit it out like it was 3-week old bubblegum. She was so fucked up about the breakup, she moved to Reno with our crazy gran."

"Well, Avery was totally transparent with her to begin with_"

"Oh my god, stop defending her… Look, this isn't about that, what's going on with you?" It felt like he was looking right through me. His eyes were dark and intense, and I let my shoulders fall. Leaning back into the leather seats, and letting it all fall out.

"Oh Christ dude… I'm… Sorry? I mean… this shit's…" He was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. I scoffed, and started the car, pulling out of my parking spot.

"Yeah, it's some shit… isn't it?"

"You're not like… attracted to her_"

"What the fuck Mitch? No, she's like a sister, or a friend that needs to be protected. I'm not interested in her in the slightest."

"But you will be… in the future…" I froze. I hadn't really thought of it before. It was said that imprints didn't have to be romantic, but every imprint that I had ever witnessed was. They were all happily married and were having children, and if they weren't, they were planning on it. I wasn't in love with Ellie or anything, but ten, fifteen years from now… was I supposed to be?

"I don't know… she's just a kid_"

"Also, she doesn't know right? So what's to stop her from just moving on with her life… I mean, even if she did know, what's to stop her family from moving back to wherever the fuck they're from_"

"New York." I spoke through clenched teeth. There was literally nothing stopping Ellie's mom from packing them up one day and moving away…

"I'm sorry Gabe. Just calm down, I'm just being pessimistic. Mitchell's voice was quiet, and soothing, but I was too far gone.

"Just take the car back to your house, I'll pick it up in the morning." Before he could protest, I burst from the bar like a bat out of hell and made a beeline for the woods. My thoughts were rattling around in my head and I felt sick. All of this was just so fucking messy and I wished that everything would go back to before I laid my eyes on Ellie.

I spent the whole night running. I was tired, but my brain wouldn't shut up. Thankfully, I was able to concentrate enough to keep the rest of the pack out of my head, but that left me with little ability to focus on what was really bothering me.

It was nearly six in the morning when I finally dragged myself up my front porch steps. My parents' cars were still in the driveway, and mine was pulled up to the curb. I sighed, weariness falling on me like a weighted blanket.

Fuck school.

Slipping into the house undetected, I was nearly up the steps and to my room when my mom cleared her throat. She was still in her pajamas, leaning against the doorframe to their room.

"Gabriel Edward Black, where have you been?" She was whispering shouting at me, probably doing her best to let my dad sleep. I wanted to tell her it was pointless, but I was sure she could hear him waking up too.

"I just needed to think." I muttered, I tried to brush past her, but she caught my arm with her hand. I jerked at the touch, worry and guilt racking through my body. She had been up all night, worried about me, pacing back and forth in her room. I sighed.

"I'm sorry mom." Before I could say anything else, I got an image of her on the phone, speaking to who I could only guess was Ellie's mom.

'Hi, is this the Black's residence?'

'Yes it is, who might I be speaking to?'

'This is Ariel Kirkland; I was hoping to speak to the parents of Gabriel_'

'Oh, you must be Ellie and Emi's mom. Gabe told me all about…'

I pulled away from her, not wanting to listen or even think about that night.

"Mom, please_"

"She wants to go to dinner… As a thank you for saving Ellie." I sighed, and closed my eyes. I couldn't bring myself to feel excited.

"Dinner… I don't think I want to." Mom rolled her chocolate colored eyes and reached up to rub my shoulder.

"You don't have a choice sweetie. Besides, Mrs. Kirkland invited all of us. It would be nice to get to know your imprint's family."

I held back my groan and started to walk back to my room.

"Gabe." I turned back to look at my mom. Her face was serious, her eyes darker than normal and her lips were tight. "Don't make a habit of staying out all night. I was worried sick."

"I'm not gonna get hurt or anything_"

"Gabriel. This is not up for discussion. I want you home by midnight, and I don't want you making a habit of skipping school. Apparently your dad had a problem with that back in the day as well." There was no arguing with her when she got serious like this, so I just nodded my head and went back to my room.

Elaine was upset with me. It was evident when she gave me a tight lipped smile and a curt hello. I tried to brush off the hurt and focus on getting through this awkward dinner. My mom was eager to meet Ellie and her family, and it was all too obvious when she introduced herself.

I tried to focus my attention on Emi. She smiled at me, warm and bright, bringing up some casual smalltalk about school. I liked Emi; she was level headed and kind, nearly the polar opposite to her mouthy younger sister. I found myself talking to her much more, and she was opening up to me as well. She had migrated to my table at lunch, and we would text throughout the day. She was gently prying information about Avery, and I was gently trying to push her into another direction.

"So did you see our grade?" She smiled and I nodded my head. I could see Ellie slumped over in the seats from my peripherals. She was rolling her eyes and huffing gently.

"An A. Told ya' everything was gonna work out."

"I know, but I was still nervous!" Ellie was making faces, and Emi was doing her best to ignore her.

"Elaine." She huffed, her cheeks becoming red as she slumped into her seat.

There was an awkward silence, me and my parents knowing something that clearly the Kirkland sisters and their mother didn't. I almost felt like an imposter, making friends with Emi, playing nice with their family, all because of some unnatural connection to a little girl I didn't know. I looked over at her, her dark curls falling from her bun as she slid deeper into the dark leather, and her eyes casted down towards the table. She looked miserable, and it hurt knowing I couldn't make it any better.

"So, have you all been in Forks long?" My dad's voice ripped me from my self loathing. I looked up at him, and he smiled and winked. Ariel cleared her throat and smiled back, not in a flirtatious way, but genuine.

