• [ h e a r t   t o   b r e a k ] •

♥ gabriel ♥

MOUNTAINS WERE MOUNTAINS. Sure, the Flinders Range were a pretty set of mountains but they were still mountains. Literally just a huge, fat mound of rock. And even four hours later when we were all about to enter a posh nightclub, I couldn't quite understand what all the fuss had been about earlier.

Dangling from my right fingertips was an elaborate Venetian masquerade mask that Ashlei had given us all. It was a rich black colour with intricate silver lines traced upon it.

The chicks were totally digging the casual fitted shirt look if the number of phone numbers I'd been given was anything to go by. It came with its downsides considering a sixth of them were from women triple my age who clearly thought I was some toy boy.

Yeah, let's not talk about that.

I turned down yet another girl as I waited for the bartender to make two drinks. A frown pulled onto my face as I ran a hand through my hair thinking about how weird it felt to actually willingly turn an attractive girl down. But today I had better things to do.

"Cheers," I said to the guy with a ginger beard, taking the drinks from the bar counter.

My eyes scanned the sea of sweaty bodies with elaborate masks that moved to the beat of the music as I laughed to myself. You could tell how long people had been here at a glance; those who'd just got here swayed awkwardly at the sidelines with a drink stiffly clasped in their hands whilst those who didn't pace themself were stumbling messily.

Talisa was one of the latter.

I let out a frustrated sigh when I saw that an individual with a bottle green mask had returned from the crowd of dancing people and was sat beside Louisa. How the hell was I supposed to make Logan jealous and also find out what on earth was going on if I couldn't get a moment alone with her?

The news of their engagement had completely shocked me earlier. I hadn't seen that coming considering I was pretty certain things weren't as perfect as they pretended. I was aware young engagements were common at Forteaux and other prestigious institutions yet something told me this was more than a simple proposal.

"For you," I said putting a Daiquiri on the table in front of her. Lou's dark brown eyes flickered upwards in surprise as she took off her mask. It was a snow white colour with lace areas. Her softly arched Cupid's bow moved up and down as she said something.

Taking the opportunity, I brought my head closer to hers so that I could hear her. My eyes quickly searched for Logan as I asked her what she said. 

Where was the bastard when I wanted him?

"How did you know I like Daiquiri's?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I took off my own mask. I really wasn't sure, it was more of a random choice. "It just came to my mind. You seem like a Daiquiri kind of girl," I told her before raising my eyebrow. "I was right, wasn't I? See. I told you, Darling. We're made for each other."

Louisa's eyelashes fluttered as she analysed my face for a couple beats. "Funny. I'd rather hedge my bets on it being a coincidence."

Holding her gaze, I took a sip from my glass as a smile danced at my lips. "Your loss, Lou. Your loss."

Before I could continue, she had sharply turned to Talisa who was slumped besides her as if she had just remembered something. "Tal, you need to go with Gabriel. He's gonna take you to the bar and get you some water, okay?"

Talisa slurred something beneath her green mask whilst quickly opening her eyes, before putting her hand on Louisa's shoulder and pushing herself up from the seat.

"What? I never said- Why can't you get someone else to take her?"

"Ah, my bad. I should just pull the plug from the speakers and get everyone to line up single file in silence just so I can find Arlo, Prince or Logan." Louisa gave me a huge fake grin, before continuing in a sickly sweet voice.

"You're the only man here," she said glancing at the bar where a gang of wild looking men sat. "I hate to be sexist but it's also unfortunately true that some people can't take no as an answer and I'd rather not risk that. Off you go."

She was right. Prince had hooked up with some Australian girl. Arlo has gone outside to have a cigarette. I hadn't seen Logan, Ashlei or Lexi.

Rolling my eyes, I muttered under my breath steadying Talisa as Lou pushed her into my arms. My plan really wasn't going well. "Why don't you come with us?" I cocked my head and grinned. "I wouldn't be a gentleman if I left you here alone."

She faltered for a split second at my charm before laughing. "Gentlemen? Don't flatter yourself, Gabriel. I was pushing it when I said man. Now hurry up before she throws up or something."

I watched as she stood up, momentarily turning around to pick up her purse from behind her and flashing me the open back of her dress. "Besides, I've got some stuff to sort out. I'll see you later."

My eyebrows furrowed as she quickly slipped away in her heels, leaving me with Talisa. Stuff to sort out. I was so tempted to follow her but that was unlikely considering the girl resting against my shoulder. "Come on, let's get you some water," I sighed slowly, prodding Talisa a couple times.

It was odd that Talisa was the first of us to be wasted tonight considering she was a certified heavy weight.

Her eyes were shut but I could have sworn there was a glimpse of a smile on her face.

•••

Talisa had marginally sobered up within the last half an hour and was trying to convince me to let her buy another drink. "I promise I'm not drunk," she said slowly. She emphasised every single word and I bobbed my finger up and down at every syllable.

