Chapter 13 Mansion

Usually girls couldn't wait to be alone with him, except this one, she went to great lengths to not be alone with him. Was it him she didn't trust or herself? And why does his stomach keep doing that fluttery thing and his skin prickles with cold bumps whenever she calls his name? And another thing, he wasn't big on kissing, well not after he had that bad experience; point was, he wasn't into kissing, so why did he have this overwhelming urge to kiss this girl?

Diane breath out slowly as she watch him emerge from the restaurant carrying a bag, damn he is fine, beautiful, shiny blond hair catch at the nape of his neck with a hairband, stunning light blue suit with light blue tie and black shoes. Wow, he looks like one of those models in the magazines and she just knew that there was definitely a six pack and strong chiseled physic under that suit. Fine didn't do him justice, he was amazingly well built.

He got in and as he pulls out of the parking lot he asks her to tell him a little more about her sisters, which was strange because she had just spend the last few minutes telling them about him, anyway she felt she owed him that much because they were going to be going to his house. First he stops at Dana's house then at Diana's house and needless to say they were both speechless when they saw him and spend most of the drive to his house just staring at him, but they also did somehow found a subtle way to drill him for information about himself.

Diane however remains quiet for most of the drive as she enjoys the scenery. The houses up here were amazing. After driving for a while he came to a stop at a very big white gate that looks a lot like the Great Wall of China. He pushed a button on his key chain and the gate opens up to a very long driveway. Diane was amazed at the size of his yard, it was beautiful and not to mention the house. It was a massive white two-story house if you could call it a house, the name that best fit it would be mansion. It looks like it could hold six families very comfortably. She had always wondered what his house looks like, she knew that it must look good but this was amazing. He presses another button on his key chain and another huge white door begins lifting off the ground and seems to disappear up into the building. He drives in and she realizes it was his garage. There were two other vehicles there and a big black bike. She also remember passing a car in the driveway. How many vehicles did this guy owned? And what kind of work did he do that made him be able to afford a place like this? They got out and he took the stuff from the car and used one of his keys to open still another big white door which they realize lead into a very big hall.

Nice Diane thought. He can go straight from his garage to his house. Very convenient; he put the bags and his jacket on a big sofa in the hall and blushes bright red as the sound of porn blasts from his living room, she and her sisters exchange glances but said nothing. Gabriel knew it was Alex and not knowing what kind of mood Alex was in he turns to them. "Could you please wait here for a moment?" they nods and he walk into the living room, and just as he had suspect before Alex was sprawled out on his sofa watching porn.

"Could you turn that off please?" "Hey prince, where were you. I've been waiting for hours." Alex said getting up. "Turn that off." Gabriel ordered. "What, it's only porn, you do still love porn don't you?" Alex asks laughing as Gabriel walks over and turns the television off. "What's wrong?" Alex asks "I have a guest." "Who?" Alex asks walking into the hall. "Nice, black beauties, who are they, prince?" Alex asks his eyes roaming over Diane. "Alex I would like you to meet my friends Diane, Dana, and Diana. Ladies, my best friend Alex and this little lady is Jasmine, Diane's daughter." "Pleasure." Alex said biting his lips as He pulls Gabriel back into the living room. "They are Christian aren't they?" Alex asks in disgust. "Yes, well one of them anyway." "Now this all makes sense, all this change is for a woman?" "No, they are here to help me with something." "What?" "Some house cleaning." "I thought you weren't going to hire any more helpers." "They are not helpers; they are my friends who are here to help me get rid of some stuff." "Like what?"Alex asks throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

Gabriel walks over to the D.V.D.player and pulls out the porn c.d. "Like this." He said pushing the c.d at Alex chest as he walks past him and heads back into the hall. "Could you ladies please wait for me in the kitchen?" He asks as he led them through a door and into a large kitchen. "Help yourselves to something to drink, I'll be right back." He said leaving again. "Holy mother of kitchens." Diana breathes in awe at the size and beauty of the well-stacked, well-decorated palace of a kitchen.