"We moved here in late August. Right before the girls had to start school."

"You're from New York right? Which part?" Mom seemed to be interested, leaning in close, mesmerized. Even though she had been all over the world in her youth, New York held a special place in her heart. She had lived there when she was a teen, and had always wanted to move back… However, that was never to be; her and my dad were a pair, and if he could leave, neither could she.

"Manhattan."

"So you lived in the city. What made you want to move all the way out here?" Dad tried to steer the subject, and Ellie finally bit, snorting.

"Ellie." Ariel warned, her voice a few octaves lower.

"I got a new job, and not everyone was too pleased about the move." It felt like there was something more, something unsaid. Ellies face, for just a brief moment, twisted in the strangest of ways. She looked down again, and I felt Emi stiffen beside me.

"Where do you_"

"Hello there, my name is Vera and I'll be your server tonight. Can I interest you in a glass of our house chardonnay?"

My parents continued to speak to one another, making small talk as they ordered and joked around. My parents were naturals at stuff like this, charming people. Ariel was no different than any other human they came across, smiling and laughing like they were the best of friends..

"So… Have you had any thoughts about the winter formal. People are already talking about it…" Emi was playing with her nails, her voice soft.

"Oh, yeah… Probably because it's the only thing to look forward to, that and the senior trip."

"There's also prom… right?"

"Yeah, but prom is just a bigger winter formal_" She laughed

"I'm guessing you're not going with Candace then… huh?" Ellie leaned closer to her sister, attempting to listen in on our conversation.

"No, but I was thinking of inviting Avery. I'm sure she'd have a great time." It was obvious that Emi had a crush on Avery, and despite what a horrible idea it was for the two of them to get together… I wasn't gonna shoot her down and ruin her chances.

"Oh… You think?"

"Yeah, I mean, unless you'd rather invite her…" I tried to joke with her, but she got even more nervous, and her face began to burn up. Ellie was giggling quietly next to her, and I had to fight the urge to laugh as well.

Everything was going well until Ariel's phone rang.

"I am so sorry, I have to take this. Behave Ellie." She slid from the booth and briskly walked out of the restaurant. She was muttering under her breath, and she looked… pissed.

"Hm. Is everything okay" My mom's brows furrowed, and Emi began to fidget in her seat.

"Uh… Yeah. I'm gonna go check on my mom real quick. Ellie…"

"I know, behave. What's the worst that can happen, I'm sitting with two adults and a boy scout." She huffed, but there was a tenseness in her voice, her ocean colored eyes watching her sister intensely as she followed their mother out.

"So… tell me about yourself, Ellie." My mom tried to get her attention, smiling at her, and looking at her with warm eyes.

"Um… there really isn't anything to say about me." She muttered, and I snickered.

"Oh really. Say's the girl who jumped off a cliff into the ocean at night." There was a hint of bitterness in my voice, and my dad glared.

"I was fine, I totally had the situation handled." She snapped and my dad crossed his arms and grunted.

"And what was the situation?" My dad's face was like stone, and I almost laughed. My dad was really good at making a person feel small and nervous. It was something he learned from his own dad.

"I-um-well… It was… Complicated?" She was unraveling, and rolled my eyes

"Well, it must have been really complicated for you to do something so crazy." She didn't understand the sheer amount of terror I felt when I saw her jump.

"Yeah… crazy." She looked at me, and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. She looked almost… sad. I didn't want her to feel sad. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, she went rigid and slipped from the booth.

"Sorry, I gotta go check on my sister." I looked over and saw her sister waving from the window, pale as a sheet.

"I wonder what that was all about?" My mom took a sip of her wine, and I felt something tight ball up in my stomach.

"I think…" I dug my nails into my fist as a wave of despair washed over me.

"Gabe?" My dad placed his hand on my shoulder. I didn't even realize I was shaking until she stabilized me. "Gabriel."

"Ellie." I breathed out, dashing from the table and making my way outside into the rain. Ellie and Emi were staring at each other, Ellie's back to me. Emi's face was pale, and she looked sick.

"Ellie!" She turned her head to me, and I could see the look of shock on her face. She sniffed, rubbing at her eyes, attempting to dry her tears before they ever fell.

"Emilia, Elaine_" Their mother's face was red with anger, her phone clenched tightly in her hands as she walked towards them.

"Mom… is it true?" Emi's brows furrowed, and Ariel opened her mouth to say something. I felt like I was intruding on a family meeting, but I couldn't bear to leave Ellie when she was feeling so… terrible.

"I-I… This isn't the time to_"

"It's true." Ellie glanced over to me, her ocean eyes drowning me in sadness.

"God…Girls I…" Ariel was at a loss for words, the anger washing from her face, and filling with anguish.

"We should just go finish dinner." Her voice was soft, and Ariel paused.

"Ellie…"

She let her shoulders fall, a small sigh leaving her mouth. She brushed past me, her eyes glued to the ground as she made her way inside of the restaurant. Emi followed, her expression not much different.

Then it was just me and their mother.

"I'm sorry Gabriel. I… Don't really know what to say." I didn't answer her, I just stared off into the distance.

*So uh... I rise from the dead I guess? I sincerely apologize for 1.) Ghosting this story, and 2.) posting randomly on a March afternoon. I've had a crazy couple of years, and when I was going over my old stories, I saw this and realized I probably shouldn't have abandoned it. It's a fun tale, and I wanna follow through. I don't know how often I can post, but I'll try to be better. If you're still reading, I hope ya'll like this additional chapter. XOXO RandomKay*