Safer This Way

Chapter 27

Because most  of you have been patient with me, and I expect not to have much writing time the next few weeks (projects and finals week for me), I give you another update! The last two boys re-meet Sang in this one, and emotions are high, so happy reading!!

Also, I hate to be a butt head about it, but please stop asking for updates (just a general thing, not talking about the last chapter or anyone in particular). I love that you like my story so much that you want more, but it makes me feel guilty and stressed whenever I don't have an update for you :) I really appreciate you guys, and I don't want to rush writing that I don't feel just to stay on "schedule" so you get a good story.

Done now, I promise. Thank you :)

*Gabriel*

"Gabriel," he croaked, and I knew right then this would not end like I'd hoped. Even then I had noticed the slight unnatural rasp in his voice, and wondered what he sounded like without it masking the musical tenor tone he had going on, a voice almost feminine but fit him anyway.

Not wanting to hear him say that he didn't love me back, that I had been wrong and that he had never felt this...this connection like I had, I hung my head. My eyes watered, and a slight sob rose up that I masked with a laugh. Even fucking then, I loved him. I was in love with a dude and didn't give a single shit what anyone thought about it. Guess that didn't matter though.

"Yeah, I knew it was a long shot, but when you say my name like that, always Gabriel instead of Gabe, like it matters, all I want to do is kiss you." I always fucking wanted that, from the very first, when he'd indulged my crazy request to feel his hair, right there in the fucking classroom I could've kissed him.

I lifted my eyes to his, hating the shadows that were always there, hating more the fact that this seemed to hurt him as well. At least I knew for sure he cared about me, even if it wasn't the same. "I guess that's a no on going out with me then?" Why the fuck couldn't I have left it at long shot, now I was just torturing the both of us.

A single tear falls from green eyes that killed me more than anything he could've said, but even so his next words were like a knife to the gut.

"I can't."

I can't.

"Gabe."

I can't.

"Gabe."

I can't.

"Gabe, dude, you gotta get up."

No. Trouble don't go. The dream started to fade, with it Shaw, or Sang's face.

"Come on already. You can't waste away in your studio forever."

I take it back. We can pretend I never said anything, just come back.

"Gabriel!"

"Fucking shit!" I snap upright, banging my forehead on an easel while trying to avoid the hands shaking me hard enough to wake a corpse. "What the fuck, Luke?"

"Oh good, you're awake. Did you sleep well." Blonde bastard just smirks at me, totally ignoring the daggers shooting from my eyes.

"Like a fucking baby," I snap at him, standing and shaking the lingering grogginess from my head, purposefully ignoring the manic state of my hair and clothes. Who gives a shit what I look like when Shaw, Sang, whatever the fuck their real name is, is missing.

"Liar," Luke scoffs before running his eyes over me in concern. "You haven't had a decent night's sleep since you came back to Kota's Friday night."