Gabriel Brown: Collection of Short Alaskan Bush People Fan Fics

Notes

"I can't see you anymore."

You slid the note across the table and looked closely at Gabe. He had been smiling so broadly when he sat down beside you on the small wooden bench. His dark hair was tied back and you could see the curly ends of his ponytail flipping over his shoulder. He was frowning as he read your note and you realized with a pang in your heart that it was the first time you had ever seen something other than a smile on his face.

"Why won't you talk to me?" Gabe laid the note on the table and tried to take your hand but you pulled it back and quickly scribbled another note. Not trusting him to take the note from your hand without touching you, you deposited the small piece of paper on the table the same way as the first. You sat back in the hard chair and watched as he read the second note.

"If we talk, you'll try to make me change my mind."

Seeing the look of hurt on Gabe's face nearly broke your heart, but your decision was for the best. You were sure of it. The past few weeks had been wonderful. Being with him had made you the happiest you had been in years. And you knew he felt the same.
MBut you were a California girl and Gabe would be returning with his family back to Alaska soon. And his life in Alaska was too different from the life you had decided to live. Your life was all about the sun, the sand and the surf. You were so close to winning the annual surfboard sport competition and nothing in your plans included giving that up to move to Alaska.

Gabe kept his eyes on yours as he struggled with what to say next. His eyes shone and you saw him blink back tears. "But I love you." He said simply.

You shook your head too vigorously as if you could shake away his words and you bent your head to write again.

"I love you, too Gabey, but my life is here."

That had to be the final note. You stood up to leave as he read the words you had written. His head was down and the paper looked so small in his large hands. As you took your last look at Gabe, you impulsively leaned down to give him a quick peck on the cheek. What could it hurt? You thought. You could at least feel the softness of his cheek on your lips one more time, couldn't you?

But the moment your lips touched his face, Gabe jumped up from his seat and grabbed you by the shoulders, slamming you to him.

"No more notes. You're making me crazy." Gabe's arms were so tight around you that you were having trouble catching your breath.
"Gabey, please..." You managed to whisper.
"Please, what?" He let his lips brush your cheek and then he slid his warm mouth back to your ear. "What?" He asked again. "What can I do? What can I say to let you know how empty my life would be without you?"

Gabe pulled his head back and looked you in the eye. "I could learn to surf. You could teach me." He grinned and you couldn't help but smile. "I'm a real good swimmer and I can balance on the skiff even when it's rocking back and forth in a storm."

He threw his arms out to the side as he talked to demonstrate how well he could balance. His flailing arm connected with the plastic water glass that was sitting on the table and the glass went sailing across the table, water flying everywhere. Gabe looked a bit embarrassed but he didn't stop trying to convince you.

"There are no water glasses on the surfboard, right?" He pulled you to him again as you laughed and shook your head, no. "Ok, so no problem there." He replied happily. "Don't go." He lowered his voice and the depth of his feelings crushed your heart.

"It will never work, Gabey." You finally spoke out loud and you knew then that he was prying his way back into your heart. "You could never live here and I don't know what I would do with myself in Alaska."

That was the real issue. You loved Gabe and wanted to be with him forever. But if you left your life now, if you left the surf contest even before it started, you will have wasted ten years of your life. As if reading your mind, Gabe pulled your face to his and spoke quietly and gently to you.

"My family will be in California a few more days, let's enjoy our time together. Then after you have literally blown the competition out of the water, come to me in Alaska." His hand on your chin was as firm as his words. "Come to me. Please."

There had never been anyone in your life like Gabe. No one had ever treated you like a woman and trusted you like a friend. He was strong and gentle and was simply the man you had been waiting for your entire life. But you had always thought your life would be tied to the sun and the beaches of California. You looked up at Gabe and saw the love and the hope in his eyes. And you knew if you lost him, no amount of sunshine would ever bring the light back into your life.

"What would I do in Alaska?" You protested even though you knew the battle was over and Gabe had won the fight and had won your heart.
"You could learn to waterski." His grin was back in full force. "I could hook some lines to the Integrity and drag you behind our boat." You frowned up at Gabe at his choice of words.
"Drag? You're going to drag me behind your boat?"
"Sure. Then when you get really good at waterskiing, you could open your own business teaching people how to waterski. You would be great at it, I'm sure."
"Well, that's all well and good in the summertime when the days are long. But what will I do in the wintertime when there are only a few hours of daylight?" You had him there. He stopped and fixed you with his blue eyes, full of mischief now.

"We'll think of something."

Gabe threw his arm around your shoulder and began walking with you out into the bright California sunshine.