~~~~~~~~~Gabe's POV~~~~~~~~~

We walked into the cafe and bakery, finding a booth by the window. Normally we'd just go to my parents' restaurant or just go to one of our houses, but sometimes we'd come here when things got.. difficult.

Once we ordered our drinks, I took a look around, noticing everyone's uncomfortable positions. Tense shoulders, staring at their drinks in a defeated and worried look.

And I couldn't even blame them for feeling that way..

So many feelings started coming back to me, feelings I hadn't felt in over six years.

Fear.

Confusion.

Ignorance.

I felt horrible, useless..

Was this all my fault..? Maybe I could've stopped it all beforehand.. Then they wouldn't have gotten hurt..

Usually I'm able to come up with some sort of plan to help everyone, but now.. I felt so stupid..

I.. I couldn't help anyone..

"Don't think that way.." I heard Lara speak beside me, whispering into my ear.

"Don't beat yourself up over this.. You're the reason we're all alive here, Gabriel.. You've saved us over and over again, we'd all be dead if it weren't for you.. And we're all grateful for it.."

My cheeks heated up at the close proximity, and all the words of encouragement, but I smiled. "Thanks, Lara.."

"Anytime.."

She smiled back, and then a question came to mind. "Wait, how'd you know what I was thinking?"

"Oh, I can also read minds!"

"Wait, really?!"

"Kidding! Just women's intuition."

We both laughed at her remark, and I felt my cheeks heat up even more. The small hearts on her cheeks glowed a soft pink as she pulled some of her hair back, a warm smile on her face.

There was no denying she was a beautiful girl, but I never got the chance to truly look at her before all of this happened. Some parts of her were barely human, but in this town, that's considered normal.

I hadn't known her for long, but.. she was special to me..

Jade let out a heavy sigh, wrapping her hair back. "So.. anyone got anything to say about the W incident..?"

"What's there to say? He kicked our asses without lifting a finger." Fiona replied as she gripped her drink with a snarl.

Jake lifted his hands to speak. "Still, we need to have some sort of plan incase he ever comes back."

"He's right, we can't just let our guard down. He might be planning something big."

"I don't think it's him who's planning.." Lara replied to Cassie. "The sudden powers, the sudden lust for killing? He was just a high school student before any of that happened, and for him to just suddenly get this powerful?"

"You think he's just a pawn."

She nodded at my statement. "Someone else has to be controlling the strings, and because his powers are so similar to hers, I'm willing to bet it's Courtney who's controlling him."

"It would make sense, but why does she want to do all this?" Jade tilted her head.

Cassie pushed her empty drink back a little. "Do you think it still has to do with bringing your father back."

"Maybe, I'm not sure.."

"But if that's the case, maybe Wes isn't truly a bad guy. If anything, he's in the same shoes that Lara was years ago." Jake explained, giving a small shrug.

Lara's ears flattened back a little at the thought, to which I placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort, making her grow a little pink before smiling a bit.

Fiona leaned back against her seat, biting the edge of her thumb. "Wes kept mentioning how we all had a 'perfect life' that we took for granted. My guess is Courtney's manipulating Wes's jealousy towards us; more specifically, towards Gabe."

"Not just jealousy, he wouldn't be jealous if he liked his life." I fixed my glasses a little. "Do any of you know anything about his life at home?"

Most of them shook their head, but Cassie looked down in thought. "Actually, in theater club, I've overheard some people say his parents passed away many years ago, and that he lives with his uncle."

"Well, biological or adoptive, we all have parents here. Do you think that's what he's jealous of?"

Lara shook her head at my question. "I don't think that's all of it."

Jade let out a sigh. "We can't know if he's nowhere to be seen!"

We all stayed quiet after that, all of us thinking of what we could possibly do. We spent about five minutes in that silent room, only the voices of other customers heard around, until I raised an arm for the waitress to come back.

"I'll get the check, you guys wait for me outside."

They nodded, grabbing their bags and walking out, leaving me to pay. Once the waitress left, I stood up from the booth, grabbed my bag, and took a step to leave.

But something held me back.

I felt a sudden cold, but only for a second, and I didn't realize what it meant until I took a good look around me.

Nothing moved, not a single inch. There was no breeze, no heat, no human being breathed.

I was.. frozen in time?

"Weird, right?!"

My shoulders tensed up at the peppy voice that spoke behind me, making me turn around, seeing a girl sitting on the table we were just at. She had a child-like smile, her legs softly kicking.

From her blue locks of hair, I immediately knew who she was. "So, you're Courtney."

"Hiya, Gabriel! We finally meet!"

"What do you want."

She pouted, hopping off of the table. "Oh jeez, little ol' Gabriel's much colder than I thought! It hurts my feelings.."

"Cut the crap! Why are you here? Are you gonna try to manipulate too?"

"Manipulate? Oh no no! Why would you accuse me of such things..?"

She bent her knees a little, as if trying to seem weak on purpose. Her innocent little girl routine was already getting on my last nerve, glaring at her. "You tried to manipulate Lara. And when that didn't work, you went after Wes."

"Wes is a broken soul." She stood up straight, her forcefully innocent smile returning. "I simply gave him what he always wanted, the power to fight back."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Poor little Wesley, abandoned by his parents because of some silly thing known as death, left alone with a big ugly monster known as uncle. He's so mean to him, you know, and Wesley can't escape it! So sad.."

I went back to the conversation Bill and I had weeks ago, about how every villain has something that turned them to their villainy. Jake was right, Wes wasn't a bad guy, just broken.

"If that's the case, why does he hate me so much?"

"Aw, poor little Babey Gabey has no clue! Do you have a mother? A father? Siblings? A family beyond your house? Friends? Hobbies? Money?" She took in a gasp. "You do?! Oh goodie, such a perfect little life you have!"

"My life isn't perfect, it never was! What makes it perfect is that-! ... Is that I'm happy with everyone in it.."

I've never said it out loud, but I was.. I was really happy with everyone in my life.. Sure, it was far from perfect, especially since six years ago, but we've done our best to move on and be happy.

"My life has never been perfect, I've never been immune to pain. I've just learned to move on from it, just as he should."

"Such noble words, I could cry!" She sniffled, wiping away invisible tears, then let out a sigh. "But maybe it's a little too late for him."

"What are you..?"

Before the question could leave my mouth, time continued as it normally would, everyone and everything moving at their normal pace.

But something was seriously wrong, I could sense it.

Running outside to meet the others, whatever I felt was now something I could see; the clouds in the sky all swirled together, forming a thick layer of dark pink clouds, lightning visibly crackling through them, freezing winds pushing what little snow remained around.

"What's going on?!" I ran over to the others, who were just as confused as me.

Fiona was the one to speak. "We don't know for sure, but either Courtney's finally showing herself, or someone is back.."

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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