Shattering Halos (8 page)

Another morning I watched Kyle and Cody fight over whose backpack hadn’t made it to school when Gabriel emerged from behind a car. He sauntered toward us, his eyes gliding up to meet mine without blinking. Then, his gaze slid away from mine and into a cool focus on the horizon. In the moment he passed me, a lone, electrifying fingertip reached out and almost traced the back of my hand.

Gabriel humored me by staying visible during lunch hour. He would sit with his arms crossed and his head resting against the windowpane. A brushstroke of Bahama azure blazed from beneath half-closed lids as he squinted at me like an idle cat, and I would try not to stare too blatantly at an “empty” windowsill.

He was spoiling me, but I needed more. I craved his constant visibility, and whenever I begged for it, he chuckled softly and clarified heavenly policies I’d rather not learn.

Soon, I started taking the bus to school, blaming the price of gas. If Marina and Lucio left before the school bus, I’d miss my ride home on purpose and jog away from the school grounds. My destination would be the cemetery at Sunset and Parker, where Gabriel waited for me in the parking lot.

His car became one of the few places we could talk without being discovered. For twenty precious minutes, I’d lounge next to a tangible Gabriel. I couldn’t imagine a better way of getting home from school.

Seated sideways in the passenger seat, I sat on my hands so they wouldn’t wander while I watched him drive. Twinkling eyes stayed on the road ahead of us, and I relished the little, luscious smile that played around his mouth when I prattled on about everything that crossed my mind.

During these peaceful spells, I talked more than I had since the accident. There was something about the unspoken encouragement, the absolute lack of judgment. Whatever I blurted out seemed to interest him.

“I mutate into a full-on chatterbox around you, Gabriel. How do you not get sick of this?”

“Why does that surprise you? You’re marvelous.”

No way. He did not just call me “marvelous.”

My happiness swelled and threatened to morph into bliss. Wouldn’t I eventually burst? “For a guy who’s been with me every second of my life, you’re easy to amuse,” I laughed.

Gabriel gave me so much, and yet I wanted more. My cravings grew with each passing day. One afternoon on our way home, I sent him a look from under half-closed eyelids. “Hey you, angel. Why don’t you rip your eyes off the road and let the car do its thing? You could check
me
out instead.” My voice came out appropriately husky and seductive.

His reaction hit me the second I spoke the last word. The car skidded to a stop in the dead center of the street, and his movements blurred so fast I couldn’t even perceive them. Shocked, I squinted up to discover him hovering over me, frozen in place, his fists crushed around my headrest.

Gabriel’s breath steamed across my face, and I sensed his thighs angled taut on the outside of my hips. In a space so impossibly crammed, he somehow managed to keep himself away from my skin.

Fire and ice. From the heart of glacial blue irises, his pupils seethed ember hot. Gabriel exhaled his demand, a barely audible hum gusting by my ear.

“Don’t. Tempt. Me.”

We drove the rest of the way in silence. Goose bumps lingered under my sweater, and my heart raced. Every now and then, I stole a glance at him, but he was unreachable. My throat kept closing, urging me to cry. The last thing I needed was to increase the tension between us, so I held back.

At my house, he opened the car door for me. He sent me a dark look as I fought to get out of the seat. I couldn’t conceal how my body trembled when he crossed his arms instead of helping me out.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Gabriel shook his head wearily and closed his eyes.

Don’t close them. I shouldn’t have…

“No, sunshine.
I’m
sorry.”

I wanted to stroke a cheekbone, skim a full lip, but knew he wouldn’t let me. At the door, I turned to look back at him. He hadn’t moved. Gabriel stood infinitely still with his hands balled tight by his sides, a golden deity meeting my gaze…defiantly.

Off-kilter, I fumbled for the doorknob and fell inward thanks to my mother.

“Who on
Earth was that?”

Nice. Let’s find out how much more complicated my life can get.

If I’d paid attention, I would have known she had the entire month of December off. A little late to change my fate now that all five feet three inches of her had me in a stare-down. My mother was a continuously busy and happy person, but boy, you didn’t want to be in the vicinity when she soured.

“Hi, Mom. Yeah, a friend drove me back from school.”

“Gaia. That is a dreamy-looking boy.”

Come again?

Confused, she tilted her head a little, as if forcing her motherliness back in control.

