Welcome to Gaia! ::

((WHAT'S THIS?!?!?! MY LADEH HAS A MAN?! WHAT!!!!! YOU! CHEATER! CHEATER! AHHHH

No but seriously! I never knew this! That's awesome! UGH I WANT. I WANT A MAN! I WANT.

I'm so sad. Haha. I crave a man.

And I got plans for Abel now. Haha. I am watching The Proposal now with Binh. It's HILARIOUS.))

Abel enjoyed the walk home. It was nice. Even though it was quiet, he simply liked walking with Talen and Leah, looking around at the scenery. Every so often he'd comment on something or he'd look over at Leah when she'd bump into him. He'd apologize and then look away again, unsure how to respond to her nerves.

When they finally got to Leah's building, Abel looked up and then to Leah. "Huh?" He asked when he only got the last part of her sentence. "Oh...you sure?" He said. His light blue eyes shifted to Talen and when he looked back at Leah she was already starting to head away.

"Uh...uh hey! Wait!" He said. He slightly tripped but steadied himself. He grabbed her shoulder and held her back gently. "Hey...hold on." He smiled breathlessly and then took his hand from her shoulder. "I just wanted to say...I'm sorry. You know, for when...you...I was just a little stand-offish to you all day. I know I was. It's just kind of a strange time for me. It's a really long story, and if I told you you would NEVER even believe me. Trust me. Talen would agree. I'm surprised he still believes me sometimes. And." He took a breath, his words were quickened and fast like he was trying to say his last words before never seeing someone again, like someone was about to snatch him away. His hands wrung together and he shifted his gaze. "And I'm just sorry. I don't MEAN to be cold. I really don't WANT to be cold. I don't realize I am doing it. You just make me kind of nervous, usually I'm not like this. Talen can vouch for that. Normally girls don't bother me like you. Not that you BOTHER me, you're a really wonderful girl. Really. But you...I don't know. I just have a lot inside of me a lot and a lot of things happening and a lot of problems and so many people that I have to deal with and wow I'm just telling you so many things that I really haven't said at all to anyone and I don't know WHY I am saying it." He laughed a little. "I'm just going crazy right now!"

He took a large breath and suddenly stared at her, his eyes seemed to glow just slightly. He lifted his hands and grabbed her shoulders again, let go of them, then put his hands back once more. "I'm sorry!" Without a thought going through his head he leaned in quickly and planted his lips against hers. He stayed there for a while, his mind blank, all he knew was it felt good. Finally reason kicked in and he pushed her away, turned, and headed off quickly.

"Talen it's cold! I'm cold! It's snowing and it's going to get icy. I don't want to slip and break my neck. I don't want YOU to slip and break your neck! You aren't meant to die young like some people. You were meant to be old and wrinkly. Let's go and hurry before Mei throws up and drowns in it."

((Hahahahahahaha. AHHHHHH. You know how he was talking fast? I was TYPING fast...like that made it more effective or something! WHEEEEEEE. Hahaha he's a CRAZY person. Who knew he was so impulsive?!))

Gabriel stood calmly as James spoke angrily at him. He didn't say a word. He knew James needed to get it out, tell him his mind. If there was anything he knew, he knew that. He had a good amount of time under his belt knowing how to read people and how to handle situations. He just hoped this was the right thing to do.

When James left into the house, Gabriel let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead, a scowl coming to his face for the first time. It was difficult, watching something he could so easily have, and something he wanted so badly, slip through his fingers. There had been a minute when David had asked him if he loved Alice that the thought of just telling her he loved her and telling her that he could easily take care of them, crossed his mind. At that minute he had wanted nothing else than to do it.

But he had told James the truth. He wasn't going to control Alice, or take her away. He wasn't right for her. Maybe he could have been, but he hadn't been given that chance. He never had the chance to get what James or Alice had. He hadn't even been given a life, not the kind that Alice and James had, or even the kind Abel had.