"I know you're not," I lied as she rested her head against the counter.

Talisa had a crazy high alcohol tolerance so considering this was the most drunk I'd seen her, she must have had a lot. "I'm such a strong weight."

"Heavy weight."

"Yeah, same thing. I'm a heavy weight drinker. I promise I'm drunk. Not drunk. Not drunk. I promise I'm not drunk." Her sea foam eyes were hazy and reflecting like glass, as she placed her hand in my chest.

I was too busy thinking about how the fuck I ended up babysitting to pay much attention to it. But when I found her hand holding mine and pulling me close to her, my head shot up. "What are you doing?"

She shrugged her shoulders before nodding her head along to the beta of the music. "Let's go dance."

I laughed and shook my head. "How about we go find the others instead? We haven't seen them for a while."

That was short for I've got a tonne of other things I should be doing right now. I hadn't decided not to drink a lot today for nothing.

"Please Gabriel. Let's dance," Talisa said, placing her hand in the centre of my chest and looking at me with eyes full of ardour. Her other hand skimmed across my left arm. Either I was imagining things or she was being a lot more touchy than usual.

She's drunk.

I didn't comment on it and removed her hand from my chest.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to comment on it.

"No?"

She frowned and put it back there as I looked at her in confusion. "Talisa, what are you doing? We've already spoken about this."

She knew I didn't like her like that.

"What?" Talisa said in surprise as we both stood up simultaneously.

Why was she acting as if she didn't know what I was talking about? Fuck, I hated talking about this. I thought this conversation was done and dusted. I felt my breathing speed up slightly at her tone knowing that shit was about to go down.

"That I don't and won't have feelings for you."

I regretted my choice of words as soon as I said them.

Her face looked totally and utterly crushed in that moment, as if the ground had been completely ripped from beneath her feet.

Guilt flooded through as she grabbed a shot from the group beside us. They protested as words tumbled out of my mouth in confusion, "I already told you that when we were on the yacht, Talisa. We were on the same page. I don't understand."

She laughed bitterly whilst giving the group of complaining people the middle finger, "You said 'right now.' It sounded like you wanted there to be something between us, asshole. You made it sound like in future you'd be willing to go there."

I shook my head and furrowed my eyebrows, "What? I swear I didn't. That's not what I meant Talisa."

Her eyes were piercing daggers at me venomously as she took another shot that belonged to the group beside us. "Well, that's what it fucking sounded like, Gabriel. God, I'm an idiot. I should have listened to Louisa." She said the second half more to herself than to me as I rubbed my forehead.

"I-I'm sorry," I said, still trying to process the whole situation whilst feeling like a complete douche. I thought I'd made it clear enough. "Wait, Louisa?"

Talisa's eyes snapped back to me in a click, a raging catacombs of emotion, "She's told me that I might have misunderstood you but I insisted I hadn't. I feel like a fucking idiot." Her words were still slurred.

"Don't say th-"

"So you've felt nothing at all towards me? And never will?"

I was at a loss for words. Louisa attempting to make me sit beside Talisa in the limo. Making me take Talisa to get some water. The answer to the question she'd asked me was simple but I couldn't get myself to say it, knowing the consequences it would have.

"I genuinely just see you as a friend and I can't help that." She scoffed and rolled her eyes before repeating the word 'friend' cynically. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest. "And that's great Talisa. Let's not ruin that, alright?"

Anger, frustration and sadness lapped around like flames of fire in her eyes as she stared at me harshly. My confidence crumbled, a victim of the bitterness pain radiating off from her.

She looked so hurt and I didn't know what to do.

"It's too late for that now, isn't it?" Talisa spat before spinning on her heel and merging into the crowd of bodies. "Don't you dare follow me. Go find someone else's heart to break. Hope you had fun leading me on like that."

"I didn't meant to-"

I attempted to follow her yet the group next to me at the bar stopped me, telling me to pay for the shot Talisa stole. One glance at their aggressive faces and I bought them another one. By the time, I was done Talisa had vanished.

My head was pounding and I wasn't even drunk. Fuck, I felt like such an asshole.

Was it really my fault or was it just a misunderstanding? I wasn't good at this type of stuff. All I knew was that since our friendship got complicated, I'd tried my best to avoid hurting her and in the end I did just that.

Part of me was worried about her. I knew she was unpredictable and the fact she was drunk didn't help. Or maybe she just wanted to be alone for a little.

Make your mind up, Gabriel.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a white lace mask that shone under the strobe lights. Exhaling in relief, I grabbed my drink and her untouched one from earlier.

She better be good at giving advice.

Okay can I just say I feel like it was Talisa's fault for not understanding what Gabriel has told her earlier. He did kinda spell it out. Ah maybe I'm biased idk.

Next chapter and the one after will be very big so pay attention! (: Check out the addition chapter called — call 02 | louisa — which I've added in for you all (:

I feel like the quote attached kind of sums Gabriel up, right?

♥ 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫! ♥