Page 72 of Gabriel's Salvation

"Well, you've already said that Nate doesn't know I called. Why come? Why not just hang up the phone and let me rot in peace?" I ask desperately trying to understand. When she doesn’t answer right away, I grab her arm a little too forcefully. I don't wanna hurt her, but I need her to look at me so I can see either the sincerity or the lies in her eyes. If it did nothing else, my childhood made me a human lie detector. I've learned to spot deception a mile away.

She winces under my grip before pulling her arm away with fear in her eyes. "Are you crazy, Gabe? I know you don't like me very much, but to be honest, I don't know why. I've never been anything but nice to you. You're practically family. I love your brother and plan on being with him for the rest of my life. So, sorry, bud, but it means you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life,” she says as she rubs at her arm before continuing. “You're Nate's big brother, the person he loves the most in the whole world. And whether he asks me to or not, I'll still come and try to save you. I'd never do anything to hurt him. That’s why I keep trying to repair this stupid rift between us. You're important to Nate, which means you're important to me as well. So, just in case it's not fucking obvious yet, I've come to get you and I'm walking the streets at almost five in the morning in my fucking pajamas with no fucking idea where we are or where you're taking me because I care about you, you goddamn psycho!" she screams before physically covering her mouth. Fuck, she seems like she needed that.

I can't help but smile at her outburst and the way anger, then shock, then guilt flashes across her face. Why does it seem like she's just unleashed a lifetime of pent up frustration? And why do I feel oddly amused and proud of her for that?

I see her looking around nervously, and for some reason want to put her at ease. "I'm taking you home, Princess," I smirk. I see her face screw up at my choice of word. Which just makes me smirk more. That silly stubborn look on her face reminds me so much of Riley. I guess they are friends after all; but who'd have thought that out of all the big bad people I've met over my years, two stubborn little girls, both barely as high as my chest, would be the only ones brave enough to shout at me like this?

"What's so funny?" Isabella pouts.

"I like your bitchy side. Who knew the cute kitty had claws?" I say with a mischievous tone.

"I'm not a bitch; you're just an asshole. Besides, you woke me up in the middle of the night. No wonder I'm a little grumpy," she snaps, crossing her arms like a petulant child. It takes everything in me not to burst out laughing then and there.

"Oh no, did I make the little Baby Princess mad?" I tease, nudging her on the shoulder.

"Fuck you," she snaps but lacking conviction, before attempting to storm off in frustration. I watch her take a few steps, then look around before turning left and taking a few more steps in completely the wrong direction. Stubborn little shit.

"Wrong way, Princess," I call out before bursting out in hysterics at the frustrated, yet stubborn look on her face as she turns around and walks back to me like a dog with its tail between its legs.

"How do you even know where we're going?! Everything looks the same! You're probably taking me somewhere so you can murder me and bury my body in the woods," she huffs. She looks so much like she's having a tantrum that I half expect her to stomp her foot.

"We're almost there, Princess, and besides, I like this irritable side of you. I'm having too much fun teasing you to kill you just yet. Not to mention, Nate would most likely try to murder me if I let anything happen to his little Bella Boo." I say in my most playfully mocking tone, before laughing loudly at my own joke.

"Wait! What's that noise?" she suddenly gasps dramatically as she whips her head all around quickly.

"What? Where?" I demand as I try to listen for whatever she hears. Instinctively the playfulness I felt just a moment ago is gone, and I'm in full defensive mode. Ready to protect myself, and her, from whatever threat is out there.

"Oh, it's just hell freezing over," she laughs as she tries to poke me. But instinctively I move. It takes me a minute for my adrenalin to ease. What the fuck is this girl trying to do to me?

"Who knew the big, bad Gabe Scott actually knew how to laugh?" Now that I'm finally calm and I know there is no imminent threat, I can't help but internally roll my eyes at myself for being so easy to fool.

"It's pretty hard not to laugh at those stupid, fluffy pajamas. What are those anyway, puppies?" I tease, as I try tugging at the sides of her coat to undo the buttons to get a better look at her stupidly childish pajamas. She squirms around as she desperately tries to hold her coat together while I try to open it. I can't help but enjoy this playfulness. It takes me back to the few times we used to all have together. Back when I could pretend I was young and carefree.

"You woke me up. I was asleep," she says as she stomps her feet, ah there it is, trying and failing to sound frustrated. If anything though, she looks like she's having a toddler tantrum. The way Nate used to whenever I told him he couldn't follow me to school. Back when mom was still alive and times were better.

"So is that your go-post-bail outfit or your special occasion party wear? Or do you always sleep in cute, little puppy pajamas?" I joke as I lead her out of the clearing just a few feet from Tucker’s house. I feel relaxed, enjoying this rare chance to be playful. For once I don't feel like I have to hide my emotions. There's no one here who I need to pretend for, it's nice.

"It's a good thing I do, or I would be collecting your ass out of jail naked," Isabella replies. What the fuck? Did I hear that right? I stop in my tracks genuinely confused. I should have known! Of course this was all just some sort of flirty ruse. How could I have been so fucking stupid!? Of course, all she wanted was to flirt. After all why the fuck would she want to be friends? She turns around to look at me and I fire her a furious look.

"Wait, I didn't actually mean it," she lies, as she stumbles over her words. I should have known she was just some dirty whore, just like almost every other girl I've met. What makes me angrier is that she's my brother's girl. And one of Riley's best friends. Sure, she may not know that me and Riley are sort of together, but how could she do this to them either way.

"Whatever, I should have known you were just a slut. Go show that shit to my BROTHER," I snarl viciously as my blood begins to boil.

"Fuck you!" she snaps before the bitch actually swings her hand as if to slap me. ME! When she's the one who essentially just said she wants me to see her naked. I grab her hand a second before it connects with my cheek. "That was the first and last time you ever get to touch me," I hiss through gritted teeth.

"What's your fucking problem, Gabe?! We were just having fun and then you completely switched. Why?" She lies again as she tries to pull away from me but I just grip her hand tighter.

"I have enough girls to have fun with; I don't need you," I say coldly. Fuck her, fuck these pathetic sluts. At least whores like Kelly admit what they want. They don't lie and try to deceive people like she does. I can't believe I didn't realize this side of her sooner. Nate deserves so much better.

She continues trying to pull away from me and not wanting to feel her skin on mine a second longer, I release her. Clearly, a bit too quickly as she immediately slips out of my hand and lands on her ass with a thud. She looks back towards the house, where Nate and all her friends are. What if she tells them? Tries to twist it like I hit her? I'll lose both Nate and Riley!

"If you tell anyone about this, I'll tell my brother you tried to fuck me, you whore," I threaten as I stand over her in an imposing manner.

"I'm not a whore!” she says as her eyes fill up with tears. “I didn't even mean anything by it. I was just joking around as friends," she looks up at me as she shuffles backwards in fear. Fuck, this is not how I wanted this to end.

"We are not friends!" I snap before sprinting off.

I hide behind a tree, just long enough to watch her stand up, dust herself off, and make her way to Tucker’s. I stay far enough behind that she doesn't see me, yet close enough that I can see her and make sure she gets back safely. I hate her right now, but I'd hate myself more, and so would Nate, if anything happened to her because I left her alone in the dark. Once she makes her way through the back gate, I know she's safe. I run to the nearest pub to drown out the memories of tonight.

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