Hello Everyone!
I want to start by saying that I appreciated all the feedback I got on Chapter 5. I appreciated some more than others, but I appreciated it all.
I apologize for the obvious mass confusion and the only explanation I can provide is that Chapter 5 was originally a lot longer, but I decided last minute to break it up. Obviously that wasn't the best idea. My ass still hurts from the new one I was ripped about it, but I'm going to take everything in stride and assume that the reason for all the harsh backlash was because I'm this totally awesome writer and you guys expect something more from me. Right?? LOL. One can only hope...
Anyways I just want to say a big thanks to those of you reading this. Thank you for sticking with me and having faith that I'd somewhat mend whatever damage I did with Chapter 5.
Also thanks to those who gave the positive feedback giving me inspiration to continue.
Without further delay, I give you Chapter 6.
Or Chapter 5, Part 2....whatever...=)
Thanks,
Sin
******
Sloane watched as the concern on Gabe's face dissipated into disbelief.
"You can't help me out here?" Sloane thought she heard him say. She wouldn't know cause the statement was directed more towards the heavens then to her.
"Un-fucking-believable." Gabe said pushing past her in the direction of the door.
She heard that loud and clear.
"Look, I'm not happy about this either." She said following him.
"That's not what I mean-" Gabe started to say, before stopping himself. He didn't want to fight with her. Instead, he centered his strength on yanking hard on the door.
"What are you doing? I already told you it's locked."
Gabe ignored her and kept trying anyways. His efforts were futile. Aggravated he turned to face her, "Give me your phone."
"Don't you think I would've thought of that?"
"Sloane!" He snapped before lowering his tone, "Just give me your phone. We'll call someone. They'll come up. Crisis averted."
Sloane opened her mouth, then snapped it shut, "I kind of don't have it."
"What!?"
"I must've left it in your room. Along with my clutch." Sloane said, telling herself mentally that she needed to stay calm.
"You seriously need to have that damned thing taped to you."
"Why don't you use your own damned phone?" Sloane replied. She watched Gabe feel his pockets and his jacket. His face broadcasted the outcome, "Of course you don't have it."
"We wouldn't be in this predicament if some genius didn't come up here in the first place!"
"Who's the idiot that chased me up here?" Sloane replied heatedly as Gabe sucked in a strained breath to calm himself. He spoke after a long minute.
"Okay we need to call a truce. Arguing isn't going to change the fact that we're stuck up here and God only knows how long that's going to be."
Sloane eyed him up curiously. He was serious.
This was going to be interesting.
"Fine. A truce it is." She shrugged as casually as she could before excusing herself to take refuge on the far wall.
The sooner she got away from Gabe the better. She needed remain calm around Gabe or who knows what she'd say. The last thing she needed was getting upset and saying something she'd regret. Sloane shuddered at the thought of Gabe's reaction if she let her secret slip.
It wasn't the only thing that gave Sloane chills.
She wrapped her arms around her shivering body. The temperature had dropped since she was out on the terrace earlier in the evening, not to mention the wind was a little stronger up on the roof. As she leaned back against the wall, the cool surface sent more chills down her spine.
"Here take this." Gabe said. She watched as he shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her.
"I'm okay, but thanks for the g-g-gesture." Sloane declined politely, unable to stop the involuntary chattering of her teeth, "It's not that bad."
"Quit being stubborn and take it." Gabe said tossing it to her before taking a seat beside her.
Sloane was too distracted with pleasure her body felt from warmth his jacket provided to remember that she was trying to stay away from Gabe. Still warm from his body heat, Sloane almost pulled the lapels up to smell his scent on it when she remembered herself.
"This is where you say, Thank you Gabe," Gabe said watching her closely.
"Thank you Gabe." Sloane repeated monotone.
"Why, you're very welcome Sloane."
