On the television screen, Adam runs around the woods drunk while dramatic music plays in the background. I'm curled up on the couch, a fuzzy black blanket wrapped around my shoulders as I watch with my Thai box in hand. Gabriel is next to me, one arm slung lazily over the top of the couch and playing with the fabric of my blanket.

"I never liked this show." He comments as Blake attacks a dog. Immediately, I spin to face him, shocked. He laughs at my facial expression, patting my arm soothingly but still cracking up. I watch him, stony faced, not even reacting. How could anyone not like Workaholics? "I was kidding, Alexxa." He looks up, tears in his eyes. "Lighten up, sweetheart."

My eyes roll and I put the half-empty box back on the table. He takes it, frowning at how much is left. "Eat more." He pushes it towards me. I shake my head, patting my stomach to tell him I'm full. He sighs and frowns deeper, poking the noodles with my fork. "Don't make me do this.." He warns, but there's an amused look in his eyes.

I don't eat the rest, wanting to know exactly what it is that he'd do to me. His hands grip the fork tighter, and he holds the fork inside of it, twisting it around. I pay no attention, looking back at Workaholics. Suddenly, there's a warm, spicy smell to my nose, and I glance down to see the fork nudging my lips. "Open up, doll," He grins at my horrified reaction.

Shaking my head wildly, I push the food away. Sighing deeper, he eats it himself, crinkling his nose and chewing it slowly. "What the hell is this crap?"

Thai. I sign, knowing he can't understand. "What?"

I take the box, standing and tossing it in the trash. Luna's phone goes off, vibrating on the table, and I freeze in place as Gabriel answers it. "Hello?"

It's on speaker. "...Alexxa?"

He laughs, finding this funny. "No, it's Gabriel."

"What the hell are you doing with her? It's a school day!" Luna exclaims, somewhat pissed off.

He walks up to me, rolling his eyes and holding the phone from his ear as she rambles on and on about how immature and irresponsible he's being. He only speaks again when she threatens to take away his sleeping privledges tommorow. "Wait, wait, Luna, don't be rash." He says nervously. "If you want me to, I'll leave. I just didn't want her home alone..I mean, it's not like she can call for help if she needs it."

She sighs into the phone. "Okay. You have a point. I swear to God, if you hurt her-"

"I promise not to." Smiling warmly at me, he brushes a piece of noodle crust from my lip. My eyes widen, and I feel a blush rise to my cheeks. He chuckles, and Luna definitely hears it.

"Don't start this with me, Gabriel Liam Hawthorne." She warns.

"I'm sorry, Luna..I promise I won't hurt her, and I'll see you at five." He hangs up before she can say anything, handing me the phone with another grin. "I still have sleeping privledges!" He exclaims happily, practically dancing around the kitchen and looking out at the sunny day. "Do you want to do something today?"

I raise my eyebrow, shrugging. "We could go to Walmart." He offers, somewhat giddy at his idea. Nodding, I raise a finger, running upstairs. It's nice enough I could pull off shorts, and my legs aren't that hairy, so I pull on my whitewashed shorts and a flowy, black tee shirt. It's pretty and has little white flowers imprinted on it, making me feel somewhat pretty for the first time in a while.

As I walk down the stairs, pulling on my converse, I accidentally bump into Gabriel, who was trying to go upstairs. "Woah," He mutters, looking me over once before meeting my eyes. "We're just going to Walmart, sweetheart."

Blushing lightly, I bite my lip ring and look to the floor. He lets me by, hand on the small of my back. I grab my phone, shoving it into my tiny pockets, and walk out into the sunshine. His black truck sits in front, already started. I walk over to it, jumping up to get inside and playing the radio.

God, why does all new music suck?

Pulling out my iPod, I take a little extension cord from the car stereo and plug it in. My playlist starts as he starts up the car, playing one of the best songs i've ever heard.

"-I'm coming up only to hold you under.

And coming up only to show you wrong...

And to know you is hard; we wonder...

To know you all wrong; we warn." Gabriel glances at me, a smile on his face as he drives off.

"The funeral?" He questions. I nod, closing my eyes and listening to the music.

"Ooooooooh Oooooooooh...

Ooooooooh Oooooooooh..

Really too late to call,

So we wait for; morning to wake you

Is all we got.

To know me as hardly golden,

Is to know me all wrong, they warn.

At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral..

At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral..

At every occasion, oh, I'm ready for the funeral..

At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral...

I'm coming up only to show you down for,

And coming up only to show you wrong." I open my eyes, looking out the window at the passing trees.

