Chapter Four

Service ended around twelve thirty. Gabby and AJ awkwardly exchanged looks from across the room as she put on her coat and fastened it. She wasn't sure how he figured out where her church was but it caught her off guard to see him there.

He wasn't sure why he stayed to wait for her but something in him wouldn't let him budge from his spot. He watched as people walked out, glancing at him with soft smiles.

"People and their kind hearts...they probably walk right out these doors and act like hooligans just like I use to.." he thought to himself as he watched Gabrielle.

"Excellent singing young lady," an older woman told her as she stepped down off of the choir stand.

She grabbed the lady's hand and smiled in appreciation. "Thank you so much."

"No thanks needed dearie, you're quite blessed and one day the Lord almighty will bless you in ways you'd never imagine."

"I surely hope so. A new job would be amazing." The woman laughed at Gabrielle's little joke before tapping her hand and walking away. She was stopped by a few more people before finally reaching AJ. She was going to walk past him but he wasn't about to let that happen. He swiftly stepped in front of her, catching her off guard. A strong smell of Axe cologne hit her nose making it tingle. She fought back a smile as she looked up into his eyes.

"Hi there..." She said.

He looked at her blankly for a moment and then responded, "Nice singing...didn't think women like you had talent like that."

Her eyebrow raised in confusion, "Women like me? I don't understand what you mean..."

"You know...the nerdy bookworm type...the glasses gave that part away but man did I not expect that voice..." he said.

She dropped her gaze as "the nerdy bookworm type" replayed in her head. It was one of those insults that plagued her in high school and all through college...She placed her hand on her stomach and quickly walked away from him.

"Hey! Wait up!" he yelled after her, but she didn't stop. Instead she kept walking rather quickly through the crowd of people. She told Patty meeting men wasn't her thing! Every single time she tried every single one of them treated her this way! She was so lost in her thoughts she barley heard AJ yelling for her to stop walking away. It wasn't until she nearly walked into oncoming traffic and was yanked back by AJ that she came to her senses.

"Jesus what's your problem!" he asked. "You can't just walk out into the street!"

She pulled her arm away from him, "Sorry. I was too busy reliving my high school days to care...I've always been nerdy Gabby or Gabby the nerdy bookworm and quite frankly it's a bit overwhelming to deal with."

"Gabby huh? Nerdy name too..." he said. "Man your parents must hate you..."

She shook her head, "My goodness you have no respect at all!"

AJ rolled his eyes as he thought to himself, "Oh God...she's one of those sensitive and emotional types..." He sighed and put his hands in his pockets, "Look I wasn't trying to insult you, I'm just not all that great when it comes to talking to random people."

"I can see that..." she said, "What's your name if you don't mind me asking."

"Allen...but I prefer AJ." he said.

"AJ huh? Must stand for absolute jerk," she sneered.

He chuckled and rubbed his goatee, "And Gabby must be short for absolute virgin..."

She held her body tightly as the light turned green. Without another word she crossed the street with him in close pursuit. Her silence to his last insult told him everything he needed to know about her. Not only was she not his type...she hadn't been touched by a man what so ever. "Looks like I'll need to hit up a bar soon."

"S-so...what made you want to come to church? Are you into Christianity?"

AJ shrugged, "I've heard you sing a few times and I wanted to know who you were...so I followed you this morning."

She stopped walking and looked at him, "You followed me?"

"Calm down little girl...as I said I followed you because your voice is awesome." he said, thinking about how he hoped she was drop dead gorgeous so he could get her number.

Gabby blushed but then remembered that this man was way out of her league. "W-well thank you..."

"So what do you do for fun? This city seems boring as hell..." he said.

Gabby shrugged, "I normally stay in my apartment on the weekends. You'll have to ask Patty that information."

"Patty? Oh yeah...big burtha at the front desk." he remembered.

She gasped in shock, "How rude of you! Don't you dare talk about Patty that way!"

He smirked at her sudden outburst, noticing her brown colored eyes behind those glasses. They were slightly pretty...with long lashes outlining the tops of them...why didn't she wear make-up he wondered.

"And what exactly are you going to do about it little girl?" he asked.

She gritted her teeth as they walked up to the entrance of their building. She knew there was nothing she could really do except ignore him from that point on. He was a rude and foul man that needed more than Jesus in her opinion. As for AJ, he thoroughly enjoyed teasing this young woman into frustration. There was something very cute about her little outbursts that made him want to pick on her more.

"Hey girlie," Patty said as they walked into the building. "Did you think about-What's wrong?"

Gabby stopped in front of the desk as AJ walked to the elevator with a smug look on his face. The women stared at him until the doors closed him in and he was gone from their presence.

"I take it you ran into that guy again." Patty said as she turned around to face her.

Gabby sighed, "Not exactly, he followed me to church this morning..."

Patty gasped, "He did what?"

"Looks like he's a fan of my singing,"

"And does that bother you?" she asked.

Gabby shook her head, "No, it's the conversation I had with him that did. He's so arrogant!"

"Most men are dear," she said as she finished filling out some paperwork. "Anyways did you ever think about my little offer? It'll be fun,"

She sighed, "No honestly I didn't think about it. I don't think I should Pat."

"Girl why not? You're a great singer," she said.

"I know but...look at me..."

Patty studied her friend's choice of fashion and immediately got an idea, "Ok so we'll change up your wardrobe before then! I know you've got money saved up so going to pamper yourself shouldn't be an issue."

"But I love my outfits..." Gabby said with a frown.

"You'll love mine more sugar, look just trust me on this one." she said. "We'll go out Saturday morning and go shopping for that night. What do you say? A girl's day just you and me."

Gabrielle couldn't help but smile at that thought. She never once had a girls day with anyone. "Ok...we'll do it."

"Yes! Now get your pretty self upstairs and relax...back to work tomorrow." she said.

"Oh yeah...Mondays..."

The women shared a laugh before Gabrielle headed upstairs to her apartment. She wasn't sure why but that rude and arrogant neighbor of hers was on her mind. A man had never followed her anywhere in her entire life and here he was following her to church. She began to wonder if her voice was truly something special and if it could indeed melt a frozen heart like AJ's.