Gabriel

14. I'm A ...

Hey beauties!

Firstly, thanks for all the votes!!! I also just want to say I messed up on the chapter numbers. Probably not a big deal, but just in case you were confused: you didn't miss anything, but I HAVE corrected the problem. And lastly: GABRIEL REACHED 1K READS!!! *throws confetti*

Okay, thats all. You may continue.

:) xoxo

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MAEVE

I sigh.
Of course he won't tell me. I mean, why could I think he would? I'm a nobody, and if he had big secrets like this, he wouldn't just tell anyone. But today at school, the entire day I was... observed. Not judgingly, thank god, but like a new exhibit at the zoo: people were interested but they never came to close. Except the two girls' , who's names I learned when they asked me to sit with them at lunch.

Casey was the blonde, more level headed one of the duo and Hail was the firecracker about to explode. Always jumpy with energy and a mouth that could never stop moving. They were both really sweet and we had talked about all my classes at lunch; the good teachers, the evil ones, which classes you could talk in and which ones to stay quiet. They were nicer than anyone back home.

No, not home. This was now my home and I am learning to accept that.
But still, walking out of Gabriel's office and slamming his door in the process felt a lot like leaving home.

---

I'm fuming as I walk up the steps to the front door of the apartment building. I stop past reception and violently pressed the button for the elevator at least seven times more than necessary. When it opened thirty-eight excruciating seconds later I walk in and press the button for the penthouse, then slide my key into the slot next to that button. I had been stupid enough to leave my schoolbag on the floor of his office when I left so I have no way to do my homework. Luckily, I left my phone in the hidden pocket of my dress, so when it dings, I immediately pull it out.

Can we please talk about this more Maeve? I'm coming home soon, you should order a pizza. I'll be there in 10.

Order a pizza. After every thin, he says to order a fücking pizza?!

You order a goddamn pizza.

I respond, throwing my phone across the room, where it lands softly on the couch. At least I have good aim. That was probably very childish things to say, but he's being so infuriating. It's like he's not telling me anything, yet he won't bother hiding it either, I'm just on the brink of-

I stop when the tile beneath my foot totters. That's strange, I think. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before. It was like all the other 1' by 1' square, quartz tiles lining the floor from the entry way all the way to the kitchen and where the floor changes into carpet. A frown passes my face as I see something unusual in the far bottom corner.

This is totally the beginning of one of those mystery movies that I remember my mom watching when I was younger where there's the first hint hidden beneath the floorboards. I excitedly bend down and find a little emblem in the far bottom corner. I brush my finger over it, clearing the dust of the nickel-sized marking. When the dust is moved away I find what seems to be an extremely detailed pair of wings. I run my index finger across them again. When the tile tilts, I find hold on the opposite side, slowly digging it out with my fingers until my hand can fully grasp it. I pull it to the side successfully but wince as it makes a scraping noise along the floor. I still have time before Gabriel gets home to investigate so I pear down inside the hole, finding nothing to lay my eyes on in the darkness. So I hesitantly reach my arm in and fumble around the pit until my hand reaches something solid with my arm almost entirely in the floor. My heart is beating faster and I'm breaking into a sweat as I find a grip on the heavy object. I pull it up hastily and set it beside the opening, noticing it to be a large book. Then I heard the distant ding of an elevator.