The One With Fire In Her Eyes

Chapter 4 - Unexpected Collision

Gabriela glanced at her wristwatch that told her it was almost time to get back, then sped up despite the heaviness in her legs and the sharp pain that pierced her chest with every breath. Judging by her surroundings, she had ended up close to the cafe, so she decided to grab a coffee before heading home.

Slowing down gradually as she neared the corner, she was just about to stop when she slammed into someone who appeared literally out of nowhere. Gabriela let out a surprised yelp as they collided and she lost her balance. The guy — it had to be a guy considering how he loomed over her and how broad his shoulders were — tried to steady them both, his hand catching her waist, but ended up tripping on his foot and falling backward.

Gabriela landed on his chest, both of them grunting at the same time. He reached to help her get off, but she slapped his hand instinctively, pushing herself to her wobbly feet and taking a few steps back. The guy sat up, rubbing his stomach with one hand while pulling his hood and headphones off with the other.

“Are you okay?” he asked while Gabriela tried to catch her breath, leaning on her knees. She raised her head to look at him, meeting his dark chocolate eyes for a second before settling on his mouth that was still moving. Her music was still blasting in her ears, so she couldn’t hear much of what he was saying.

“Sorry,” she muttered, checking the traffic light that had just turned green. She shot him another glance just as he was saying something again, then sprinted across the street to the other side, heading towards the cafe. She slowed down midway, putting her hands on her hips and closing her eyes.

That was close. She almost panicked as she saw his hands reaching for her, even though he only meant to help her. And she was the one that bumped into him. She should have at least apologized properly. But at that moment, all she could think about was running away.

Gabriela turned the music off, putting away the headphones as she resumed walking again. The sudden sound of heavy steps behind her made her tense and, despite her better judgment, she looked over her shoulder. Her eyes stopped on the figure several steps behind her and she almost tripped as she recognized the guy she had crashed into. His black sports jacket was zipped all the way to his chin and his hands were now resting in his pockets. He was clearly staring at her, but the look in his eyes looked more concerned than wicked.

“Are you following me?” Gabriela asked when he almost reached her and he stopped suddenly, raising his eyebrows.

“Uhm, no,” he replied in a low, raspy voice. “I was planning to grab a coffee,” he added, pointing behind her. “You should put ice on that.” He nodded towards her hand and she balled it in a fist, surprised he had noticed. “Excuse me.” He muttered, circling her from afar before heading inside the same cafe she had been heading for.

Gabriela stared after him for a few seconds then looked down at her hand, feeling like a complete i***t. There was a graze on the side of it and a dull pain when she moved her fingers, but not too much, so it definitely wasn’t broken. That’s all she needed now, to break her hand before the tryouts.

The bell above the door chimed as she opened it, stepping inside and taking in the smell of wood and fresh coffee.

The place wasn't particularly big — it had space for about fifteen him,double tables that could be moved and rearranged for bigger companies if necessary. The floor and the walls were all made of dark wood, with beautiful ornaments hanging from the ceiling. The counter was made of wood too, and so were the tables and chairs.

Gabriela’s eyes stopped on the woman behind the counter and the guy that was now standing with his back to the door. It took her a second, but she recognized Christopher Morgan Academy’s logo on his back. She didn’t remember meeting him though, and she would have remembered a handsome face like his.

The guy turned, balancing a cup of coffee in his hands, and for a moment his eyes stopped on her. He pursed his lips as if to stop himself from saying something, going past her and towards one of the tables by the front windows.

"Good morning, sweety!"

Gabriela jumped and looked at the woman behind the counter, smiling back.

“Hi, Brenda!” she greeted the older woman. Brenda’s blonde hair barely reached her shoulders and her warm brown eyes gleamed with glee every time Gabriela saw her. They had met only a few times since Gabriela and her family moved, but she was already acting like she had been watching Gabriela grow up since she was a newborn. Having worked in the cafe even before the renovation of the place, Brenda had agreed to stay as manager as long as they needed her.

She looked extremely well for a fifty-something woman, but her speech and demeanor reminded Gabriela of an old woman.

"Two lattes to go, please," Gabriela said as she leaned her arms on the counter.

"Oh, my, aren't you an early bird?" she chuckled as she set out to make the coffees. "Don't you have school today, dear?"

"In a few hours." Gabriela nodded. "I was just out for a morning run and I decided to get coffee for my mother before getting ready for school."

"Ah, how sweet of you!" She smiled heartily, focusing on her task. Gabriela looked around the semi-dark place, her eyes stopping on the guy that had settled on the best table by the window and was now typing something on his phone. "Here you go." Gabriela turned just as Brenda put the two plastic cups in front of her. The older woman craned her neck to look at the only other customer, a smile appearing on her lips. "You youngsters really do have too much energy. He has been coming here every morning around this time since we reopened. A very nice young man — and handsome, too." She winked, leaning over the counter. "Do you know him? I think he goes to your school."

"No, I don’t," Gabriela said, forcing a smile. "I'll see you after school."

She waved goodbye and headed for the door, glancing at the guy again. She wanted to apologize for running into him and being rude outside, but that would be just too awkward at this point. She didn’t have any classes with him, so the chances of them meeting again were quite slim.

The sun was already up by the time she reached the apartment, but as she stepped into the hallway, everything was quiet. She headed for the kitchen first, leaving the second coffee on the table for her mother and getting ready to make breakfast.

