The Bodyguard

Chapter 26 - Jealousy

Monday’s lectures are ok, I always have double history of art which I enjoy the least because there’s no practical. We’re covering pre-raphaelite paintings though, which I love because their red hair and pale skin are something I can relate to. The fact these women are considered beautiful in this time gives me hope, I can relate far more to them than the movie stars and models today with their fake everything and tanned skin.

After classes I head to work for a long shift, it’s just me and Sandy today because Mr Smith is on holiday and Jordan only helps at weekends.  Sandy is being extra nice to me, which makes me suspicious.

“I noticed you speaking to a very handsome man on Saturday. I know he wasn’t a customer because he didn’t buy anything.”

She doesn’t give up does she? I’m actually not sure who she means because both Jason and Gabriel visited me at work on Saturday, but I have a feeling she means Gabriel. He’s hard not to notice.

“I’m not sure who you mean,” I reply honestly.

“He was smartly dressed and had a very powerful presence. He looked like he was a businessman, though he was dressed quite casually.”

Definitely Gabriel

“I’m still not sure who you mean Sandy, it was really busy on Saturday,” I say innocently.

“I think Jordan was a bit jealous.”

I try my hardest not to roll my eyes.

“I really don’t think he was Sandy, we hardly know each other and we have never seen one another outside of work.”  I say with a harsher tone than I intended, but right now she needs to back off and if being a bit rude helps with that then I can deal with it.

She gives up and walks off to the office in a bit of a huff. She doesn’t like people not playing along with her games.

The rest of the shift is uneventful thankfully and I’m relieved when I finish. I grab my bag and head out the door.

I stop in shock when I see Jason standing outside waiting for me.

“What do you want?” I ask him grumpily.

“I just wanted to walk you home and talk.”

“I’m walking home, you can do what you like, but I’m not talking to you.”

“Fine. I’ll just walk in the same direction and I’ll do the talking, you don’t need to respond if you don’t want to.”

I ignore him and carry on walking, but he’s right beside me.

“I am worried about you Kristen,” he tells me.

“Why?” I ask confused. “I’m fine, you can see that I’m ok and happy so worry about someone who wants and needs your concern.”

“It’s that guy I saw you leave with after work on Saturday, Gabriel Parker.”

I realise I didn't know Gabriel's surname until now.  Kristen Parker...  Wait, what?!  Jason knows his name and was watching me when I left work with Gabriel. That’s creepy!

“Gabriel is my boyfriend,” I say confidently.

Gabriel called me his girlfriend so I feel ok saying he’s my boyfriend now.

“Boyfriend? You’ve known him a couple of weeks at the most, unless you were cheating on me and I don't think that's your style.  He's too old for you anyway.”

“Gabriel is mature enough to know what he wants and treats me well. He’d never go behind my back like some people.”

“He’s dangerous Kristen.” His brow furrows and his stare is serious.

I laugh.

“Yes Gabriel looks dangerous, but honestly he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met!”

“He threatened me!”

“Wow! Are you actually doing this?”

“Doing what?” He asks confused.

“Acting like the jealous ex when it was you who broke us up. I’ve moved on Jason, deal with it.”

“He saw me grab your arm in the shop and threatened to kill me!”

Shit. So Gabriel did see the exchange between Jason and I on Saturday. He didn’t mention it.

“You are not safe with him love,” he says softly.

“You don’t get to call me that now,” I retort. “I’m safer with Gabriel than anyone. He’s a bodyguard for god’s sake, his job is to protect people!  He was probably just pissed because you grabbed me and he thought you were hurting me.”

“He works with Zach Thomas! That guy is dodgy as f**k! Anyone associated with him is not a good person. Plus Gabriel seems to have an awful lot of money for a bodyguard!”

Zach Thomas? I don’t know a Zach Thomas. Could it be Zach from the party? He obviously has some enemies if he needs security to have a party, but Gabriel was just there to make sure everyone was safe. This is clearly a misunderstanding.  Also, how does Jason know so much about him, has he been stalking us both?

“I don’t know who Zach Thomas is, but Gabriel is a good man and his family have money so why wouldn’t he have nice things. How do you know so much about him anyway, are you stalking us like a total creep? You are just jealous and bitter because I’ve moved on and I’m happy rather than pining over you.  Gabriel is kind and caring and makes me feel like the most important person in the world. He cares about me deeply and I can’t wait to see him at the weekend. We’re going to his place in the country again and I'm counting the days until I see him again.”  I'm surprised at myself giving him this much detail, but it just spills out of my mouth. 

“Oh dear god!” he gasps in shock.

“What?! Does the truth hurt?”

“You’re in love with him.” He says quietly

“What?!” I’m surprised by that. He said it as statement, not a question or even a dig.

“You’ve fallen for him already haven’t you.”

No I haven't, have I?! I hadn’t considered it, but he’s all I think about and I long to be with him when I’m not.  People don't fall in love that quickly, it's just his presence is so strong it's hard not to notice when he's not around I reassure myself.

“It’s none of your business Jason,” I reply quickly before I say something I may regret.

“I care Kristen. If you’re not with me then at least be safe.”

“I am safe Jason, just leave me and him alone.”

“Please be careful Kristen!” He shouts after me as I start to run away from him.

I run and don’t stop until I’m home, I run straight upstairs and shut my bedroom door.

Jason is behaving like such a jealous i***t and I just wish he’d get the message and leave me alone.

I undress and climb into bed I reply to Gabriel’s text wishing me a good sleep and lie there pondering Jason’s words. Am I in love with Gabriel?

Whatever this is it’s intense and he’d break my heart if he ended it. Is that what love is? I try to analyse my feelings, but I’m not sure. Perhaps it will be clearer when I see him again on Saturday.

If I have fallen for him, does he feel the same? Should I tell him how I feel? It's way too soon for that and I don't want to seem desperate or needy.  I decide to see how I feel when I see him on Saturday. I should probably keep these thoughts to myself though.