Paper Trails 2 | Draft

13.

"My darkest sunlight."

*****

One week. Niccolò was gone for a week, and when he finally came back, he was in a bad mood. He stopped by to let me and Raven know he was back in the city, and then stalked out with a scowl on his face. I shrugged it off.

I was finally in a good mood, and not even Niccolò could bring me down.

Gabe took me out last night to this club and then dinner. I actually had a good time. I like Gabe. He's sweet, funny, dorky. Cute. Raven questioned me before I left, asking if me dating Gabe meant I was done with Niccolò. I didn't have an answer.

I don't know what me dating Gabe meant. All I knew was that I was having fun for the first time in a long time, and I wasn't about to stop to think about anything else.

Which is why when Gabe showed up at my door, I didn't even think twice about inviting him in.

"Is Raven here?" He asked, following me into the kitchen.

"Her room," I replied, heading to the fridge. "Want anything to drink?"

"Oh, sure. Water's fine."

I poured him a tall glass of water, handed it to him, and poured myself a cup of coffee. We retreated to the living room and plopped down on the couch.

"Sorry for just dropping in. I was passing by."

"No, it's fine. I wasn't doing anything. Where are you coming from?"

"I had class." He gestured to his bag on the floor. "And then I was craving donuts and that shop two blocks down from here has the best so..."

I smiled. "Yeah, they do. I sometimes forget you're a student."

"Yeah, just part-time. Not really any less stressful in my eyes, but other would disagree." He laughed.

We talked for a bit before I suggested watching a movie. Raven finally exited her room halfway into it and stopped when she saw Gabe. Her eyes met mine.

"Um. Nico's downstairs. He's coming up."

I straightened up. "He's here? Now?"

Gabe looked between us, confusion taking over his features. "Who's Nico?"

I looked at Gabe. "Um. A friend. Kind of."

"A friend," Gabe repeated slowly. "Like...your friend?"

Raven quickly jumped in. "Like my friend. He doesn't really like other guys in the apartment, it makes his possessive."

"Oh."

"Would you mind climbing out the window and taking the fire escape down?"

Gabe blinked. "Excuse me?"

"No, he's not—" I sigh. "Fuck it. Let Nic up."

Raven raised an eyebrow, silently asking me if I'm positive. We both know there's no guarantees Niccolò would keep his cool. Still, what was he really going to do? Flip the guy? Besides, Nic isn't my anything. He wasn't allowed to get jealous, and I could see whoever the hell I wanted.