Gabriel's eyes scanned the room as he led me to the couch, his gaze lingering on each of his friends before settling on Ryan. "Why are you all here?" he asked, his tone neutral.
Bella, seated at Gabriel's right side, leaned into him, her arm intertwined with his. I sat to his left, watching the scene unfold. "You suddenly went off the grid and told us not to visit, but then you went to visit Ryan on your own two days ago," Charles pointed out, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Bella was a beautiful girl with a slender, curvy figure. Her heart-shaped face was framed by rich, honey-blonde hair that cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her brown eyes sparkled with warmth, and her full lips curved into a gentle smile.
She wore a silk marron shirt and a short cargo skirt, paired with knee-high heels that added to her statuesque appearance.
Gabriel released himself from Bella's grasp, his eyes locked on Ryan. "So you all decided to come see me?" he asked, his tone neutral.
Bella's voice was sweet and feminine as she replied, "We missed you."
Gabriel's expression remained unchanged, but his words were firm. "Thank you for your time, but you can leave. I have things I want to discuss with Betty."
I felt a sudden pang of anxiety, wishing they wouldn't go. Being left alone with Gabriel made me uneasy. But before I could react, Shirley spoke up, her voice dripping with malice. "Is she leeching off of you? Those clothes don't look like something she can afford."
Bella's eyes narrowed, her voice taking on a sharp tone. "Oh my gosh, have you no shame?" she asked, directing her question at me.
Gabriel's voice cut through the tension, sweet but firm. "Girls, stop. She's my girlfriend. Show her some respect."
Bella and Shirley sank into their seats, their eyes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. But Zoe's expression was different, her smile genuine as she spoke up. "It's nice to meet you, Betty."
Zoe's demeanor changed the instant Gabriel spoke up in my defense, shifting from hostility to warmth. "It's nice to meet you too, Zoe," I said, smiling back at her, making a mental note to avoid her in the future.
Charles stood up, his tone laced with subtle annoyance. "I think that's our cue to leave. You obviously don't want us to get in the way of your private time." He beckoned to the others, "Come on, guys, let's go." The rest stood up to leave.
As they filed out, Bella turned back to Gabriel, who was accompanying them to the door. She shot me a dirty look before gazing up at Gabriel with a sweet, sultry expression. "You'll attend the party Friday night, won't you?" Her voice was low.
Gabriel's response was brief. "You'll see me there."
After they said their goodbyes, I quickly retreated to my room, seeking refuge behind closed doors. But my solitude was short-lived. A knock on the door came less than a minute later. Gabriel poked his head in, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah," I replied, knowing that refusing him would be futile.
Gabriel settled onto my bed, looking utterly at ease as he fiddled with a pillow s utter silence enveloped us.
I broke the silence, feeling uneasy. "So, your friends seem nice."
Gabriel's smile was charming. "Yeah, they are. But I like you better than all of them combined."
His words made me wary, but before I could respond, he continued, "And they did interrupt us earlier. Should we continue from where we stopped?"
Gabriel's face was inches from mine, his warm breath dancing across my skin. He pressed soft kisses to my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I hated him with every fiber of my being, but his touch ignited a spark within me, leaving me yearning for more.
Yet, I knew I couldn't give in. I had to escape this situation before it spiralled out of control.
"Um, Gabriel," I said, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest.
"Yeah?" He paused, his lips still grazing my neck.
"I was hoping I could make it to school today," I continued, trying to edge away from him.
"You have class?" Gabriel asked, his voice low, as he resumed his gentle kisses.
"Yeah, I had one like an hour ago, but I have another by 3."
"It's only 12," Gabriel pointed out, his breath tickling my skin.
"I'd like to get there early," I insisted, trying to sound firm.
Avenue Street was around two hours from college, which was located in Riverside City. According to Google Maps, Gabriel's apartment was in Oakdale City, making the commute significantly faster, approximately an hour and fifteen minutes faster by car. I really needed to leave the house and Gabriel's vicinity, like immediately.
He pondered for a moment before turning to me. "What class do you have?"
"I have a toxicology class," I replied.
"Can't you skip it?" Gabriel whined.
"I've missed two weeks already," I said firmly.
Gabriel's expression changed, and he smiled. "Fine, I'll drive you. Then we can go on a date."
I winced inwardly; the whole point of my plan was to avoid him.
"Also, Gabriel, Ryan informed me that my good grades are all thanks to you. Could you please not do that anymore? I want to try and achieve this on my own," I pleaded.
Gabriel's response was an unexpected, uncontrolled laughter. "Oh, that asshole," he chuckled, then gave me a serious but warm look. "Betty, your grades are yours. All I did was get you into the school."
With that, he turned to leave. Weirdly enough, I felt a pang of longing for the touch of his lips. I touched my lips, wondering how crazy I must be to feel physically attracted to the guy responsible for my father figure's death.
After he left the room, I buried my face in the bed, feeling frustrated. My plan to create some distance between Gabriel and me had backfired, and now I was stuck with him. His chiseled features and flawless face were etched in my mind, and I hated the way they made me feel. I tried to convince myself that it was just physical attraction, that I wasn't falling for him. But my mind kept wandering back to the kiss we shared in the kitchen. The circumstances surrounding it were far from romantic, but the kiss itself had left me breathless. I recalled the second kiss, and how different it was from the first, which had left me feeling nauseous. It was ironic that they had happened just seconds apart. Despite everything, Gabriel had still taken something from me – my first kiss.