. . .

Everly Clark

"ALRIGHT, well this is the only spot available, so I hope this is manageable?" Gwen asked hopefully, a small smile on her lips.

I nodded quickly, "Yes, oh yes it's perfect!"

Her smile widened and she nodded, "Great, well I got to run and try to stop these morons from recking this place, but I'll see you later tonight?"

I nodded happily, "Yeah, of course!"

Gwen smiled once again and walked away before yelling at some random man. I felt a small smile twitch at my lips as I stared at the wall where my painting would soon be hung.

Tonight, I Everly Clark will just be a regular woman who wants to sell her painting. Not a depressed woman, who regrets her every life decision.

I let out a breath of triumph and turned around, making sure my hair whipped high in the air in the process.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I yelled quickly to the man I bumped into. He glared at me and walked away, not saying one word.

I cleared my throat, straightened my back, lowered my head and walked away quickly.

Oops.

. . .

"I think that the blue is your color," Gabriel said finally, after thinking quietly for a couple moments.

I held the blue dress back to my body and raised my eyebrows, "You sure?"

He nodded confidently, "Of course Ev, blue is your color,"

"Okay, blue it is then!" I exclaimed and threw the dark red dress to the side.

"Okay, the dress is set, I shaved my legs and arms, oh gosh my hair!" I wailed and looked into my mirror in horror. Both my hands went to the tangly, birds nest which some people like to call hair.

"Gabriel help me!" I yelled, looking at him frantically. Gabriel shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Since when did you care about your appearance at all?" Gabriel asked, eyeing me carefully.

"Since I finally found a chance at a career," I said quietly, letting my dark brown hair fall down past my shoulders. His eyes softened and he nodded.

He stood up and walked behind me, "Your hair looks better when it's down, don't do anything fancy with it, it looks beautiful just like this,"

"You look so incredibly sexy with your hair tied up like that," Ricky mumbled, hugging me from behind. I felt his hot breath fan against the back of my neck, his nose softly brushing my skin.

"Wear dark, bold, red lipstick," he said again, his breath fanning the back of my neck, "Mascara, and a bit of eyeliner will be fine too,"

"That shade suits you," Ricky admired, glancing at my blood red lips, "They show how much of a strong and independent woman you are."

I stiffened as he stepped closer and looked down at my arms. I can't believe that I was comparing Ricky with him, they were polar opposites. Gabriel would never be Ricky.

I coughed awkwardly, "O-Okay, thanks,"

He clenched his jaw and took a step back silently, "I'll wait in the kitchen,"

I knew Gabriel was trying for us to be more than friends. I saw the way he was looking at me when he thought I wasn't looking. He would make flirty comments, try to have heated moments, and would do anything to spend time with me. But, I kept shooting him down. I couldn't have a relationship, not even if I wanted too. Not like this.

Nine years later and I still wasn't over that man. I couldn't be with someone when each time I was with him, he would be on my mind. I couldn't be with anyone until I fixed up my past. If I tried to move on, it would end up hurting Gabriel. Secrets cannot be buried forever, sooner or later this will come back to haunt me.

My past will catch up with me, it's only a matter of time.

I zipped up the dark blue dress, sighing softly. I placed a hand over my stomach, frowning as it was no longer flat like in high school.

I shut my eyes tightly, silently telling myself it was all going to be okay. I opened my eyes, to find a girl staring back at me.

The girl was helpless, her eyes showed nothing but misery. Her cheeks were flushed, her skin a pale white color. Her brown hair fell into small waves just past her shoulders. She tried to force a smile, but she looked even more pained. Millions of insecurities rushed to her head as fast as a freight train, as she stared at herself in the mirror.

"Be your own hero," Dad said, "You be your own damn hero. Don't you ever let another person do the saving, you have to do all the saving yourself."

