THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 32 - CHOSEN FAMILY

GABRIEL

She walked towards me and took the other side of the table.

    -Let me help you… I know how it is to recover from an accident.

I looked at her. Her eyes didn’t have pity on them, they looked more concerned… or sad?

    -I have seen many good people lose their way while recovering from an accident.

I just looked at her, her voice sounded sad and melancholic.

    -Your family?

She looked surprised at my question and smiled.

    -Yes. Well, at least they are the family I choose. 

    -You choose your family?

    -Yes and no… I grew up with some of them and with some others, I just connected more with them.

    -Just because you grew up with them or you connected with them they don’t become your family.

    -I think they do, you are there for them, they are there for you… They become your family.

    -I don’t think that’s how it works.

    -Yes! It is! you love someone so much they become your sisters or brothers…

    -I hate my brother sometimes…

    -You have a brother?

Damn, I didn’t know why I said that… I didn’t hate Sam… but the situation and all… F*CK the cover-up! The twins are supposed to be my brothers!

    -Well I have two brothers twins, but one is more annoying.

    -I would love to see them? two more Gabriels… I don’t know if the world can handle that.

    -They are nothing like me…

    -I don’t believe that... They should probably be like you… Especially the one that you say is more annoying… He must be just like you.

    -Believe me, he is not.

    -How old are they?

    -They are 18… or 19….

    -You are a bad big brother! How you don’t know the age of your brothers?

    -It’s confusing and I’m not that good with not important dates.

    -Not important? Wow… Well, how old were you when they were born?

Okay… Should I tell the truth? Is it normal for humans to be 15 years older than their siblings? Do I look my age for a human? How old is she? I need to change the subject now.

    -Why are you so curious about my family? Are you planning on meeting them?

I looked at her answer, if she was planning to meet them I should prepare them more for the cover-up and give a heads up to the coalition… Pack? Pride? I didn’t even know what we were now… No wolves so not a pack… Well, we had two but no wolves… No female lions so not a pride… just three male lions so we were now a coalition? I was flying away in my thoughts. I remembered that Crystal hadn’t answered my question, was she planning to meet me… Whatever we were now.

    -So?

I asked, she looked at me and blushed.

    -Let’s just focus on closing the store.

I sighed a bit, I was relieved I wasn’t sure the twins could behave.

    -I will see you tomorrow Gabriel.

She then closed the door and started walking. I was tired, more tired than ever. I walked home. I couldn’t see the stars… The scents of food and trash were the only thing I smelled. It was strange. I closed my eyes, and apart from the traffic and my own thoughts nothing. I felt lonely… I heard a motor approaching. I open my eyes and saw a light getting closer to me by the second. I just covered my eyes and then I heard skidding tires.

    -Are you alright Gabriel?

I opened my eyes and saw Dan on a motorcycle.

    -What are you doing Daniel?

    -I’m just finishing a delivery, heading back to the store…

    -This late at night?

    -People love their pizza at night, and the best tips come from hungry and tired clients.

He said with a big smile.

    -Come hop on the bike, I will check out, and then we both can walk home.

    -Yes of course.

I hop on the motorcycle and he started driving. I hadn’t had a proper conversation with Daniel in a long time. It was always easier to communicate with David. Daniel is more… distant? When he was younger he was more talkative and curious but lately, he just minds his own business. We arrived at the store and the scent of pizza was so strong even I could smell it loud and clear. Daniel came out with some pizza boxes. 

    -We know what we are having for dinner.

He said smiling and lifting the pizzas. 

    -We all love pizza.

    -Yeah we do.

We started walking home with an awkward silence. Then he stopped walking and sat on a bench. I looked at him but he was looking at the floor. I sat near him. Then I heard my stomach growling and he passed me a slice of pizza.

    -Thanks.

He took one slice for him and started eating it. The awkward silence continued… apart from my chewing, no more noises were around us.

    -I wanted to thank you for…

I looked at him and he was still looking at the floor and playing with the pepperoni.

    -The other day you tried to help us… I knew it wasn’t a good idea but… Gur has been a handful lately. Before we were best friends and we played and joked together… It was easy and natural… but now he…

I saw him biting his lip. I knew something was bothering him. I tried to look at his eyes, and see if he was mind linking someone or if Gur was trying to take control, but I couldn’t sense anything in his eyes. “Zeus…” I forgot he wasn’t here.

