I can make you feel better

“Hey there” Gabriel greeted Clarissa with a smile but her eyes narrowed at him

“You were listening in on my conversation. Why would you do that?” She accused and Gabriel raised his hands in mock surrender

“I wouldn’t call it eavesdropping if you weren’t even being quiet. I could hear everything you were saying and decided to stand guard here to prevent someone else from overhearing you as well” He explained

“I find it hard to believe you but I’ll just let it go. I’m too upset to deal with you today” She made to go around him but he stood in her way

“What is it Gabriel? Please leave me alone, I have to go back to class” She spoke tiredly not even having the strength to yell at him. The conversation with her mom drained her

“Go somewhere with me” he suggested

Clarissa brows shot it in surprise and she looked at him as if he had grown two head or gone mad

“Are you nuts? We are in school and I have classes. School is far from over and you’re the last person I would ever miss a class for” She deadpanned

“Hear me out okay” He tried to reason with her but she was in no mood to listen

“There is nothing else to say. I’m not skipping school to hang out with you of all people”

“Just listen to me first” He interrupted and she stood still with her hands folded, gesturing for him to continue

“You are upset. Your eyes are red. It’s obvious you are on the brink of tears and knowing you, you would be embarrassed if you get attention from everyone in your class if you enter looking like a mess. I’m also certain you won’t even be able to pay attention to your teachers in class so come with me, it’ll be worth it” He reasoned

Clarissa was quiet because she knew he was right and couldn’t argue back

“I don’t want to skip school with you”

“I know you don’t like me but see this as an opportunity to know me better”

“I don’t want to know you better. Who gave you the impression that I want to change how I feel about you?”

“Then use me to feel better. Since you don’t like me, pour out your frustration on me till you feel better but come with me” The look he was giving her made her heart miss a beat. She didn’t like it

“You are really persistent and it’s so annoying”

“So does that mean you’re in?” He asked, his smile creeping back onto his face

“Lead the way” Clarissa sighed. She couldn’t believe she was skipping school and with the person she thought she hated

Gabriel let her to the parking lot and they used his car. She was surprised that they were able to leave the school without any teacher stopping them. It was that easy to skip class?

“Where are we going” Clarissa asked when they pulled out of the school

“One of my favorite hang out spot. They open in the evenings but I know the owner so it’s open for us” He tells her with a smile

“Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this” She moaned

“You won’t. I’ve been told I make a great company and I am a wonderful listener. I won’t judge”

“There is no way I’m telling you anything about myself” She argued

“I can be pretty convincing”

“Not me. I’m very hard to convince”

“I’ve noticed. You really don’t like me, can I ask why?”

“It’s none of your business” Clarissa hissed

“We’ll, technically it is since it’s about me” He shrugged

“Please focus on the road or take me back to school if you want to keep prying in places you’re not wanted”

“Gosh, you’re such a …”

“A what? Finish it” Clarissa turned towards him with narrowed eyes

“I don’t even have a word to describe it” he shook his head in amusement

Clarissa was about to press further when she noticed they had arrived at their mystery destination. He was pulling up to what looked like a bar that wasn’t yet open

“Of course, your favorite spot had to be a bar” She rolled her eyes

“Where’d you expect it to be? The library?” He teased

“At least it’s better than a bar” She tried to defend

“I’m sure you’re the only person who thinks that in the entire world” He mocked

They got off the car and went in through the back door and like Clarissa suspected, the place was dark and empty

“Are we allowed to be here?” She asked skeptically looking around the empty bar

The light came on and she noticed Gabriel standing on the other side of the bar, beside the light switch

The bar was just like every other bar. Neon lights, sparse decorations and a well endowed bar

“What are we doing here? I don’t see how this is suppose to uplift my spirit” she gestured around the place

“First, let me make you a drink” Gabriel offered. He jumped over the high counter with ease and began grabbing different drinks off the shelf

“Do you even know what you’re doing? I don’t want to get alcohol poisoning” She watched him skeptically as he mixed various drinks together with a concentrated look on his face

“Darling, I’m the real deal” She felt her pulse race with the name but made no comment

When he was done, Gabriel slid the cup over to her

“What are you waiting for? Take a sip of my masterpiece” He urged when she kept looking at the cup

With a deep breath, she took the cup and drank from him. Her eyes widened at the sweet sour taste of the drink. The alcohol was barely present and it alerted her tastebuds

“I know right. I’m still thinking of a name” he said smugly and Clarissa felt the urge to wipe that smug grin off his face

“It’s okay. I’ve had better” she tried to put it off and she was so happy when the smile dropped from his face

“No way” he argued

“If that’s what you want to believe, it’s fine”

“Okay, dance with me”

Before she could protest, music filled the bar and she was being dragged from the chair to the large space in the middle of the bar

“Hey, let me go. I don’t want to dance with you” she tried to protest but all her complaints felt on deaf ears as Gabriel pulled, twirled and dipped her in rhythm to the music

It didn’t take long for Clarissa to fall in sync with the music. She laughed so hard as she moved her body to the song, feeling all the tension and anxiety she had coped up since the call drain from her body

They dance and goofed around for over thirty minutes before Clarissa dropped to the floor and Gabriel followed

They were laying side by side on the floor and Clarissa had her eyes on the plain ceiling above them

“I don’t have to ask you but I can feel you are better now” Gabriel said with a wide smile

“Why are you doing this? Going out of your way to make me feel good when I don’t like you and I don’t hide it?”

“I don’t know honestly. There is something that keeps pulling me to you. I want to be close to you and I want to be your friend. I don’t like seeing you cry or sad. It’s a fucked up feeling I can’t push away.”

“You’re making it sound like it’s more”

“I just want you to know that I won’t stop until we become friends. I don’t like that you hate me and I am going to change it”

“I’ll like to see you try” Clarissa challenged

“But it’s already happening” he pointed out

Clarissa couldn’t deny it so she chose to keep quiet

They talked about random things as they laid there and Clarissa was careful to make sure she didn’t ask him anything personal and otherwise. She wouldn’t risk him getting closer

“It’s getting late. Come on I’ll take you home” Gabriel stood up and gave her his hand so she could take

Clarissa took his hand and he helped her to her feet

“I didn’t realize it’s gotten so late” she said checking her time and seeing that it’s almost 6pm

“Time runs fast when you’re with me. Told you i make great company” he teased as they went out from the same door they came in

“I can go home myself” she insisted

“With what? You left your car at school”

“I’ll think of something”

“You don’t want me to know your place or something?”

“Maybe”

“Come on Clarissa, let me drop you off. I won’t come to your house uninvited. It’s been a good day and let’s end it on a good note” He sighed

“Fine” she agreed

“This is not going to change my opinion of him. It’s just this one time” She muttered to herself before getting in

“Did you say something?”

“No. Let’s go”