Fire

Two pairs of eyes stared back at me as soon as I woke up.

“George, Christy” I said squinting my eyes. Christy had me in her arms in no time while George just stood there awkwardly his eyes darting to everywhere but me.

“we should not have let you go there alone” Christy cooed. My eyes felt teary and bloodshot while my ears were still ringing a little.

Christy let me go after some few minutes. I still felt a little bit drowsy but I could still function. I started to look around the unfamiliar room. The walls were white as opposed to the green one in my room; there was a lone chandelier positioned at the center of the room, the queen-sized bed sat big and mighty in the middle of the room. All in all, I was in an expensive room and I had this urge that I was soiling the sheets after I had kissed dirt some time ago.

“how long was I out?”

“an hour” Christy replied.

“I should get water for you” and with that she left the room.

“are you okay” I looked to George who still hadn’t said anything since I woke up.

“yeah I am” I answered curtly. Silence followed after until he quickly said.

“I am sorry”

“for what?” I asked confused.

“I should not have allowed you to go alone, I should have insisted, even if that place had not been blown up, I was sending you to someone so foreign” he explained with his hand massaging his forehead and the other on his waist.

“it’s not your fault, okay, who knew that place was going to be blown up” I replied.

I stood up and stood in front him begging him with my eyes to look at me. I raised my hands and brought his face to look at me and he finally did.

“I was not hurt and that’s what matters okay” I said still having his face in my hands.

“you could have and I would have been devastated” he said through clenched teeth

“I didn’t okay” I said smiling at him and then his lips were on mine. My mind went blank as his lips caressed mine, I was frozen in place and it was until the door opened before my brain came back to life and I used my free hand to push him away.

We broke apart and he looked at me with wide eyes. I quickly left him to see who had opened the door, there was nobody but when I looked to the left, I saw the receding figure of Gabe and water on the table close to the door and then my heart went to my stomach. I turned to George;

“what the hell was that?” I shouted.

“I am sorry you were just so close and and ….” he trailed off.

“you shouldn’t have done that” I whispered not believing he was my best friend.

“has he brought the water?” we both turned to see Christy looking at us incredulously.

‘what?” I asked already forgetting about water after the dramatic turn of events.

“the water”. “oh, he did” she replied looking at the side and spotting the water on the table.

“I should go” George said and with that he was out of the door.

“did I miss anything” she said pointing to the door that George left through.

“uhm no no” deciding there and then that she did not need to know he just kissed me. I breathed in and out and finally asked the question I should have asked since.

“where are we?”

“Gabe’s house I think, he brought us here after you fainted”.

“where is he?” I asked already knowing a part of the answer.

“he came here to bring you water so he can talk to you”. At that my heart went further down.

“but then I saw him pick a jacket and say he had something to do” she continued.

“so, we wait till he comes back?” I asked a little hopefully.

“no actually, he said we should leave when we are done” she said. distracted by whatever she was typing on her phone. I was glad at least she will not see the look of utter devastation on my face.

“okay, you guys should go I will wait for him, I still haven’t gotten my answers. I almost died today so I really need an explanation” I said my voice a little hoarse. With that she raised her head and gave me a sympathetic look.

“I am sorry Tamar but I think it is for the best after all that you should be at home and he did say he will contact you later to explain everything”.

“what of if he never comes back” I asked a little frustrated.

“then it is for the best” she said In a dismissed tone.

“huh?” I asked looking really confused.

“it is, after that, I knew this thing is more dangerous than what we thought. You can manage a few dreams but we cannot manage attempts on your life. If he goes, he will probably take all this trouble with him” she explained in a spiel.

“I am not leaving” I said stubbornly folding my arms on my chest.

“please Tamar” now there were tears in her eyes

“you almost died if that didn’t scare you it scared me. You are the only one I have apart from mum and you just can’t die on me. If you are staying, I am too” she said stubbornly copying my stance.

I could not bear leaving my sister this way and without much thought I nodded and followed her outside picking my jacket from the bed. We walked through twist and turns until we finally reached the front door and with that we left.

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The drive home was very awkward. George kept avoiding my gaze and I his. Christy was back to herself chatting animatedly about everything and nothing. she was oblivious to the tension in the car.

What I wouldn’t give to go back to this morning. I would have refused to go then maybe I would not have gotten myself almost killed or George would not have kissed me and then my life would not be so complicated.

My thoughts drifted to Gabe. I kept wondering about everything. The warehouse, peculiar, the dead man, and last but not the least his reaction. I had this urge to explain myself to him somehow and I did not know why. It should not matter but it did to me. I wanted to clear the air I really wanted to.

“everything about Gabe is so mysterious” at that my interest peaked up and I looked at Christy who was talking with a very distraught George.

“why?” I asked suddenly interested in what they think about Gabe.

She turned and smiled happy that I was finally joining the conversation.

“everything you said was true, he is different than most people and I mean that in every way possible”

“how so?” I really wanted more explanation.