"You're bringing these people into your home now? What's next?" Alex began as Gabriel walked back into the room. Gabriel took off the shirt he was wearing and kept on his white undershirt. "I don't have time for this; I have a lot of work to do and I have a pounding headache." Alex rolls his eyes. "These people have brainwashed you, prince, what, they told you to throw out your porn? You love those c.ds why would you throw them away?"

Gabriel took a deep breath. "I don't need them anymore." 'Damn it, prince, don't you see what these people are doing?" Gabriel had to clench his teeth together to control the anger that was boiling inside him. He turns to his friend his eyes glistening with anger. "These people are not doing anything, this is my decision. Mine, I choose to change. Me, they didn't change me I change myself. You know, I really didn't expect this from you. From the other guys maybe but not from you. But it turns out they are the ones supporting me not you. Justin bought me my first Bible. Justin, of all people! The guys you don't like, they are the ones who are there for me. When are you going to step up? Grow up and realize that I'm doing this for me, no one else but me." "Yeah, it's all about you isn't it Prince. But you know what, I was there for you, through everything I was there, any decisions that was to be made, we made them together, it used to be about us, now it's just about you and you say that I am the one who turned his back on you." Alex said angrily.

Alex knew he was pushing his friend too far, he knew he should back off but then again why should he. If he back down now he knew he would lose his friend to these people. "I like you just the way you were. You didn't have to change; I don't even know you anymore." Gabriel grabs Alex by the hand and drags him outside. "I've had enough of your nonsense. You know what kind of person I was before. I was like a rapists, I used my looks to draw women to me then I hurt them, I used them and throw them out like trash, just like a rapists would , is that the kind of person you want me to be Alex? That's the kind of friend you want? Well sorry to disappoint you but I'm no longer like that. Something happened to me the night I got baptized. I have changed and if you can't accept that then leave."

Alex could feel the anger radiating from his friend but he still refuse to back down. "You got baptized, another decision you made without me. So much for our friendship." "Look Alex I love you like a brother but either you accept me for who I am now or just get the hell out of my face. Because I won't keep defending myself to you; do you understand?" "Fine if that's the way you want it, I'll leave you alone." Gabriel try to fight it but he couldn't help the tears that forms in his eyes,

"That's not the way I want it double A. and it hurts me that you won't even try to understand. You're not only turning your back on me double A, you're also turning your back on God. Think about what you're doing before it's too late. I love you man but if we are going to be friends you're the one who will have to change. I really don't want to do this without you, Alex please, couldn't you just support me on this."

"You want me to support you? Support you serving a God that only caused you grief? Where was God when you were so twisted with grief that you couldn't eat, Where was he on those nights when I had to sedate you just so you could get a few hours of peaceful sleep? Where was he, Prince? I was there for you, not him, no, I cannot support you on this, I think it would be better for you if you just forget the whole thing and go back to being who you really are." Alex said his anger too reaching it boiling point. "I'm sorry brother, I can't do that." Gabriel said tears running down his face. "Fine! Then you have sealed your own faith brother; don't say I didn't warn you." Alex got in his car slams the door and speed off down the driveway and for a moment Gabriel couldn't move. His head was pounding, he felt nauseated and the place was spinning. He felt as if he was about to faint so he sat on the nearest column to him.

" That's his best friend? Diana asks in disgust. "Well isn't he just a piece of work." She adds. "What do we do now?" Diane asks. "Well as far as I can see, he has lost everyone that he relies on, so we are going to have to step up." She said her voice full of sympathy for him. "Meaning?" Dana asks. "He needs us, if he has no one to help him, he's going to backslide but most importantly, he needs you Diane, you've to go to him, now and let him know that we're here for him," Diana said.

