Truth Or Dare.

7.

Gabriel.

The phone rang twice before I mustered the strength to pick it up, just to shut it up. Ray's arm around my waist rendered me immobile, so I put the phone to my ear and groaned.

"Hello?" Ray stirred but didn't wake. No answer. I kissed my teeth. "Hello?"
"Morning, Gabriel."
Sleep seeped out of me as I stared at the screen.
Justintime
Impossible. I deleted you ages ago!
"How did you get my number?" I hissed, spying Ray roll over to the other side and curl up in the sheets. His frame reminded me of a dumpling. On the other line, in Justin's droopy voice that rang low like a hollow pipe, I heard a mocking smile in his words.
"I suggest you use a passcode on your phone or people won't only target your number." I swallowed the bitter pill. No one had my phone, nor did I ever let it out of my sight. And to think I'd get a lecture from someone so self-centered, and with no sense of privacy. "Your wallpaper made me miss cupcakes," he added with the same tone.
"What do you want, other than ruining my sleep?"
"You still owe me." I cursed and Ray stirred again. I better take this somewhere else, I thought as I slipped into the bathroom and locked the door.
"What do you want?" I caught my reflection in the mirror above the sink as I growled the words. Even shirtless and with a head of tangled hair, I looked ready to strangle the man on the other line.
"It's a long request. I wanted to hold it off first... And, I don't think you'll like it, with you wanting me out of your life and all."
"Quite your circling and spit it out!" The bathroom handle turned.
"Gabe? Are you okay in there?"
"Yup!"
"Then, why do you sound so mad?"
"Nothing!" And back to the phone, "Well? Spit it!"
"Who're you talking to?" Justin asked.
"None of your business. Now talk or else I'm hanging up."
"Wait, wait!" He said in a panic, his former suave gone. "...I can't explain it over the phone, so could you come to the studio tomorrow?" Ray knocked and called.
"What if I have plans?"
"Do you want to clear this debt or not?" The word knotted my insides. The psychological knot tying people together against their will. Tying me to Justin. More than anything, I wanted it gone.
"Fine, but don't call me again." I hang up and opened the door, where Ray stood in his pajama pants and bed hair. I took a calming breath before heaving a slow, "Hey."
"What was that about?" He asked with a raised brow.
"An annoying call from an annoying shit," I said as I walked past. "Don't mind it." Quickly, I crawled under the covers before he could ask more. "What are you doing over there? Come back to bed." He eyed me but joined me nonetheless.
"But... Who calls you at 2 am?" I didn't answer. The feel of the bed pulled at my sleep strings, and the warmth of a body beside me wove them so intricately. I glanced at him and turned to face him, then pulled him closer. I forgot how comforting a human body can be. He leaned on my chest without a word.
"Will you be at the studio tomorrow?" He glanced up.
"No. We have that contract to sign with the Akers, remember?"
"Fuck, right. Forgot about that." I ran my hands over my face. And that old couple wasn't easy to deal with.
"What time is it?" He snuggled up into my chest.
"I guess we'll be done at around noon. Why?" I looked at him again, and with a final heave, pushed all thought out of my mind, focusing on the warmth of sleep.
"Nothing. Forget it."

********

Justin.