“he’s accents first of all, his general poise and behavior and very important his Greek-god face” She stated. I looked at George as she said these things and he did not look very comfortable.

I nodded and turned my face to the window as we neared our street.

“he is dangerous Tamar; I just feel it” Christy added from nowhere.

I nodded again not wanting to talk with the bile that was now in my throat. I could not blame any of them it was not wrong if they thought that.

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I lay in bed mulling over everything that happened in this last few hours. The blockbuster movie that had now become my life was so complicated right now I did not know how I should feel.

As usual, Christy had gone to dream land. George avoided me like a plague immediately we got home turning down my mums request for him to stay for dinner (which he has never done) while I kept everything from the rest of my family.

I needed to see Gabe again, I knew I needed to. My mind was not at rest and it should be after all I am safe in my bed after that life-threatening incidence but it is not. Sleep was far away as it had been these past few days.

I picked up my phone and without thinking too much I sent a text.

“I really need to talk to you”

Now all I had to do is wait. Peeling off the covers I landed on my two feet and proceeded to the table to sit down a little. My phone chimed and I picked it up with immediate alacrity.

“are you at home” the text read. I didn’t even hesitate before replying.

“yes”.

It did not ring after that so I nervously tapped lightly on the table not knowing what he would do with his new found information.

A tap on the window brought me out of my nervous fit. I cautiously stepped forward being extra careful not to wake Christy. I opened the window slightly peering through the curtains to see a stoic Gabe standing with his arms folded leaning lazily on his convertible.

This could have been a picture worthy moment if we were in a different circumstance. The way the full moon accentuated every sharp feature on his face literally took my breath away. I became slightly nervous but I pushed the thought back. With some few words to hype myself up I put on a jacket and tip-toed out of my room. Stealthily I got to the front door and opened it to be hit by cold wisps of wind. I hugged my jacket tighter instantly regretting why I had not worn some longer pajama pants.

Gabe immediately locked eyes with me immediately I made the turn to the side of the house where his car was parked. He silently gestured with his head to the car and got in. I followed after him pushing all thoughts about unfortunate late-night killings away.

Silence greeted me as soon as I was in wrapped up in the warmth of the car. I did not know how to start and he was probably waiting for me to say something. I gathered courage and was finally able to say the first thing that came to my mind.

“we are not dating”

He looked at me with an emotionless face and it took everything not to cower under his beautiful gaze. He almost said something but he stopped himself and retorted to saying another thing instead.

“not my problem” he said looking straight ahead.

My chest tightened and I averted my gaze to the floor. I became significantly embarrassed by that small answer. What was I thinking? He doesn’t give a damn about that now I came off implying things I should not. I don’t know why I thought that is the first thing I needed to say, maybe his reaction to the kiss promoted it and the annoying way my heart tugs when I am reminded that he thinks George and I are a thing. I stop thinking about what is clearly a trivial thing and move on to the more pressing issues.

“I have these dreams” this time he turns and looks at me “it started since I turned 17, It starts the same way and ends the same way and it is quite terrifying”

“what are they about?” he asked his tone a little softer than some minutes ago.

“someone chasing me” I start to go through the dreams again in my mind and the dread that overwhelms me then overwhelms me now.

“I can’t see the person but I am very sure the person is there. A scary movie kind of feeling”

“every time?” he asked concern laced in his voice

“on and off” I replied wondering why he cares so much.

“give me your hand” he commands adjusting his sitting position. I look at my trembling hands and then at him. I did not even know it was trembling but I guess when you are seated with someone like him, you tremble without meaning to. I suck it in and I give him my hand.

As soon as I put my hands in his I ignore the warm tingly feelings and focus on what I am seeing in my head.

I am in a dark room and I can’t see anything but I hear voices talking in the distance saying things that I don’t understand. They are all yelling at each other and then suddenly the lone figure of Gabe appears in the distance. He is talking with someone; someone I can’t see. the conversation feels intense and I immediately feel like an intruder eavesdropping on a very personal conversation.

“I won’t let you control me, not anymore” Gabe shouted to an invisible person.

“you killed him because of your selfishness and now you have ruined everything.”

I stood there trying to make sense of what was happening before I see Gabe lung for someone with a knife and then a bright light came sweeping away the darkness and the vision, I was in.

My eyes adjusted to see that I was still in the confines of the car. My breath was heavy and I tried to pry my hands from Gabe’s tight grip but he held it tight. He was clearly in distress. His eyes were closed tight and his lips were between his teeth, sweat dripping from his face. The car suddenly felt smaller and the air seemed to have escaped. I focused on my labored breathing while still trying to remove my hands from his.

Breath in breath out I wheezed struggling for breath.

“Gabe!” I was finally able to find my voice. His eyes opened wide and he left my hand like he just touched fire. His breathing too was labored but he was somehow able to control it.

Resting his hands on the steering wheel he steadied his breathing. He turned to me.

“let’s go I will explain everything” and wordlessly I nodded.