26. Will the real Gabriella

Will the real Gabriella

PARKER

Melody, still pretending to be Gabriella, struts into the cafeteria, clinging to Drew’s arm. She looks like the cat that got the cream but the more I look at her, the more I realise how stupid I was for falling for the glamour. Even the way they move is completely opposite, Gabriella has this enticing sway to her hips that leaves a man wanting to follow her to the ends of the Earth, whereas Melody sways her hips as though she’s a drunken sailor finding her sea legs. She fusses far too much with her hair and tries way too hard to be perfect, it’s actually a complete turn off. I really have no idea why I agreed to date Melody in the first place.

Our secret isn’t that bad. I mean, it is, but it isn’t like what happened was done on purpose, it was an accident. People will understand that.

I’m sure of it.

Not that I have much chance of keeping that secret, especially if what Gabriella has planned actually happens.

Drew brings Melody over to our table, carrying both her tray of food and his and winks at me as he sits down on my left, staring over my shoulder at something in the corner of the cafeteria. I glance to where his eyes are glued and see the real Gabriella slipping into a seat with a box of popcorn in her hands. She’s still wearing the glamour that Melody put on her but today she’s smiling as though she doesn’t have a care in the world.

My heart skips a beat as she winks at me before nodding her head towards Melody. Swallowing my longing to join her in that dark corner, I turn my attention back to Melody just as Jamie says to me, “I dare you to sing a baby song at the top of your lungs.”

Without missing a beat, I jump up on the table and belt out Mary had a little lamb. Laughing as everyone’s gazes turn to us. “Drew, I dare you to do a backflip off the table.”

He too jumps straight up onto the table and does his backflip. His smile grows bigger as Melody starts getting annoyed, “What the hell are you doing, you’re acting like a bunch of babies.”

“Oh come on Gabriella , we talked about this last week at our place. Remember.” I shudder as I play my role and kiss her on the cheek. “I dare you to dirty dance on the table in front of everyone.”

“Fuck yeah, that would be such a turn on.” Drew adds.

“Only the sexiest thing ever.” Jamie holds his hand out, offering to help her climb onto the table. To all of our surprise, she gets to her feet, grabs Jamie’s hand and hoists herself up.

The entire cafeteria is watching on as Drew plays Cassie, Me the moment Gabriella steps away from the three of us. The instant she shuts down any feeling she might have had for us. I don’t want her to hate me, but to deny the truth, even if it’s been twisted to make us look like the worst guys possible won’t help us now. My heart shouldn’t be beating right now. The very fact that it is feel like a betrayal to the shattered pieces that are falling at Gabriella’s feet.

It’s only a single moment in time, but the pain makes it last forever. Not one of us says a word as Gabriella runs.

I thought I could handle this. I thought I could explain it away. Make Gabriella understand that it was just an accident but the look in her eyes. The utter terror that took over her face seconds before she ran… She’ll never stick around long enough for us to explain.

Melody might have finally been dealt with but we still lost in the end.

Carried Away

Gabriella

Two days pass with me avoiding the guys. I’ve been staying in the library hiding out in the same spot I was in while Melody was pretending to be me. I wish I had somewhere else to go, but I’ve got nowhere. If it wasn’t for the magic I now know I have, I’d have just run away. Parker was right though; we don’t know for sure whether the person who killed my aunt was after her or me. I can’t take the chance and the safest place at the moment is here at the school.

It’s here in the library where Parker finds me, he walks right past my hiding spot before doubling back. I’m not sure I really believe he killed that girl. I know him, at least I thought I knew him.

“Can I join you?”

I shrug my shoulders, unsure what else to do. He takes that as a yes and sits down, careful not to touch me. “We didn’t kill her. We loved Messina. She was our entire world.”

I don’t say a word.

“We grew up together, the four of us, best friends our entire lives. When we all realised we were in love with her, we fought. She got in between us while we were shoving each other. It all happened so fast, one second we were fighting, the next she fell over the balcony.” A tear slips down his cheek and I get the urge to hug him, but I get the feeling he’s not finished.

“Her parents were angry, they tried to blame us, hell I blamed us. We went to her funeral and that’s when things got worse. Her parents had us arrested, hauled away in police cruisers and I lost my temper. My powers….” He swipes at his face a few times. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, I just lost control. If it hadn’t been for Drew and Jamie, we would have all burnt alongside the police officers.”

“I don’t understand, I thought you had air powers.”

“Do you know what happens to an engine when compressed air gets trapped inside it?”

“No.”

“Think of it like a bomb. Air pressure builds up and….” He makes a motion with his hands like his fist is blowing up and I gulp. “We were put on trial for not only Messina’s death but also for the two police officers I killed in the explosion. The judge deemed it an accident, both Messina’s fall and the explosion, but the damage was done. Everyone was convinced we were murderers. A danger to everyone around us. That’s how we ended up here. Attending this school was our punishment.” He takes a deep breath and continues, “The judge was Melody’s father. She learnt about what happened and has been blackmailing us, well me more than Drew or Jamie.”

“Parker, I-.”

“Let me finish.” He says, cutting me off, “Melody blackmailed me into dating her, she threatened to tell everyone any time I tried to get out of it and then when I finally decided that our secret wasn’t worth the pain of dealing with her anymore, that’s when she decided to threaten you. It’s the reason I let her back into my life in the cafeteria that day. I’m the reason she was able to get close enough to pretend to be you.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I don’t hesitate, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, holding him as tightly as I can while he breaks down.

“I don’t deserve you, none of us do. We’re not good men, but we’re selfish, stubborn assholes who can’t bear to let you go. Please don’t shut us out. Please don’t hate us for our mistakes.”

To be Continued….