“Who is he, and what does he do for a living? And no stories Gaia Samuelle, because I’ll see straight through them. Cut to the chase right now.”

Ah, and she’s back. Yay.

“Mom, please.”

The lock clicked behind me—she locked him out like a criminal! Then she grasped my hand, led me to the kitchen, and made me sit. One of her infamous, loaded silences hung between us as she took her time pouring me chai tea.

She stirred in maple syrup with ominous deliberation while I concentrated on not erupting into nervous laughter. As expected, she picked up right where we’d left off once she was done. The questions she fired off sounded like statements.

“What’s his name?”

“Gabriel.”

“Gabriel. What’s Gabriel’s job, Gaia? Don’t even try to tell me he’s in high school. That boy is at least twenty-one.”

This was not moving in a direction I was comfortable with, and I certainly had no answer she would buy.

“Mom…I don’t know.”

She didn’t take it well. “You don’t know how old he is? Why do I not believe you, Gaia? About twenty-three is my guess—way too old for you, missy. No daughter of mine is going anywhere with him, and that’s for your own good.”

Unable to defend myself, I groaned, exasperating her some more. Her fairy-sized stature tensed.

“I’m having a chat with your father, and he won’t be happy. What does a twenty-five-year-old
man
want with a seventeen-year-old
girl,
you think?”

“I turned eighteen weeks ago, Mom.”

She hated the reminder. “Don’t interrupt me! You have no idea; you’re so not prepared for this. Please inform Gabriel that you’re not allowed to see him, all right? Find a sweet high school boy.”

“Hey, he’s a friend and wouldn’t try to trick me into anything. Plus, a little trust in your
adult
daughter would be nice. I’m going upstairs.”

My mother started pacing, her breathing suddenly louder.

Ah, yeah, should’ve kept my big yapper shut.

“Well, forgive my bluntness, but he devoured you out there. This Gabriel is not planning for the two of you to be friends, that’s for sure, and by the looks of, uh, him, he’s used to getting what he wants. I’m putting a stop to this, Gaia, even if it takes involving Dad and a shotgun!”

I took the stairs in three leaps, escaping before the need to snicker out loud overpowered me. What were the chances of her “putting a stop to” my guardian angel, and with a shotgun no less?

I fell onto my bed, laughing and crying. I was in the midst of a small breakdown when a familiar tranquility wrapped around me. I peered up and found Gabriel standing by the window.
Closer
, I thought, and almost imperceptibly, he shook his head.

Chapter 9 — Caught

Gaia

“Marina, you’re relentless!” I stared at my friend across the table. How many times had we had this conversation? I’d rather spend my time with Gabriel than go to Marina’s church to be force-fed the theoretical version of him.

“Well, you’re the one who promised. It’s for your own good.” Her voice sounded whiny.

“I’ll come tomorrow. Or the next day,” I said, taking a bite of my donut.

“All right, because yesterday you didn’t come because of…what again?”

“Dentist,” I lied. Marina slapped her forehead. “Right, the spur-of-the-moment dentist appointment. Last week your grandma suddenly had a birthday, yes?”

I was beginning to feel guilty.

“Okay, so listen up.” Marina puffed out an impatient breath. “Never mind Father Damian. No churchgoing. Let’s meet up with my granduncle instead.”

She made no sense. “Why?”

“Because Uncle Sebastian knows as much as a priest. He went to the seminary when he was young—” she frowned, “I guess they released him from it after a year or something?”

I giggled, “So the seminary was jail for him?”

“Ha. Ha. Funny. Anyways, he knows stuff. More than me.”

“No?” I play-muffled a gasp that Marina ignored.

“He’s got a library filled with books about theology, and he studies them, like, twenty-four seven.” My friend gave me a victorious finger point, “Mom and I don’t go often—he’s more interested in his books than us—but, heck yes, Uncle Sebastian’s our guy!”

I shrugged. At least it was better than going to her priest.

A pleased smile stretched Marina’s lips. “When I was little, he let me play with his chessboard in that library. He’s awesome.”

****

Despite my recurring discussions with Marina, most of my attention went to Gabriel these weeks. Even though we hadn’t touched since the harbor, our interaction became more deliberate, more ingenious by the hour. I was beginning to realize that our little game of hide-and-seek might be a form of slowly escalating flirting.

