"Come visit," Lillian whispered in my ear. I nodded, near tears myself, and hugged her closer. She placed a kiss on my cheek, which I returned with a peck on hers, and pulled away to let Jodie embrace me. Instead of a simple lift, however, he went full out and picked me off my feet.

"What Lil said," he hissed. I laughed, letting him kiss my nose and hug me to him.

"You suck." I muttered into his shoulder.

He smiled, I could feel it. "Stay outta trouble- I'll miss you, but I don't want you to end up back here."

Behind me, Luna chuckled. Gabriel was stil wary about me being friends with a boy, which was completely ridiculous. We weren't even dating and he's being protective over me. "Alright. I'll miss you too."

With one last hug from Lillian, I pulled Gabriel's old jacket tighter around my shoulders. "Bye," my voice was quiet. I passed by Alice, who glared at me through her scarred features but said nothing. I forced a smile on my face and gave her a warm nod.

Once we were outside, I took a deep breath of the crisp, December air. Sam was waiting at Gabriel's car, a twinkle in his warm brown eyes, he outstretched an arm and took my waist in his hand, pulling me to his jacket. I kept my arms limply at my sides, starting to struggle a bit from how close we were. "What the hell are you doing?" I asked, voice muffled from the cotton on his chest.

He sounded mock hurt. "I'm giving you a hug," he said, as if that was obvious.

I pulled away, giving him a creeped out eye. "That's weird."

He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "You let Lillian and Jodeph do it."

I cringed. "Jodie."

"I believe it is more proper to call someone by their real names, Alexxa."

I knew he didn't mean it to hurt me, or even involve me, but by the way he said it, I felt stung. Luna gave me a look, as did Sam, while Gabriel just stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets and tried to act as if he wasn't listening.

"Anyways," Sam changed the subject, clearing his throat. A flash of relief washed over Gabriel's face and he glanced over at me with a smile. It was forced, though. I knew it; I knew him well enough to see when he was lying to me. "Where do you want to eat?"

I'd agreed to go to trial with Gabriel, which made me leaving the institution twice as fast. I'd left four days afterwards, which made today the fourteenth of December. I would be presenting as what he called 'moral support', and just someone to stand by him while he speaks. Since he wasn't allowed to appoint a lawyer for the retrial, he didn't want to stand alone while his father had someone by his side.

How could I say no to the saddest face i'd ever seen?

We piled into the car, Sam being the one to give us a ride. "Um," I muttered, looking at the arrangement. His truck was a bench seat, only fitting three people. Luna, Gabriel, and Sam were all sitting inside, seatbelts on and ready to leave.

They had forgotten about me, it seemed. Gabriel looked up, realization hitting him at the expression on my face, and attempted to scoot over. Sam cursed at him, earning a glare from him, but didn't move any further. "Alexxa, sweetie, why don't you sit in the back? It's a nice day out, and the fresh air would be good for you."

I had to keep myself calm in front of Sam, or else I risked going back to the institution. "Oh. . . Um, okay." I muttered, running a hand through my hair. The cold, hard truth was that it was twenty degrees outside, snowing, and the bed of the trunk was covered in snow. By the time we got wherever we were going to eat, I'd probably be mistaken for the dog in Blue's Clues.

Gabriel stood. "No, i'll go. It's cold out."

I shook my head. "Sit down," I said quietly. "I'll be fine."

He sighed. "We'll both go, then."

Luna gave us a smirk, acting as if she knew what was going to happen in the back of Gabriel's ancient pickup. I rolled my eyes, giving in to Gabriel- The stubborn bastard would get what he wanted, anways- and popped in my headphones.

We trudged to the trunk of the pickup and he helped me get inside. I grimaced at the thick layer of snow on the bed of it, attempting to wipe some of it into the corner so I could sit. It just made a large, unnatractive pool of water that wouldn't look good on my ass.

"Sit here," Gabriel said as the truck started moving and I was thrown slightly to the side. Catching my balance, I caught a glance over at him. He sat with his legs outstretched right on the snow, as if it didn't bother him.

"Where?" I rose a brow, not seeing a clear spot.

He pointed to his legs. When I shook my head, objecting immediately, he sighed and leaned up far enough so he could capture my waist in his hands. One of them covered half of my waist itself, and truthfully, it was kind of frightening. This boy could crush me in a second, yet I trusted him enough to hold me at night.

Fuck it, I thought, plopping myself down on his lap. "Thanks," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks turn red- but it wasn't from the cold.

He smirked, running his hands down my arms. I shivered from the chilled air, pitying Gabriel for having to sit directly on those cold, demonic ice crystals only inches from me. The truck bounced on the ice, sliding slightly. I could feel my stomach lurch at each turn, the fear of slipping off the road and cracking my skull open so real to me.

A pair of arms tightened around me. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know who's it was, sinking into him. My breathing was ragged, from both him and the car ride itself. "You okay?" His tone was hushed; careful, almost.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He continued to speak, lulling me from reality. I listened gratefully as he started, voice low in my ear. "I have a sister," He murmured. "Her name is Elise, and man. . . She kind of reminds me of you."

