Chapter 27: Thorns
Diane spun on her heel, her heart suddenly started pounding faster in her chest.
Standing at the garden gate was Gabriel, his green eyes seemed to be shadowed by an expression that was equal parts regret and something like control?
"What are you doing here?" Diane snapped, straightening up.
Gabriel stepped closer, his tall body looked commanding as he entered the garden.
"I came to talk."
"Talk?" Diane crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him.
"After what you accused me of last night? Do you have another ridiculous dream to throw in my face?"
Gabriel's jaw tightened, the muscles in his face tensed.
"Diane, I didn't come here to fight. I—"
"Then you shouldn't have come at all," she interrupted, in a quite icy tone.
"I've had enough of your baseless accusations and your self-righteous attitude."
Gabriel's eyes flashed, his composure slipped a little.
"Self-righteous? You think I'm self-righteous? Do you know what it's like to wake up from a dream where the person you trust the most betrays you? To feel that pain as if it's real?"
'I did betray you, but you didn't love me…' she thought to herself.
But to cover herself, Diane decided to let out a cold laugh.
"Oh, please. Spare me the dramatics. You're a grown man, Gabriel, not a child frightened by a nightmare."
"It's not just a nightmare, Diane!" Gabriel's voice rose.
He brushed his hair with his fingers.
"It's more than that. I felt it. I saw it. You—" He stopped, clenching his fists as he looked away.
"You broke my trust in a way I can't explain."
"And what about the trust you've broken with me? Do you think I don't feel betrayed every time you let your insecurities dictate how you treat me? Every time you try to control me or seduce me?"
"Control you? I'm trying to protect you from your crazy family, Diane. But you don't make it easy when you keep secrets and shut me out."
"Protect me from my family? From what? From who exactly?"
Gabriel's green eyes bore into hers.
"You don't get it, do you? I'm not here because I want to argue with you. I'm here because I somehow care about you, and whether you like it or not, I'm going to make sure you're safe."
Diane laughed bitterly. "Care about me? That's rich, coming from the man who accused me of things I haven't even done! Do you even hear yourself?"
'I'm sorry, Gabriel. But it's best for you if I act this way.'
"You think you're so strong, Diane, but you can't see the danger you're in. You think you can handle everything on your own, but you're blind to the threats around you."
Diane refused to back down.
"And you think you can walk in here and dictate my life? You don't own me, Gabriel. You don't control me. So stop trying."
The tension between them crackled like electricity, neither of them willing to back down.
Gabriel's voice softened, but the edge remained.
"You're so focused on proving you don't need anyone that you're pushing away the people who actually care about you. Is that what you want, Diane? To end up alone?"
"Alone is better than being suffocated by someone who doesn't trust me. You don't own my loyalty, Gabriel. You earn it, and right now, you're losing it."
"You're impossible," he muttered, stepping back.
"Same feeling," Diane replied back.
"The dream was so real…I felt the pain, I felt everything."
She didn't say anything, but bit her lip.
Then Diane turned her attention to the rose bush beside her, her hand brushed against the brittle, dying petals.
"You think you know everyone so well, Gabriel," she said quietly. "But you don't. You only see what you want to see, and you project your fears onto me."
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small pair of gardening shears.
Gabriel's eyes followed her hand.
"Let me show you something," Diane said in a deceptively calm voice.
She selected one of the wilting roses, its petals looked browned and lifeless, its thorns seemed sharp.
Then quickly, she snipped the stem, the sound was cutting and final.
She held the rose up, looking at Gabriel.
"This," she said, "is what happens when something beautiful is suffocated. When it's weighed down by distrust, by control, by fear."
She let the rose fall to the ground at his feet, the brittle petals scattered like ashes.
Gabriel's jaw clenched, his green eyes seemed to change a little.
"Is that what you think I'm doing? Suffocating you?"
Diane met his eyes, her own looked fierce.
"What I think doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that I won't let it happen. Not to me, and not to anyone I care about."
'Including you…'
"You're wrong about me, Diane. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here because I can't stand the thought of losing everything."
"Then prove it," Diane challenged him...
"What?"
"Stop trying to control me. Stop letting your fears dictate our relationship. And stop thinking you know what's best for me better than I do…and stop picking on Riot who's only doing his job."
Gabriel stared at her, "You're asking for something I don't know if I can give," he admitted.
"…"
"Your brother came to see me today."
Diane turned around, trying the hardest to hide the water in her eyes.
"Can you hear me?"
She didn't answer at first.
"Diane?"
"Yes…"
"Adrian, came into my office today, demanding to see you."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him yes."
She turned back, her fist looked ready to punch him, but Gabriel grabbed her, holding it gently.
"See? This is what I'm talking about! You're the flower that needs to be watered, not me." He shoved her to the side and walked away.
Diane sniffed a little, and wiped her tears.
"I need to get rid of Adrian. I can't waste my time on trash like him."