The unknown, the unsaid

Getting to know her

Gabriel had his 4th jagerbomb as his friends cheered him on. He was not one to back off from a challenge. The night was turning out well, he had finally met the mysterious Irina and had gotten to know her pretty well. She wasnt unfriendly, just more reserved than most people and Gabriel didnt mind. He was super talkative and didnt mind taking the initiative to get her to talk to him.

Other than that the party was great, the music was good, and the girls were hot. He patted his friend on the back and told him that he'd be right back.

Gabriel walked over to Luke and asked him where the restroom was. Luke rolled his eyes at him and proceed to lead him to the stairs towards Leah's bedroom.

Luke was Gabriel's step brother and a year older than him. Back in the day they wouldnt get along at all but eventually when Gabriel's mother married Luke Dad and they had to all move in together they had no choice but to start putting up with each other. He had moved into Luke's house 2 years ago to be exact.

Gabriel turned the knob to the bathroom but it wouldnt budge. The 3 girls sitting on Leah's bed informed him that there was a queue and they had been waiting since 15 minutes to use the restroom but whoever was inside wasnt coming out.

Gabriel knocked on the door a couple of times and when there was no answer for 5 minutes Luke decide to bust the door open just in case anyone in there needed help. As they got in they found Irina unconscious on the floor. Gabriel rushed towards her and tried to shake her awake but she was unresponsive.

Luke filled some water in his hands and splashed it on her face and her eyes finally fluttered open. Her gaze met Gabriel's who had her in his arms, her torso on his lap. Her gaze was steady and she didnt look drunk contrary to what everyone suspected.

She sat upright and asked what had happened. when Gabriel and Luke explained everything to her she looked pained and tired and said that she would just head home.

"Let me drop you, Irina" Luke insisted

" No, please. You should stay here. I just need some fresh air and would prefer to walk back home really." Irina said.

Gabriel jumped at the opportunity to walk her home. He didnt have a car and was free. After much deliberation and much to Luke's chagrin Irina and Gabriel slipped out of the party.

Their houses were a 20 minute walk away from Leah's and Gabriel would be lying had he said he wasnt thrilled to get to spend more time with Irina. He was intrigued by her. He looked over at her petite frame and noticed she was shivering underneath. He wrapped his coat around her against her protests and they walked down the foggy path at 1 a.m at night.

He told her about his life. How he had to uproot his life 2 years ago so that his mother could move in with Luke's father, how he had finally settled down and made friends in this town. He told her about his plans to one day join the Navy SEALs against his mothers wishes. He found it easy to talk to her and she listened to him with genuine interest.

"I'm surprised it took us this long to meet Irina" he told her

She smiled back at him. He asked her about his life. She had lived alone with her father since she was 4 and hadn't travelled much expect to the hills. It was where her mother was from and before her mothers death they would always vacation at her old house out there during the summer. When her mother passed away her father and her decided to keep the tradition alive and continued to go there.

Gabriel told her that he would love to see the hills sometimes since he had never been there but as he said that he saw Irinas face darken. She told him that they didnt go there anymore, it had been 2 years since their last visit.