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Roseline smiled, feeling a small surge of triumph.
 
So Gabriel wasn’t completely immune to her charms.

***

“What’d your dad say when you dropped out of school?” Roseline asked just before taking another massive bite of her hamburger.
 
Greasy fast food had never tasted so good.

Gabriel flicked the turn signal, pulling back onto the interstate.
 
“He wasn’t too ticked about that, but he did hit the roof when he got the call from Coach.
 
If I wasn’t their star player I’d be off the team by now.”

Roseline gulped down the lump in her throat.
 
“And he’s making you play in the state finals next month?

Gabriel cast a worried glance towards her.
 
“Rose, the game’s this weekend.
 
Didn’t you realize how long you’ve been gone?”

Shaking her head, Roseline tossed her half eaten burger back into the bag.
 
Her stomach churned at the thought of how much time had really passed.
 
Three weeks.
 
It’d felt like a lifetime.
 
“No.
 
I guess the days all kinda ran together.
 
I mean I knew…but I guess I didn’t really have the strength to care, if that makes any sense.”

Gabriel fell silent, eyes glued to the road as he steered his brand new, bought straight off the show room floor, silver Range Rover.
 
Apparently his father hadn’t been ticked enough at Gabriel to let go of his pride.
 
“Will you come to the game?”

Roseline paused, unsure of how she should answer.
 
Of course she wanted to see him play, even though she had decided she loathed the sport.
 
It was too long, too confusing and way too boring!
 
“Sadie will be there.”

“Oh,” she sighed, dreading the thought of explaining her disappearance to her friend.
 
“Well then I should probably go.”

Gabriel nodded.
 
“Sure.
 
For Sadie.”

“Definitely,” Roseline agreed, falling silent.
 
The miles passed by slowly.
 
Bleak wintry farm land stretched on and on.
 
The horizon began to lighten as they neared
Chicago
.
 
Several hours had passed since they’d spoken, neither one sure of what to say.
 
On the outskirts of town, Gabriel broke the silence.

“I know things are confusing right now and I’ll admit I’m kinda freaked out by all of this, but I need you to promise me that you won’t run away again.”
 
His voice was strained; his white fingers held the steering wheel in a death grip.
 
“I can’t lose you again Rose.”

Roseline shifted in her seat, positioning her body towards Gabriel.
 
As she chewed on the words that’d been bouncing around her brain for over an hour, she couldn’t help but admire his handsome profile.
 
“I think we should spend more time together.”

Gabriel blinked, shocked.
 
“Are you serious?”
 
He flipped on his turn signal and pulled off at their exit.
 
His foot added a bit more pressure to the gas pedal.
 

“Yes,” Roseline replied firmly.
 
She’d had plenty of time to think it over during the agonizing drive home.
 
“Obviously being apart didn’t work out too well for us and to be honest I’m tired of fighting it.
 
I want to be with you Gabriel, to get to know you.
 
And the rest…well let’s just hope the past stays in the past.”
 
She knew it was a flippant answer, but she was too weary to think about what could happen.

Gabriel’s silence worried Roseline.
 
What could he be thinking?
 
Had she been wrong about the way he felt for her?
 
Surely not.
 
The guy had just spent thousands of dollars trying to find her.
 
That had to count for something.

“What are you thinking?” Roseline whispered, too nervous to look at him.

Blowing out a breath, Gabriel shook his head.
 
“I’m not really sure.
 
A part of me keeps waiting for you to change your mind.”

“I won’t,” Roseline promised, biting down on her lip.
 
“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Gabriel asked, glancing at her as he eased over to the side of the road.
 
Roseline recognized it.
 
They were only a block from his house.

Roseline sighed and shifted towards him, finally letting him see the tears streaming down her face.
 
“Because I’m bound to you.”

Gabriel stretched out his hand and gently brushed back a stray hair from Roseline’s face, the golden highlights shimmering under the street light glowing overhead.
 
His hand paused, gently cupping her cheek.
 
“That’s the way I feel too,” he whispered.
 
Roseline leaned into his hand, closing her eyes, enjoying his warmth.
 
It wasn’t the same searing blaze she was used to.
 
This was tender…loving.

“I shouldn’t let this happen,” Roseline muttered, holding his hand to her, refusing to let him pull back.
 
“But I’m not strong enough to resist you any more.”

“So this is what you want?
 
To be with me?”
 
Gabriel asked, his hope shining through his words.

Roseline nodded, pulling Gabriel’s hand away from her face.
 
She softly brushed her lips against each of his knuckles before releasing him.
 
“Yes.
 
I want that…but I need time.
 
And I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” Gabriel whispered, staring down at his tingling hand.
 
He knew he’d promise anything to this girl.
 
His heart.
 
His life.
 
His soul.