Slowly he got into his car, his eyes especially wet. Putting on his sunglasses, despite it being nighttime, he started the car and pulled out of the driveway. He wished it had been raining, not snowing, so he could have a better excuse to give to himself then he was allergic to snow.

((Awww...haha. He's so sweet...))

((Hahaha yeah he was pretty...and good. Hahaha. Not pretty good. But pretty and good. YEUP! Oh and I was able to change my schedule for my studio classes. I have on at 8 am and another at 11:00...they're back to back. But at least now I don't have to go late at night and risk getting raped on my way back to my dorm.

It's funny cause just today I got an e-mail to my student account that said there was an armed robbery a few streets away. Hahaha. Lucky I got my schedule changed! An innocent young white girl like me out on the streets alone in Atlanta after dark! DANGEROUS. And I mean dangerous to OTHERS. > biggrin Glad I restricted myself.))

Abel wasn't stopping when Talen called out at him. He just stared ahead with a determined, scrunched up face, hands at his sides, and legs moving quickly. It was only when he felt Talen elbow him did he slow slightly and looked over, his scrunched face loosened.

"What? What was what? I have NO idea what you're talking about!" He said, strangely believable. "You're imagining things. Don't accuse me of things I didn't do. I didn't kiss her." He looked away, stopped, and looked back at Talen. He grabbed his friend's shoulder and shook him a little.

"I DID! This is terrible, Talen! My lord. What have I done?! I was telling myself not to do anything to even put it into her innocent mind that I even remotely liked her more than a friend." He shook Talen again and then let go, rubbing his hair vigorously, making it fluff up. "I'm horrible, terrible, rotten. What am I doing? I am not even over... I can't do this! I'm no where close to being ready for something like this, I can't do this to her. I don't know what I am doing." As he spoke, his accent became more prominent and he took a step away, then back to Talen, staring at him.

"I didn't kiss her." He said, as if demanding Talen to tell him that. "I think if I hadn't kissed her...which I DIDN'T...I would have just told her everything. My mind was just...it was being so..." He rubbed his head again. "I never kissed her. Never. I didn't, Talen." He narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at him. "Didn't." He then stopped talking and started to walk.

A few minutes passed and he turned his head to look at Talen once again. "Oh." He frowned with concern and slowed his pace. "I told myself I'd ask you this. I don't care. I mean look what I just did. I've got nothing to lose anymore. And if you try to ask me things too, I don't care anymore. I just want to know. You're my closest friend...ever. So I feel it's my place to ask." He took a little breath, realizing he was talking too much, trying to justify to himself it was okay to ask. "I don't want to invade..."

"Talen...I don't know anything about you. And I figured if there was ONE question. ONE. I'd ask this one. I've gotten clues and stuff from others and I want to hear it from your mouth." His eyes darkened, a worried look in them, but they were also gentle and understanding, something that only he seemed able to do. "What happened to your parents? I mean...I know you told me about your mom. But you never told me about your dad. I never hear you even mention him. I know I'm treading where maybe you don't want me to...I of ALL people understand that. But I want to know. Please...I think...maybe...I know what you went through...as a kid..."

((Haha oh PLEASE. Who cares about Gabriel any who?! Hahahaha. I do! Yeah he needs hugs, but he doesn't want to accept any. He's a MAN. A MAN I SAY...HE SAY.))

((UGH I need to go to bed too. Shoot. I gotta wake up at 6:30. NOOOOO. It's like high school all over again!!!! WhHHYHEJRHSLKJMFDS.))

Abel listened to Talen quietly. Half way through, he turned his head and looked ahead of him. Everything he suspected was right. When Talen asked if his father was like that. He looked back and shook his head. "Somewhat, but unlike your father, he didn't leave, and my mother didn't die or anything or was sick. There were a lot of times I wanted him to leave though. Lot of times I wanted my mom to leave too. So that's not saying much." He laughed it off and then frowned at Talen's next comment.

