They Walk

Chapter Three

What could have been a quick twenty minute drive to party headquarters turns into an extra half hour detour to pick up the devil, even though he lives in the same subdivision as us. That’s just the way it is in our town though, it’s small, but for all its space the homes have a lot of land in between. Maria smoothly pulls the car into Gabe’s dark driveway. As the headlights shine over his house I see that he’s already sitting on the porch.

He rises before the car is even in park and saunters over to us.

I steal a moment to take in his appearance. It’s a shame he’s so downright rotten. He’s taller than me, but then most everyone is, and he is well built. In a habit I’m too acquainted with, he has to toss his head to shake the mess of dark hair out of his eyes as he leans toward the door on my side. When he moves to open the door, his light eyes shine brightly in the reflective headlights.

He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me through the open door, only then do I realize that he’s waiting for me to move over.

Great, I’m going to be stuck in the middle.

That’s what I get for daydreaming over the enemy. Not to looking at him again, I scoot over next to Claire. Not that she realizes anything is going on really. She’s been texting Brian, the lucky guy of the night, the whole drive. She pushes herself closer to the door to make room and the whole time I seriously hope it’s too dark for Gabe to see me blushing.

Not that I am, because I’m totally not.

He slams the door behind him and even though he has ample room in the back with me and Claire practically sitting in each other’s lap, he chooses to squeeze in closer to me. His knee brushes mine I can as he stretches out to get comfortable and I can actually feel heat coming off him. He’s so close that try as I might, I can’t help but to pick up on the scent of fresh air and moss that is radiating off of him.

Trying to be coy, I risk a glance at him, only having to quickly look everywhere by him. Why you ask…because he’s already got his eyes on me. Now I’m sure he can definitely see my blush, his smirking smile confirms that my night is going to be a living hell.

He moves in closer to me, if that is at all possible, his breath causing my hair to tickle my neck.

“You’re looking good Mag pie.” He pauses to glance around in mock worry, as Claire pulls her car out of the drive and back on the road. “Where’s your better half then? You’re not alone are you?”

Dan chuckles softly in the front seat. I shake my head and ignore that way Gabe’s breath makes goosebumps dance across my skin.

“He had to work late, so we’re meeting up at the party.”

He turns in his seat so that he’s facing me. I try not to move as he rests his arm behind my head.

“You’re such a party animal that you couldn’t wait for him huh? I did not know that about you Mags.”

“Oh yeah, that’s me, a real wild child.”

“Damn, lock your liquor cabinet’s folks. We’ve got a future sponsor for rehab riding with us.”

Boys are so dumb, especially this one.

“Gosh, aren’t you a buddle of laughs tonight Gabe. What did you do stock up these comments for the perfect chance to use them?”

Leaning back, he winks one of his pretty eyes at me. “I save the best for you babe. Can’t you tell by my suave techniques by now?”

I shove him off me as he starts to leer.

He makes like I shoved him harder than I did, and slams him into the door with a laugh. At a loss for words, I just glare at him, and try not to give into his antagonizing efforts.

Sighing, I say “I’m hardly in the mood for partying…Gabe…and even less for dumb guys trying to flirt with me.”

He clutches his chest like my words wounded him. “Oh yeah sure, that’s what they all say kitten.”

“I don’t even want to know what you’re talking about, because um, nasty. But if you must know, I’m just going to support Claire.”

He leans around me and looks to my oblivious bestie. She doesn’t even have the decency to take her eyes off her Ipad. She simply nods in his general direction, confirming that I could’ve just cured cancer for all she knows.

This sends him roaring with laughter. I resist the urge to smack him.

“Well it’s good to know some things never change.” He says jauntily before leaning back into the seat.

Not knowing what he means by that, I ignore him and reserve myself in silence. Is it my imagination or did he move his leg closer to me? Oh well, this is me not caring either way. Yeah right. This is me not believing when I lie to myself.

Dan, who was talking to Maria during our exchange, turns around in his seat to acknowledge Gabe.

“It actually took us longer than usual to convince her to come out tonight.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Gabe. “I think she and Matt had plans tonight, if you know what I mean.”

Gabe turns to me, a low whistle sneaking out between his smirking lips. In pure shock of my brother’s retarded nature, my eyes widen. A heated blush spreads over my entire body. This has to be the most I’ve ever blushed, seriously. In a move that doesn’t require much thought I lean up in the middle of the front seat and smack Dan upside the head.

The sound of my hand hitting his dumb ass brings a smile to my face. Of course, it doesn’t last, especially when he only sits back and laughs at me.

“You’re such a jerk Daniel. And if you must know, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” I seethe.

I resume to sitting back, my face still on fire. Even though Gabe is chuckling, I can’t help to notice that he moved his knee from mine. For some reason, I feel cooler with the empty space between us.

Maria chastises Dan about teasing me. Not real stern though and it lasts about a second too short for my liking. She turns on the radio, in her own way of changing the attention from me. I so need thank her later, I think. But what’s on the radio is a little unnerving, and distracts me. The caster is giving a news update.

“This year’s newest cold vaccine was administered for the first time this morning.” A man’s voice says.

“That’s right Dave, now I heard that this drug wasn’t even tested before being given out to the public. Any news if this is true?” a woman’s voice replies.

“As far as I know, it was supposedly tested overseas before coming here. If it was tested again, once crossing into our boarder, that’s not known.” Replies Dave.

“Well, that’s our Country for you. Too trusting of the wrong people, and going after innocent ones. All I have to add is that, I for one will not be getting this supposed miracle drug. Now, let’s return to tonight’s top twenty line-up with number fifteen Katy Perry’s Extraterrestrial.”

I’m glad for the music to fill the car, I hate radio shows. This one though was actually talking about news and not celebrity gossip. This is unusual, not to mention the topic. I’m actually glad to be living in a small town a ways from the city; we don’t get many drug trials coming to our pharmacies. Why would a drug be handed out as a vaccine, to something that’s not curable? Who knows what goes through someone’s head as they push things like this.

I’ve stopped trying a while ago.

I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about it for a while.

I notice that the road gives way to gravel, and know we should be close to Austin’s house soon. His family is actually one of the wealthiest members of our little community. So he lives on a good three acres of land. Whereas most of us here have a good section of space between houses, his is actually miles of space. With no one around to complain about the noise, it’s perfect for parties.

Even though I’ve been to Austin’s before in the past, as we pull up front, I’m in awe of it.

The house is set back from the road, so most of us park along the front yard. There is a long flowered walkway leading up to the porch. It looks like a three story farmhouse, but more expensive than the ones on my side of town. The whole first floor is surrounded by the wrap around porch and has floor to ceiling wide windows. I can see that all the lights are on inside, and can almost feel the vibrations of the music from outside.

Maria finds a spot to park amongst the lawn space, between a dark truck and a motorcycle. Once the car is off, Claire finally stops texting and immediately gets out closing the door behind her. Gabe slowly gets out, and with a smile holds the door for me. As I get out, Dan and Maria are already following Claire inside.

Suddenly I’m wishing to have waited for Matt, I hate going to these kinds of things alone.

Shivering, I linger by the car just staring at the houses massive presence and what waits inside. Noticing my hesitation, Gabe offer’s his arm to me. I look at him hesitantly for a moment, and then I think why the hell not?

So with a small smile, I place my arm on his and I let him lead me on.