Fic: You're one big sugar rush (I've always dreamt that I'd be your favorite) [13/14]
Title:‘You're one big sugar rush (I've always dreamt that I'd be your favorite)’ [13/14]
Author: jen_jm
Pairing: Gabe/William, Butcher/Sisky, Ryland/Vicky-T, Alex/Nate vs Alex/Tom, others minor pairings.
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word count: 80,000 total words
Warnings: Upper East Siders AU (it needed a name, didn’t it?), but this is NOT a Gossip Girl AU.
POV: third
Disclaimer: Completely not true. I doubt Gabe can actually write softwares, anyway. It’s all fiction.
Author’s Notes: title from Cash Cash’s ‘Sugar Rush’ and Cobra Starship’s ‘The scene is dead - Long live the scene’
As ever, feel free to report any mistake. Constructive criticism is welcome, feedback makes me happy!
Summary:“Can I offer you a coffee, then?” Gabe tried once again, not too hopeful, but to his surprise, the singer didn’t flip him off.
“Why?” William asked, genuinely curious about all that interest.
“Because,” Gabe just said, shrugging a little, but at the boy’s stubborn look, he gave in and smiled. “I like your voice.” - Gabe Saporta is a rich 26 years old computer nerd who lives in the Upper East Side. William Beckett is a broke 22 years old musician who works as a bartender and lives with his best friend in Brooklyn. When they meet in the subway where William is playing their worlds collide in more ways than one.
Crossposted
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || Chapter 12
Chapter 13 - The one with the big big mess
The following night
“No, I don’t care how many times you already called him,” Vicky said and her hand tightened around the telephone. “Call him again and tell him the shrimp salad has to be in the menu,” she paused again and listened to the guy on the other end, while Leighton watched her, amused. “Put the damn salad in, or my next call will be for a new catering service,” she stopped and sighed in exasperation. “Thank you.” Vicky put down the phone after that and growled, annoyed.
“When I get married, I’ll let someone else manage the catering,” Leighton declared, smirking.
“Smart move,” Vicky agreed and sat down on the couch as well. “I’m the bride, I can demand anything I want in the menu, no matter what that moron says.”
“How’s the rest going?” Leighton reached for their drinks and handed the girl one.
“Well, Butcher is working on the paintings, they’re gonna be ready just in time,” Vicky explained with a much more relaxed tone. “The dress needs the last few adjustments, but we’ll have to wait until April for that,” she paused, thinking about what she still had to do. “Ryland sent the invitations last week and the location is reserved.”
“You’re pretty much done,” Leighton pointed out, cheerful.
“No, darling, I need the bridesmaid,” Vicky replied, smiling widely. “Care to do something about that?”
“Seriously?” Leighton’s eyes widened and she stared at her friend, who just nodded. “Count me completely in, I’m gonna be the best bridesmaid in the history of weddings.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re right about that,” Vicky agreed and brought her legs up on the couch to find a more comfortable position. “So, bridesmaid, ready for the movie?”
“What did you pick?” Leighton reached for the Blockbuster DVD case, but when she read the title, The Haunting of Sorority Row, she turned to look at her friend, unbelieving. “Oh, c’mon!”
Vicky just laughed and reached for the remote, then pressed play. “Hey, you’re the one who said this movie is ridiculous, which you shouldn’t say about your own movies, it’s unethical.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes you just can’t avoid it,” Leighton pointed out, shaking her head. “I mean, everyone in the business regrets doing at least one movie,” she added with a solemn nod. “Look at Kristen Stewart, I don’t think she’s all that proud.”
“C’mon, Twilight is not that bad,” Vicky objected, but she didn’t sound too convinced. “I mean, maybe a little too emo, but there’s worse.”
“Like what?” Leighton arched an eyebrow at her, skeptical.
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, where’s the plot in that thing?” Vicky took a short sip from her drink, then spoke again. “Seriously, if Sean Connery died next month, that would be his last movie. How sad is that?”
“Very,” Leighton admitted, a little disturbed. “I still can’t believe he was part of that thing.”
“Well, enough with the commiserating, let’s watch this bad movie,” Vicky declared and raised her glass for a toast and the other girl immediately did the same.
“Well, compared to those two, it’s not even that terrible,” Leighton pointed out, then sipped from her drink.
“See? There’s always something worse,” Vicky said, then retrieved a blanket for them from the nearby armchair. Right then the phone rang again and she glared at it. “I swear, if it’s that moron again, I’m gonna choke him with the damn shrimps,” she announced as she answered, while Leighton pressed the pause button, snickering. “Hey, Bill!”
“Should I be worried about the shrimps?” William asked with a slightly worried tone.
“No, don’t worry, you’re not the target,” Vicky reassured him, laughing.
“Hi Bill!” Leighton leaned closer to the phone to make sure he heard her.
“Say hi to Leight,” William replied, clearly amused. “I just called you to share a little piece of gossip.”
“Shoot,” Vicky told him, curious.
“The backseat of your car is safe from now on,” William announced and she started laughing, unable to stop herself.
“Seriously, you’ve had that car for what, 24 hours?” Vicky asked, unbelieving, but incredibly entertained by that info.
Leighton stole the phone and put it on speaker, snickering as well. “Are you telling us you’re not a car-virgin anymore, Bill?”
“I wouldn’t use those words, but yeah,” William admitted chuckling. “Are you two drunk?”
“Nope, we’re just at the first Margarita,” Vicky objected, almost offended. “Wanna join us?”
“I’d love to, but you scare me to death, right now,” William replied and Leighton rolled her eyes. “Besides, I have a boyfriend waiting, so if you don’t mind.”
“We don’t mind, just keep us updated,” Vicky told him, then took a sip from the drink. “Have fun.”
“You too,” William said, then hung up and the girls looked at each other.
“We should have recorded that,” Leighton pointed out with a grin. “Good blackmailing material.”