"I wasn't changing any subject. I truly wanted to know." He let out a sigh and screw his nose slightly. "I don't know." He looked down at his feet. "I've never loved anyone but one person. I loved her. And that was a big deal for me when I was alive. And even after...like...more than a hundred years I think...I still think about her. I still hurt in my heart where she once belonged." He smiled down to the ground. "I sound crazy. You probably wonder why I'm always so sad when being where I am and being given such a wonderful gift and so many fantastic opportunities in this life I have now should make me happy and forget any bad stuff. But I don't want to forget it. Amongst all that bad stuff, my parents, my life in general...I had her..."

He finally looked up, eyes moist, but that smile on his lips. The smile that was obviously trying to mask any type of negativity. "I shouldn't have kissed Leah. I don't want her to have to handle all of this stuff I have on my shoulders. No one deserves that. I don't want her to be in danger all the time, or have me giving her half of what I once had. I gave that girl who I loved...all of me... I want someone to do that for Leah, to give all of themselves to her. I can't do that for her."

He looked to the side, a hand moving through his hair again, his eyes looking at nothing in particular. "I like Leah...I wish I had all of myself back so I could give that to her, make her the happiest she could be, protect her, and be there for her. She deserves weightless shoulders. And that's something I have no idea how to give."

Nodding, he turned and started to walk. "My mouth is dry, I don't want to talk anymore. Let's get back to Mei..." His lips pulled tightly together and he tilted his head down. Talking about this made him feel sick to his stomach.

((D'awwww. Now I GET TO SLEEP.))

((Yay! Haha I fell asleep SO FAST last night. I was so exhausted from such a busy day! And I slept in, even though I was supposed to take a friend to Binders (an art store). I ended up waking up at 12:40 something from her texting me. Haha. At least I got my sleep!))

When Abel had gotten back to Mei's house, he felt some relief. It seemed more calm and quiet now that nearly everyone was gone. He said goodnight to Talen and headed towards the guest room. Before he got there he heard the front door open and close. The three dogs skittered out into the hall and Abel followed after them. He watched Gabriel pat the dogs after throwing bags onto the floor.

"Oh...I forgot those. Thank you, Gabriel." He said and headed to grab some. "Uh we can put them in my room I guess." He spoke quietly, so as to not disturb Talen and Mei. Gabriel followed after Abel, the dogs following both of them. After Abel put everything away he and Gabriel ended up talking for nearly an hour about a range of different things.

Once Gabriel had left, Abel immediately fell asleep.

In the morning, Abel woke up before anyone else, as was the case for almost every day. His wings had come out during his sleep. Because it was only him, Talen, and Mei in the house, he decided to keep them out, knowing he'd get antsy again with them in. As he sat up in bed he looked out his window, the sun just starting to rise. It was his birthday.

And like every birthday he ever experienced, he felt sick. His stomach was heavy and his forehead felt hot. Or at least, he felt that it was. He had a fever, he was sure. He quickly went over to the door, and locked it. With a groan he fell back into bed, on his stomach, with his wings spread out and nearly taking up the whole of the small room.

Two hours later, Mei stirred in her bed. She felt terrible. Her head hurt and she wanted to die...again. She opened her eyes and turned over to find Talen beside her. Despite being hung over, his presence brought a smile to her face and a warm feeling in her chest. She wiggled closed to him and put her head onto his chest. One of her hands rubbed his stomach while the other rubbed her eyes.

It surprised her not to hear anything outside of the room. Abel should have been up doing something. Cleaning, cooking...walking the dogs...something. It then dawned on her that today was his birthday, her stomach sank and she frowned. She bet he was lying in bed, door locked, and covered up by his covers. Letting out a soft sigh she put her head back against Talen, wondering if she should get up and try to get Abel...or sit here, next to Talen. The latter part was what she really wanted to do the most. But she knew the first part was what SHOULD be done.

Maybe she'd wait for Talen to get up and get Abel. The angel would probably listen to Talen anyways.

Mei looked up as Talen spoke and she nodded just barely. "I guess. If being hungover is feeling better." She murmured. Smiling she closed her eyes again. Maybe a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. She let out a breath and felt herself start to drift away again. She woke back up when Talen kissed her forehead and moved. She made a noise of protest, moving to try to drag him back into bed. "Nooooo." She groaned and then flopped tiredly.