“If something were to happen to me…” Roseline’s voice cracked as she turned away.
 
“Please don’t come after me.
 
I couldn’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.”

Gabriel shook his head.
 
“I came for you this time Rose.
 
I will always come for you.”

His altered promise ignited a fire in Roseline’s gut.
 
Never before had anyone spoken those words with such fathomless love.
 
Roseline knew he meant it.
 
Gabriel would move heaven and earth to find her.
 
Roseline smiled warmly, her voice soft and caressing as she spoke.
 
“I know.
 
But I had to try.”

Gabriel leaned across the console.
 
He stopped a nose length from her, eyes locking intently on her.
 
“I won’t let anything happen to you Rose.
 
Now that I’ve found you I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

Roseline desperately wanted to believe him.
 
She knew he believed every word, but the reality was that Gabriel would never stand a chance against
Vladimir
.
 
“I should probably get home.”

“You want some company?
 
Your mom might be pretty ticked.”

“No.
 
She’s away for work.
 
I doubt she even realized I was missing.”
 
Roseline hated to carry on the lie with him.
 
Roseline felt guilt burrow into her heart, knowing that she couldn’t be completely honest with Gabriel.
 
She wanted him to know the good, the bad and the impossible.
 
But she couldn’t do that to him.
 
Gabriel was happy with the way things were and Roseline didn’t want to risk scaring him off.

“Lucky you,” Gabriel smirked as he turned down his street.
 
“My dad’s gonna be furious when he sees me!”

Roseline reached out and squeezed Gabriel’s arm.
 
“You’ll be fine.
 
Me…I’m not so sure about,” she groaned, watching Sadie barrel out her front door as the Range Rover pulled into the driveway.
 
“I think she’s gonna kill me.”

***

As odd as it might sound, Roseline was thrilled when Sadie refused to speak to her after their initial reunion.
 
She’d decided the only fitting punishment for abandoning her without so much as a phone call was to implement the cold shoulder tactic.
 
Roseline walked silently beside her friend, trying desperately to hide her smile.
 
It felt so good to have a friend who cared enough for her to be that put out!

It was Friday afternoon and they’d been let out of school early in anticipation for that night’s state game.
 
Roseline was a ball of nerves, excited and leery all at the same time.
 

“I know you’re not talking to me right now, but I was kinda wondering if you were still planning on heading to the game tonight.”
 
It was all Sadie had talked about before Roseline ran off.
 

“Of course I’m going!” Sadie cried, breaking her vow of silence.
 
“How could you even think I’d miss the biggest game of the year?”

Roseline smiled, letting her eyes linger over Sadie’s newest theme.
 
Her hair was dyed black and styled beautifully.
 
Her bangs lay softly across her forehead while the back of her hair fell straight.
 
Gone were the raccoon eyes, spiked jewelry and flaming pink hair.
 
Her dress was crimson, which made her ivory skin glow beautifully.
 
Small white gold hoops hung from her ear lobes and a dainty necklace nestled against the hollow of her neck.
 

She’d never seen Sadie look so good.
 
There was a softness about her that was betrayed the instant Sadie opened her mouth.
 
“Don’t tell me you’re backing out on me now!” Sadie pulled Roseline to the side as a group of rowdy football players rushed by, on their way to the pep rally that would be starting any moment.

Bright posters of varying neon shades lined the hall, announcing the highly anticipated victory.
 
It’d been nearly twenty years since Rosewood had won a state championship and everyone was psyched.
 
Even the teachers had gone easy on the workload for that weekend.

“The bus leaves in an hour and you’re not even ready!” Sadie moaned, looking at Roseline’s sapphire blue sweater and jeans.
 
Rosewood’s school colors were black and red, which Roseline was pretty sure had inspired Sadie’s new look.
 
“Where’s your school spirit?”
 

“Right here,” a voice called from behind Roseline.
 
Before she could react, Gabriel wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and drew her close.
 
Roseline couldn’t help but laugh.
 
She’d warned him earlier in the week that they should take things slow but sometimes he got too excited.
 

“Put me down,” Roseline giggled, batting at him playfully.
 
Gabriel winced, instantly releasing her.
 
“Are you ok?”

Gabriel nodded, gingerly rubbing his arm.
 
“Yeah.
 
I’ve been aching a bit the past couple days.
 
Hope I’m not coming down with something.”

“Did you pull a muscle in practice?”
 

“Nah.
 
It’s all over.
 
Kinda flu like, ya know?
 
But I’ll be fine knowing you’re watching me,” he grinned, pinching her side.

Sadie rolled her eyes.
 
She wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of them pursuing a relationship together, especially since she suspected Gabriel was the reason for Roseline’s sudden disappearance.
 
It was a fact that she made perfectly clear anytime he was around.
 
“Shouldn’t you be at the rally?