"To the outside: the dead leaves lay on the lawn.

For they don't have trees to hang their own."

"This song reminds me of you," Gabriel says as we drive. I look over at him, nodding. I see what he means.

"Ooooooooh Oooooooooh

Ooooooooh Oooooooooh..

At every occasion,

I'll be ready for the funeral..

At every occasion once more,

It's called the funeral..

At every occasion,

Oh, I'm ready for the funeral...

Every occasion..

Of one billion day funeral..."

We pull into Walmart, groaning. It's packed for a Thursday morning, cars littering everywhere. "Do you count as handicapped?" He teases, looking over at me.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head. "Ah, but we can pretend." He says, parking over in a handicapped spot and shutting off the car just as Miles Away by Memphis Mayfire plays on the aux radio. We get out, and he takes my hand, pulling me to him. For a moment, I think he's actually being somewhat romantic, but then he whispers in my ear, "We could always pretend you're blind."

Sighing, I tug away, pulling my tiny hand out of his and crossing my arms over my chest. "You look pretty today," He compliments as we head inside. I smile my thanks, hiding my head in my blonde hair to conceal my blush.

Why do I seem to be doing so much of that, lately?

"Want to go play Xbox?" He asks, grinning. I nod, letting his hand close around my elbow as he leads me to electronics. Black Ops 2 is being promoted, but there are already people playing. They look to be a couple years older than us, and are totally into the game.

When they see us, however, the two boys pat the seats next to them. One has black hair and these reddish-brown eyes, almost an amber color, while the other has teal hair and blue eyes. They look to be dating, seeing as the teal haired boy is on the amber eyed boys' lap. I sit next to them, watching Gabriel slide next to me and take a couple controllers off the shelf.

"You wanna join?" The teal haired boy asks, glancing once at me before turning back to his game. "Dammit, Danny!" He leans back, groaning. "I looked away for one second.."

"Awh, babe.." The amber eyed boy called Danny mutters. "I'm sorry.."

"You know I love you." He tells him, exiting out of their game and letting us join. "I'm Hunter."

"Gabriel." He pipes in, arm around my waist. I don't shrug away, liking the feeling, and try to focus on the game. We start to play, getting into it way too quickly.

I never told anyone my secret obsession with Call Of Duty. I would stay up late hours into the night, practicing until I fell asleep. So, naturally, when I kicked the three teenage boy's asses, they were suprised. "Alexxa, you never told me- Oh, right." He catches his fault, narrowing his eyes. "It's on."

We play for about an hour after, until the manager decided to come over and kick us off. Danny had put up a fight, enjoying the game way too much to quit. I smile, unfolding my legs from under me and stand, watching the boys stand with me. They're all at least six inches taller than me, making me feel short.

"Want to get lunch?" Gabriel asks me, playing with a string of my hair. I sigh, shaking my head but waving him off to get some with the two guys we met.

"I could go for some Subway.." Hunter mumbles. "If anyone cares.."

Since there's a Subway about twelve feet away from us, we easily sit at one of the tall tables. "Are you okay?" Gabriel asks, sitting down with a blt and looking at me with concern. I nod, looking at Hunter and Danny as they talk avidly to me about something.

"Did you get any of that..?" Danny asks after a minute or two of me staring into space. I shake my head, watching him smile. "That's alright. I was babbling, anyways. Why aren't you in class?"

I shrug, focusing on sipping my iced tea. "She needed a day." Gabriel nudges me under the table, tickling my knee. I smile, trying not to laugh, and forcefully kick his chair.

"What school do you go to?"

"Autumn." He answers, still looking at me with an amused gaze.

"Ooh. Fancy." Hunter takes a sip of my drink, fluttering his eyelashes at me when I give him a glare. Sighing, I take it back, but flash a small smirk his way. He laughs, eating his sandwhich. "Are you hungry?"

I shake my head. "Do you..talk?" Laughing softly, I shake my head again.

"She can, she just won't." Gabriel butts in. I narrow my eyes at him, taking a chunk of his bread and chewing on it. He sighs. "I was going to eat that.."

Shrugging, I feel his hand lock onto mine. Immediately stiffening, I refuse to meet his gaze but don't pull away.

Damn hormones, making me feel again.

----------------

Hey!

Danny and Hunter are two characters from The Amber Effect, a story I just finished. I love their characters as a couple and wanted to write about them, so I put them in this. Go check it out if you wanntt. I'd appreciate it

The song was The Funeral by Band Of Horses. It's amazing c:

Dont forget to click the little star on the way out!

xoxo.