Welcome to Chapter 9! I enjoy giving Gabriel his own mini cliff hangers. I love how Celeste and Gabe interact with one another and hold onto your seats because in the next chapter they work together ;) Please feel free to review and thank you for taking the time to read.

The shopping centre was bustling with people as they lugged around heavy bags, filled to the brim with recently purchased clothes. A fountain was near where Celeste and Gabriel were sitting. Celeste admired the swirling water spray. Nudging her lightly Gabriel signalled with his eyes to Celeste, who followed their direction.

Walking along unsuspectingly was a tall lady wearing a maxi dress. Barely moving his fingers Gabriel made the top of a hydrant start to rattle. Caught off guard the lady stopped and looked at the hydrant with a mixture of confusion and terrified awe. Lifting one hand up Gabriel smiled at Celeste as he whispered,

"Here comes the fun part," before snapping his fingers.

The top of the hydrant burst of and the lady shrieked as she was doused in icy water. Before covering her hands with her face as she ran off. Gabriel began to laugh loudly whilst Celeste glared at him.

"What? Oh come on she had it coming," Gabriel said imploringly as Celeste scolded him firmly,

"That was a mean thing to do. Why would you do that to a person? What did she ever do to you?"

"Cel, take it easy. She hasn't done anything to me. She has to her family, but nothing to me," Gabriel explained as he tried to placate her.

She fixed him with a confused expression.

"That lady over there. She walked out on her family and that's wrong. You never turn you back on family," Gabriel explained with conviction and Celeste noted the brief moment, when hatred flashed through his light-golden eyes.

She shifted uncomfortably. Gabriel instantly changed and gave a reassuring pat on her kneecap.

"Rough justice. That's kinda my thing. Jerks need to be taught a lesson and I'm the guy, who dishes it out. I'm not called the Trickster for nothing," he said cockily as he winked.

"Wow! So you're kind of like me? You're two things. An archangel and a trickster," Celeste exclaimed excitedly as she digested what Gabriel had just said.

"No, no. I'm nothing like you," Gabriel started but Celeste instantly looked crestfallen or as Gabriel analysed: she looked like a kicked puppy. "You didn't let me finish. I mean I'm nothing like you. Because you're special."

Celeste's eyes light up momentarily and she beamed but suddenly her expression turned dark and she shouted,

"Don't you ever call me that! Ever! Do you understand?"

Gabriel internally felt taken aback, he had paid her a compliment. He sensed there was a justified reason for Celeste's outburst but he felt now was not the time to confront it. Although things were going great (even more so than he had first anticipated) it was still their first, official day together. It would take time for him to gauge her mood and it would take time for her to learn to fully trust him.

Maintaining his composure Gabriel mock saluted and said,

"Loud and clear captain," before watching Celeste's expression change completely again.

She looked at him, her eyes wide with shock.

"I'm sorry Gabriel. I. What's wrong with me?"

Gabriel huffed as he pulled Celeste in to a quick hug. He squeezed once to let her know he wasn't mad before he looked at her seriously and said in an insistent tone,

"There is nothing wrong with you. Forget about it. No use getting upset over nothing. Uh no. Zip your lip and let's have some fun. Now are you going to help me knock these suckers down a peg or two or not?" Gabriel smirked as Celeste grinned back, nodding her head. "Perfect. Alright you see that dick over there. He's cheating on his wife. The lady next to him is not his wife."

"Who is she? His secretary or something?" Celeste said cheekily as she looked at the guy's stripped business suit and noticed the lady was wearing a business jacket with a striped skirt.

She thought that subconsciously they were mirroring each other's appearance. Gabriel nodded. "Seriously! Man. Talk about your clichés," Celeste said as she glared at the swagger the guy had in his walk.

"I know right. But let's just say his phone is about to malfunction and he is going to get a very interesting call," Gabriel smirked as he snapped his fingers.