"I can't," Diane said sadly. "Why not?" Dana asks in surprise. "I can't get too close to this guy because I'm afraid what will happen and I already promise Michael that we could start dating," Diane said looking away from them. "Are you serious right now, forget about Michael for a minute, Diane looks at him, Michael has family and lots of friends. This man has no one. His best friend just walked away from him, look, if you don't get out there right now, I will, your choice." Diana said walking towards the large brown double wooden front doors that had an oval gritted glass in the middle of each. "Alright, I'll go," Diane said from behind her.

"Good choice." Dana said opening the door for her, she steps out took a deep breath and walks towards him. It would be so easy to fall for this man but men like him would only bring her more heartache and she couldn't handle anymore of that right now, she was already finding it a struggle to suppress the feelings that keep threatening to overwhelm her whenever she was around him but his incredible accent, sweet deep sexy voice, gorgeous face and well built physic was fast becoming more than she could deal with but her sisters were also right, if they didn't at least try to help him, who would? His only living relative was in another parish so they were right, it was up to them but mostly it was up to her.

He breathes a sigh of relief as he felt her arms circle his neck from behind and he couldn't help leaning back against her breasts. "I'm sorry your friend is being so difficult." She said softly. "Maybe he's right, and this was a mistake, I've always being a womanizing s.o.b so why should I try to change now?" He asks sounding broken and defeated. But not on her watch, hell no. "He's not right and you've changed and maybe that's what is scaring him because he didn't think you could or maybe he didn't want you to, but this is not about him, it's about you, do you want to change or remain the person that you were?" she asks and he groans deep in his throat and damn, even his groans are sexy. "I want to change." He said and groans again.

"Are you okay?" She asks in concern. "My head is pounding." He said and she remembers the pounding headaches he said always plague him. "Come on lets go inside." She said helping him up. "Can I have two of those pain killers you took from my car?" He asks as he enters the house. She really wanted to tell him no but how could she seeing the amount of pain he was in, if it was always this bad, no wonder he was addicted to these things, she thought handing him two with a seal bottle of water which he drink then lie down in the massive black sofa that was in his living room. A room so big it could fit her entire apartment and leave space she thought looking around.

"About this project you mention, maybe we should do this another time." She said softly. "No, we're doing this now." He said and winces as he sat up. "Okay, so what is it? Maybe we could begin while you rest for a while." Dana said. "Well I've a lot of porn material all over my house and I need to get rid of it all." He said getting up and walking over to the cabinet where he kept his C.Ds, he opened it and calls them over. "You can start in here and then that one," He said pointing to another big glass cabinet on the other side of the room.

This guy sure loves his porn Diane thought as they all stood staring at rows after rows of porn C.Ds and Dana began taking them out. "Do you have any garbage bags?" Diana asks. "Yeah I do." He said walking towards the kitchen, he then return with a roll and hand it to her and Dana began throwing C.D. after C.D. in the bag. He then led Jasmine to the sofa put her to sit, give her a big bag of popcorn and turn on the large television and scrolling through the channels found the cartoon channel and switch to it, he then took up a big white headphone and went back to lie down on the other side of the sofa.

"What about the music?" Diane asks holding up one of his audio C.Ds. "What's about it?" He asks wiping something from the headphone. "Christians aren't supposed to listen to this kind of music." She informed him. "I trust you so get rid of anything that you don't think I should have." He said sounding sad and depress. They heard how sad and lonely he sounds so they indicate to her to go to him and she did, bending down beside the sofa she took his hands in hers. "I'm sorry about your friend. Are you okay?" "I'll be fine, thanks for being here. I appreciate your help." He said forcing a small smile. "I'm here for you whenever you need me." She said softly. "Be careful, I may just take you up on that, this is only the living room. I have the entire house to go through." "And we would be happy to help." She said with a bright smile. "Okay then you're on." He said pinching her nose gently and putting the headphone over his ears lie on his back and close his eyes.