and back. Today she explained that she thought they should be able to make it to the creek and back on their walk. The excitement in her voice had him actually looking forward to it.
One of the other things that surprised him was that he had not noticed how beautiful she was before. Her bottom was full and round while her hips seemed to sway like they were dancing to an unsung hymn. Her back arched gracefully, the line of which flowed all the way up her neck. Turning to face him, the mixing bowl pressed against her body below her full bosom, she smiled.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Rachel asked, rubbing away an imaginary smudge with her forearm.
“No, you look great.” Gabe reassured her.
“Yeah right.” Rachel replied, pulling a stray strand of hair from her face and tucking it away into the tie at the base of her neck. “I must look a dreadful sight.”
“Honestly, you want to know what I was thinking?” Gabe asked, deciding to step out of his comfort zone.
“Of course. I mean, only if you want to tell me, though.” Rachel replied, bashfully looking back to her bowl.
“I was just wondering what on earth I was thinking.” Gabe said.
“When? Oh wait, I know. You don’t know what you were thinking when you agreed to watch over me.” Rachel added, a mischievous grin plastered across her face.
“Close.” Gabe added.
“Hey!” Rachel squealed, stomping a foot playfully
Gabe laughed before continuing, “No, what I was going to say was I can’t believe what I was thinking when I was so mean to you. You have been nothing but nice and helpful since you got here and I treated you like… Well, I don’t know. But I know I didn’t treat you the way I should have.”
“Don’t be silly, Gabe, you have been just fine.” Rachel said with a smile, hoping he didn’t realize she was lying.
“Come on, Rachel, I know I was a complete jerk to you.” Gabe insisted.
“Well, I don’t know if I would say complete…” Rachel grinned.
“I thought I was keeping myself safe, but all I was doing was making everyone hate me.”
“I wouldn’t say I hated you.” Rachel said before pausing thoughtfully. “Perhaps just disliked you significantly.”
“Gee, thanks!”
The two laughed for a moment before they both fell silent. Rachel turned towards the prep table, pouring the mixture from the bowl into a pan. She placed it onto the stove and then set the soiled dish aside to be cleaned.
“Rachel, I mean it. If I slip back into my old ways, please give me a nudge and help me remember I want to be better. Alright?” Gabe asked, looking for much needed support. His words were sincere. After finding Clarite and realizing what he did to everyone around him, Gabe had enough. The life he had been trying so desperately to cling to was meaningless if he had no friends to share it with.
Rachel nodded in response. “It’s raining.” Rachel said opening the front door, the cool evening air striking her in the face, her hair flowing behind her. Gabe stared, mesmerized by the joy that beamed from her eyes.
“I always loved the smell of rain. Even as a kid, I was never sad when it would rain. My friends always complained because it meant they couldn’t play outside. You would find me curled up on the box seat, the window cracked, a blanket across my lap, and a book in my hands. My aunt always said I had an old soul, just like her.”
“You were close to your aunt?” Gabe asked.
“Oh very. She took my brother and I in after my mom died.” Rachel explained.
Gabe shuttered at the familiar story. Almost all of the students he met at Rampart shared the theme of a parentless upbringing. Many of those parents had been torn away in violent scenarios, including his own. “I’m so sorry about your mom.”
“Don’t be. The cancer took years. In the end we were glad it was finally over. My dad didn’t stick around long after my brother was born, once mom got sick my aunt moved right in. I guess it just became our normal. We went to live at her house once my mom did pass away. It just seemed natural, living with her. She made us feel like we had a home and like we were wanted.” Rachel continued with her story.
“Your aunt sounds pretty amazing.” Gabe added.
“Oh she is. I want you to meet her one day.”