Song: Mixed Signals by Ruth B.

When I walk into the restaurant to meet my family, I am all alone. Apparently Gabe slept on the couch last night and was already gone this morning when I got up. I'm not sure at this point if we are still together or not. I know all of his stuff is still there in the apartment but who is to say while I am here he will go and empty it all out. Hell maybe it is for the better anyway besides my family will tear him down in seconds. The only downfall is that he is my partner in the play and I need him to be there for that.

I put on my brave face as I round the corner and see the four of them sitting there.They all stand up when they see me. Ashton reaches over and pulls out the chair for me. When I sit down the rest of them sit down.They silently look at each other and I know they are wondering why am I here all alone.

"Where is your friend, Gabe?" my dad asks before he takes a sip of his coffee.

"Who knows...it doesn't really matter does it?" I pick up the menu and look it over, such a hard decision on what to choose. I don't have much time as I see the waiter on his way over with a cheerful smile.

"What can I get you to drink ma'am?"

I look over the menu and then set it down. "Uhm....how about a Cranberry juice for now, thank you."

"Yes ma'am," he say with a smile ear to ear. He has already gotten their drink orders so he leaves to get what I asked for.

"I just want to say you were amazing last night. You dance so gracefully," Atticus says while smiling. "All those years of practice has really paid off."

"Yes...I guess it has, thanks to all of you guys for all you have done for me. You guys have always had my back. You were always there for me and I couldn't ask for more. Without the four of you I wouldn't be where I am today."

My dad reaches over and covers my hand with his. "We might have given you the skills that you needed but that up there on stage was all you. Atticus is right you were amazing last night. You have really grown into one fine young lady." He picks up my hand and kisses it before releasing it. "So you and Gabe uh, you really like this guy?"

I look over at my mom and it's like she is waiting on my response. I try to think about how to use my words the right way. "Gabe and I started to dance together about a year ago. It just happened we were partners for about two month and it just happened. We...we fell in love with each other. I should have told you guys about him but I wasn't sure how you guys would take it."

"If he is the one you love then you should be with him then." By his tone I can tell that she never said anything abut our conversation last night. She has always been this way over the years, keeping secrets that is.

My mom looks over and with a straight face, not even blinking once. "So I take it you two had words after you got home last night or else he would be here with you today. The makeup covers the bruises well my love, so tell me you took care of what you need to." That is my mother...she may not given birth to me but she knows all too well. It's amazing how she sees through everything.

 It's priceless to see the facial features change on my dad's, Atticus and Ashton's face. It's funny how they were all smiling and had that loving look in their eyes towards me a second ago and the moment she mentions the bruises inflicted on me the three of them look at me with great concern as if they are ready to kill someone to defend me. I swallow hard letting the lump in my throat ease its way down. I look up and they are just staring at me waiting on me to tell all. I exhale slowly and then get up the nerve to be honest with them.

"I will never be able to hide from you will I. You always know, somehow you...mom...you know everything. You knew the moment I left the stage last night. You questioned the relationship between us and you made your point. I told you that I would take care of it and believe me he looks worse than I do at the moment. So to answer the question yes a part of me loves him. After last night I'm not so sure he still has those feeling for me. Look I really need him right now to finish out the next few weeks for the play after that I will consider finding a different partner if that makes you happy."

My mom just nods her head however my dad is not so happy. "You are telling me that asshole has been putting his hands on you. He has been hurting you...I will kill that mother..."

I interrupt him before he has time to finish, "I said I have it under control, please don't I know what you are capable of and he doesn't deserve to die over something like this."

"If you said you got it handled then you have it handled...if I find out otherwise that it is not, I will pay him a friendly visit."

I know he will be glad to pay him a visit, hell all four of them would. I wonder who would be the cruelest with him. I think Ashton and Atticus would just beat the shit out of him. My dad wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet to his head. My mother on the other hand, she would torture him and drain him till his last dying breath. Of these four options, I think I will try to handle this by myself it's the only way.

I take a sip of my cranberry juice and let it make it's way down my throat. "I know you will. I know you all will but please let me handle this."

We finish the meal talking about everything that is happening back at home. I tell them all about school and leave out anything relating to Gabe and I. When we all get done, we all hug. Atticus walks me out to my car. "You know we love you Vi. I thought something was a little off but Scarlett...she has a sick sense in this kind of thing. She has been through so much in her past and can spot an abuser in seconds. Don't let him ever touch you like that again. I swear to you Vi...if he does it will be the last time."

I reach over and wrap my arms around Atticus. I rest my head on his stone hard chest. Atticus helped raised me just as much as they did but he was the one that was always right by my side. I know he is upset just as much as they are. He would do anything to protect me. I step back and look up at him. "Thanks Atticus, really for everything, I got this covered and I promise if I need you I will let you know."

I get in my car and drive down to the school. I grab my bag and head in. Gabe is already on stage practicing. He glares at me as I step onto the stage beside him. "Finally."

"I'm sorry, I am a little late I was having lunch with my family."

"Yeah well you are late; I suggest you go warm up." He turns away from me practically shunning me with his disapproval. I should argue with him but now is not the time not with everyone else here watching. I try so hard not to bring what goes on in my life onto the stage it only messes everything up.

I go off to the side and warm up for about thirty minutes and then I walk back over towards him. We put everything to the side and do the routine together. Once we finish the rehearsal he walks off to grab a towel and a bottle of water. I walk up next to him. "Gabe I'm sorry about..."

"Vi stop...I never meant to hurt you. Shit I do things that I don't mean to do sometimes. I fell in love with you and I took your love for granted. Your family called me out and it pissed me off. I thought for sure you told your mom all about us and I know you wouldn't because of who you are...and that is not like you. I thought about us all night and we belong with each other. You know we do." His hand finds its way into my hand. He pulls me in and wraps his arms around me. "Vi I love you."

"I know you do. I love you too." I wrap my arms around him and lean into him to kiss him. I wanted to love him; I did. I wanted to put every bad thought away but deep down I knew that it would only last for so long because all he ever gives me is mixed signals...one minute he loves me the next he wants nothing to do with me.