Neither said anything for a long time after that. When the silence between them was bordering on extremely awkward, Gabe glanced at Sloane only to see her twisting the edges of his jacket, staring ahead wide eyed. She looked so tense. And nervous. He locked eyes with her when she snuck a peek at him out of the corner of her eye, before she bit her lip and quickly looked forward again.
Gabe couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Sloane asked strained.
"You need to chill out." Gabe said laughing, "You're so tense over there, you're making me nervous. You don't have to worry, I'm sure there are a number of things we can talk about that doesn't leave you wanting to kill me and me wanting to strangle you."
"Don't be so sure of yourself..." Sloane murmured.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Sloane responded quickly. "What have you been up to?"
As long as she could keep Gabe talking about his favorite subject he wouldn't ask her about what she had been up to. And then she wouldn't have to worry about lying to him more than she already had.
'Not telling the entire truth is still lying' she often told Ethan.
She was such a hypocrite.
The lie she had told her family all those years ago replayed in her mind, "It was a one night stand. The guy was from out of town, he doesn't even know."
She had tried to justify the grave statement by telling herself it wasn't a complete lie. So maybe it was a two night stand. But she did live in California, so technically Ethan's father was from out of town.
And he sure as hell didn't know.
After she told her parents about her pregnancy and scandalous conception, Sloane swore she heard her father's uproar all the way from California.
Abortion was something Sloane briefly considered before throwing the idea out the window. When her father realized that she wasn't going to have one, he told her to return to Reston immediately...or else he'd fly out to California and drag her back.
His threats relented only after a combined task effort from her mother and grandparents. Sloane would stay in California only if she moved in with her grandparents after Ethan was born. When Sloane decided to stay, her father took her decision as a blatant act of defiance resulting in an unspoken strain on their relationship. Sloane had always been a daddy's girl, so the drastic change devastated her.
She soon learned it was the first in line of many changes.
Sloane was sure she wouldn't make it to her due date, she had gotten so huge in fact that she had went to the doctors numerous times to induce labor. Her son apparently inherited her stubborn gene and came a week after his due date. Sixteen grueling hours later Ethan had been born and Sloane's life changed forever. With her scholarship intact for the next year, Sloane spent the summer settling into her grandparents' home and adjusting into her new role in motherhood. When school started again in the fall, Sloane traded college parties and whatever sliver of a social life she had for a part-time job and a life dedicated to her son.
Had it not been for her grandparents' unwavering support, she wouldn't know how she would've gotten through the most difficult and most trying year. The heavy workload for the school year was only intensified by the stress of being a new mother. Not to mention a single mom.
"Me and you, baby. It's just me and you." Sloane would say often after coming home to Ethan drained and exhausted after a long day, especially during the times when the loneliness threatened to consume her.
"Hello...Earth to Sloane." Gabe said drawing her out of her thoughts, "How are you going to ask me a question then zone out on me?"
"Sorry, it's been a long day." Sloane replied, "I'm a little worn out."
"Between Walker and JJ, I'm surprised you had anything left in you." Gabe said jokingly, causing Sloane to shudder at the thought of Walker. Gabe laughed at her reaction, "You didn't seem to mind Walker when you kissed him earlier."
"You're lucky you came out when you did. I was about to show Walker exactly what was on my mind." Sloane said. Gabe knew she was good for it, "At least I was able to walk away from Walker looking decent and not like I rolled around in the sandbox. Seriously? Was a tackle necessary?"
"I thought I was saving you." Gabe chuckled, trying to defend himself, "You should actually be thanking me."
"Oh right." Sloane said sarcastically, "Thank you Gabriel Jennings for ruining my dress and messing up my hair. Oh and I think you messed up my elbow so thanks for that too."
"Very funny," Gabe replied, "I meant that you should be thanking me for helping you look more like yourself now then you have all night."
"Oh thanks..." Sloane said offended.
"Don't look all hurt. You could be wearing a potato sack and still be beautiful." Gabe replied.
"Listen to that line..."
"It's no line. I just have to say that it's weird seeing you all put together. Shiny." Gabe said distantly, "Perfect."
