Rim of the World (Gabriel X Reader) *discontinued*

Chapter 11

We arrive at she sheriff station. Everything outside of it is trashed, cars on fire, smoke and dust everywhere, rubble on the floor.

"You guys go ahead, I'll just stay back and watch the bikes," Gabriel speaks up.

"What?" Dariush answers, "oh, yeah because the aliens wanna jack our mountain bikes," he sarcastically says. Gabriel looks to the floor.

"Yeah, who knows looters could take them," I say, defending Gabriel, "someone should definitely stay back and watch,"

"Well y/n, you could both stay back and watch," Zehn Zehn says, pulling a face almost saying 'you know what I mean'.
Wait, does she think I-?

Dariush, Alex and Zehn Zehn head into the building, leaving just Gabriel and I alone. I fiddle with the sleeves of my jacket, finding this the most awkward thing ever.

"Thanks," Gabriel speaks up. I look up at him.

"For what?"

"You know, defending me back there," Gabriel mumbles, "well you've defended me from the start,"

"What- what do you mean?" I say as I start fiddling with the sleeve of my jacket again.

"Well, with Dariush... and then...just then. So yeah, thanks,"

"Oh, well yeah, no problem," I give him a warm smile, nodding my head, "So, why didn't you want to," I point to the sheriff station. Gabriel looks to the floor again.

"Gabriel... you can tell me," I say, walking over and putting my hand on his shoulder.

"I was in Juvy, and I escaped," tears start forming in his eyes. Juvy? Is he a... criminal? I take a step back.

"What happened?" I whisper.

"It's not what you think," his voice cracks, "my dad left when... when I was about ten."
I immediately felt bad.

"I got a job as a bag boy, at the grocery store my mom worked at. You know, to help her with money. One time she steps away, so I took over the cash register. I was helping a customer and he started to accuse me of stealing from him. I must've given him the wrong change. I get... numbers muddled in my head sometimes, if I don't see them written down. He didn't believe me so I decked him, gave him a broken nose," he breathes out, and in a quieter voice this time says, "my mom didn't visit me, not once,"

At that, my heart broke into a million pieces. I don't say a word, I just walk over to him and pull him into a tight hug.

"Please don't tell the others yet," I hear his muffled voice in my hair.

"I'm not going to."

I can hear the others coming, so I pull out of the hug and wipe away Gabriel's tears with my thumb.

A few seconds later, the others all walk out the building with disappointed looks on their faces.

"Did you find anything?" I ask. They all shake their heads.

"Nothing," Dariush answers.

*I have decided I am gonna continue this, I'm just a bit busy at the moment but i'll try and update it as much as I can😌🤌🏻*