Gabriel Au

Gabriel Au Chapter 3

I moved my body to the music, my hair swinging from side to side. My heart was thumping and my blood was rushing but I enjoyed the time I had with my friends.

"I'll be back," I whispered in Parker's ear, walking off towards the drinks. I looked around, my eyes seeing nothing but liquor. I shook my head, moving to the kitchen. I went through Jared's cabinets, grabbing a glass. I went to the sink, pouring myself a glass of tap water. I drank gratefully, washing the glass out and putting it back in the cabinet. When I closed the cabinet, I noticed Gabriel Au walking right in. "Hey," He smiled. I nodded, beginning to walk past him. "You look very nice, I saw you earlier but you were with your friends and I didn't have the chance to tell you. You look nice." Gabriel's voice made me turn around. "What's up with you?" I asked, moving back to him. "I don't know, what's up with me? Uh, nothing really, I mean I kinda am tired, a little hungry, a whole 'lotta bored ..." Gabriel shrugged. "No, no. I mean, seriously, what's up with you? If you want to talk, just say something instead of staring at me like I'm your next meal or something. It makes my friends and I uncomfortable." I rubbed my hands down my arms that were sprouting goosebumps. Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. "I - I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off like a creep. I didn't mean to come off like that at all, honestly; I'm sorry." Gabriel cracked a smile. I shook my head, trying to keep my own smile away from my face. "I didn't mean to embarrass you like that today, either. In foreign language, I mean," I was referring to this afternoon in class. "Don't worry about it. It's every guy's dream to be embarrassed by the prettiest girl in class." I felt my cheeks burn. "Stop," I turned to walk away. I heard Gabriel coming after me. I found my friends, dancing to the music again. I laughed the night away, pretending to ignore the stares I got from Gabriel.

"I love you so, so much," Callum ran his fingers down my face. "Cal, you're so drunk, it's disgusting. Callie, your brother's drunk!" Parker screamed, throwing his hands up. I laughed, Annmarie following after us to my car. "Oh my god, I think I lost my shoe!" Callie shouted, running down the hill that led to her boyfriend's house with one heel in her hand. She came tumbling down, exploding in giggles. "Help me get them in the car, please." I begged Parker, who then opened my door, pushing Callum in. "I can't see my feet," He groaned, swinging at Parker. "Alright, big guy. Get in the damn car." Parker mumbled, trying hard not to use force. "You've got a handful tonight," Annmarie laughed, helping Callie up. "I know, right?" I answered, getting in the front seat. I started my car up, waiting for the passengers to be loaded in. Callie got into the passenger seat, clicking her seat belt. Parker was on my side now, leaning into the car. "See you tomorrow?" He asked. "Yeah, come over early. I'll be up. Key's under the mat." I smiled at Parker, leaning out to give him a hug. "'Kay. Get these crazy kids home safe. Bye Callie, Cal. Get some sleep tonight, cause you guys are totally shit-faced," Parker laughed. Annmarie and I joined him. "Bye, Parker, babe. I love you!" Callie shouted, waving over and over. I rolled my eyes, smiling goodnight to Annmarie. "I'll head off with Parker. See you." I took off slowly, Callum's bubbly voice filling the car. "She's so nice. They're so nice."

I got to the first stop sign past Jared's house and noticed a familiar shadow in the dark. Gabriel. "Hey, Gabriel." I said from my window. He turned to see me. He smiled under the streetlight. "Hi, Kendall." His voice sent shivers down my spine. I pulled over so I was close to him. "How far do you live from here?" I asked. "I'm going at least a good ten minutes from here. Why?" He asked, continuing to walk. My friends watched intently, finally acting sober for the first time this night. "Let me bring you home, we're going that way too." I unlocked the car doors. "My mama told me, 'don't go talkin' to no strangers, they're no good.' I don't know if I should get in or not." Gabriel joked, walking towards the door. Before he could grab the handle, I pressed the gas. We both laughed. "Come on, get in." Gabriel got in, rubbing his hands together. I rolled the windows up, putting on the heat. "Hope you don't mind riding with two drunk people," I sighed, creeping down the dark streets. "It's fine. It's ... interesting." Gabriel laughed. "Hi, I'm Callum. You must be the sexy bad ass." I watched Callum smirk in the rear view mirror and lean towards Gabriel. "Hi, Callum, you're pretty cool, too." Gabriel smiled, waving. "Can you hold me?" Callum giggled, throwing Gabriel's arm around him. "Sure ..." Gabriel hesitated, rubbing his arm. "God, Callum, you're so gay!" His sister's voice boomed. "Choke on a -" Callum screamed back. Before he could finish I turned the radio up. "Look, Cal, it's your favorite song. Now be quiet." I rolled my eyes, stopping at the red light. Callum sang out of key as usual, his hand rubbing Gabriel's thigh. 'I'm sorry,' I let the words form on my lips, hoping Gabriel caught them. "It's okay." He smiled back through the mirror, Gabriel's head on his shoulder.

