Page 37 of Gabriel's Salvation

“You have no idea,” he scoffs. Sadness mixed with anger rolling off of him.

We sit back down, letting our legs hang off the edge of the roof as we both sit in silence.

“So you never explained how this became your safe space,” Gabe finally breaks the silence by asking.

“This used to belong to my parents. At one point this was the place to be, this whole roof used to be covered in fairy lights.” I say as I stand again and begin motioning to different areas of nothingness. “We had a bar here… and over here was a small dance floor. And this here used to have a pool table.” I say pointing to the corner of the roof.

“So what happened to it all?” Gabe asks as he comes to join me.

“Well when my Mom got sick, my dad stopped working. Missed a few payments and the bank foreclosed on the business. And it's been sitting empty ever since. When I was a kid I liked to come here and pretend everything was fine. I would just pretend that Dad was still working in the kitchen and Mom was talking to all the customers.”

“I get it, kind of. When Mom died I used to spray her perfume on my pillow just so when I woke up I could imagine, even for just a moment, that she was still here.” Gabe says sadly as he stares off into space.

“And what about your dad?” I ask, reaching out to touch his hand, but he pulls it away as if I burned him.

“He was a sadistic bastard who died. Hopefully the bastard is rotting in hell,” he snaps back his brow furrowing. The change in his demeanor is so sudden it's like he morphed into a whole different person. Two minutes ago he was sweet and caring, now he's cold and distant.

“Anyway can we go, it’s fucking freezing up here,” Gabe snaps.

“Wait here,” I say before running back downstairs. I head towards the old cloakroom that is completely bare. I reach for the light, but of course it's been years since this place had power so I pull out my phone flashlight. Eventually, I find what I'm looking for, the old wooden ottoman. Inside I find the zip locked blankets Mom kept here for emergencies.

Since our parents often worked late, me and Harper would regularly fall asleep waiting. So Mom kept spare pillows and blankets in zip locked bags so we could create makeshift beds on the comfy sofa that was in the corner of the restaurant. Grabbing two blankets and pillows I make my way back upstairs.

“Here,” I say, handing Gabe a set, before carefully placing mine down on the floor so I can stare up at the stars.

Chapter Fourteen

Gabe

Iwrap the blanket around me and watch as Stacey, or whatever her fucking name is, takes hers and lays it down on the dirty floor. I watch as she stares up at the sky, seeming peaceful. How the fuck can she be peaceful after just baring her soul like that? I make my way over and sit down beside her.

She moves to lay her head on my lap, and I let her. She continues to stare up at the sky, neither of us saying a word. But we both seem to enjoy the tranquility. That is until her phone rings, breaking the silence. The first time she allows it to ring out, not even making a move to answer it but when it rings again just a few seconds later she sits up, rummages in her handbag, and pulls it out.

“Hey Nate… no I’m fine… I'm sure.”

I feel my blood pulsing, the urge to rip the phone out of her hands and find out why my brother’s calling her is overwhelming. I stand up and begin pacing around.

I hear her laughing, and flirting with my brother on the phone so I start making my way over. “Anyway, I've got to go. See you both tomorrow.”

“What the fuck Stacey?” I snap. “Oh wait, that isn’t even your fucking name is it? What was it? Miley? Or shall I just call you whore?” I scream, so upset that I’m shaking and my heart is pounding.

Her face morphs into a mixture of shock and anger. “What did you just call me?” she demands.

“Whore! It seems fitting for someone who sucks my dick when she has a boyfriend. Then apparently flirts with my own brother in front of me.” I shout, letting all the anger inside spew out.

I see the effect my words have on her, she looks like I've physically hit her. Good, that's what she gets for hurting me. But then I see that familiar fire behind her eyes, before an almighty ‘slap’ echoes through the air as I feel the sting on my cheek. The bitch slapped me, and hard.

“You’re a fucking asshole Gabe, and I hate you!” she screams as I see her eyes well with tears.

“At least I own who I am. I’m not a fucking liar. Some dirty, little slut who pretends to be ‘little Miss Sweet and Innocent’. No wonder your boyfriend didn't want you anymore!” I shout as she storms away.

My words obviously hit a nerve as she spins around and marches right back to the point that I’m forced to look down. She pokes me with her finger. “I’m not a fucking liar!” she shouts back. “Sure, I may have given you a fake name the first time we met, but that was an accident. I was out with friends using a fake name. Playing some stupid game. How the fuck was I supposed to know the stranger at the bar would turn into more?” she says looking sheepish and embarrassed.

“So you admit this whole thing was some pathetic little game then?” I snap again and peer at her.

“NO, you fucking asshole!” she screams, her face so close to mine now that I can feel her breath against my face. “Getting you to buy us a drink was the dare, everything else that's been said or done has been real. I like you Gabe, at least I did before…”

I cut her words off by grabbing her for a kiss. At first, she tries to push me away before giving in. Both of us kiss with so much anger and passion.

---