A Love Lost

Gabriel

Our first day of the year, Ana's first day ever at Saint Rose's, was unlike any other. When we would walk through the halls together, all eyes were on her. She was fresh meat and they were all thirsty piranhas. I wasn't sure whether or not it helped her case to be next to me. For some reason, everyone at the school respected that whatever was attached to me should be left alone. This applied to everything, except Ana.

That evening, there was a party at a guy's house on the other side of town. I wanted more than anything to not have her go. However, when Ana pleaded with me as she had that afternoon, my will caved.

When I went to her room with a reminder of the time, I saw her standing in front of a full-length mirror. Her hair was done in a long braid. She wore white sandals, a black mini-skirt, and a white top that was off-the-shoulder. She was beautiful. Her eyes were looking down, but when she heard me, she looked up.

"Are you going to stand there gawking? Or are you going to come in?" she asked with a beautiful smile painted on her face.

"I came to tell you we have to leave in five minutes if we are going to make it on time." I walked in.

Her smile disappeared. "If that is all, then let's go."

She made her way to the door, walking past me. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me. She almost fell. I caught her and bent down to kiss her. I could kiss her for a thousand years. However, we had plans.

I placed her on her feet and we were off.

The party was filled with people that I recognized and some that I didn't.

I hadn't left her alone for five minutes, to get our drinks, before the wolves descended. When I came back, where I left her in the garden, which was empty, she was surrounded by guys. Some of my brothers' friends were there. Most of them, however, were strangers.

"So, you're American. I always thought Americans were overweight and ugly." I heard one of Nicholas' friends comment when I approached the table.

"Yeah. However, she's an exception." One of the strangers retorted.

I walked up behind Ana, placed my left on her waist, handed her drink, and stared down the gawkers. Ana stood up straight, took the drink, and wound her free arm around mine. She held it tightly, squeezing it.

They ignored it.

"What is it like being the new girl? Do you have your eye on anyone?" Nicholas' friend, Victor, asked.

Shit.

What was she going to say? She just told me this morning that she wanted to be with me again. Was she ready for people to know? Was I? I would be if she was. I would be anything for her.

She didn't say anything. She tilted her head up. I looked down at her. She was smiling the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. I bent down and gave her a soft kiss. I intended it to be short, but she kissed me back. She turned back to face them. As did I.

"Wow, Morgan. You sure know how to work quickly. I guess you have an unfair advantage, seeing as she is living in your house." Victor smiled, deviously.

Victor lacked social graces and he also had a long track record for ruining good things. I would have to be careful. So would Nicholas.

"Leave." I stared at him.

Not to my surprise, he didn't move. He stood there, his eyes locked on Ana. He diverted his gaze for one moment, pulling out his phone and texting someone.

"Truth or Dare!" I heard a dude shout.

A devilish grin grew on Victor's face. I knew for a fact that the truth or dare they played was not your elementary school games, and I wanted more than anything to have Ana away from them.

As I stepped closer to him, I felt Ana's hand on my arm, restraining me.

"Don't do it," she whispered, softly. It wasn't quiet enough so that he didn't hear her.

"Wow. Gabriel Morgan being told what to do by a girl. Damn, you've lost your edge." One of the strange guys smiled. "I guess that is what happens when you sleep with a whore."

That pushed me over the edge. I was no longer in control of myself. I released my arm form Ana's grip and collided my knuckles with the solid structure of his jaw.

Again, and again, I punched him square in the face. He wasn't afraid. Two punches turned into a brawl. It had been brewing all day. The way every guy eyed Ana like a child eyed candy, set me over the edge. I didn't want to get in a fight, but these assholes asked for it.

Then, Nicole showed up as the brawl ended. She slapped me across the face.

"I hope you're happy, Gabriel!" she shouted at me, bringing me back to reality.

Before I responded, I looked around. Ana was nowhere to be seen.

"Nicole. Where is she?" I asked, panicked.

She shook her head at me.

"I don't know where she went, but she stopped to tell me that she was done. She looked in pain and white as a ghost." She gave me a pointed look.

I didn't respond. I just left.

When I went outside to where we left the car, I was surprised to see it sitting there. Where would she have gone without the car? I had no idea in the world. Finally, I remembered how much she liked peacefulness. Something the ocean brought.

Just like at my house, my mother's old house, there was a pathway from the driveway to the beach. I turned on my phone's flashlight and made my way to the beach.

AsI expected, Ana was sitting on the shoreline. Her knees were to her chest and there was a tall glass bottle in her left hand. She took a large swig of whatever was in it before standing up. When she turned around, she froze like a deer in headlights. She didn't say a word.

She took another large swig of the bottle as I stepped closer to her. Her face was beautiful. The moonlight reflected off of it. It didn't just reflect, it shimmered. Her cheeks were moist, her eyes red, and her bottom lip quivering.

I opened my arms. She accepted my offer. Her chest heaving, her arms tightening against my back, and her tears moistening my shirt.

"Why are you crying?" it was a dumb question, but I wanted to know.

"No matter where I go, there will always be people who know my past. They will always give you reasons why we shouldn't be together. I've accepted my fate and I am not dragging you down with me." she said, hoarsely.

"Anastasia White. I love you. More than anything in the world. Nothing anyone says will ever cause me to stray from you."

She attacked me with the most passionate of kisses.