the fall | abel tesfaye

chapter seventeen - just friends

I turn around slowly, not wanting to meet his gaze.

I can't believe I didn't realise this whole time.

William. 

William Tesfaye. 

Abel's fucking uncle!

"You can't be serious," Abel says gruffly, running his hand through his thick hair. "What is she doing here?"

He glares at his uncle and steps further into the room, towering over the man sitting behind the desk.

"Abel, don't be so rude to our new employee," he says politely. "Arabella here is perfect for XO! I just know it."

He rises from his seat and reaches out his hand to shake with mine. "Congratulations Arabella. Please, excuse my rude nephew. He's the one I've been telling you about. Troublesome but, he means well."

"What, really? Thank you so much, sir!" I exclaim, beaming from ear to ear.

Will chuckles and walks over to Abel, patting him on the shoulder roughly. 

"So, what did you need that you had to interrupt our interview?" he asks.

Abel shrugs his uncle's arm off his shoulder and rolls his eyes. "I wanted to know what time the studio is free today. I have some shit I wanna record."

Will walks back over to his desk and flips through what I assume to be his schedule. Feeling awkward and impeding on their private time, I rise from my seat.

"Thank you for the interview today Will, but I really should get going," I say nervously.

"Don't be silly!" Will says. "Please, stay a little longer. Abel here can show you around." 

"What?" Abel and I say at the same time. This can't be happening.

"Come on now! The studio is free this afternoon if you need it. Make sure to show Arabella the lunch area and the bathrooms," Will instructs. "Oh, and don't forget the secret bookshelf!"

Abel throws his hands in the air and storms out of the room. He stops at the edge of the door and looks at me coldly. "Well, do you want a fucking tour or not?"

"Abel!" Will warns, but nods for me to follow his nephew.

"Thank you again," I tell him with a polite smile. I cautiously head towards the door to the grumpy handsome boy in front of me.

- - - - -

"Right, that's everything," he says rudely. "Anything else you need from me?"

I fold my arms in front of my chest. Abel has merely named the important places around the building and stopped us right in front of the studio.

"You know, you don't have to treat me like shit," I tell him. "After all, you're the one who started this mess."

"What mess?" he growls. "Just because you never want to fucking listen to me about anything doesn't make this my fault. You can't handle the truth, don't ask."

"Fuck you," I hiss, turning on my heel to leave and re-thinking working here in the first place. If I had had any idea that Abel's uncle owns XO...

"Arabella, wait," he calls, grabbing my wrist tightly and pulling me into the studio.

"Let go!"

"No."

"Abel, I'm warning you- "

"Just listen to me, for once!"

I stop fighting and take a deep breath, perching myself on one of the studio stools.

"Just let me fix this. As friends. We can just be friends," he sighs and sits in front of me, fixing his gaze to the many studio knobs in front of him.

"I'm sorry for being an asshole," he starts. "I didn't mean to hurt you, or ruin whatever we had."

I stay silent, letting him talk.

"I didn't think I'd fall for you as much as I did, and I'm sorry that Audrey showed up like that and said what she did. I didn't want you to know any of that happened."

"But it did," I whisper. "And you can't change what you did."

He sighs and looks to the floor this time. "I know that. That's why I'm not going to push you to be anything else with me. If you've made up your mind, I'll support that. But I at least don't want to lose you as my friend. Please?"

I shrug my shoulders and stare at the broken boy in front of me. "There's just too much I don't know about you, Abel! How do you expect me to trust you again? Ever?"

"I know," he says. "I want to change that."

"Then tell me, who were those men that we stopped by their house on the way home from the waterfall? Who were those guys who barged into your dorm? Who are these people and what do they want with you?"

"I- I can't tell you that," he says quietly.

"Then I'm leaving."

"No, just wait! Fuck," he calls, and I sit back down. He better have a good explanation for all of this.

"I really, really want to tell you," he says, "I just do not want them to come for you, if you know too much."

"Know too much about what?"

Abel laughs at my stupid question. "Ara, please, are you hearing yourself? I just told you why I can't tell you. I don't want you in any danger.

I huff and don't move from my seat.

"Fine. If that's the real reason, then I'll trust you with that. But I swear to God Abel, if you ever break my trust again-"

"I won't. I promise," he says, staring into my eyes again this time. I have no choice but to believe that Abel is telling me the truth.

He stands off his stool and pulls me in a deep embrace. His touch is warm, and I melt against his body. I missed him.

As if reading my mind, he tells me he missed me and plants a soft kiss on the top of my head.

I raise my gaze to meet him, knowing our lips are only inches apart. I breathe him in, every part of him, wishing I could just close the gap between us. 

He sighs and brushes his lips slowly against mine, each movement deliberate.

"Abel," I breathe. Before I can let this go any further, I pull away and stand from my seat. "I better go."

My voice is barely a whisper as I leave Abel alone in the studio, shutting the door behind me.