    -He thinks of me as weak.. he thinks I can’t take my own decisions and that I rely too much on others… He is also not handling some of the wolves, or our dad lately… If Mom asks for something or another female is not a big deal, but any order from a male he just goes, berserker… I tried to tell him it wasn’t a good idea but he didn’t listen and just made me feel helpless and useless… I left my brother alone because of Gur. Right now he isn’t talking to me.

    -That doesn’t sound like Dave. He doesn't hold grudges...

    -Oh no… Dave can speak with a wall… He speaks while he sleeps and sometimes he screams and wakes me up… But no, Dave just got worried for me, Gur is the one that hasn’t been talking to me. I feel him and I know he is there but at the same time, I feel he doesn’t want to be here with me… I felt as if I didn't change and he would leave me… I am not enough for him.

    -Daniel you are…

    -I know I know. 

He said as he stood up.

    -But you don’t know how it feels to have someone in your head all the time… ALL THE TIME telling you that you aren’t enough! And it’s worse when that voice is from your brother, your other half and… It has grown with you but suddenly he grew faster and smarter and you are a useless child that can’t handle life!

    -Stop! saying that…

He kept rambling about how he was useless… 

    -You are not…

Why is he not hearing me?

    -Daniel…

I was feeling mad, sad, desperate… He is family! His father took care of my mom, my sister, and me… His mother is pure Aegean Moonblood and an awesome warrior… How can he be saying that… The worst part is I’m saying he is not useless, and he isn’t listening to me! I wouldn’t lie to him or even let him be here with me if he was useless… I was offended and mad about his attitude. I felt the heat on my body, then the sounds of people walking by intensified, the cars, some insects, and the scent of food and people. I stood up.

    -Hear me, Daniel…

I saw him turn around.

    -You are not useless, you are young, learning, and have a strong lion because you can manage him. You two are a team! If he doesn't get it, make him get it!

“So if you are ignoring me should I also make you get it?” I startled myself a bit. “Zeus?” “No, I’m Kygo… Of course, I’m Zeus.” “Wait I’m not ignoring you!” “Yes, you are Gabriel!” “You are the one that hasn't been…” Then the scent of blueberry and maple made me turn my head. Then I saw two huge bags and…

    -Crystal is that you?

She turned around startled.

    -Gabriel?

She walked towards us and I could see her clothes with stains and flour.

    -What happened to you?

    -Nothing I just went to buy some groceries.

    -What happened to your hair?

I looked at Daniel as he spoke and pointed at Crystal's messy and full of flour hair, I forgot he was there for a second. Crystal was looking at him and then she looked at me.

    -So he is your little brother?

    -No.

    -Yes.

I looked at Daniel. Why did he say no?

    -Yes I can see the similarities, he is definitely your little brother.

Daniel looked at me and I looked at him.

    -Well our hair is clean so yes we have that in common.

I glared at Daniel.

    -At least I don’t smell like a walking pizza.

Crystal said with a smirk.

    -Your loss pizza is delicious.

    -My new blueberry breakfast muffins are better than a pizza.

He rolled his eyes.

    -I doubt it. Zac’s Mom makes the best blueberry pancakes.

    -His Mom…

Crystal looked at me. Damn Daniel! He looked at me, he knew he screwed it. I need to think fast!

    -It’s complicated…

    -I understand, don’t worry.

    -But I insist, my new breakfast muffins are better than pizza… I will send you some tomorrow.

    -Then we will see.

    -Yes, well I need to keep going. Good night boys.

She started walking, and then I realized, her bags were huge!

    -Crystal let me help you, it looks heavy!

    -Don’t worry, they are full of bags of chips.

She said, raising the bags as if they weight nothing.

    -That’s a lot of chips.

Daniel said walking towards her, then he looked into the bags.

    -Those are really spicy…

    -Yes they are.

Crystal said while she started walking. Daniel looked at me and gave me a strange look.

    -I need to go back, night boys.

    -It’s still dangerous for a girl to walk at night.

Crystal turned around and looked at Daniel.

    -You are indeed Gabriel’s brother… I have been living here for a long time now, I think I can manage.

She turned around and started walking away.

    -She is nuts Gabriel.

    -What? Why?

    -Those chips are spicy…  like hell spicy.

    -And?

    -That chips can destroy your stomach.

    -I don’t know… Never try them.

    -Really? Then you most!

He then ran like a chicken without a head and left me standing there. “That was… Something.” “And you were not the one in the middle of it.” “No, but I was dealing with Gur… He is indeed getting out of hand… If this keeps going like this we are going to fight him.”