Talk to Me | Sabriel AU

Home

       Two weeks had passed since Sam had first started coming to Sioux Falls High, and Gabriel had spent almost all his spare time in his classes going to visit Sam or talk to him when they had the same class. They also had lunch together, a thing that both of them couldn't help but be thankful for as they sat in one of the empty sections in the tables at the corner by the window. It was there that Gabriel realized Sam didn't really ever eat, and Gabriel spent a lot of his time making sure that the boy at least ate something before the lunch ended.

       Sam had become a lot more open to him than before, smiling when Gabriel talked to him, even answering questions with shake or nod of his head. It made Gabriel want to know as many things as he possibly could about the boy. He asked him about his favorites, almost like it was twenty questions, which Gabriel always was really good at. It felt like he had actually known Sam forever, as if they've been best friends all their life, and that made him just smile thinking about it.

       They even began the ritual of sitting together by one of the trees until a man in an Impala, he eventually guessed that it was Sam's foster parent, came to pick him up after school. Then, they would share a hug and Sam would get in. The man always tipped his ball cap to Gabriel in a sort of greeting and farewell before the car took off, and then Gabriel would walk home.

       His home, however, seemed so out of place compared to the light of the rest of the world. The grass was overgrowing, the paint on the rickety white house beginning to flake and peel away. It was then that his steps lost their bounce, and it almost became a careful sneak as he slipped into the house, the door barely making a sound as it shut behind him. He could see his mother sleeping on the couch, her face pale and underneath her eyes a dark blue that made her seem almost dead. He was reassured by the soft rise and fall of her chest though and continued up the stairs, not even casting the dark, splintery wood a second glance as his slipped into his room.

       Closing the door behind him gave a squeak on the hinges, though he doubted that his mother would wake up anyways. With a soft breath that shook, he twisted the lock on his door before setting his bag beside the desk that rested in the corner of his room, taking his jacket and tossing it onto the mattress that took up most of the floor. He left his shoes on though, knowing he would have to go back downstairs soon and sat at the hard wooden chair that sat in front of his desk, pulling out his notebook and flipping to the assignment they had to do for that day.

       The homework wasn't hard, and he had most of it finished by the time he heard a car pull into the driveway. He held his breath before getting up and going to the window, peeking out and seeing his father. He rubbed at his cheek, returning to his seat and focusing on the last math problem, though his mind wasn't really into it as he listened to the front door open before closing with a loud thump that Gabriel could have sworn he could feel from here.

       He hadn't really realized he was writing two over and over again as he listened for any other noise. His hand was beginning to shake, and he chew on his bottom lip as he glanced between the door and his homework, finally setting the pencil down and leaning back in his chair.

       There was a faint sound of voices coming from downstairs, not loud, but no where near quiet. He slowly stood, unlocking the door and opening it just a crack, the voices louder though still unclear. He swallowed nervously before creeping down, clutching the railing despite the way the wood bit at his hand. With each step, he could hear their argument more clearly, and it became obvious that his mother hadn't made dinner for the night by the time his father had got home.

       "I'm sorry!" His mother cried, her voice quivering and higher than normal, though Gabriel wasn't sure that it was just from fear. "I was just so tired and fell asleep! I promise, it won't happen again!"

       Gabriel glanced around the corner into the kitchen where his parents stood. His mother looked as if she were barely able to stand on her own two feet, her hair frazzled and her body shaking like mad. His father, a gray-haired man with harsh features, was standing in front of her, a snarl on his face he motioned to the empty pan in his hand.

      "Maybe next time you won't forget!" He shouted, his face bright red as he brought the pan down, cracking Gabriel's mother across the skull. She let out a yelp, holding her head as tears began falling. Gabriel's eyes widened and he stepped from his hiding spot, glaring at his father.

       "Leave her alone!" He shouted, ignoring the fear that crossed his mother's eyes as she looked over at him. His father just growled, grabbing the first thing he could reach, a glass cup, and hurling it at Gabriel's head. The boy barely had time to dodge, glass shattering behind him as it smashed into the nearby wall.

       "Gabriel! Go to your room!" His mother screamed, more tears flooding her face as she grabbed his father's arm as he tried to throw something else. Gabriel hesitated, but the look in his father's eyes said enough as he stumbled backwards before running out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He could hear the thump of his father's heavy steps behind him, and he barely got to lock his door in time before he heard slamming at the thin barrier.

       "Fucking bastard." He heard his father mutter as he slammed on the door once more. Gabriel took a step back, tripping and falling back onto his mattress. Thankfully though, his father left after that, his footsteps trudging down the stairs. He heard his mother scream in pain, but he couldn't move, his vision blurred as his body seized in fear. All he could do was lay down and hope that one day he could be saved.