(April 2005)

(Gabriel's POV)
It was my 18th birthday and I decided that I needed to grow a set and tell Hailey how I really felt. I couldn't keep living in this weird platonic hell that we had built for ourselves.

It had been a perfect plan, or so I thought, because the plan was really low-key. I had thought we were going to chill and watch some movies at Liam's house.  We'd enjoy all my favourite snacks and then I would say I wanted to bail early and I would confess my feelings for my favourite person, to my favourite person.

That plan had changed drastically as soon as we had entered Liam's house and she had pushed me through the door to an exploding, "surprise!"

I looked around at the party happening around me, it went to show you how bad I had it for her because I loved a good party and right now all I felt was disappointment.

As I got pulled into another shot with a new group of people, my eyes tracked across the room to where I could see Hailey and Josie dancing. Apparently the low key night had been a ruse and I sighed into my beer as I realized that my confession would have to wait.

I felt a heavy arm go around me and looked over to see my friend Liam, "why so glum man? Let's party it up tonight!"

He was one of the only ones that actually knew how I felt about Hailey. He was adamant that I was making too big a deal about all of it. He was of the belief that we were meant to be and that we just both needed to be honest with each other.

I sighed again, but nodded. They had gone out of their way to make this party and I wasn't about to ruin it with my disappointment. He walked us over to Hailey and Josie who were now talking to Lincoln and Declan. He interrupted them and said, "you guys want to try a new game my parents brought back from Florida?"

His parents were partiers and constantly on the hunt for great games to play. He led the way downstairs and I hung back, falling into step with Hailey. My hand reached out and rubbed her arm, because I found it so hard to not touch her. Especially when I was drinking, "want to be partners?"

She looked up at me, flashing me her big grin. Hailey was always happy but give her a couple drinks and I swear her smile got bigger than her face. I tapped one of her dimples and she giggled and linked our hands, pulling me behind her, as we followed the group. I felt my eyes dip to her ass and groaned.

Yup definitely disappointed in this party. I was ready to know how this gorgeous, perfect creature really felt.

Every once in a while, like right now, I would get hints that she felt the same way but there was still a hard level of indifference and since we had reestablished our friendship, she had been harder to read. It was unsettling considering the fact that she held my heart in her hands.

It didn't help that I knew that Colin had betrayed her trust and she had been tepid about dating anybody again, it wasn't for lack of interest there were so many guys that approached me to see if she was available that it made my head spin. 

Every time I had to say that she was available,  it bothered me a little more because I didn't want her to be. If she didn't feel the same way, then I'd make sure she knew that I was a big boy and that I loved her regardless and we'd put it in the past.

It felt like a risk worth taking. I had to believe that the chance at finally being with her would outweigh the awkwardness that might come out of this.

Fuck, I had been so lost in thought that I had completley missed the instructions for the game Liam was describing. He was calling it, "beer pong" and had set it up on his ping pong table. As I reigned in my running thoughts I  realized that I was still holding on to Hailey's hand like she was my life line. I let go and said, "Hailey and I will go in the second round."

It turned out that Hailey and I were an unstoppable team, no shock there! Way too many games later we found ourselves stumbling back into a dwindling party. Liam had disappeared like an hour ago and told Hailey that we were staying over because we had to help clean up but also that she was responsible for kicking everyone out.

She looked around at the stragglers and said, "okay guys, the party's over!" The couple people left grumbled but didn't argue as they stumbled out the door. She stood there for a minute and I walked up to stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her and resting my chin on her hair.

I breathed in deep, her hair always smells faintly of strawberries and I rarely got to immerse myself in the scent. "What are you looking at?"

She breathed in deep, like she was smelling me as well and gave a littel yawn, "just wanted to make sure none of those drunks decided to drive."

I gave her one more hug, letting her know how much I appreciated that kind of thing about her without words.

She grabbed the side of the door and closed it, turning around in my arms. I knew that I had a lot of things that I needed to say to her but in this moment I was super overwhelmed with her being so close. I leaned down to flip the lock and her back was now pushed against the front door and my chin was resting against the top of her head. I leaned down and gave her forehead a kiss, "thanks for helping organize this party."

Her eyes connected with mine, they were the colour of melted chocolate and it was impossible for me to look away. "I was happy to!"

I nodded thinking about how to express that the only reason my night was so great was cause she was next to me but without me being consciously aware of it, my lips were inching towards hers.

The normal fears that held me back had been demolished long ago by the copious amounts of booze that I had drank tonight. I was cognisant of the fact that she was in the same boat and we couldn't take this too far but a kiss seemed harmless enough. My lips gently slid over hers, and I felt her sigh and then her arms were wrapped around my neck, fingers running through the back of my hair.

