left my home those days, was pretty amazing in itself. When it was over I said goodbye and made my way to the parking lot. I got that feeling again, that I was being watched. I started franticly searching for my keys as I approached the car.” Rachel’s retelling of the night caused her to visibly tremble.
Gabe reached out, touching her back. He had only intended to console her on a basic level, but forgetting his abilities as a Guardian, the calming went much deeper.
Rachel continued, “I was only— I don’t know, maybe a dozen feet from my car when I looked up. It was like all the air had been knocked out of me. I gasped for breath; it felt like a vice was tightening around my chest, this dark figure loomed in front of me. He — it… whatever it was didn’t speak.” Rachel shivered at the memory.
“What do you mean, ‘whatever it was’?” Gabe asked, hanging on every word.
“I don’t know what it was, I just knew I was going to die, I knew it with such certainty.” Rachel stopped and looked over at Gabe.
“Well? What happened?” Gabe prodded, the anticipation driving him to the verge of insanity.
“Nothing, Uri showed up and it vanished. I mean really, it vanished right in front of my eyes. I still can’t explain it; it had to be something super natural.”
“Did you ever ask Uri about it?” Gabe inquired, intrigued by how Uri would have explained this to a regular mortal.
“Yeah, I did. I was so freaked out by it that when Uri told me I needed to go with him if I wanted to be safe, I didn’t even think about it. I just did what he told me to. We ended up hours away from my home that first night, in some back woods seedy motel. I can still remember it so clearly.”
“Uri has a way of making an impression on people. I’m sure he used all of his finest moves on you.” Gabe laughed nervously as he made the suggestion, wondering if his jealousy was obvious.
“What?” Rachel huffed before defending herself. “It wasn’t like that. Uri? Gross, it’s not like that at all. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Uri is an attractive guy, but within the first few nights we had a connection and it wasn’t what you’re implying. It was like a brother sister thing, you know?”
“I suppose. Does Uri know how you feel or I guess don’t feel?” Gabe asked.
“I never flat out told him, if that is what you’re asking, but I’m sure he knows I’m not interested in anything romantic with him. Uri isn’t either.” Rachel argued.
“Oh, I see. So you already have a boyfriend then? Is that why you’re not interested in him?” Gabe probed.
“Huh? No, I already said, he’s more like my brother. What is your deal?” Rachel replied, puzzled by the line of questioning.
“No boyfriend then?” Gabe continued, ignoring Rachel’s question.
“Oh, I see what this is.” Rachel chimed, her face shifting, a devilish grin settling on her lips.
“Excuse me?”
“You like me.” Rachel grimaced.
“What?” Gabe exclaimed before laughing, “Wow, you think a lot of yourself, don’t you? You see this girl; I carved her into this tree because she was the love of my life. I doubt after her I would be interested in you.”
“Wow, I didn’t know I was so hideous.” Rachel barked back, hopping to her feet.
Gabe’s stomach fluttered, what was this girl doing to him? “I’m sorry, that came out wrong.”
“I’ll say.” Rachel replied, not budging.
“Please sit,” Gabe pleaded. Desperate to bury his poor manners, Gabe attempted to turn the course of conversation. “How much has Uri told you about the Guardians?”
“Really? You’re basically going to call me ugly and then just move on?” Rachel confronted Gabe, arms crossed.
“I know, I was an ass. You just said that stuff about me liking you and I don’t know, I got defensive.” Gabe explained.
“I was kidding.” Rachel replied flatly.
“You were?” Gabe asked, now even more ashamed of his behavior.
Rachel flopped to the ground, “You can’t tell by now when I’m teasing? I’m always cracking jokes.”
“I’m sorry, really, I didn’t mean it. You’re beautiful and I would —” Gabe suddenly stopped, realizing the words that were falling out of his mouth.
“So you do like me.” Rachel stated, staring blankly into Gabe’s eyes. Gabe looked terrified, unsure what to say. Rachel jabbed him with an elbow before exploding into laughter. “Wow, you’re easy. I was joking again.”
Gabe nervously laughed in response.
“So what