Supernatural in Real Life 5

Chapter 37

Lucifer doesn't return to the bunker until that afternoon. Those that went to film still aren't back yet, and though Lucifer doubtlessly notices, he doesn't ask. I can't help but wonder why. Does he know where they are, or does he just not care? Honestly, I'm guessing the latter.
"Hey, Bailey, I —" he begins as he walks up to me, but I cut him off.
"If you're going to apologize, don't bother."
His face shows a mixture of surprise and confusion. "What?"
"You don't have to apologize," I repeat. "You were right. You were forced into a relationship with me. Well, now you're not."
"No, I didn't mean —"
"Well, I do." I take a deep breath as I mentally prepare myself to say this. Part of me — a big part — really doesn't want to do this, but I know I have to, for my own sanity if nothing else. "I don't think this is working out."
Lucifer frowns, showing what seems to be genuine sadness. "So that's it? You're just...?"
"I'm sorry," I say as if it's any sort of consolation.
"Don't be. If this is what you want..."
"So you're not mad?" I ask, noticing how calmly he is accepting this. He's usually anything but calm.
"Well, I'm definitely not happy," he replies. "But it's probably for the best. You can go be a normal person and I don't have to pretend I'm nice anymore."
"No one's falling for it," Gabriel jokes. I hadn't quite thought about them when I decided to do this now. I guess I should have done it somewhere more private.
Lucifer's eyes glow red, and Gabriel suddenly falls to the floor with a cry of pain.
"Don't push me," Lucifer growls before disappearing with a flap of his invisible wings.
"Gabriel?" I say uncertainly. Usually, I'd be at his side within a second, but with the awkwardness existing between us, I decide against it. Instead, I keep a fairly large distance between us.
Gabriel's eyes glow blue, something I've rarely seen in the show and never in real life, and he sits up slowly. "I didn't really think that through."
"What?" I ask.
"You might want to stay away from him," Gabriel advises me. "Like, forever."
"Why?" I ask. "He does this all the time, and he's always find a little while later."
"Not this time," Gabriel replies. "Lucifer is... Unstable, to say the least. Usually, you're right, and he'd bounce back a day or so later, but that was for you. Now, he's going to be the version of him that you've never met, but worse. Without Rob here, there's no — no fear of punishment to keep him in line." Gabriel stands up as he finishes, "You just screwed us over, big time."
"I didn't realize —"
"I know," Gabriel interrupts. "So take this as a warning. You screwed up. Don't screw things up any more with him."
I sigh. Why did I think that was a good idea? It's not even like I don't like him anymore. I still do. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do, and that was the hardest thing I've ever done. I thought it was for the best, but I hadn't thought of the consequences for it. Maybe I did screw up.
But what's done is done. I don't need that type of negativity in my life. I'm done with him. It really is over for us.