I brushed my lips against hers again and again, each time, needing a little more pressure. It was her that groaned and nibbled at my bottom lip, opening up my mouth and stroking the seam of my lips with her tongue. How was it that she tasted minty? I must have asked because she giggled and said, "I had a polar bear shot before we came upstairs."

Then her hands were guiding my head back down, this time I was the aggressor, my body caging her in against the door and my tongue stroking hers. It was the most intoxicating kiss of my life and I somehow knew as I breathed her in, that it wasn't the fact that we were intoxicated, it was like we were two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.

I pulled back and leaned my forehead against hers, "will you sleep with me tonight?" I realized how that sounded and started to stutter like the fool that I was, "Like sleep? I want to wake up with you in the morning."

She smiled and nodded and I felt my heart shift a little. I pulled her behind me, making our way to the guest room. We walked in and I realized that we didn't have any clothes. I wasn't taking anything too far before we talked and I wasn't having this conversation drunk.

So, I pushed her in and said that I'd be right back. I snuck into Liam's room, his snoring letting me know that he had really celebrated my birthday tonight. I laughed a little as I pulled out a couple of his sweat pants and t-shirts and walked back, tossing a pair to Hailey. She looked down in surprise as she caught it, but didn't say anything.

I took my own pair and headed to the bathroom, using one of the spare toothbrushes that they had as well. When I came out Josie had changed. I walked over and gave her another kiss and she sighed with what felt like relief. What was she worrying about?

I lost track of my own thoughts though as she pulled back, "now you're minty!" I smiled and walked her into the bathroom, finding her one of the other spare toothbrushes.

I left her to do her business and went in, crawling under the covers. I put my head on the pillow and closed my eyes, telling myself it was just for a minute. I felt her crawl in next to me a few minutes later but she was too far away, so I rolled on to my side and pulled her into me. I wrapped my arms around her, breathed in that strawberry scent and fell asleep mumbling, "Best. Birthday. Ever!"

(Hailey's POV)

My eyes flew open and I looked around the room with alarm. My brain felt fuzzy and my tongue furrier than what had to be normal. I groaned and looked over at the empty side of the bed.

Fuck, when I had fallen asleep last night I had hoped that I would wake up to him still here, still wanting me. The kiss had seared my brain but the cuddles through the night had crumbled any resistance that my heart had held on to. I loved Gabriel!

I just had to hope that he wasn't going to think this was another mistake. I didn't know if I could take another "shit"moment. The uncertainty rolled around in my stomach, curdling with the booze.

I rolled out of bed, I needed to get up and figure this out. I brushed my teeth hopeful that fresh breath would be needed and made my way downstairs.

I froze on the outside of the kitchen hearing hushed voices, Liam was saying, "I can't believe you guys slept together." I rolled my eyes, these two were the worst gossips.

I held my breath wondering how he would respond. Gabriel groaned heavily, "that's not how it is and you know it. I don't see her like that."

I backed away quickly, making my way back up the stairs. Jesus, while I guess that answered that. I ripped off the sweats and got dressed as fast as humanly possible. I heard a knock and felt my stomach roll again, but said, "come in!"

Gabriel walked in holding a coffee, "I made you a coffee." I swallowed, it was so hard when he did sweet things for me to distance myself. He gave me another smile and said, "I thought we could talk."

I internally groaned, knowing what he was going to say, and needing to get out of there. I spat out, "nothing to talk about, we were both really drunk but maybe we need to put some space between us."

He looked at me like he was hurt and I clenched my fists, knowing I was seeing what I wanted to see.

"That's what you want? Space? I thought..." he shook his head as if he was confused and didn't finish.

I nodded and said, "I'm really not feeling good, I'm going to walk home. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

He nodded, still looking like he had no idea what was going on. This was what he wanted right? I felt tears welling up in my eyes and knew I needed to get out of there. I walked out and down the stairs, without looking back.

I ran into Liam cleaning. He stopped and looked confused, "hey Hails, I didn't think I would see you guys for a bit."

I smiled, "thanks for the party but I feel like shit and need to get home before I start puking. Sorry that I'm not helping with the clean up. See you later!"

I managed to make it out the front door and into his driveway before the tears rolled down my face. I kicked at the rocks as I walked home, knowing that I couldn't' keep on doing this, I  needed to make some big changes.

A/N- Awwwwww they just can't get it together! Thoughts?

Did it feel realistic? Too much? Too little?

Do you still love them both after?

Miscommunication is the worst!