Vicky laughed and pressed ‘play’ on the remote. “No wonder he’s scared.”
~~
Six days later
William took a deep breath and looked at the door in front of him. He could hear the neighbors television from the opposite side of the hallway and wondered how thin those walls really were and why his mother didn’t want to find a better place for herself. When he gathered enough calm, he knocked and his mother, Angela, came to answer only a couple of seconds later.
“William, nice to see you finally made it to your mother,” Angela pointed out, slightly disappointed.
“Sorry, mom,” he replied with a patient tone and kissed her on the cheek as he walked in. “I’ve been really busy in the past couple of weeks, I have a new job.”
“You took that job you told me about on the phone?” She seemed surprised by the announcement, but not upset. “Is it good?”
“Yeah, it is, it’s pretty awesome,” William confirmed and followed her in the kitchen, but his smile faded when he saw the bottle that looked like vodka and the glass resting on the table. “Mom, I thought you quit.”
“I did, it’s just water,” she just said, not even paying attention to it. “What else has been going on in your life?”
William hesitated, unsure if it was the right time to tell her. He walked to the table and sniffed at the liquid, surprised to find it really was water. He turned and met her annoyed gaze, which prompted him to talk. “I got a new car,” he announced, nodding, then sat down on one of the chairs. “It’s a gift.”
“Someone bought you a car?” She laughed at that, genuinely amused. “What, you pulled them out of a burning building?”
“No,” William replied and rolled his eyes. “It’s from my boyfriend.”
“Oh.” Angela immediately lost her smile when she heard those words. “And this boyfriend has been around for what, a week?”
“Three months, actually,” William informed, knowing his mother was going to get angry.
“Nice to see you still share things with your mother,” Angela pointed out, bitter, but William didn’t reply, just waited. “And he bought you a car?” she repeated, unbelieving.
“Birthday gift, it’s a pretty cool car,” William just said, not sure if he was making things worse.
“You didn’twin that trip to London either, did you?” Angela didn’t look at him as she asked, clearly feeling betrayed.
“No, it was his Christmas gift,” William confirmed and watched as she sat down as well.
“Well, then I guess you did win it,” Angela said and looked at him. “In his bed, I suppose.”
“It’s not like that,” William immediately objected, annoyed. “He’s rich, okay, but he’s not buying me and I’m not his whore.”
“Are you sure?” Angela looked at him in the eye, equally pissed. “He doesn’t need you toknow that you’re being bought, he certainly wouldn’t admit it,” she added with a bitter laughter. “There are two things rich people are good at: manipulate and lie.”
“I’m not stupid, mom,” William retorted, standing from his chair. “Gabe’s different from whatever people you met.”
“Different, uh? So how did he get rich? Have you asked him?” Angela stood as well and went to face her son. “What do you really know about his job?” She forced him to turn and to make eye-contact. “What if he’s some kind of criminal?”
“See? This is why I didn’t tell you anything in the first place, I knew you’d be like this,” William replied, but didn’t try to move away. “He’s a programmer, he works with computers,” he added and tried to fight back the thought that his mother was right about him knowing almost nothing about his boyfriend’s job. Gabe never talked about it and William never really asked much.
“Open your fucking eyes, or next thing you know, you’ll be living with him as his kept boytoy,” Angela told him and the boy could see both anger and worry in her eyes, along with a trace of resentment that never left her. “Listen to me, Bill, you deserve better than being some guy’s toy.”
“You know nothing about him,” William replied and got out of her grip. “And I think it’s better if I go, I have to be at work in an hour.”
“Just give it time and you’ll see I’m right about him,” Angela insisted, watching as her son retrieved his jacket and headed for the door. “Think about it.”
William didn’t reply and walked out, slamming the door on his way. He tried to take deep breaths and to clear his mind, feeling tears of frustration in his eyes, but he couldn’t help thinking about his mother’s words. He knew she was wrong, but part of him, the same part that had questioned Gabe at the beginning, came back, filling his head with doubts once again. Just as he was starting the engine, his phone rang and he looked at the caller ID, which showed ‘Gabey’. The silly nickname usually made him smile, but this time he just ignored the call and drove off.
~~
Two days later
“Are you gonna tell me what’s been going on with you?” Sisky placed himself on the doorstep, preventing William from leaving his room.
“I had a fight,” William just said, not too keen on talking about it.
“With Gabe?” Sisky frowned, even more worried.
“With my mother,” William corrected him and tried to walk past him, then let out an exasperated sigh. “Nothing I wasn’t expecting.”
“You told her about Gabe?” Sisky put his hands on William’s arms and pushed him back inside, then closed the door. “What did she say?”
“That I’m obviously Gabe’s fucktoy,” William replied, barely containing his rage. It had been two days since he’d had that argument with his mother and he couldn’t stop thinking about it over and over again.
“Is that why you’ve been avoiding him?” Sisky arched an eyebrow, immediately understanding what was going on in his friend’s head. “Telling him you had to work a lot, while all you did in these two days was sitting on the couch watching TV?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” William admitted, angry, then took a deep breath. “Gabe isn’t like that, I know, but-- what if I think that I know?”
“You can’t be serious,” Sisky said, unbelieving. “You’ve been with him for three months, you would have had doubts before and you didn’t.”
“I did,” William muttered, not looking at him in the eye. “At first at least.”
“But you know better now, don’t you?” Sisky tried to lock their gazes again, but the other refused to. “Bill, you even started writing songs again, and I’m not talking about your job.”
“I know, that’s why I’m pissed, I know my mom is wrong, but--” William stopped and blinked away the tears. “I can’t help thinking, what if she’s not?”
“She’s wrong, she doesn’t know Gabe,” Sisky protested, but tried to keep his tone calm. “She’s probably scared that if you find someone good, you’re gonna leave her alone.”