Ouch. Did I just get sisterzoned?

"She's gotta be sixteen by now," he whispered, tightening his grip as Sam ran over a pothole. "I left her in Ireland. She wanted to come with me. . . But she was too young. . . I couldn't let her, not when she was getting free education and boarding. God, she probably hates me."

I looked up at him, the side of my chin resting on his jacket. "I don't think she could," I managed.

He gave me a smile every kid would beg for Christmas just to see. "I wish that were true," he said.

"Were you guys close?"

He nodded faintly. "I always looked out for her... When she was thirteen, she had an overdose. Her boyfriend-" he spat the word out, "-Gave her Gatorade spiked with ecstasy. I had to take her to get her stomach pumped. . . My dad, he was pissed."

We were pulling into Applebee's, but he didn't stop. It was like he was in his own little world. "I think she broke her hip that night. I had to get stitches, and my mom was the least hurt. Oh God, why am I telling you this?" He pulled away to run a hand through his hair, closing his eyes.

I shook my head. "It's okay," I said, trying to sound honest.

I felt so horrible. Here he was, pouring his life story out to me, and I was too guarded to even tell him what happened to me. We'd known each other almost five months now and the farthest i've gotten to telling him was an accidental half-spill at a diner.

Would I ever gain enough courage to tell him?

He nodded, boosting me out of the trunk and coming down after me. Luna wiggled her eyebrows at me, noticing that Gabriel's dusty grey jeans were black on the other side. I just rolled my eyes, letting her loop her arm around mine and tug me inside. Sam trailed off behind all of us, texting.

"So," I decided to converse with her, "You and Sam? I thought you and Al had something."

She flushed bright red. Finally, a reaction, I thought smugly. "Um, well, I don't know. . ." She muttered.

"You're as bad talking as I am about opening up," I teased quietly, skipping ahead and heading inside. Gabriel slid into a booth, making sure I followed next and let the other two sit across from us.

The waitor came over and asked for our drinks, letting us be afterwards. Luna looked over at me, sipping her coffee with a dangerous spark in her eye. "So, Alexxa," she started.

"Mmm?" I focused on mixing the sugar in my coffee, not meeting her eye for fear she'd lunge.

"It's winter break, you know."

I looked up abruptly. "What?"

Gabriel started to laugh, while I just gawked. What am I supposed to with myself over break? I mean, I used to have people to hang out with. I guess I have Kira and Gabriel, but other than that, what am I supposed to do? What if my urges come back, and nobody's there to stop me?

His laughter subsided when he saw the panicked expression on my face. "Woah, Lexxa, if it freaks you out that much, you don't have to get me a present. . ."

Oh, shit! Christmas presents! I don't have money to buy them. . They'd be so disappointed if they got me something and I didn't even get them a card or something. It's not like I have any cash to spend- I just got out of a mental institution- and I didn't want to get Gabriel something stupid. . .

"We have something way bigger to worry about than Christmas presents." His tone was quiet, so they couldn't hear us. "Winning the retrial would be my present."

I almost yelped when he turned his head back to the adults and sat up. But before straightening and sending them a million-dollar smirk, there was no mistaking the feeling of his teeth grazing my earlobe in a teasing half-kiss.

Glaring, I sipped my coffee. Asshole, making me feel things.

"I was just going to see if you'd like a job at the shop, or something. To keep you busy."

I perked up at the idea of money. "What would I do?" I questioned, scooting away from Gabriel as he tried to take my hand. He can't just get away with practically kissing me, especially holding my hand. He's being a tease.

She shrugged. "I'd like it if you played for them again. . .The customers really liked it."

"Oh, no." I immediately refused, eyes widening. I leaned over the table, not wanting Gabriel to hear, and gave her a look. "Do you want me to go back in the institution?"

She sighed. "Listen, Alexxa." Her voice was gentle. "It wasn't singing that caused the-"

"I know it wasn't that, Luna," I said loudly, over her words. Gabriel looked between us suspiciously, but said nothing, letting this go on. I lowered my tone, leaning over the table to whisper in her ear. "It was the guitar, or something. I just. . . I can't deal with the hallucinations anymore. . ."

She nodded, but pressed on. "It wasn't playing, or singing. It was Sam, sweetie."

I glared at her, leaning back. "Fine. Only once though."

She grinned in triumph. "You won't regret it, Lexxa."

I sighed, leaning my head back on the chair.

What had I gotten myself into?

------

This isn't proofread, so excuse any mistakes .-.

Writing in italics makes things more fancy.

You don't understand how horribly sorry I am for not updating! xD I had a realllllly busy week. But my hair is finaaally back to its usual pink, so I feel like myself again :DD whichmeans, more updates!

Cheers.

(ive always wanted to say that)

Can I ask you a question?!

Do you think Alexxa and Gabriel are advancing in their relationship? And either way, what could they do to speed/slow things? Feedback and votes would be appreciated...

Song is Six Feet Under The Stars, by All Time Low. Amazing bandd

I love every single one of you (not an exaggeration xD)

xxx.