Angie slapped her palm over her mouth while Alexander just swallowed hard, unsure of where to begin because he sure as hell has a lot to explain.

But at this moment, that didn't seem important. Instead, I felt my heart ache. I felt it tear into shreds, a piece breaking painfully each second.

How could he lie to me the whole time?

" You're Angie's Dad ...?" I repeated, tasting the bitter words.

He let out a shaky breath, his eyes everywhere except meeting mine.

" Y-yes, Angie is my daughter."

I released a hollow bitter laugh, clenching my jaw. If Angie wasn't here, I would have already been yelling my lungs at him. What could I possibly say to him now?

I lost everything, i gave him my whole heart and yet I still can't help but have a soft spot for him. I couldn't put a finger on what I actually felt at the moment -- hurt? Disappointment? Frustration?

I took a few steps away from him, running my fingers repeatedly through my hair.

" You're so selfish Alexander." I begin, holding back my string of curse words. Shaking my head, I glared down at the ground

" First, you forbid your own daughter from calling you ' dad ' so as to prevent me and everyone else from finding out?! You better have a good reason for that but honestly how cruel can you be to your own daughter? And you can't even trust me with this, why Alexander? This is huge, and yet you have the cheek to lie to me the whole time..." I placed my hand over my eyes, holding back my angry tears.

" I didn't want to put anyone in danger, I warned you Gabriel that you're gonna get your heart broken with me." Alexander tried to reach forward but i flinched away.

" Don't you dare put the blame on me now! I can't stand this Xander, I tried alright and if you're not going to give me answers then..." I fell quiet.

" Gabriel, don't leave me...pleas-e..i want to make this work, I'm just not good at relationships..." his voice cracked which made my heart nearly tear apart.

" I can't keep waiting Alexander, I love you so god damn much, I'll do anything for you but this has to go two ways." I start retreating.

" CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT I'M DOING? IM JUST TRYING TO PROTECT YOU GABRIEL!" He shouted, placing Angie back on her two feet who looked at both us with sad lost eyes.

I paused in my steps.

" What are you protecting me from?" My tone was cold, hard, void of emotion.

Alexander clenched his fist.

" I promised...I promised Blake that I wouldn't let you into my world, my world where the people I love so much could possibly have a bullet drive through their head. " my breath got caught in my throat. I let out a frustrated grunt, gripping the ends of my hair.

" Tell me honestly, does Blake know about you being a dad?" He nodded hesitantly.

I was so done. With my own brother. With Alexander. With myself for trusting people too easily.

" Xander I love you so much that not even a bullet could stop me from loving you, I will spend my last breath telling you how much I love you and I'll live a day longer for you so stop trying to protect me, instead start loving me. We only live once Alex, so I can't keep waiting. I have to go..."

With that, I sprint off. I just wanted to get away, far from everyone, run till my legs can't stand anymore. And i guess that's how you know you love someone; when your heart aches, when your stomach drops; when your lungs feel like they are caving in, just because of the thought of them possibly lying to you...

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

I found myself at the diner, awaiting them -- it's been nearly two years since I saw them in highschool.

I didn't take long before I saw the six of them rush in.

" Gabriel bro, you alright?" Jeremy slid into the booth, giving my arm a light punch. I nodded meekly while each of them set around the ruby red table --- Sierra, Skylar, Willow, Tristen, Zach, Jeremy.

I noticed how their features matured, their eyes free from eyebags unlike mine. The six of them always had my back in highschool, we were inseparable, and I was their cupid -- the ome who managed to bring each of them to be a couple, yet I can't seem to manage my own love life.

" I have been struggling with something..." I begin, licking my chapped lips.

" Let it all out, Gabriel, we're here for you." Skylar reached over and gave my hand a squeeze.

" Blake, my brother, returned a few months ago and he brought his friend along -- Alexander Wilde. Ever since that, my life was never the same because I...foolishly..." I took a deep breath, goosebumps dance across my skin at the thought of him.

" I...foolishly fell in love with Alexander." Zach choked on his milkshake.

" Ooo my boy has his game going on." Tristen teased which earned him a slap on his arm from his girlfriend, Willow.

" You're gay...which is completely fine." Jeremy assured.

" Love is love afterall," Sierra added.

" What happened then?" Zach asked.

" Our attraction got deeper and...his niece flew over to stay with us...but I found out that she is his daughter instead..." I gulped down a large glass of water. Everyone nodded but remained silent, all of them equally surprised.

" Well that escalated fast, I didn't see that coming..." Tristen muttered out.

" He's just hiding so much from me, because he wants to so called 'protect' me and I don't think I can go on--" Willow interrupted me.

" Gabriel, do you love him? The last time I checked you never ever felt this way before, so if I were you...I wouldn't let him go."

" Yeah man, she has a point, I mean I did so many mistakes in my relationship. I hid so much of my past from Skylar because I wanted to protect her as well but when you overcome that stage, it makes you stronger as one." Jeremy took his hand in Skylar's who leaned on his shoulder.

Zach took his chance, " First, I want to apologise for making jokes about gay people, I'm such a dick for acting that way but I wanna say that relationships are never smooth sailing and fate placed him in your life for a reason so...hold on to that love." Zach gave my a half hug, a regretful smile on his lips.

Before I could embrace them all in a big bear hug, my phone buzzed.

Kara:

A pang of guilt hits my chest, I shouldn't have agreed.

" Thanks guys for meeting up with me, I'll think about what you said but right now...I need to go somewhere." I stood up so fast that I nearly fell over my feet.

Each of them waved goodbye but before I could dash off, Tristen tugged me back by my wrist.

" Where are you going Gabriel?"

" I need to check something.." I glanced at my watch.

" Gabriel listen to me, don't do something stupid alright? Please promise me you'll be careful..." Tristen was always known to have a good gut feeling, especially since he went through alot in his life.

Giving him a light chuckle, I gripped his shoulder. " I promise you, I'll be safe."

Little did I know, I should have taken his words more seriously...

▪▪▪▪▪▪

|🔱 hey loves! 🔱|

How do you find it so far?

Also wanted to clear things up, Kara's message was meant to indicate that sadly, :/

well, we all make bad decisions when we're confused so you're yet to see how that plays out!

Also! Thank you so much for all the support, I'm ever so grateful to have y'all, really. Additionally, if you want to find out about the stories behind the other couples in their group, then y'all can check out my other books that are part of the

Loads of love,

Celine!

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