“I’d never do that,” William objected, shaking his head.
“I know that, but does she know?” Sisky finally managed to look at him in the eye again. “She pushed everyone away, your father, your sister, you said it yourself, and I guess she doesn’t want to end up alone.”
“I can’t change her mind,” William pointed out, sounding defeated.
“You could let Gabe do that,” Sisky suggested with a hopeful tone. “Invite them over for dinner, the two of them.”
“That would mean breaking up with Gabe, d’you realize that?” William shook his head and took another deep breath. “No, I’m gonna talk to him,” he declared after a few seconds of silence.
“That’s a bad idea,” Sisky said and shook his head, worried. “What are you gonna ask him, anyway?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure something out,” William replied with a shrug, but his shoulders were still tense. “I just have to know.”
“You already know,” Sisky insisted and growled in frustration.
“Just let me work this out on my own, okay?” William stood from the bed, annoyed. “I never forced you to accept the fact that the only reason you won’t live with Butcher is because you’re scared to death to make a commitment. So don’t tell me how to handle this, okay?”
“Don’t make this about me,” Sisky retorted and stood as well, angry. “I’m only trying to help you.”
William was about to say something, but then shut up, shaking his head. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry,” he muttered and a couple of seconds later he looked at his friend. “I don’t wanna fight.”
“Then don’t,” Sisky just said and reached him with a worried look.
“I didn’t mean what I said about you and Butcher,” William replied and sat down on the bed again.
“Yes, you did,” Sisky retorted, but he didn’t seem angry. “But it’s not me we’re talking about.”
“I need to talk to him,” William repeated and stopped his friend before he could protest again. “But not now, I’m too messed up, I would just fight with him like I’m doing with you,” he admitted with a tired sigh. “I’ll give it some time and see how things go.”
“That’s my Bill,” Sisky told him and kissed him on the forehead. “Now get a shower, take a nap and relax, okay?”
“Okay,” William conceded with a little smile and hugged him when they both stood from the bed. “Wake me when we have to go.”
~~
Alex walked in the apartment and found Tom and Ryan sitting on the couch, laughing. “Hi guys, what’s so funny?”
“Don’t be nosy,” Ryan scolded him with a grin, then stood from the couch and handed him a paper sheet that looked like an important document. “Look at this, instead.”
Tom stood as well and Alex looked at the paper, frowning. He read the first lines and it was enough to understand what was going on. “Your request was approved!”
“Well, for now I’m a foster parent,” Ryan explained, but his smile just got wider. “This way I can take her home from the hospital and they don’t have to assign her to another foster home until my request get processed.”
“How long will it take?” Alex looked down at the paper again, surprised.
“Don’t know, they say it could be anything between four months and a year,” Ryan replied with a shrug. “But we’re releasing her next week from the hospital.”
“Is your nursery ready?” Tom asked from the couch, frowning.
“Not really, I need to buy the furniture, which I’ll do tomorrow,” Ryan told him, nodding. “And Butcher should finish the walls in a couple of days.”
“Butcher?” Alex arched an eyebrow, slightly confused.
“He’s painting, like, this huge fantasy forest on the walls, with fairies, unicorns and stuff,” Ryan replied with a cheerful tone. “It was Nate’s idea.”
“What, you’re worried she’s gonna grow up a lesbian?” Alex joked and both Tom and Ryan punched him on the arm. “Hey!” He glared at them both, then took a step back. “Speaking of Nate, how did he take it?”
“He knows what dating a single parent means, especially a single foster parent who just got his baby,” Ryan replied and went to sit on the couch. “He’s being very supportive.”
“Well, you both love kids, you’re gonna be just fine,” Tom said, surprising them both. “What? Can’t I be supportive too, once in a while?”
“It’s kinda weird,” Ryan admitted and dodge the slap the boy directed to his head. “I’d better go, night shift and shopping list.”
“Let us know if we can help you in any way,” Alex told him as he watched him reach the door. “But only if it doesn’t involve fairies and unicorns, please.”
“Thank you,” Ryan replied and rolled his eyes, then walked out.
Alex turned and found his boyfriend looking at him with a little, knowing smile. “What?”
“Nothing,” Tom said and shook his head, standing from the couch. “It’s just-- I’m happy you two get along so well.”
“I like him,” Alex confirmed and reached him. “He might not have the best taste in boyfriends, but I like him.”
“I thought you were happy to see him with Nate,” Tom pointed out, a little confused.
“I am, but he had you by his side for five years and never once tried to get something more than friendship,” Alex replied and hooked a finger in the waistband of his jeans to pull him closer.
“Maybe because he was too busy being in love with William,” Tom offered with a careful smile.
“What are you talking about?” Alex laughed, obviously taken aback by those words.
“Remember that night he came here and told us about Rebecca and Nate?” Tom waited for his boyfriend to nod, then spoke again. “We talked and he admitted he’s been in love with William since we first met him.”
“Whoa,” Alex just said, chocked, then led them to the couch and they both sat down. “You never suspected anything?”
“He never told me anything, I guess-- I think he didn’t want to break us up,” Tom admitted with a brief shrug. “I’m over William, Ryan’s not there yet, he’s still working on it.”
“I think this is something we should keep to ourselves,” Alex stated, biting on his lower lip.
“It is,” Tom agreed, then smiled at him. “Don’t worry, he’s not gonna try to break Gabe and William up, he’s really into Nate.”
“Is that why you started being supportive?” Alex mirrored his expression and pulled him closer.
“Yeah,” Tom confessed and looked at his hands. “For years I’ve been the worst best friend ever and I didn’t even know it.”
“Don’t say that, you weren’t hurting him on purpose,” Alex reassured him and kissed his temple. “He knows that, or he wouldn’t adore you the way he does.”
“Thank you,” Tom whispered and buried his face against his boyfriend’s neck. “I needed to tell someone.”
