Blood To Love

Chapter Five: The Falls

On my way home I couldn't help but let my eyes wander over towards the bag in my lap holding the gift I had gotten for Gabriel. I can't wait for tomorrow.
I pulled into my driveway and went inside. Mom was in the kitchen.
"Hey mom." I set the bag on the counter going to get my cup. "Um, mom, can I ask a favor of you?" I ask pausing by the fridge.
"Sure baby shoot."
I bit my lip trying to think of how to say it. "Gabriel is going to take me out tomorrow...not a date just to show me the town has fun. I kind of want you to be....nice. No fifty questions and all of that. He is just my friend and I don't want you to scare him away." I say turning my back. I hear the bag rustle.
"Seems like you like him more than just a friend..." I hear her gasp "Do you think he is your mate?" This was a touchy subject for her. Her mate, my father, had died about 6 years ago.
"I don't know mom...maybe...I want him to be..." I bite at my lip. Was that really what I wanted? Or is it just that I wanted a mate..." I'm going to bed mom. He will be here by noon tomorrow." I say going upstairs. I flopped down on my bed and sighed. Tomorrow was going to be long. I needed all the sleep I could get.

The next day it was hectic. "MOM WHERE IS MY BATHING SUIT!"
Things were starting off rocky.
"I have it Ivy. Here hurry up." she says pushing on me. I ran up to my room and changed, pulling a light colored tank over the top and shorts over my bottoms I pulled on my sneakers and ran back downstairs. Just in time to hear the doorbell I made a beeline for the door.
Outside stood in all his dark good looks was Gabriel. I smiled and let him in. "Hey."
"Hey. Ready to go?" he asked while pushing the hair from his eyes.
"One minute." I turned towards the kitchen. "Mama, can you bring me the paper bag off the counter please?"
I heard the sound of paper rustling then I saw my Mom in the doorway.
"Sure thing, Ivy." she turned to Gabriel. "Hello, I'm Haven Sin, but please call me mom. All Ivy's friends do. "She says shaking his hand.
He looked kind of freaked out. "All right....mom...it's nice to meet you too."
I butted in. "Thanks mom. I got it from here." she nodded and walked away.
"Sooooo...what's in the brown paper bag Ivy?" He asks, trying to peek. I pulled it away.
"Remember yesterday when you said I needed another helmet for passengers?" He nodded. "Well. There is only one person I allow on my bike...and I think it would be fitting if he had a helmet of his own." I place the bag in his hands.
His eyes widen and he pulls the helmet out. It was black with a red haze along the borders. There was a flaming sword in the front and a pair of angel wings out the back. One side said Gabriel and the other said "Warrior of God" then on the top I had a single rose stamped just like on mine. He looked from it to me then back.
"Ivy, you bought this for me? I love it. It's perfect. But...what does this part mean?" he points to the quote.
I smile and place it on His head as I speak. "There are many angels of God. Gabriel is an archangel. And his name means Warrior. So if you put it together...you are named after The Warrior of God. "I tightened the chin strap and dropped my hands to my sides.
He looked at me with what looked like admiration. "Perfect fit...." I say picking my helmet and keys up off the table.
He led me out to my bike and got on after me. "Alright take the highway north about 10 miles then take a left." He says as I pull out of the driveway.

Twenty minutes later I'm pulling up on a grassy dirt path.
"Cut the engine. We walk from here." He says right in my ear.
I pull the bike to the side of the road and park it. Gabriel hops off then offers to help me down. Cautiously I take his hand and let him help me down. He smiles and a smile is all I can manage with the electric shocks emanating from his hand. His touch lingered even after his hand had let me go.
I hid my bike in the brush and he led me up the path. It was a steep hill but it didn't affect me. I could hear running water from here. He ran over and pressed his hands to my eyes. "No peeking" he says just in my ear.
"Well how am I supposed to get there if I can't see?"
"Like this." keeping a hand over my eyes he placed my hand on his shoulder. "Now just follow me".
Yet again my nerves were singing. "Alright, I am trusting you, Gabriel...don't lead me off a cliff."

I hear him give a dry laugh. "Awe that's no fun...oh well." He says shrugging his shoulders. We walk up the hill for about a minute and then he stops. "Alright, Ivy, I am going to uncover your eyes. Ready?" he asks standing right in front of me.

"Yeah, I am ready to see where you have taken me." I say trying to pull his hand away from my eyes, pretending to be weak. He laughed and finally let my face go. He took a step to the side to reveal a magnificent Waterfall almost 100 feet high. With a deep blue lagoon underneath it. It was beautiful.

"Welcome to Serenity Falls, Ivy, this is where the town got its name. They say the waterfall has relaxing and energizing properties. It's where I like to come when I need to get away from people and sort out what's in my head. So....I am here a lot. "He laughs half heartedly and I smile.

"Gabriel, it's beautiful. Is this why you told me to wear a bathing suit? So we can go swimming?" I ask looking back over to him.

"Hehe that is the plan...although...I got a better idea of just swimming" He says pulling his t-shirt over his head. I couldn't help but blush. I was right when I said he was toned with lean muscle. I turn my face away and I pull my own shirt and shorts off. I had a conservative one piece. It was black and white with two small slits for my sides. "Hey, Ivy, ever been cliff diving? The lake down here is deep. We can jump from the top of the falls and never touch the bottom. "He says jogging up the hill towards the top of the falls. I raced after him really worried.

"Are you crazy that it's a hundred foot drop or more? You could get hurt or die." I say catching up to him."
"Yeah, but what's a little thrill in a boring town like this?" He asks, stepping on to the edge of the cliff. "You coming?" He asked me holding his hand out to me. I wasn't afraid of dying....I was afraid for him...I was afraid that he might die.

After a long deliberation I took his hand. "I'm with you. Let's do it."

And with that...we jumped.