Etched

Chapter 28

Removing a shirt from the hanger, I adjust the phone between my neck and ear. Come on, Britney pick up!

I stuffed the suitcase with the immediate clothes I could put my hands on and threw the cell on the bed after receiving no response. I sighed and stocked all the essentials in the bag. My phone rang and I raced to receive it expecting it to be Britney which is why I attended it without confirming the caller.

"I'd been calling you for so long! Yo-"

"Oh well, hello to you too! It's funny though cause none of your calls has reached me." I sighed, it was Matt.

Walking towards the window, I pressed a palm over my forehead, "No I thought, it was someone else. So, what's up?"

"I just called to tell you that I might need to bail out on our hangout" I scrunched my nose in remembering what he was talking about until I remembered. We four had planned a hangout and I had forgotten about it. Now, that I am leaving I wouldn't be able to attend it either. "...hey Jen, you there?"

"Uh...yeah! Matt, I'm heading off for town too. Sorry for not informing you guys."

"I'm going to mine for a meeting. Yours fall in the way. If it's okay with you we can go together?" he offered.

I chuckled, "Yeah sure thing... but mine's better than yours, remember?"

He huffed, "I guess you made you made your point back when we fought over whose is better than the others while having lunch in the cafeteria. FYI Cassie's had won"

"Whatever! Anyway, what time would you be picking me up?" I asked, looking for my socks.

"Whenever you're ready. How about in an hour? You're at Mr. White's, right?" he asked, shuffling noises came from his end. He must be packing too.

"Yeah, I am. Alright...see you then" he disconnected the line. A sweat broke through my forehead, I was really panicking about Jerdy's health. Although, Britney assured me that that there wasn't anything to worry about but I know how ignorant Jerdy is with his well being.

I need to be there sooner. My eyes fell on the giant teddy bear sat on the bed with the five balloons tied to its arm and almost immediately my frown transformed and a smile broke on my face. I retracted two polaroid pictures out of my pocket.

They were the most beautiful pictures and were captured at the very accurate moment. The background was the blue of the aquarium with multiple colorful splashes in the name of fishes and in front of it were Gabriel and I. My arms were around his neck and his were snaked around my waist.

It was when we had pulled back from our kiss and he smiled at me. We were looking into each others eyes yet it could be clearly seen on my face of how mesmerized I was with him and his smile.

The other polaroid was of us kissing in front of the same aquarium, completely lost in each other's embrace. It was like we had no care of anyone, it was just the two of us.

They were clicked by a young tourist who thought that it was the perfect picturesque moment and she couldn't resist seeing us like that, therefore she clicked the pictures and handed them to me. I bit my lip as I gazed at the giant teddy and wrapped my arms around myself.

My thoughts were distracted as I narrowed my eyes hearing the shambling of feet outside the door and placed the pictures in my wallet. I very gently opened the door and sure enough there was someone, who happened to be Gabriel.

I inconspicuously cleared my throat. I'll be gone for a few days, I might ask him for an official leave from the office and hug him goodbye. Seeing him was so much better for my anxiety, my nerves had started to calm in his presence, I passed him a smile.