“You can tell me anything you want to, you know that,” Alex told him and placed another kiss on the top of his head. “Unless it involves fairies and unicorns, of course.”
Tom shook with silent laughter at that and a few seconds later he withdrew, smirking. “You’re an idiot.”
“Might be,” Alex conceded and stole a brief kiss, then reached for something in the bag he had put on the ground. “But I’m an idiot who finished the album,” he added, handing him a CD.
“Can I see it?” Tom took it and reached for his laptop on the coffee table.
“Yep,” Alex said and scooted closer. “I’m gonna give everyone a copy tonight at the pub, but I want your opinion first.”
Tom smiled at that and kissed him on the cheek, then put the CD in and waited while the album opened.
~~
A week later
“Is this really necessary?” William laughed when Gabe blindfolded him just outside his apartment, then guided him through the door. After his discussion with Sisky and the evening spent at the pub with everyone, things had gotten better for him, the voice in his head was getting weaker and weaker, which was a huge relief for him.
“Okay, we’re here,” Gabe announced and took off the blindfold, smiling widely.
William’s eyes widened when he saw the table in Gabe’s dining room completely set, with candles lighting the room and a fantastic smell of food in the air. “You did this?”
“Yep,” Gabe confirmed with a quick nod. “Three months today.”
“You really remembered?” William’s smile lit up at that and he kissed Gabe, not leaving him time for an actual answer. “I don’t have a present.”
“Yes, you do,” Gabe objected with a sly smirk. “You just don’t know yet.”
“Okay,” William conceded with an amused frown, then reached the table.
“Sit, you’re my special guest, tonight,” Gabe told him and gestured his chair, then kissed him on the cheek and sat on the chair next to his. “Before we get to the actual dinner, I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening,” William replied, looking at him with curiosity.
“Three months are not three years, I get that, I’m good at math,” Gabe paused and took a deep breath before he spoke again. “But I was thinking that maybe we could give it a try,” he added, but at William’s worried look, he huffed out a laughter. “I’m not asking you to have kids, I’m asking you to move in.”
“Oh.” William stared at him in shock after that, feeling his heart sink a little bit down in his chest.
“You don’t have to answer now, just think about it,” Gabe said, understanding his surprise, but not the real reason behind it. “It would be nice to have you around all the time, you know.”
“I’ll think about it,” William replied with a slightly shaky voice, then cleared his throat.
“Okay,” Gabe accepted with a nod, then leaned closer to kiss him on the corner of the mouth. “Dinner should be ready in just a few minutes,” he added as he reached the counter that separated the room from the kitchen.
William acknowledged that with a nod, then stood and followed him, feeling the voice get suddenly louder. “You never told me what your job is about,” he said, trying to be as casual as he could. “I mean, softwares, okay, but what kind?”
“I just asked you to move in and you wanna talk about my job?” Gabe laughed at that, honestly surprised.
“You never talk about it,” William replied with a shrug.
“It’s never been an issue before,” Gabe pointed out with an arched eyebrow and for a moment the boy feared he’d been too direct.
“I just wanna know more about it,” William retorted and forced a smile to his lips. “How did you get this rich with computers?”
“I wrote a software, I sold it,” Gabe explained and looked at the oven to check the temperature.
“I doubt they paid you enough to buy this place,” William stated, looking around with a skeptical look on his face. “What did you write, Skynet?”
“The software I wrote is used to run a major social network, that’s why I got this rich,” Gabe told him, smirking at the Terminator joke. “And this house was a gift from the company, they wanted to convince me to work for them,” he paused and looked around as well. “It worked, I’m convinced.”
“And what’s in it for them? You already wrote the software,” William pointed out, confused.
“I don’t sell to other companies,” Gabe revealed with a shrug, like it wasn’t big deal.
“They bought you,” William stated, unbelieving.
“I don’t see it that way, they just gave me a beautiful house I would never be able to buy on my own and the chance to do my job,” Gabe retorted, puzzled by that reaction. “A job I love, by the way,”
“But you’re tied, you’re not free to do what you want,” William insisted and the boy reached him on the other side of the counter.
“This is what I want,” Gabe said, gesturing him to look around.
“Money? Luxury?”
“The chance to wake up in the morning, sit down at my desk and do what I like,” Gabe corrected him, slightly annoyed at his provocative tone. “Why is this so important now? What happened to ‘money’s just numbers’?”
William looked away at those words and hesitated for several seconds, unsure if that was the right time and the right way to ask him. But he couldn’t just shrug it off now, he knew Gabe wasn’t going to let it go, not after he insisted so much.
“First London, then the car, now you want me to move in and leave my old apartment,” William listed, still not looking at him. “I’m starting to feel like some kind of kept boy.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Gabe dropped the oven glove on the counter, incredulous.
“Gabe, listen--” William tried to say, by the was immediately cut off.
“No, you listen,” Gabe snapped, angry. “I thought you knew me, William.”
“I do,” William objected, but it didn’t come out as strong as he wanted it to.
“No, you obviously don’t,” Gabe retorted and his jaw tightened in rage. “Not if you still doubt me about this after three fucking months.”
“Then why are you doing everything you can to make sure every single fucking aspect of my life is tied to you?” William raised his voice, feeling the rage and the frustration come back at full force.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” Gabe let out a bitter laughter at that, then tried to calm down and looked at him. “Maybe I’m doing all this because I love you, have you thought about that?”
William was completely taken aback and didn’t say anything for several moments, while two sides fought in his head. Part of him believed those words, but the other part was telling him they weren’t true, that they shouldn’t be said to stop a fight. “How can I know you’re not saying it just to patch things up?” he asked, giving in to the second part.
“That’s it,” Gabe whispered and the look of betrayal in his eyes told William he’d listened to the wrong voice. “Get out of my sight,” he added turning away from him.