"Come on you two," I unclasped Callie's seat belt, grabbing her house keys. I helped her to her house, unlocking the door and taking her upstairs. "Thank you so much, Kendall. You're such a great friend," Callie grinned as I undressed her, tugging on the quickest pajamas I could find. "No problemo, Callie. As long as you'll do the same for me," I joked, tying her hair up for her. "Be careful with that guy down there, he's unusual. I love you." She mumbled, collapsing in her bed. I froze, staring at her back. "I love you too," I shook it off, turning her lights off. I made my way downstairs and out the house, going back for Callum. "Come on, Callum. I'm gonna have to take you away from your boy toy for the night," I played with him, grabbing his arm. "God, Kendall, can't you see I'm comfortable?" Callum was holding onto Gabriel's arm, his head against his chest. "Yeah, but you're scaring the poor guy!" I managed to tear him away. "I love you, sexy bad ass. You're so cute," Callum leaned in, quickly kissing Gabriel on the lips. My jaw dropped, my eyes wide. Gabriel looked just as confused. Silence now surrounded the three of us. Callum burst into tears, running toward the house. "Why did I do that?!" He shouted, banging his fist against the door. "Callum, baby, it's two in the morning. Don't hurt yourself!" I chased after him, making sure he got up into his room safely. Gabriel followed after me."Leave me alone, Kendall, you don't get it!" Callum continued screaming, running through the house. I grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the stairs. "Come on, Cal. Your parents'll be home in the morning and everything'll be okay, okay?" I promised him. "Nobody understands me!" Callum ranted, the scent of liquor dancing off his lips. "Come on," Gabriel whispered, picking Callum up from his legs, throwing him over his shoulder easily. Gabriel followed me up the steps, whispering to Callum. Callum cried even louder, banging his fists against Gabriel's back. I pushed open Callum's room, turning on the light. I watched as Gabriel easily dropped him back on the bed, tears still running down his face. Callum leaned up, looking down at Gabriel who was now taking off his shoes, eye contact never breaking between the two. I took the shoes from Gabriel, putting them in a closet. When I returned back to the room, Gabriel's lips were moving, but I heard nothing. Callum nodded, wiping his eyes. Gabriel rubbed his shoulder and ran a hand through Callum's hair. "Get some sleep." Callum tossed his blanket back, burying himself in his blankets. "Goodnight," Gabriel muttered, shutting off the lights. "How the hell did you get him to stop crying? That seemed like magic." I asked, making my way downstairs. "It's a secret. If I told you it wouldn't be magical anymore," Gabriel laughed, shrugging me off. I locked the doors and turned the lights off, making my way back out to my car. Gabriel got in the front seat. "Where do you live?" I asked him, backing out of the driveway. "About three blocks from here. What about you?" He looked over at me. "Down the street." I told him, turning out of the driveway. I turned the radio down. "I'll walk if you want," Gabriel put his hand on the car door. "No, no. It's fine, I'll take you home. I make a right here?"

"Thanks for bringing me home," Gabriel smiled at me. "Least I could do after today. I'm sorry about tonight, too. I didn't get to apologize for that. God, my friends are a mess." I looked away. "Your friends are amazing. I wish I had friends like that. I need to get in now, though. When will I see you again?" I noticed Gabriel's hand inching closer to mine. "Monday. Good night." I said coldly, unlocking the door for him. He got out slowly, looking back at me. "Good night, Kendall." He walked towards his house, his voice just as cold as mine. I shook my head, cursing under my breath as I turned my car around to head home.