The Elementals

Chapter 4

''So let me get this straight,'' I said, for the hundredth time today. I saw Gabriel roll his eyes and lean back against the wall.

''I'm an-'' I paused, uncomfortable with saying the word.

''An Elemental,'' Gabriel shrugged. ''You'll get used to it.'' I doubted I ever would.

''And I- we,'' I corrected myself, ''Can...'' I trailed off, again, fumbling for words. I heard Gabriel sigh deeply.

''Heal ourselves and others by touch, mentally locate others of our kind that we've come into contact with, go without oxygen for extended periods of time, we have higher IQ's than most humans, increased speed and reflexes and my personal favourite,'' he paused, grinning, ''twice the life span of your healthiest human.'' I shook my head and felt my stomach clench.

''I think I'm going to be sick,'' I put my head between my knees and flinched as I felt Gabriel pat my back awkwardly.

''Well if it makes you feel any better,'' he scratched the back of his neck as I looked up at him. ''I cried when I found out. I didn't even believe it for at least a week and then I wasted another week moping around watching movies and eating whole tubs of ice cream like some girl after a breakup,'' he shook his head. ''I almost considered moving back in with my mom,'' he scoffed.

''Hey, don't bash us girl's post breakup rituals,'' I chastised, but a small smile appeared on my face as I tried to picture the model of a man in front of me moping around the place, shoveling ice cream down his throat.

''As sadistic as smiling at that image makes you look, I'm glad I made you smile,'' he chuckled. I laughed with him for a few seconds before a thought popped into my mind as I remembered something he had said. I jumped up and nearly broke my ankle in my haste to get to the door.

''What the hell, Alice, where are you going?'' I heard Gabriel shout.

''My mom!'' I cried, mentally smacking myself for not having thought of her sooner. I felt two large arms wrap around my waist and yank me back into the room. I smacked Gabriel's arms as hard as I could, but I was drained from the earlier events and it didn't do me any good.

''Let me go,'' I yelled. I kicked at his legs feebly for a few moments before slumping tiredly. The small struggle had exhausted me and my limbs felt detached from my body.

''My mom,'' I clawed at his arms desperately. ''She doesn't know where I am! She's probably worried out of her mind!'' I felt Gabriel shift his weight to one side before walking over to the bed and setting me down. I was about to make a break for the door when I saw the expression on his face.

''What?'' I said, my voice cracking. He scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably and dropped his gaze.

''Alice...'' He trailed off.

''Spit it out,'' I snapped.

''Yourmomthinksthatyoudied,'' he said in a rush. I blinked confusedly.

''What did you say?'' I whispered.

''Your mom-'' He began in a soft voice.

''I heard what you said,'' I said, voice rising with panic. ''But that's bullshit,'' I chuckled dryly. Gabriel shook his head and my eyes suddenly began to water as the memory of her screaming came back to me. Screaming while I was loaded into an ambulance.

''No,'' I shook my head and tears splashed down my cheeks. ''Let me see her, Gabriel,'' I choked back a sob and watched as Gabriel's face fell.

''I can't, Alice. They all think you're dead. If they see you-'' his voice broken and my face hardened.

''This is your fault,'' I said, even though I knew it wasn't. He didn't answer me and instead took my hands in his. I pulled away from him and curled into a ball.

''Just get out,'' I said harshly. I felt guilty as soon as I said it. Gabriel had been nothing but nice to me but I still couldn't face the fact that I was no longer human. It had seemed easy to accept just a short while ago, but now that the magnitude of the situation and the loss that came with it had finally hit me, I wasn't so sure I could handle it.

I closed my eyes and felt warm tears slip out and hit the blankets. I felt the bed dip beside me and realised that Gabriel had moved to sit next to me. I turned to lie on my back and didn't pull away this time when Gabriel took my hand in his. It wasn't uncomfortable even though I had just met him. It was oddly comforting. Had it been anyone else in a different situation I would have punched them already. But this was Gabriel. The only person who could tell me what was happening to me. And the only one I wanted to be near right now.

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okay bad update but whatever

okay so some additional notes:

so yeah the relationship between Gabe and Alice develops really quickly and thats mainly because theyre both part of the same ''species'' so Alice really only feels comfortable around him because shes new to the whole thing

Elementals don't mix well with humans despite the fact that they used to be just that, the reason being that humans sense something off about them and dont want to get too close

Elementals naturally bond well together btw:)

Them holding hands DOES NOT MAKE THEM A COUPLE OR MAKE ALICE DEPENDANT ON MEN OKAY don't come at me

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so yeah thats it

ill edit tomorrow or something

stay cool

Oh and please read "blast to the past" :)
Why? Because I'm slowly withering away at the lack of reads my books get and Blast To The Past is doing the best rn so please go read it :(