“Gabe--” William tried to say, while the boy rested both his hands on the counter.
“Fuck you,” Gabe snapped, still not looking at him. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“If you kick me out now, I’m not coming back,” William spat, letting his pride take over the need to apologize.
“Isn’t that what you wanted when you started this fight?” Gabe turned his head and the look in his eyes told William he meant his words. “Get. Out.”
William didn’t say anything and just took his jacket from the nearby chair, then slammed the door on his way out. He felt his eyes water and as soon as the elevator doors closed, he let them fall, sobbing silently.
~~
The following night
Vicky walked in and immediately took off her jacket, thinking about the conversation she’d just had with Gabe. The boy had seemed really furious and not the kind of furious he could sleep off easily enough to try and talk to William; and from what Sisky had told her, William wasn’t doing great either.
“Is that you, sweetie?” she asked when she heard a voice coming from the living room, then headed that way. Ryland waved at her and kept talking on the phone, while she reached the couch and sat down with a tired sigh.
Once the phone call was over, he sat down next to her and kissed her temple, worried. “Is everything okay?”
“Gabe and Bill broke up,” she informed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Not just a fight, really broke up.”
“How?” Ryland frowned, obviously surprised.
“I couldn’t get much from Gabe, he’s not really in the mood for sharing,” Vicky replied and closed her eyes. “Sisky says William doesn’t talk either.”
“Until they’re willing to talk, there’s nothing you can do,” Ryland told her and kissed her forehead again, trying to comfort her.
“I know, but it sucks,” Vicky said, disappointed, then slowly lay down and put her head on his thighs. “I mean, they seemed so happy, I don’t get it.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Ryland reassured her with a little smile, trailing a hand in her hair. “How is everything else going?”
“I just finished the beta project Pete asked me last month, so I should have more time off for the last arrangements,” Vicky replied, trying to lighten her own mood a little bit. “My mom will be in town next week, she’ll help me out.”
“I could help you too, you know, I’m fairly involved in this wedding,” Ryland joked and she cracked a smile, reaching for his hand.
“I’ll make a list of all the things we still have to do and we’ll share, okay?” Vicky looked up at him, relaxing even more when his hand resumed moving through her hair. “Can we get a singer? I mean, someone who can actually sing, not a lousy wedding band.”
“Of course,” Ryland conceded with a nod. “It’s a great idea, d’you know how to find it?”
“Well, I was thinking about asking Leighton, maybe she knows someone,” Vicky replied, closing her eyes once again. “I wanted to ask her, but she’s a little too dance for a wedding.”
“And she’s the bridesmaid, let’s not exploit her too much,” Ryland pointed out, slightly amused. “One of the nurses, Katy, is a pretty good singer.”
“Let’s keep her in mind too, then,” Vicky said, then frowned for a moment. “Talking about nurses, how’s Ryan doing with the baby?”
“He’s adapting,” Ryland replied with a little smile. “Nate is helping him out, they’re a good team.”
“They’re a good couple,” Vicky corrected him, opening her eyes.
“It’s early to say that, but they have good chances,” Ryland objected with an arched eyebrow. “Especially if Nate keeps behaving like a regular human being.”
“Oh, c’mon, would you all stop giving the poor kid hell?” Vicky rolled her eyes and huffed out a laughter. “Okay, he screwed up with Alex, but it ended up being a good thing.”
“Well, at least we’re all in couples now, no more whining about the need to get laid,” Ryland said, smirking, and when he saw the sad look on his fiancée’s face he smiled. “We are. Gabe and Bill will work things out, trust me.”
“I hope you’re right,” Vicky replied and entwined their fingers.
~~
A/N: is Ryland right? Or is Gabilliam over?
D’you honestly think I will answer those questions? LOL Of course not, because I’m evil and I’ll leave you like this, waiting for next week. *grins*
Let me know what you think about this drama and this chapter. I’ll be here waiting. And remember, if you want the soundtrack, just let me know. :D
See you next week for the last part.
JM
Author: jen_jm
Pairing: Gabe/William, Butcher/Sisky, Ryland/Vicky-T, Alex/Nate vs Alex/Tom, others minor pairings.
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word count: 80,000 total words
Warnings: Upper East Siders AU (it needed a name, didn’t it?), but this is NOT a Gossip Girl AU.
POV: third
Disclaimer: Completely not true. I doubt Gabe can actually write softwares, anyway. It’s all fiction.
Author’s Notes: title from Cash Cash’s ‘Sugar Rush’ and Cobra Starship’s ‘The scene is dead - Long live the scene’
As ever, feel free to report any mistake. Constructive criticism is welcome, feedback makes me happy!
Summary:“Can I offer you a coffee, then?” Gabe tried once again, not too hopeful, but to his surprise, the singer didn’t flip him off.
“Why?” William asked, genuinely curious about all that interest.
“Because,” Gabe just said, shrugging a little, but at the boy’s stubborn look, he gave in and smiled. “I like your voice.” - Gabe Saporta is a rich 26 years old computer nerd who lives in the Upper East Side. William Beckett is a broke 22 years old musician who works as a bartender and lives with his best friend in Brooklyn. When they meet in the subway where William is playing their worlds collide in more ways than one.
Crossposted
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || Chapter 12
Chapter 13 - The one with the big big mess
The following night
“No, I don’t care how many times you already called him,” Vicky said and her hand tightened around the telephone. “Call him again and tell him the shrimp salad has to be in the menu,” she paused again and listened to the guy on the other end, while Leighton watched her, amused. “Put the damn salad in, or my next call will be for a new catering service,” she stopped and sighed in exasperation. “Thank you.” Vicky put down the phone after that and growled, annoyed.
“When I get married, I’ll let someone else manage the catering,” Leighton declared, smirking.
“Smart move,” Vicky agreed and sat down on the couch as well. “I’m the bride, I can demand anything I want in the menu, no matter what that moron says.”
