Page 6 of Gabriel's Salvation

“$22.50,” the driver says, snapping me out of my daydream.

“Sorry, keep the change,” I say, handing him $25.

I run up the cobbled path to his door and knock a little too loudly out of excitement. I wait a few minutes but no one comes. So I knock again, this time louder. Perhaps he's upstairs?

A shout of “come in'' sounds from inside, so slowly I push the door open. Perhaps he's got a surprise waiting for me inside.

I make my way inside and notice most of the lights in the hallway are out, but I can hear noises from one of the rooms. I walk in and, well, he definitely has a surprise waiting for me, just not the kind I would like.

Inside are Justin and three other friends sitting on the floor in their gym shorts playing FIFA.

“Hey baby I missed you,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck, and placing a kiss on his cheek; but instead of embracing me, he moves his head away so that he can still see the TV.

“Babe, I'm playing. Sit down, I'll be with you after this game,” he grumbles.

I make my way over to the recliner and wait…and wait.

“Babe, it's been three games, how about you sit the next one out?” I beg as I again move to try and get his attention by running my hands through his hair.

“Stop being so needy, I'll be with you in a minute," he snaps while pushing my hand away.

One minute turns into one hour, and one hour turns into three.

Justin finally stands up, and I stupidly assume it's to finally come see me, but no. He gets up, walks to the kitchen, and returns a few minutes later with a beer for himself and his friends, but nothing for me.

“I'll go get my own then,” I snap.

As I walk into the kitchen I bump into his older sister, Lexi.

“Hey Lex.,”

“Oh hey. Freckles? Didn't even know you were here.”

“Yeah, I was supposed to be going out with your dumb brother, but the moron is too busy on his Xbox with his friends to even acknowledge me,” I say, trying and failing to hide the sadness and frustration from my voice.

“Well, that's because my brother’s an asshole, screw him. Carly and Molly are upstairs, why don't you come join us for a bit?” Lexi offers.

“Nah, it's okay; I don't wanna cramp your style.”

“Nonsense, I could do with a change anyway. Molly's complaining about work, and Carly's broken up with yet another love of her life,” Lexi laughs as she rolls her eyes dramatically.

“Well, you do sound like you need saving. Poor you." I tease.

“Here, take this,” she says, handing me a bottle of prosecco, “and I'll grab the glasses.”

“Hey bitches, you remember my brother's girlfriend,” Lexi hollers as she swings her bedroom door open.

“Damn! Freckles grew uuuppp!”

“Someone got a ‘lil bit sexy!” Carly says, slapping my ass as I walk past.

“We’re heading into town soon, you should join us.” Molly offers as she takes a glass of prosecco, and offers it to me. “Oh shit, you're not old enough are you?”

“Well actually…” I say, reaching into my jeans pocket and pulling out my fake ID and waving it in the air. “According to this, Stacey Daniels is 21 today,” I laugh.

“Let me see,” Lexi says, snatching the ID out of my hands.

“This is pretty good actually, where did you get it?” She asked, looking up at me with interest.

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