Page 82 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Stop, stop,” she calls out. “Go back one.”

I do as she said just as a bunch of characters come on screen. I don't even have a chance to figure out what it is before Riley begins narrating along with the screen.

I just stare at her as she pretty much recites word for word along with each character.

“How many times have you watched this?” I ask, looking at her in fascination.

“What? Friends, or this episode?”

“Either.”

“Friends, every single episode multiple times. This particular episode, at least ten times,” she laughs as she continues to eat her breakfast.

“And you're not sick of it yet?”

“NEVER!!” she gasps in mock disgust.

We continue to watch TV and eat our breakfast. I don't say much, but every now and then Riley will pipe up with a random fact, or explain who someone is, or why the fact they’re clearly on a break is such a big controversy.

“Can we go out somewhere…together?” Riley eventually asks.

I feel my pulse quicken at the thought. Sure I'm enjoying our time together, but I know we have to check out in a few hours. Am I ready for us to go out together? Like what if she wants to hold hands or walk down the street being all sickly sweet and coupley? Do I want that? Am I ready for that?

“Never mind, you can just drop me home I guess,” she says, but I can hear the sadness and insecurity in her voice. Why does it bother me so much?

“No, it's fine, let's do something. What do you want to do?” I ask, still unsure why I’m agreeing to this.

Her whole face lights up which makes my grinch sized heart grow. “I don't mind. Can we pop into Target or Walmart first though, as I need to get a few things?”

She bounces off the bed and heads into the bathroom. I hear the shower running and after waiting a few minutes, I get bored and follow her.

“Don't even think about joining me,” she warns as she peers around the shower curtain. “Otherwise, we’ll never make it out of this room,” she adds as she disappears from sight. Would that be the worst thing?

I close the lid, sit down on the toilet, and just enjoy the view. Even if it is partly obstructed by the shower curtain. Luckily it's thin enough, especially now it's wet, that I can see enough to imagine what's behind it.

“I was thinking….” Riley begins as she continues chatting away while she showers.

“Hand me a towel,” she instructs.

I look around and see a gray towel sitting in the sink so I hand it to her.

She wraps it around herself and steps out.

Then she spends the next twenty minutes walking back and forth to the bedroom where all her stuff is and the bathroom where the mirror is. Why doesn't she just grab all of her things and bring them in here? Girls are so dumb.

I spend my time following behind her like some little lap dog as every time I walk away or attempt to sit down she calls me back into whatever room she’s in, then fucking walks off again.

“You're giving me motherfucking whiplash,” I reply as she brushes past me for the hundredth time, this time to pick up a hair band from beside the bed.

“What? Why?” she asks, sounding genuinely bewildered.

“Back and forth, back and forth. You’re like a goddamn yo-yo”

“You should see what it's like sharing a room with Harper then,” she laughs back. “Two girls, one room…not so much fun in the morning.”

“You and your sister share a room?” I ask.

“Yeah, kind of weird, I guess,” she says as she shrugs her shoulders. “We have the space for us to have different rooms, but neither of us want that. She's my twin and she's always been there. We had separate rooms for a few years when we were younger but it just felt…”

---