“How’s the rest going?” Leighton reached for their drinks and handed the girl one.
“Well, Butcher is working on the paintings, they’re gonna be ready just in time,” Vicky explained with a much more relaxed tone. “The dress needs the last few adjustments, but we’ll have to wait until April for that,” she paused, thinking about what she still had to do. “Ryland sent the invitations last week and the location is reserved.”
“You’re pretty much done,” Leighton pointed out, cheerful.
“No, darling, I need the bridesmaid,” Vicky replied, smiling widely. “Care to do something about that?”
“Seriously?” Leighton’s eyes widened and she stared at her friend, who just nodded. “Count me completely in, I’m gonna be the best bridesmaid in the history of weddings.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re right about that,” Vicky agreed and brought her legs up on the couch to find a more comfortable position. “So, bridesmaid, ready for the movie?”
“What did you pick?” Leighton reached for the Blockbuster DVD case, but when she read the title, The Haunting of Sorority Row, she turned to look at her friend, unbelieving. “Oh, c’mon!”
Vicky just laughed and reached for the remote, then pressed play. “Hey, you’re the one who said this movie is ridiculous, which you shouldn’t say about your own movies, it’s unethical.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes you just can’t avoid it,” Leighton pointed out, shaking her head. “I mean, everyone in the business regrets doing at least one movie,” she added with a solemn nod. “Look at Kristen Stewart, I don’t think she’s all that proud.”
“C’mon, Twilight is not that bad,” Vicky objected, but she didn’t sound too convinced. “I mean, maybe a little too emo, but there’s worse.”
“Like what?” Leighton arched an eyebrow at her, skeptical.
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, where’s the plot in that thing?” Vicky took a short sip from her drink, then spoke again. “Seriously, if Sean Connery died next month, that would be his last movie. How sad is that?”
“Very,” Leighton admitted, a little disturbed. “I still can’t believe he was part of that thing.”
“Well, enough with the commiserating, let’s watch this bad movie,” Vicky declared and raised her glass for a toast and the other girl immediately did the same.
“Well, compared to those two, it’s not even that terrible,” Leighton pointed out, then sipped from her drink.
“See? There’s always something worse,” Vicky said, then retrieved a blanket for them from the nearby armchair. Right then the phone rang again and she glared at it. “I swear, if it’s that moron again, I’m gonna choke him with the damn shrimps,” she announced as she answered, while Leighton pressed the pause button, snickering. “Hey, Bill!”
“Should I be worried about the shrimps?” William asked with a slightly worried tone.
“No, don’t worry, you’re not the target,” Vicky reassured him, laughing.
“Hi Bill!” Leighton leaned closer to the phone to make sure he heard her.
“Say hi to Leight,” William replied, clearly amused. “I just called you to share a little piece of gossip.”
“Shoot,” Vicky told him, curious.
“The backseat of your car is safe from now on,” William announced and she started laughing, unable to stop herself.
“Seriously, you’ve had that car for what, 24 hours?” Vicky asked, unbelieving, but incredibly entertained by that info.
Leighton stole the phone and put it on speaker, snickering as well. “Are you telling us you’re not a car-virgin anymore, Bill?”
“I wouldn’t use those words, but yeah,” William admitted chuckling. “Are you two drunk?”
“Nope, we’re just at the first Margarita,” Vicky objected, almost offended. “Wanna join us?”
“I’d love to, but you scare me to death, right now,” William replied and Leighton rolled her eyes. “Besides, I have a boyfriend waiting, so if you don’t mind.”
“We don’t mind, just keep us updated,” Vicky told him, then took a sip from the drink. “Have fun.”
“You too,” William said, then hung up and the girls looked at each other.
“We should have recorded that,” Leighton pointed out with a grin. “Good blackmailing material.”
Vicky laughed and pressed ‘play’ on the remote. “No wonder he’s scared.”
~~
Six days later
William took a deep breath and looked at the door in front of him. He could hear the neighbors television from the opposite side of the hallway and wondered how thin those walls really were and why his mother didn’t want to find a better place for herself. When he gathered enough calm, he knocked and his mother, Angela, came to answer only a couple of seconds later.
“William, nice to see you finally made it to your mother,” Angela pointed out, slightly disappointed.
“Sorry, mom,” he replied with a patient tone and kissed her on the cheek as he walked in. “I’ve been really busy in the past couple of weeks, I have a new job.”
“You took that job you told me about on the phone?” She seemed surprised by the announcement, but not upset. “Is it good?”
“Yeah, it is, it’s pretty awesome,” William confirmed and followed her in the kitchen, but his smile faded when he saw the bottle that looked like vodka and the glass resting on the table. “Mom, I thought you quit.”
“I did, it’s just water,” she just said, not even paying attention to it. “What else has been going on in your life?”
William hesitated, unsure if it was the right time to tell her. He walked to the table and sniffed at the liquid, surprised to find it really was water. He turned and met her annoyed gaze, which prompted him to talk. “I got a new car,” he announced, nodding, then sat down on one of the chairs. “It’s a gift.”
“Someone bought you a car?” She laughed at that, genuinely amused. “What, you pulled them out of a burning building?”
“No,” William replied and rolled his eyes. “It’s from my boyfriend.”
“Oh.” Angela immediately lost her smile when she heard those words. “And this boyfriend has been around for what, a week?”
“Three months, actually,” William informed, knowing his mother was going to get angry.
“Nice to see you still share things with your mother,” Angela pointed out, bitter, but William didn’t reply, just waited. “And he bought you a car?” she repeated, unbelieving.
“Birthday gift, it’s a pretty cool car,” William just said, not sure if he was making things worse.
“You didn’twin that trip to London either, did you?” Angela didn’t look at him as she asked, clearly feeling betrayed.
“No, it was his Christmas gift,” William confirmed and watched as she sat down as well.