She watched him look over the bed at her and she pouted. Her eyes shifted to the door then back at Talen. "In his room. Pretty sure anyways. He likes to pretend he's got a horrible disease or sickness on his birthday so people won't bother him. Last year I'm pretty sure he had leprosy." She scratched her head, hair getting more tangled and messy.

"I was thinking of going to get him...but I think you should. Maybe he'll be less sick if you get him instead. If I did I bet he'll have the black plague. Maybe he'll only have the flu if you get him." She smiled a little and pushed herself into a sitting position. "I think I need to brush my teeth."

Mei laughed a little as she watched him spin around and look for his pants. "Who needs 'em?" She asked. Her eyes narrowed at his mention of her smelling terrible. But she was quickly sidetracked by his kiss. She smiled at him. "Fine fine...if I smell THAT terrible." She mumbled, starting to get out of bed and find some clothes. After that she quickly went into the bathroom to freshen up.

Abel could hear Talen coming before he even opened the door. He quickly burried his face into his pillow and tried to cover himself up, wings and all. When he heard the door open he curled up slightly, wings folding so that they covered part of his head. He mumbled something into the pillow as Talen jumped onto the bed. Shaking his head against the pillow, still not taking his face away of it he groaned.

Finally he lifted his head just enough to be able to audibly talk. "I feel sick." He complained like a kid not wanting to go to school. "I have a fever, my stomach hurts, and I'm pretty sure I'm breaking out into hives." He lifted an arm to his face and examined them. "Yeah...there are definite bumps..." He decided, though really there weren't any, except for scars.

"I might be contagious, you should leave before you catch it. I wouldn't want you to die because of my ailment." He briefly glanced up at Talen then threw his face back into the pillow.

((Ahahaha. How silly.))

((A CUTE baby...hahahaha.))

Abel groaned when Talen messed up his hair and he shifted slightly. As Talen lifted his arm, Abel just barely looked up and over at him, only one side of his face visible. But once his friend began to poke him everywhere he squirmed and let out fits of laughter. He moved his arms around trying to grab Talen and push him away but he was laughing too hard to be able to move precisely.

Finally when Talen stopped he let out a deep breath and rubbed tears from his eyes. He watched Talen with a curious eye when he folded his wing. As the man yelled and moved away Abel stared at him. He yawned and shrugged a little.

"I told you...I have a contagious disease..." He said simply, sitting up in his bed and watching Talen with amusement. With a smile he pat Talen's head and nodded. "It's okay. I forgive you for not seeing the signs. This disease...it just sneaks up on you. Just know, I want to be cremated." He let go and stretched out his arms.

"You should have been an actor." Was his response to Talen's antics. Then he let out a heavy sigh and scratched his shoulder. "I guess I should get up...otherwise you'll probably break something by jumping around like a loony..." He pushed the blankets off and moved his legs over the edge of the bed. "Does Mei feel better?"

Abel shook his head at Talen's antics. "I've got a dry sense of humor. Not a lot of people get it." He replied, frowning a little. When Talen left the room, Abel rubbed his head and looked to the bags on the floor. If he didn't get out of his room he knew Talen would come back in and drag him out physically. So instead, he got up and went to putting on some clothes he felt were suitable to the day.

When he came out of his room he had dark jeans on and was in the process of pulling a black sweater over his head. He bumped into the table as Zeus ran up to him and started to rub against his legs and pushed his muzzle into the angel's stomach. Abel snorted and pushed his head through the neck of the shirt. "Stop that, Zeus...it tickles." Zeus promptly stopped and sat down, mouth open and watching Abel.

Abel looked to Talen and then rubbed Zeus's head. "Uhhhh...I really don't want to do anything today...I'll just stay here. You know...relax. Yesterday was busy. I'm tired."

"I'm sick." He said again, putting in a cough for good measure of his statement.