I looked away, my heart clenching painfully. I stepped out of my room and into the kitchen, where Gabriel was leaning against the counter, doing something on his camera. He looked up quickly, his eyes widening by each second. He pushed himself off the counter, placing his camera down.

"Jesus, Everly blue is really your color," he paused, gulping nervously, "You look beautiful."

My throat closed together tightly, making it harder for me to breathe. It had been so long since I heard those words.

"T-Thank you, Gabriel," I whispered, looking into his ocean blue eyes.

He nodded before smiling, "C'mon, we got to get you to this art walk,"

Oh God, it's really happening.

"Can you come with me?"

The words were out of me before I had the chance to stop them. His eyes widened and he gulped again. He was already wearing a suit because he had a family dinner to attend, but I couldn't help it. I didn't want to be alone, no matter how much I deserved it.

"Everly-," he paused and took a deep breath, "Okay, fine."

I stared at him in shock, I never expected him to say yes. If there was anything that Gabriel Pryer was afraid of, it would be his parents.

"Seriously?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Y-Yeah," he looked nervous, "However, when my mom rips out my vocal cords then flosses her teeth with them, it'll be on you."

I smiled, "Okay,"

He nodded again and picked up his camera.

. . .

"Oh God, rich people," Gabriel mumbled, looking around the fancy room nervously. He straightened his back and patted his hair.

"You look fine Gabriel, calm down will you?" I whispered back, looking at him. Ever since we stepped out of our car, he began whining about how he didn't want to interact with other humans.

"Hey Ev, you won't mind if I ditch you and run home back to my nice, comfy, and warm bed, right?" he whispered back anxiously, "My anxiety is hitting the roof right now!"

I glared at him, "Don't you dare leave me, Gabriel Pryer! You are staying,"

He looked at me nervously and clutched my hand tightly, "I cannot believe I'm doing this for you, Everly Clark,"

We walked around, examining the different art around here. Gabriel began to calm down, but never let go of my hand. This art walk reminded me so much of the passion I had for painting. Each piece of artwork told its own story; each different from the other.

All of a sudden, Gabriel let out a laugh and pointed to a painting on the back wall.

"Everly, I may not be as into art as you are but does that painting look, uh a little explicit to you," Gabriel asked, trying his hardest not to laugh.

I glanced at the painting, it had a man and a woman that was um, yeah explicit was the word.

I bit my lip to suppress the laugh that was threatening to escape my lips, "Yeah, definitely explicit,"

"Look at the size of that man's," he stopped himself, looking at the elderly couple next to him, "Uh, you know mine's larger though!"

The elder woman looked at him with wide eyes, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.

"Oh, the man's hands of course!" he exclaimed, winking at the woman. She blushed and quickly walked away.

He laughed loudly, making people look at us with disgusted eyes. He quickly sobered up, his cheeks turning a bright red color. I covered up a chuckle with a cough, as he awkwardly smiled at the people.

"That painting, is hilarious am I right?" Gabriel said, making the situation worse.

He was so awkward, it was adorable.

"Gabriel, let's go," I clutched his hand, and dragged him along with me.

As soon as we were out of their way I let out a small laugh, "God, Gabriel you're so awkward,"

He laughed loudly, his eyes crinkling with every laugh, "I warned you!"

After we both sobered up, we both stood their silently smiling goofily at each other.

"Tonight is going to the best night that you will ever have," Gabriel promised, quietly looking at me with his eyes filled with sincerity.

I smiled back, "Okay, Gabriel,"

Little did I know, it would be the exact opposite.

. . .

a/n: yay i updated! i'm so sorry for the late chapter, but i hope that this long chapter would make up for it. i really liked writing this chapter, it was kinda sweet and it had been forever since i had written a sweet chapter for any of my books lmao.

but it's always calm before the storm...

here is the lame ass trailer i made for this book, it's not that good but tell me what you think!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

well i guess i like the thumbnail haha.

what was your favorite part from this chapter? be sure to let me know!

yours truly,