“Well, then I guess you did win it,” Angela said and looked at him. “In his bed, I suppose.”
“It’s not like that,” William immediately objected, annoyed. “He’s rich, okay, but he’s not buying me and I’m not his whore.”
“Are you sure?” Angela looked at him in the eye, equally pissed. “He doesn’t need you toknow that you’re being bought, he certainly wouldn’t admit it,” she added with a bitter laughter. “There are two things rich people are good at: manipulate and lie.”
“I’m not stupid, mom,” William retorted, standing from his chair. “Gabe’s different from whatever people you met.”
“Different, uh? So how did he get rich? Have you asked him?” Angela stood as well and went to face her son. “What do you really know about his job?” She forced him to turn and to make eye-contact. “What if he’s some kind of criminal?”
“See? This is why I didn’t tell you anything in the first place, I knew you’d be like this,” William replied, but didn’t try to move away. “He’s a programmer, he works with computers,” he added and tried to fight back the thought that his mother was right about him knowing almost nothing about his boyfriend’s job. Gabe never talked about it and William never really asked much.
“Open your fucking eyes, or next thing you know, you’ll be living with him as his kept boytoy,” Angela told him and the boy could see both anger and worry in her eyes, along with a trace of resentment that never left her. “Listen to me, Bill, you deserve better than being some guy’s toy.”
“You know nothing about him,” William replied and got out of her grip. “And I think it’s better if I go, I have to be at work in an hour.”
“Just give it time and you’ll see I’m right about him,” Angela insisted, watching as her son retrieved his jacket and headed for the door. “Think about it.”
William didn’t reply and walked out, slamming the door on his way. He tried to take deep breaths and to clear his mind, feeling tears of frustration in his eyes, but he couldn’t help thinking about his mother’s words. He knew she was wrong, but part of him, the same part that had questioned Gabe at the beginning, came back, filling his head with doubts once again. Just as he was starting the engine, his phone rang and he looked at the caller ID, which showed ‘Gabey’. The silly nickname usually made him smile, but this time he just ignored the call and drove off.
~~
Two days later
“Are you gonna tell me what’s been going on with you?” Sisky placed himself on the doorstep, preventing William from leaving his room.
“I had a fight,” William just said, not too keen on talking about it.
“With Gabe?” Sisky frowned, even more worried.
“With my mother,” William corrected him and tried to walk past him, then let out an exasperated sigh. “Nothing I wasn’t expecting.”
“You told her about Gabe?” Sisky put his hands on William’s arms and pushed him back inside, then closed the door. “What did she say?”
“That I’m obviously Gabe’s fucktoy,” William replied, barely containing his rage. It had been two days since he’d had that argument with his mother and he couldn’t stop thinking about it over and over again.
“Is that why you’ve been avoiding him?” Sisky arched an eyebrow, immediately understanding what was going on in his friend’s head. “Telling him you had to work a lot, while all you did in these two days was sitting on the couch watching TV?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” William admitted, angry, then took a deep breath. “Gabe isn’t like that, I know, but-- what if I think that I know?”
“You can’t be serious,” Sisky said, unbelieving. “You’ve been with him for three months, you would have had doubts before and you didn’t.”
“I did,” William muttered, not looking at him in the eye. “At first at least.”
“But you know better now, don’t you?” Sisky tried to lock their gazes again, but the other refused to. “Bill, you even started writing songs again, and I’m not talking about your job.”
“I know, that’s why I’m pissed, I know my mom is wrong, but--” William stopped and blinked away the tears. “I can’t help thinking, what if she’s not?”
“She’s wrong, she doesn’t know Gabe,” Sisky protested, but tried to keep his tone calm. “She’s probably scared that if you find someone good, you’re gonna leave her alone.”
“I’d never do that,” William objected, shaking his head.
“I know that, but does she know?” Sisky finally managed to look at him in the eye again. “She pushed everyone away, your father, your sister, you said it yourself, and I guess she doesn’t want to end up alone.”
“I can’t change her mind,” William pointed out, sounding defeated.
“You could let Gabe do that,” Sisky suggested with a hopeful tone. “Invite them over for dinner, the two of them.”
“That would mean breaking up with Gabe, d’you realize that?” William shook his head and took another deep breath. “No, I’m gonna talk to him,” he declared after a few seconds of silence.
“That’s a bad idea,” Sisky said and shook his head, worried. “What are you gonna ask him, anyway?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure something out,” William replied with a shrug, but his shoulders were still tense. “I just have to know.”
“You already know,” Sisky insisted and growled in frustration.
“Just let me work this out on my own, okay?” William stood from the bed, annoyed. “I never forced you to accept the fact that the only reason you won’t live with Butcher is because you’re scared to death to make a commitment. So don’t tell me how to handle this, okay?”
“Don’t make this about me,” Sisky retorted and stood as well, angry. “I’m only trying to help you.”
William was about to say something, but then shut up, shaking his head. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry,” he muttered and a couple of seconds later he looked at his friend. “I don’t wanna fight.”
“Then don’t,” Sisky just said and reached him with a worried look.
“I didn’t mean what I said about you and Butcher,” William replied and sat down on the bed again.
“Yes, you did,” Sisky retorted, but he didn’t seem angry. “But it’s not me we’re talking about.”
“I need to talk to him,” William repeated and stopped his friend before he could protest again. “But not now, I’m too messed up, I would just fight with him like I’m doing with you,” he admitted with a tired sigh. “I’ll give it some time and see how things go.”
“That’s my Bill,” Sisky told him and kissed him on the forehead. “Now get a shower, take a nap and relax, okay?”
“Okay,” William conceded with a little smile and hugged him when they both stood from the bed. “Wake me when we have to go.”
~~
Alex walked in the apartment and found Tom and Ryan sitting on the couch, laughing. “Hi guys, what’s so funny?”
