Chapter Twenty-Four:

The day finally ends and I get to walk home today because Gabriel hasn't driven me all week and also my Mother has to take my brother to a doctor's appointment. I don't mind bike riding but I really wish he would pick me up, force me to get into his car like he did when it was raining that day.

I decide to stop walking and turn to the direction to get to Gabriel's house. I need to figure out what is going on even if it means forcing myself in his head. I know Griffin doesn't want me to, but I don't care at this point. Even if he doesn't want to talk, he has to. It will be better if he lets everything out and I'll never judge him; never look at him differently as long as he trusts me like I trust him.

I ride my bike down the rocky short cut and when I get to Gabriel's house I realize it is too late to change my mind and turn around, I came all this way. I don't know how he is going to react since he has been so different lately, he could just kick me out or thank me for coming but I am promising myself I wont leave even if he screams at me. I know this is what he needs... for me to be there for him, he just doesn't know he needs it yet. I knock twice on his door and no one answers. I knock another three of four times before a girl finally does,

"Can I help you?" She asks me.

"Yeah, is Gabriel home?" She looks me up and down.

"He's in his room but I'm guessing you know where that is." She moves out the way giving me a dirty look as I walk past her and I don't even bother thanking her... is this the infamous sister Gabriel has mentioned? She really isn't as great as he described. I make my way up his steps and get memories of me running down these stairs, leaving whenever he acts like a douchebag but today I expect him to act like that so no more running away. I go up the last flight of stairs that opens to his room.

"Gabriel?" I call and I hear his footsteps coming from the other side of the room,

"What are you doing here?" He asks and I turn my face towards him.

"I wanted to see you... I'm worried about you; you've been acting weird lately." I work up the courage to ask. I can tell he can tell I'm nervous and that must be hard for him to see because I rarely ever scared of speaking my mind or telling people how I feel but he... he makes me nervous.

"I'm fine." He quickly snaps back and says.

"Obviously not, you haven't even touched me all week or seen me." I tell him. I no longer have a nervous tone in my voice, instead getting straight to the point.

"If you came here to argue with me then leave... you don't understand the shit I've been through."

"Then talk to me! You know I'll understand more than anyone." He turns to look away from me,

"Maddie you should go, I don't want to talk right now." He says. I walk to face him again, forcing him to make eye contact.

"I don't care what you want Gabriel! I want to talk. Sometimes in relationships you have to make sacrifices and do what your partner wants... needs."

"All I do is do what you want, Maddie! Even if I don't want to open up or say something, I do it because you practically force me to!" His voice gets louder and he paces around the room in distress.

"Don't yell at me! I'm trying to be understanding here and not argue! Your not the only person who goes through shit Gabriel and has rough days or weeks! I do all the time but it helps when you open up."

"No, it doesn't. Why cant you understand that I don't want to talk about it?"

"Because you're not talking, period!" I scream.

"Did I do something to you? Did I forget to see you one day... what did I... I did I  do to deserve this treatment?" I calm my voice down, and find my voice cracking.

"Jesus fuck stop making everything about you! Because it's not fucking you! The only thing you're fucking doing is being fucking annoying!" He snaps.

"So I'm annoying for fucking caring about you? Why do you always have to be a asshole to me?!" I put my hands on my knees and try to understand whatever is going on but I don't at all. I don't get why he is mad at me.

"Here we go, call me more shit! I should right down all the names you fucking call me because I'm the one always fucking up. Just go home!"

"No! I'm not leaving until we figure this out... we always figure it out." I say.

"Oh like we figured out the whole New York situation?" He sarcastically asks,

"Really you had to bring that up?"

"Yes I did because we didn't figure that out at all! Instead we fucking ignored it for weeks!" I watch as he throws one of his books on the ground, showing his rage.

"I don't care about that anymore Gabriel! I know we will make it and I know you know it to! Your just scared." Fighting back wont help, I've realized that. It will just make things so much worse.

"You don't know shit Maddie!" He gets all up in my face and points to his head,

"You don't know the shit going through my head, you don't know half the shit that goes on in my life. Face it you don't know anything fucking about me!" He screams.

"Then let me in! If you let me know I'll understand." I place my hand on his arm but he pushes me away,

"I can't and I... can't do this anymore."

"What?!"

"I can't be with you anymore. Pretending that were going to be endgame, trying to tell myself that I can be the man you want and trying to be good for you." He says.

"You're crazy... you don't know what your saying." I tell him, I try to laugh it off but he doesn't laugh with me.

"No, I do. Maddie we're done. I can't do this to you or myself."

"We're just in a fight... we always get... get over it." I start choking on my tears that flood down my face,

"Not this time."

"No... No! You can't do this to me... I... I need you."

"Please no!" I beg.

"You don't need me... you just think you do. You're going to move on and forget about me. Maybe marry Leandro, have beautiful fucking babies and the only time you will see me again is in school for only a little while."

"I don't want to be with Leandro... I... I want you!"

"Well, I don't want you... not anymore, now leave."

"Why are you doing this?"

"You will forgive me and realize why in the long run." He avoids my question and turns away from me.

"So this is it then. I guess you were right, we're not endgame." I walk out hearing the sound of crashing from behind me but I don't turn around, instead I leave my heart and my soul behind with him.