Trials of Gabriel {COMPLETE}

1 | 𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒

The trial started like any other, listening to each side. I couldn't help but think the judge was out to get me until he came back with the verdict.

——

Youngstown, Ohio
Two years earlier

I was just a normal girl on the Cleveland Braves cheerleading team.

"Talia! Get your azz over here! We have to practice."
"TALIA SKYE!!! Do not make me say your name again," yelled Ariana Perez, the captain, and pain in my azz.

"How about you stop yelling every second, and I might actually listen to you!"
"You bish. Everyone loves me," Ariana says.

I couldn't take it anymore, I lost it.

"No, they don't. They only put up with you, because they are too afraid to tell you no."

I burst but I don't care. She needed to be put into her place. Even her narcissistic self should have seen it coming.

"You are kicked off the team. Clean out your locker and leave."
"You can't kick me off the team when I've already quit!!!"

I walk down the tunnel and towards the locker room. While I'm walking to the locker room, Gabriel Grey walks up next to me.

This 6-foot 2 inches, 240-pound giant comes up next to me and starts talking to me.

"Aren't you going to tell me what is wrong?" he asked.
"What is there for me to tell? I finally put Ariana in her place and quit the team," I say.
"You did what?" he asked astonished.
"Yeah, you heard me right. It's a good thing I did too.  I found out she was bullying some of the girls, like always," I was clenching my fists.

Gabriel grabs my small waist and pulls me into a hug. Knowing that I could never hit him, even if I tried. I love him too much.

Knowing I'll always have him, makes me feel better.

Sometime later, I packed up my all stuff and left the facility, along with my locker of two years. It's 4 p.m., and I'm walking toward my second-floor studio apartment.

Suddenly, someone grabs me from behind and spins me around. Causing me to look up and see it is Gabriel.

So, I invite him in, and he walks over to my fridge and gets out his sandwich from last night. Then sits down at the counter.

Gabe has been my best friend since grade school, but he has recently hit a low. I do my best to only talk about the good and the positive, but it's hard sometimes, so I break the silence and get it over with.

"How many women came forward this week?" I asked
"The same amount as last week, three. For a grand total of twenty-seven," he says quietly.

You might think I'm crazy, because of the number of accusations on his record. Instead, I scoot my butt across the counter in my shorts so that we can look at each other in the eyes. I hold him in my small embrace, comforting him. I know none of this can be easy for him.

༄

After sitting there for what felt like forever, he lifts his head off my tear-soaked chest and looks me in the eyes. Those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes are crystalized and red from crying.