[edited]

I went to the fridge and poured myself some orange juice. Well aware Gabe was there. I turned to him and watch him over the rim of the glass while I drank.

"What was that about?" He asked calmly, either he was beyond pissed or really in control.

I put my empty glass in the sink and sat on a stool. Licking my lips.

I remember on one of my visits to a pack a girl once told me how she found her mate. She explained how she felt fire, she felt loved. Completed. It seemed amazing how somebody could do that to you. Set you ablaze.

"Gabe how old are you?"

"23 that doesn't answer my question."

"Did you find your mate?"

I noticed his eyes went cold and distant.

"Yes she was killed by rogues."

"I'm sorry"

After minutes of awkward silence he finally spoke.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you ask."

"Its just I don't feel anything with Caleb. Isn't there supposed to be fire, isn't there supposed to be such strong passion that it demanded to be felt, like pain, but was...pleasure?"

"Consider yourself lucky. You don't have to walk around only half of who you used to be, half of who you were meant to be. You haven't been torn down the middle and left feeling worthless, helpless feeling like nothing. Like life isn't worth living."

He had retreated into his distant icy look. His eyes cold and void.

"Did she set you aflame? Was all your years of searching finally seemed worth it? Did she make everything worth it? Did you finally find a purpose? Did everything finally make sense?"

He didn't hesitate."Yes"

"Well I can't be set ablaze, I don't know if all my years mean anything. I don't have a purpose, nothing makes sense for me. So if anyone was lucky I'd say its you. At least you felt it, held it. Even if it was short."

"I'm sorry, I never thought..." He trailed off

I stared straight into his eyes. I watched the ice melt from his eyes and then I saw pity. I looked away.

I don't want pity.

"I'm sorry, I forgot how it felt to get the pitying glances, it didn't help. If anything I felt worse."

My eyes flew up to meet his and when realization hit, his face mirrored mine.

He read my mind. We mind linked.

"I'm so sorry I didn't know."

Then the realization hit and I giggled.

It turned into full blown laughter. Gabe gave me a confused look.

I fell off the stool and was clutching at my stomach, the image of Gabe's puzzled look flashed again and I couldn't control it.

My sides and belly hurt from laughing so hard, it hurt like hell and tears came to my eyes. But I couldn't stop it.

"Oh god--make--it--stop!" I wheezed out.

I looked up at Gabe with the intention of giving him a pleading look but the appalled are you nuts look on his face made it worse.

My sides were in so much pain I curled up into a ball thinking about something embarrassing so I'd stop.

When my laughing subsided I got back on the stool. Groaning. When I looked up Gabe still looked puzzled.

I chuckled

"When I just came a day ago you could hardly apologize for nearly killing me and now here you are all touchy feely, you said sorry twice in less than two minutes." I explained.

I watched him color.

"Oh my God and now you're blushing. What happened to the cold hard unfeeling guy who ripped my back to shreds."

He blushed harder.

"Nothing happened to me and I'm not blushing, and I'm sorry..." He trailed off and groaned.

"Thrice !! Oh my new record," I said in mock surprise. "but seriously though for a moment I thought you were 59 with how grumpy and grouchy you are, stop it, live a little. I have to live vicariously through you, or Matt!"

I smiled then continued

"Look at me for instance I'm a bundle of joy and I was born destined to be a lonely, unfeeling, old hag. Act your age for once and stop sulking." I leaned in and whispered

"I hear it gives wrinkles."

I scrunched up my face.

And got up off the stool.

"Cause the players
Gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna
Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate... Baby am just gonna shake..."

I was wiggling my butt while dancing to the door. On my way outside.

I looked over my shoulder at a baffled looking Gabe.

"You coming blusher boy!?"

He opened his mouth to protest.
But then clamped it shut.

Getting up he made his way over to me grumbling as he passed.

"Did you say something Gabby?"
I asked using Brittany's name for him.

He turn red.

"I thought not, speaking of which where's Brittany I haven't seen her since yesterday."

"I'll take you to her." He said leading the way.

I grinned at his back.

Gabe wasn't so bad after all.

"Always knew you were a teddy bear."

He stopped in his tracks and turned to growl at me.

"Too far?" I grinned sheepishly

He stalked away .

"Hey Gabe I thought we bonded back there." I whined

He ignored me.

"So much for progress " I mumbled

I could have sworn he smiled a little. Or was I imagining things.
______

•••
A/N
Loved this chapter.
Gabe is Soo cute

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