Marina used me as a soundboard for her string of dates with Kyle and Cody, and I wished I could have done the same with her. I often missed Megan and Ash. What would they have said about all of this? I swallowed the lump in my throat, grateful to know that they were happy.

“Gaia!” The decibel level of Marina’s whisper made me flinch. Our Computer Apps teacher must have his hearing aid turned to the lowest setting.

“Yes, Marina, I’m not deaf.”

“You know how I’m a scaredy-cat? Well, Cody and I ended up at the horror flick last night anyway.”

I smiled at Marina’s fake surprise. “So you had an excuse to cuddle up to him, then?”

“I did
not
!”

“Really?” I grinned. “Did he kiss you?”

From where he sat on the teacher’s desk, Gabriel raised an eyebrow at me, and I burst into laughter.

“What’s your problem?” Marina hissed.

“Sorry—just being weird.” In front of me, Gabriel pursed his lips into a smirk, and I had a hard time peeling my gaze away.

“Whatever, so Cody put his arm around me, and I let him, right?”

“And
then
he French-kissed you?” I asked. Gabriel concealed his smile behind a fist, but his eyes, sparkling with amusement, made me snicker.

“Young lady—” She sounded stern.

“I swear, Marina, you’re my mom’s long lost twin.”

“I French-kissed nobody yesterday, because I don’t know which one is Mr. Right, Kyle or Cody.”

“Oh, we’re back to that now? The Mr. Right thing?”

“Miss Samuelle, Miss Lampedusa, do share your insights with the rest of the class.” The teacher’s voice dripped with boredom.

Marina pivoted and said sweetly, “Well, sir, Gaia told me about her stomach cramps, and my advice to her…”

I turned pink as the teacher cut her off. “I’ll write out hall passes. Please take your friend to the nurse.”

Marina took my elbow like I was a china doll and led me out the door.

Half way down the main hallway, Gabriel’s presence tingled warm against my neck. All of my senses honed in on him, making it hard to concentrate on Marina’s chatter.

I need to see him!

Stopping at the fountain, I peeked out from underneath my hair as I leaned over. I saw no trace of him. “Where are you?” I asked, realizing too late that I’d said it out loud.

“Um—hello?” Marina squinted at me.

Light fingertips brushed my hair away from the spurting liquid. His breath tickled my ear, and my own hitched.

An almost-touch? Yes, please!

An airy giggle escaped me, and Marina stopped dead in her tracks, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“What was that, Gaia?”

“Nothing. Just laughing at how Cody wanted to kiss you. So did you let him in the end?”

“No! I told you that already. I need to figure out which one to kiss first.” She was perceptive but easily diverted. “I mean, they’re both really cute. And they’re both so nice and have my sense of humor…”

“They’re both so…identical?” I helped.

That afternoon, Marina and I went to the mall. She needed new skinny-jeans, and since I always enjoyed a nice shopping spree, I tagged along. Unfortunately, Gabriel seemed to be everywhere.

As the hours went by and Gabriel did nothing to seem like a
good
angel, I lost my tongue. Marina sent me suspicious glances over unusual postures or expressions I didn’t wipe off my face in time.

“You all right?” Marina scanned my face. We were indulging in a root beer float, and the angel straddling the backward chair at our table made me scatterbrained. With his chin supported on arms crossed over the backrest, Gabriel was beaming at me.

“Yeah, I want to scavenge for a new dress.”

Or make out with an angel.

“Oh, yay! Let’s go to Access. They’re the best!” Marina clapped toddler-style.

Gabriel uncrossed his arms, leaned forward, and dabbed ice cream onto the tip of my nose.

“Um, here…” Marina pointed at her own nose.

Watching him chuckle, I removed it. “Thanks.”

On the escalator, Gabriel didn’t just shadow me. For the first time since the dance, he stood so close that his body molded to mine while we waited. I closed my eyes and leaned back against him.

Unbelievable. Can I just not wake up from this?

How I’d missed the sensation of his chin resting on my head. I wished the escalator ride would last forever.

The embraces from the night of Winter Formal flashed through my mind, and I suddenly realized that a platonic relationship wasn’t enough for me anymore.

Once at Access, Marina poked her head into my dressing room without asking permission.