~~

Jared, Jensen, Misha, Mark, and Ruth return around eight o'clock that night, which is, according to them, pretty early. I notice them all look around the room, taking a mental survey of who is here and who isn't, but Jensen is the only one to ask.
"Alexis and Lucifer still not back yet?" he observes.
"Lucifer is," Gabriel replies. We know because Mark came to us complaining that he was being a jerk.
"Where is he?" Misha asks, looking around the room once more as if he could have missed the angel.
"He threw a fit and stormed off," Macie tells him. "Honestly, I'm having a hard time believing that is my dad. Are you sure you haven't messed up? Maybe pulled an Alexis on me?"
"Trust me, he's your dad," I reply. I stifle a yawn. "Well, I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."
"Already?" Jared says in disbelief. "It's, like, eight o'clock!"
I shrug. "I'm tired." It's true; I've been feeling tired all day, more so than usual. I just wanted to see everyone else before I went to sleep. "'Night, guys."
There's a chorus of "Good night"s as I walk over to my room and crawl into bed. I curl up on my side and close my eyes, but sleep doesn't come. I rarely do fall asleep this quickly, but this is excessive. I stay in bed for a long time, willing myself to fall asleep, but I don't.
It's not for another few hours that I finally give up on sleep and return to the living room. My muscles feel weak, fatigued, and I don't know why. It's not like I've really done anything lately, but it's been bothering me all day and doesn't seem to be getting better. Maybe I should have just stayed in bed. Oh well; I'm up now. I might as well make the best of it.
I walk out into the living room to see Gabriel sitting at the table, his head resting in one hand with a drink in the other. He faces away from me, and I know I have an easy escape, but I don't take it. It's clear there's something up with him, and I don't want to leave him alone like this. I don't know what I can do to help, but the least I can do is offer to be here.
"Gabriel?" I say softly.
"Mm?" He glances behind him. "Oh, hey." He says it not with his typical friendly manner, nor the awkward way we've spoken lately, but with disinterest.
"What are you doing?"
He raises his cup slightly. "Drinkin' my problems away," he slurs.
"Are you okay?" I ask, taking a couple slow, cautious steps towards him.
"Not really but whatevs."
"Are you drunk?" I ask, unsure whether to be concerned or laugh.
Gabriel nods. "Mm, yeah."
"Why?" I ask, unsure how else to phrase it.
"Because," he replies, pausing to take another sip, "if I'm gonna be miserable, might as well be miserable drunk, amirite?"
"Why are you miserable?" I ask.
"Oh, Jared dumped me."
I can't contain my shock at that. Sabriel? Sabriel was never supposed to die! "What? Why?"
"You ask that a lot," Gabriel observes, taking another sip of his drink.
"Well, yeah, because you two were, like, perfect together. What happened? I thought everything was going great."
"Mm, so did I," Gabriel replies. "And then Genevieve happened." He rolls his eyes at the name.
"Jared was cheating on you?"
Gabriel shakes his head. "Nah, he just felt like he was. Told me he felt bad cuz he felt like he loves her, too, or some shit like that. Said it wasn't fair to me. I told him it was fine, but he wouldn't have it. He was really nice about it, though. Did the whole 'me, not you' thing and everything but —" he pauses for another sip, "didn't help. So, voilà. Drinks." He raises his glass as emphasis.
"Oh. Man, I'm sorry."
Gabriel shrugs. "Well, what's life without feeling like you got your heart ripped out of your chest?"
I let it a short, humorless laugh. "Yeah, tell me about it. Mind if I join you?"
"Be my guest," he replies, holding a glass cup out for me. I take it and sit down next to him, pouring myself a glass of the drink he has on the table. I take a big sip of it. It burns as it goes down, but I don't mind. I'm not legally allowed to drink, and this is only the second time I've ever done it, so I have a feeling this won't end well. I don't really care.
I let out a long breath of satisfaction once I finish my glass. "What is this stuff?"
Gabriel shrugs. "No clue. Found it in the... Where'd I find it? I don't know. Found it somewhere."
"Well, I'm glad you did," I tell him. "Feeling better already. Oh, who am I kidding? I still feel like shit."
"Same," Gabriel replies. "But I feel like drunk shit, which is slightly better."
"Well, I'm sure I'll figure that out pretty soon."
"Probably," he agrees. "So, you and Lucifer are officially over, huh?"
"I'm trying not to think about that, actually," I tell him.
"Why? You ended it."
"Yeah, but I didn't want to," I admit. "I still wanted to be with him, but at the same time, I don't want to have to keep forgiving him for something new every time he gets mad, ya know?"
Gabriel nods and takes another sip of his drink. "Damn straight, I do. I've been doin' it for years."
"I can't imagine that," I tell him. "I could barely do it for a couple months 'fore I gave up."
"Still longer than most people," he replies. "It's probably a good thing, too. I doubt we would've kept you around if Luci didn't like ya so much." He pauses to take another sip. "And then I'd be drinking alone, and where's the fun in that?"
"We, 'm glad I could keep ya company," I reply, reaching for the bottle to pour myself another glass. I pause when I look at the label. "Wait, isn't this supposed to be shots or something?"
Gabriel takes the bottle from me and reads the label as well. "Huh. Guess you're right."
"Please tell me this wasn't full when you found it," I say, eyeing the half empty bottle.
"This wasn't full when I found it," Gabriel replies.
"Good. Wait, are you just saying that because I told you to?"
Gabriel nods. "Mm hmm."
"Dammit, Gabriel!" I whisper-yell, but I can't find it in me to actually feel mad or annoyed. "How are you still alive? I'm no expert, but shouldn't that have killed you?"
"Angel, remember?" He makes a pretend halo with his hands over his head. "I'm barely even drunk." He takes another sip of his drink. "That was a lie. Okay, but, like, it can't kill me. Now that you mention it, though... I guess I see why Rich was complaining earlier. You're not gonna see him any time soon."
"Just means I get to spend more time with you!" I reply with a smile. "Hey, sorry for being super awkward lately."
"Me too," Gabriel replies.
"I was just worried 'bout our relationships, but those are both over, so that means I can do this!"
I lean over to kiss him, but he gently pushes me away with a soft laugh.
"You're drunk," he accuses.
"You are, too!"
"Touché," he agrees. "But drunk hookups with friends never work out well."
"Why not?" I whine.
"I don't know, but they don't," he replies. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"But I don't wanna!" I complain.
"Too bad."
He picks me up bridal style, and, despite my flailing and his stumbling, manages to carry me back to my room in one piece. He drops me on my bed, and I'm glad it's so soft because he isn't very gentle about it. I make a noise that can only be described as a whine and reach out for him.
"I don't wanna be alone," I complain.
"You should've thought about that before you broke up with your boyfriend."
I frown. "Gabe!" I whine, dragging the name out.
"Goodnight, Bailey," he says before flipping off the light bad walking out of my rom. I pout and bury myself under the covers. Why'd he have to leave me?