I watched Bunny take a long swig of his cold beer as he texted with his other hand, and gulped. Summer came quicker than expected, and despite the air conditioning, my thirst persisted. Since morning, I had nothing but cold water to drink. I couldn't take anything sweet, spicy, or alcoholic until I recorded my piece, and now, I craved a cold soda. Bunny noticed me looking at him and offered his beer, to which I gave him a point-blank stare and he laughed from deep in his gut. "Where is this dude? Sure is taking his sweet time," he said and sipped his drink.
"He'll be here soon."
"You said that ten minutes ago." I shrunk at his words. "If he ain't comin', he ain't." Just then, someone knocked on the door. One of the producers peeked in, her small eyes landed on me.
"Uh, X, there's a Gabriel Kins here to see you?" I smirked at Bunny at her words, and he shrugged and continued staring at his phone.
"Let him in."
"How'd you know that he'd come?" Bunny asked when the door shut again. I lay back in my chair and reveled in those words.
"Easy. Gabriel loathes debts more than anything."
The door opened and my esteemed guest stepped in.
His ruffled dark hair rose and fell like waves as if he'd run his hands over and over through them. At first glance, he looked simple; a crisp white t-shirt and shorts. But on closer inspection, I caught the brand name in gold on the shirt hem, the recent shoe model, and the limited edition silver watch on his wrist. Guess his bank account is still strong. From the moment he walked in, his eyes remained on Bunny, who returned his gaze with a raised bottle in salute. Gabriel bobbed his head with a childish grin. A fan? I cleared my throat to make my presence known, and the look he gave me harbored so many negative emotions in a flash, and then it went blank.
"Gabriel! Took you long enough." He shut the door behind him and leaned on it.
"I had important things to do. Now, let's get this over with."
"Why the rush? Your club doesn't open until six." He gave me a once-over, crossed his arms, and sighed. I smiled back.
"Just say what you want."
"You." He frowned then raised a brow. "I want you to stay." He stared with hooded eyes that brewed a grey storm.
"A'ight, I'mma get ya'll a drink," Bunny suddenly said and got up.
"Oh, don't fret," Gabriel protested with that kid smile of his. "I'll get it for you. Anything you'd like?" Bunny blinked and sat back down.
"Uh, cider. Cold."
"Got it." Then he rushed out, nearly knocking over the producer that passed by him at the door. Both of them looked at me when he left and I picked up the headphones on the deck.
"He doesn't like you very much, does he?" Bunny asked as I gave way to the lady.
"Trust me, he's got every reason not to." He raised a dark brow, but I offered nothing more. Neither did he press on. I didn't want to think of my past, not with the microphone in front of me. A dark thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I shook it off. Instead, I focused on helping the lady set everything up and on her instructions. A distraction. That's what I needed.
Whenever the beats pump into my ears and gain rhythm that ripples through my body, there's a euphoria that comes with it. It comes when your voice breaks out, and echoes around you binding you until you can't hear yourself anymore. Like an orgasm, it flows out and rips you from your thoughts, leaving you blank and breathless and filled with ecstasy. All your senses merge with your instrument until you're nothing but sound. And I loved it; the sound that blocked everything. The silence, the yelling, the regrets.
I took a deep breath, bathed in its warmth and opened my eyes.
They locked with Gabriel's. The warmth swam in my stomach, then jumped to my head and made me dizzy. He stared from the other side of the glass, two ciders in his hands. When did he get here? Did he hear me?
How was I?
The sudden urge to get an answer took over, and I took off the headphones and almost blurted, Gabriel, how was I?
"Great work, X!" I jumped at the producer's voice. Right. We're recording. I tore my eyes from Gabriel and grinned. When I looked back at him, he was talking to Bunny, both sipping their ciders and him grinning like a fool. I finalized everything with the lady on the deck, then turned to Gabriel and took his bottle. He only stared as I took a long swig of the cold drink, then pushed it back into his hand.
"How was it? Did I blow your mind?"
He eyed the bottle, then placed it on the table and pocketed.
"Are we even now?" The words crashed into me.
"Why the rush?" I asked quickly. "I'm starving after all that work, and I'm craving pie. Bunny?"
"Nah, I'm good." He picked up his jacket, threw Gabriel a look only I could read, and shut the door behind him.
Pure disapproval, if not creeps.
"Now," I pulled him from staring at the door, "How about it?"
"About what?"
"A taste of Kilmarnock's famous pie?" His brow furrowed, and then he shook his head. Then, he chuckled. It was a sound I didn't think I'd hear from him.
"That sweet tooth of yours still hasn't changed."
It took a moment for me to follow him down the hall, a moment for me to process his words. So he hadn't forgotten. He may hate me, but he remembered that.
There may be hope for me after all.
As we stepped into the parking lot, I heard the familiar growl of my Harley as it left. Bunny took my bike, but if it's him, it'll be back at my place soon.
"We don't have a fresh batch. I couldn't order them because of your stupid request." The acid in those words burnt.
"Wait, I thought you made them." He glanced at me and raised a brow. "What, I know you can from that diner side job you had." His steps froze.
"You... remember that?" I smiled, solemnly. He thought I forgot. I guess we're both shocking each other today.
"Of course! So, which one's your car?"
"What about yours?"
"Bunny took it." He paused for a moment, then walked to a car tucked in the corner. A royal blue Chevrolet corvette, a recent model. A smirk picked at my lips.
"Well, I thought it would be something flashier, is all I can say."
"I'm a minimalist. I don't need to be flashy," he threw a glance around. "Unlike you guys."
"Okay, Mr. I-Only-Wear-Brands," I chuckled as we got in. He shot me a look, but I ignored it. "Get me some pie or I'll get cranky."
"Get cranky and I'll toss you to the sidewalk," he growled back and started up the car.
"You wouldn't." He stared at me and smiled.
"I wouldn't care, you mean? Yes."
Gabriel moved around the open kitchen in fluid motions, back muscles flexing as he mixed and stirred, then put everything in the oven and swung a tea towel over his shoulder. Was he always this good-looking? He cupped his waist with floured hands and turned.
No, he was always good-looking; he's just gotten hotter. Gone was the boyish Gabriel with his aesthetic bangles and baby fat cheeks. The one before me was a man.
Then he sneezed.
"Justin," he sniffed, "where are your ears?"
I blinked. "Huh? You said something?"
"Yeah! Prepare the cooling tray and clean the place up!" He rubbed his nose bridge in frustration. "This is yours, so if it comes out horrible- Achoo! Ah, jeez."
"I think I'll catch the flu first," I joked as he leaned over the sink and splashed water over his face.
"I hope you catch something worse than the flu." He ran his fingers through his waves to push the strands from his wet face. Droplets ran down his neck and pooled at his collar.
Oh...my. "Ah, shit. Let me go change." He rushed to what I assumed was the bedroom and only when he shut the door did I release my breath. I rubbed my neck to calm the prickly warmth spending over me. Things got out of hand for a bit there. Focus, Justin! You gotta get on his good side, that's all. My fingers drummed the island top as I took in a long breath. Don't get carried away, Justin. That's not part of the plan.