Part 4 (2/2)
”Yeah,” I say, drawing out the word.
”Are you telling me you had something to do with that?”
”Apparently, I knocked on the wrong door and walked in on a girl who wasn't wearing ... much. She was jumping up and down on the bed, singing *Respect.
* More like howling it, really.”
”Mary,” I say instantly.
”She's been blasting that all week since she broke up with her boyfriend.”
”Yeah, I didn't stop for introductions. She was looking for something to throw at me.” I can't help myself-I laugh.
”How'd you get past Hags, anyway?”
”Hags?”
”Downstairs at the front desk? Large woman” I spread my hands wide.
”With a wart on her chin? All visitors are supposed to be announced. Especially gentleman callers,” I finish airily. ”Maybe I was such a gentleman that she let me up here on good faith” I snort.
”To what do I owe this honor? Is this part of the family outreach program?”
Gabriel smiles pleasantly at me.
”Actually, brat, I came by to tell you about this show I'm playing down at Silver Tree next weekend. You should come” He pulls a fluorescent yellow flyer from his backpack.
”Cool, thanks” I hesitate, then turn back to my desk. Oh, screw it. I'm lost anyway.
”I'm glad you came by ... I was wondering if you could ... help me with something.”
”What is it?”
”It's not something I can't handle for myself, you know. Just because I'm asking you doesn't mean anything,” I say in a rush.
”Okay? I just need to get that straight” Gabriel studies me.
”This is really starting to sound like fun,” he says, his voice completely bland.
”Sorry,” I mutter. Before I can change my mind, I s.n.a.t.c.h the painting out from under the folders and shove it at him.
”Does this look familiar?” He takes it, gives it a brief glance, then looks back at me, raising both eyebrows at once.
”Somehow, this was not what I was hoping you'd ask me.”
”What were you hoping... oh, G.o.d, never mind. Give me that back” I make a swipe for the paper. But he holds it out of my reach, fluttering it just above my head. I switch tactics and try to barrel into him instead, but with his free arm he fends me off easily enough.
”Why did I ever forget how annoying you are?” I say through clenched teeth.
”Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you forgot to write me and therefore remind yourself,” he says cheerfully, taking another look at the painting.
”What do you want to know about this?”
”Can you find it?”
”As in find find it?”
”Yes.” He lowers his arm abruptly.
”First tell me why.”
”Er ... homework a.s.signment?” Gabriel gives me a pained look.
”That's weak, Tam. Try again.” d.a.m.n.
”I... can't.”
”Okay, tell me why you can't.”
”I can't tell you why I can't” I sigh. I don't know what I was expecting. If the old Gabriel would never have let me get away with being so close lipped, I shouldn't have hoped that the new Gabriel would either.
”Why don't you trust me, Tam?”
”I do.”
”You don't. You've been really weird ever since I came back. Fine, you didn't want to keep in touch. But we're not kids anymore, and what's with-””You've seen the way everyone looks at me. Everyone in my family. You know what happened to me.”
”I know what didn't happen to you, yeah, but-”
”I'm not like you.”
”True. I'm a guy, you're a girl-”
”You're obtuse,” I inform him and whisk the paper out of his hand.
”And never mind about this-”But he s.n.a.t.c.hes it right back.
”Oh, I can a.s.sure you that now I am finding it for you. Then you're going to have to tell me what's going on” He grins at me.
”Don't hold your breath,” I say, but I can't help smiling back.
”You know, the funny thing is, I swear Eve seen it before.”
”I can't say that, but there is ... something about it” He tucks the paper away in his backpack, then props his foot up on Agatha's desk chair to tie his shoelace, which has loosened. The muscles in his arms stretch, jump briefly, and I have the craziest desire to run one finger down the length of his back. I open my mouth to say something undoubtedly stupid and am saved by Agatha, who walks back into the room carrying two cans of soda. She stops, looks from Gabriel to me, then back to Gabriel.
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