Thank you to everyone who wanted me to continue the story. I'm glad I have people who like it. I also want to say thank you to those who gave criticism. That always helps me out. I like to know what needs to be fixed or changed in my writing. This is the second installment and I hope you enjoy it!!!
Thanks
morningjewel
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"Gabriel" she whispered.
She couldn't believe it, he is actually here. I cant believe I didn't place him before; but now, it all makes sense, she thought. He was acting like he knew her already, knew what she would do, like he could see into her mind. Of course he couldn't hear what she was thinking but he knew her so well that he knew what she would do. And he has been in her mind. They used to be best friends so of course he would know her better than she knew herself sometimes. But he left. He said he would come back but I didn't think it would have been ten years...she thought.
"Don't you recognize me?" he asked. He knew she wouldn't because he had grown up - way up - since the last time he had seen her. But there is always a chance she might since they had spent every day with each other.
"Not at first," she admitted, "What are you doing here?" she couldn't help but ask. They were still standing face to face and she could feel his hot breathe on her and it was starting to make her dizzy. As if Gabriel could read her mind he took her upper arms and pushed her back into a chair. He bent down onto one knee and took her hands in his.
John didn't know what was going on, he was too wrapped up in a conversation with Charlie, the owner, to see Gabriel and Cassy so close together. The place suddenly got quiet and he spun around to see what was going on to see his girlfriend and the man who she was playing pool with, he was leading her to a chair and set her down. John got up off the stool and rushed over to them only to find Cassy's hands in this mans.
"What the hell is going on here?" John asked through gritted teeth. He was trying to stay as calm as possible. He looked to Cassy to tell him only she just stared at whoever this man was like she was hypnotized. John then looked at this man who was holding his girlfriends hands and nudged him on the shoulder. He looked up at John who had is eyebrows raised waiting for a response.
"Who are you?" Gabe asked. He looked up at him with a pissed off look on his face. He didn't know who this guy was and he was getting in the middle of himself and Cassy.
Cassy could only sit there and stare at Gabriel. She couldn't take her eyes off of him for fear he would disappear on her again. She could hear the conversation around her but refused to look at John, she just couldn't.
"You didn't answer my question. What is going on here?" John snapped.
"Cas and I just had a great game playing pool, in which case I won. She got mad because she will not be getting her money from that guy over their." he said as he nodded his head in the direction that Jacob was standing.
"I don't care about the damn game!" John exclaimed. A few people who were sitting and standing around close to where they were, looked up at John shocked. He rarely gets mad but he just couldn't take seeing Cassy like this. He didn't know who this man was nor did he care. John just didn't want this man touching his girlfriend the way he is. "I care about Cassy, what is wrong with her?" he asked.
Gabriel let out a sigh, he couldn't explain everything to this man who obviously has some connection to Cassy he just didn't know what it was, yet. "She's just in shock." Gabriel explained.
"Well, what happened to her?" John asked through clenched teeth, he was getting frustrated that this man was not giving him the answers he wanted.
Gabriel completely ignored his question, "Cas," he said, "Cas, are you okay?"
Cassidy was still staring at Gabriel who kept looking back and forth between her and John during the whole conversation. She couldn't believe he was actually here, she never thought she would see him again and here he was holding her hands and staring strait into her eyes like he could see into her soul. There's so much she wanted to say but she couldn't get it out all she could do was stair blankly at him.
Finally after what felt like an eternity she blinked rapidly and shook her head trying to clear what was buzzing around in their. "Are you really here?" she asked.
"I'm pretty sure," Gabriel said, a little confused on why she wouldn't think he would be here.
Cassy squealed and threw herself at Gabriel wrapping her arms around his neck. He swayed backwards to his heels ready to topple over but he put his arm out behind him to stop the process. With the other arm around her he held on tight chuckling a little and closed his eyes. This is exactly the homecoming he was hoping for.
All Cassy could say was "I cant believe you are really here," over and over into his shoulder where her head lay. John just stared at them a little bewildered. He had no idea who this man was but apparently Cassy knew him. They seem to be friendly, he thought, a little too friendly for my liking. So he cleared his throat in an attempt to get their attention.
They pulled away from each other reluctantly smiling and stood to face John. "Sorry" they both mumbled.
"John this is Gabriel, an old friend. Gabriel this is my boyfriend John." They both glared at each other and shook hands. Both held on tight and for a little too long. From first site neither of them liked each other. Its probably because they care about the same girl. So Cassy decided to intervene, "How about lets sit and talk, okay? she asked trying to not anger them. They both took a seat of course on either side of the square table so they were facing each other. Cassy of course was in the middle looking back and forth between the two.
She spoke first, "What are you doing here?" she asked Gabriel.
"I'm moving back," he said nonchalantly. "I bought a house over on Rosedale Dr."
"Your moving back?" Cassy asked raising her eyebrows. She figured maybe he was here for a visit or something but not to move back. Certainly not to move back to this Podunk town, there is nothing here at all, why would he move back? Maybe to be with you, the little voice in the back of her head said and she smiled at that.
Gabriel just smiled at her question and she smiled back, glad that he was finally here. "Yay! We have so much to catch up on what's been going on with you, tell me everything."
So Cassy and John kept listening to Gabriel tell them about what has been going on with him and his life. How he had gone to college and about his job. He seems to have it made, Cassy thought, he wouldn't want me, not after all this time, and especially since he has a perfect life. I would just mess it up.
But what other reason would he be back here but to be with me. He did promise after all that he would come back. Maybe he's going to take me far away from here, Cassy thought and sighed inwardly.
Then theirs John to think about. Of course John would be devastated if Cassy left with Gabriel. It would crush him. She couldn't do that. She would have to find some way to let him down easy. Wait a minute, Cassy thought, he never asked me to go away with him, I'm getting ahead of my self here. Get a grip Cassy, she chastised herself.
The whole time Gabriel had been talking John kept getting closer and closer to Cassy showing that she was his. They had ordered some drinks in between chatting back and forth to calm all the nerves that were going around. John and Cassy were seated right next to each other when Gabriel finished talking.
Then Cassy started talking about her life then. How she had stayed in town and finished high school. Never went to college though she wanted to, just never had the money and that she worked at the Diner as a waitress.
Looking back on it now Cassy realized she hadn't done anything with her life. Nothing at all. She pretty much just gets up in the morning goes to work, comes home, goes to sleep and does it all over again. She isn't as wild as she used to be when she was younger. Of course that was when she was with Gabriel.
They had always gotten into some sort of trouble. Breaking windows in run down buildings, sneaking out at night to ride their bikes, or to go the "tree house" as they had called it. Which was really just a few pieces of plywood stacked up around a tree.