By the time she was done, the sounds of running feet and vicious wrestling echoed through the apartment. Hugh was the first one to come running into the kitchen, stopping at the threshold as he saw Gabriela putting the bowls with cereal on each of their feeding chairs. The other two followed with their mother in tow, still trying to open her eyes.

"Morning," Gabriela greeted her as she was putting Hugh in his high chair and giving him his bowl. By the time her mother rubbed her eyes, the other two were sitting in their own chairs and devouring their food. Gabriela handed her mother the coffee, patting her on the shoulder. "I'm taking a shower and leaving for school. I am going to the cafe after that, so I'll see you tonight."

She showered and gathered her books, hurrying for the door before one of the triplets decided they wanted to glue themselves to her again.

"I'm off!" she shouted as she was opening the door. Nobody replied and nobody appeared in the hallway, so she left, hurrying toward school.

The streets had woken up as well — there were cars and people everywhere, hurrying to work or laughing on their way to their business. She noticed other students in red and black walking around but ignored them, locking her eyes on the road ahead and raising the volume of her music.

She felt almost back to normal after the run and the cold shower. She had thought the nightmares had gone away after leaving that place, but it seemed she was wrong. It had been months already and her mother seemed fine, so she had to get it together.

Things were going to change for the better now. As long as she stayed away from trouble and drama, she should be good. She just had two years of high school left and she could go to college somewhere far away. The triplets would be four by then, so her mother would have an easier time dealing with them. Besides, now Gabriela’s brother lived nearby so their mother wouldn't be alone.

She had to endure it for two more years. But if she got into the volleyball team, this meant she might end up meeting him again when they went to competitions. The thought almost paralyzed her, but she knew that if she didn't face him and show him he no longer had any power over her, she would never get over it, no matter how much distance she put between them.

Gabriela didn't realize when she had reached the school, but she was quick to flatten herself to the wall as a group of freshmen sprinted at top speed down the crowded corridor. She waited for them to pass, then made her way to the biology room, her eyes darting back and forth as students cast her curt glances but quickly averted their eyes.

Her headphones slipped from her head, and she jumped in surprise, raising her arm to catch them. Her hand ended up hitting somebody's face, and she stared at the guy behind her who was still holding her headphones in one hand, his other one pressing his cheek. She recognized him at once — the red-headed dude that seemed to have developed an annoying habit of appearing where she least expected him.

“Yo, nice reflexes!” he grinned, rubbing his red cheek. “Sorry for startling you.”

He gave her back her headphones, receiving a glare in return. Gabriela turned her back on him, heading towards her classroom while ignoring the low murmurs and glances people gave them. He caught up with her easily, maneuvering between the stream of people with the ease of someone who was over six feet tall.

“So, shorty, are you going to do it?” he asked as if being ignored didn’t bother him at all.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gabriela replied. “And stop following me.”

“I am not following you. I am walking toward my classroom, which appears to be in the same direction as yours,” he grinned. “And I was talking about the tryouts. Are you going to do it?”

“Nope,” she said without hesitation. He slowed down to let a small crowd of seniors pass, then quickly caught up. Luckily, at that point, she had already reached the biology classroom, so she quickly stepped inside, hoping that the fact that the bell would ring at any moment would prevent him from following.

It didn’t. He stepped in right after her, following her to her desk and dropping in the one next to her. He grinned as their eyes met.

“Why are you following me?” she sighed.

“Man, don’t be so conceited!” He laughed, opening his backpack and taking out his books. “I told you I was going to my classroom. Look!” He picked up his biology textbook and waved it in her face.

“You’re a junior?” she frowned, cursing herself for opening her big mouth. That was the second time today. She should have just ignored him from the start.

“Yep!” He winked at her. “I know, I know, my mature look fooled many ladies before...”

“Spare me,” Gabriela mumbled, taking her own books out and putting the headphones away. The red-haired guy laughed and was just about to say something when a tall, slender girl stopped by his desk, taking a seat on top of it. Her black hair fell perfectly straight to the middle of her back, the light of the morning sun reflecting on it like she was part of some shampoo commercial.

“Hey, Theo!” she said, locking her eyes on the red-haired guy. “Did you ask him?”

“Don’t you see that I am in the middle of a conversation?” He sighed, leaning back in his chair and clenching his pen between his teeth. The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, turning to look at Gabriela just as a smile blossomed on her face.

“Do you mind if I talk to him for a second?” she asked in a sweet voice.

“He’s all yours.” Gabriella shrugged nonchalantly. The dark-haired girl’s smile widened as she looked back at the Theo guy.

“Kyle said he is not interested in dating right now,” Theo said in an exasperated voice. “He is a senior, so he is focusing on studying and volleyball. Leave him alone already, will you?”

“What kind of bullshit reason is that?” The girl snapped, grimacing. “I am not the type of girlfriend that demands constant attention! Ask him if…”

“Ask him yourself, damn it!” The red-haired guy interrupted her, throwing his pen on the table. “Or are you that afraid he’ll reject you to your face?”

“Hmph!” she snorted, getting from the desk. “Asshole!” She hissed, walking away from them and towards the group in the back. He sighed with annoyance, turning his head towards Gabriela who had been doing her best to ignore them and not listen in to their conversation.

“Here is one more reason not to join the volleyball team,” he said and despite herself, she glanced at him. “If you do, you’ll have to deal with her on a daily basis. And she is a persistent bitch.”