The Brightest Stars ✨

Chapter 13

"When you said you're taking me away for the weekend, I thought it was going to be a dirty hotel room weekend, somewhere cute. Why are we in the wilderness, Gabriel?"

He had picked her up from her appointment at the hairdresser on Friday afternoon, she was under the impression that they were going to spend their Valentine's weekend at home with not much fanfare. But the wide smile on his face had let her know he was cooking something up and he had been forced to confess that they were going away.

"We're going camping." he lied.

"Are you absolutely bonkers? Why do you think I'd want to go camping? Do you even know me?" 

Gabe pursed his lips in an attempt not to laugh out loud at her reaction. He knew it would only trigger her further.

She had only just noticed that their long drive was through scenic country roads and not the highway on their way downtown. He commended her for the way that she could switch off and dissociate, but now she was going to pay for it.

"I thought your New Year's resolution was to be more daring?" 

"I should have never shown you my resolutions," she mumbled. "I meant it like wear more colour, experiment with a different eye shadow palette, try a new position, maybe get braids. I didn't mean possibly get mauled by bears."

"It's highly unlikely that you'll find bears in Texas."

"You said highly unlikely, not impossible."

Gabe ignored her as he brought the car to a halt at the designated car park. He killed the engine and came around to the boot door, opening it to retrieve their belongings.

"Have I done something to annoy you?" She approached him, slowly, putting her palms on his chest.

He circled his arms around her waist and huffed in amusement, looking down at her theatrical performance. Eyes wide, pouty lips jutted out in solemnity. "No," he replied.

"Then why do you want to kill me?" she sobbed into his chest. "Don't you love me?"

"Are you serious right now?"

She pulled away from him, meeting his gaze. Her brown eyes were wet with the telltale signs of impending tears.

"You're a serial killer aren't you? How can you not be moved by that?" Her hands were on her hips in an accusatory stance.

"You should be an actress. Have you ever considered theatre? I think you'd do really well with your accent and your love for unnecessary drama," he raised his voice on the last bit, startling an older white couple that were walking past in hiking gear.

"There are no Black people here. And that's probably because it's dangerous," she observed looking around at the people milling about.

Her eyes bore into his, daring him to deny that her observation was correct. "Okay, let's just turn back..." Gabe started. "I'm sorry that I assumed you'd want to spend some time with me in a beautiful natural landscape away from all of life's distractions..."

"Gabe..." He could see the guilt building up in her face. She had laid it on super thick, but two could play that game.

"Get in the car." Gabe hid his smirking eyes behind the cap he was wearing, as he rounded to the driver's door.

She caught his arm. "Can you just stop for a second?"

"Why? You clearly don't want to be here."

"I..." she trailed off mumbling something.

"Use your words, Natalia."

"I said I guess, I can give it a little go."

"Really?"