“Don’t be nosy,” Ryan scolded him with a grin, then stood from the couch and handed him a paper sheet that looked like an important document. “Look at this, instead.”
Tom stood as well and Alex looked at the paper, frowning. He read the first lines and it was enough to understand what was going on. “Your request was approved!”
“Well, for now I’m a foster parent,” Ryan explained, but his smile just got wider. “This way I can take her home from the hospital and they don’t have to assign her to another foster home until my request get processed.”
“How long will it take?” Alex looked down at the paper again, surprised.
“Don’t know, they say it could be anything between four months and a year,” Ryan replied with a shrug. “But we’re releasing her next week from the hospital.”
“Is your nursery ready?” Tom asked from the couch, frowning.
“Not really, I need to buy the furniture, which I’ll do tomorrow,” Ryan told him, nodding. “And Butcher should finish the walls in a couple of days.”
“Butcher?” Alex arched an eyebrow, slightly confused.
“He’s painting, like, this huge fantasy forest on the walls, with fairies, unicorns and stuff,” Ryan replied with a cheerful tone. “It was Nate’s idea.”
“What, you’re worried she’s gonna grow up a lesbian?” Alex joked and both Tom and Ryan punched him on the arm. “Hey!” He glared at them both, then took a step back. “Speaking of Nate, how did he take it?”
“He knows what dating a single parent means, especially a single foster parent who just got his baby,” Ryan replied and went to sit on the couch. “He’s being very supportive.”
“Well, you both love kids, you’re gonna be just fine,” Tom said, surprising them both. “What? Can’t I be supportive too, once in a while?”
“It’s kinda weird,” Ryan admitted and dodge the slap the boy directed to his head. “I’d better go, night shift and shopping list.”
“Let us know if we can help you in any way,” Alex told him as he watched him reach the door. “But only if it doesn’t involve fairies and unicorns, please.”
“Thank you,” Ryan replied and rolled his eyes, then walked out.
Alex turned and found his boyfriend looking at him with a little, knowing smile. “What?”
“Nothing,” Tom said and shook his head, standing from the couch. “It’s just-- I’m happy you two get along so well.”
“I like him,” Alex confirmed and reached him. “He might not have the best taste in boyfriends, but I like him.”
“I thought you were happy to see him with Nate,” Tom pointed out, a little confused.
“I am, but he had you by his side for five years and never once tried to get something more than friendship,” Alex replied and hooked a finger in the waistband of his jeans to pull him closer.
“Maybe because he was too busy being in love with William,” Tom offered with a careful smile.
“What are you talking about?” Alex laughed, obviously taken aback by those words.
“Remember that night he came here and told us about Rebecca and Nate?” Tom waited for his boyfriend to nod, then spoke again. “We talked and he admitted he’s been in love with William since we first met him.”
“Whoa,” Alex just said, chocked, then led them to the couch and they both sat down. “You never suspected anything?”
“He never told me anything, I guess-- I think he didn’t want to break us up,” Tom admitted with a brief shrug. “I’m over William, Ryan’s not there yet, he’s still working on it.”
“I think this is something we should keep to ourselves,” Alex stated, biting on his lower lip.
“It is,” Tom agreed, then smiled at him. “Don’t worry, he’s not gonna try to break Gabe and William up, he’s really into Nate.”
“Is that why you started being supportive?” Alex mirrored his expression and pulled him closer.
“Yeah,” Tom confessed and looked at his hands. “For years I’ve been the worst best friend ever and I didn’t even know it.”
“Don’t say that, you weren’t hurting him on purpose,” Alex reassured him and kissed his temple. “He knows that, or he wouldn’t adore you the way he does.”
“Thank you,” Tom whispered and buried his face against his boyfriend’s neck. “I needed to tell someone.”
“You can tell me anything you want to, you know that,” Alex told him and placed another kiss on the top of his head. “Unless it involves fairies and unicorns, of course.”
Tom shook with silent laughter at that and a few seconds later he withdrew, smirking. “You’re an idiot.”
“Might be,” Alex conceded and stole a brief kiss, then reached for something in the bag he had put on the ground. “But I’m an idiot who finished the album,” he added, handing him a CD.
“Can I see it?” Tom took it and reached for his laptop on the coffee table.
“Yep,” Alex said and scooted closer. “I’m gonna give everyone a copy tonight at the pub, but I want your opinion first.”
Tom smiled at that and kissed him on the cheek, then put the CD in and waited while the album opened.
~~
A week later
“Is this really necessary?” William laughed when Gabe blindfolded him just outside his apartment, then guided him through the door. After his discussion with Sisky and the evening spent at the pub with everyone, things had gotten better for him, the voice in his head was getting weaker and weaker, which was a huge relief for him.
“Okay, we’re here,” Gabe announced and took off the blindfold, smiling widely.
William’s eyes widened when he saw the table in Gabe’s dining room completely set, with candles lighting the room and a fantastic smell of food in the air. “You did this?”
“Yep,” Gabe confirmed with a quick nod. “Three months today.”
“You really remembered?” William’s smile lit up at that and he kissed Gabe, not leaving him time for an actual answer. “I don’t have a present.”
“Yes, you do,” Gabe objected with a sly smirk. “You just don’t know yet.”
“Okay,” William conceded with an amused frown, then reached the table.
“Sit, you’re my special guest, tonight,” Gabe told him and gestured his chair, then kissed him on the cheek and sat on the chair next to his. “Before we get to the actual dinner, I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening,” William replied, looking at him with curiosity.
“Three months are not three years, I get that, I’m good at math,” Gabe paused and took a deep breath before he spoke again. “But I was thinking that maybe we could give it a try,” he added, but at William’s worried look, he huffed out a laughter. “I’m not asking you to have kids, I’m asking you to move in.”
“Oh.” William stared at him in shock after that, feeling his heart sink a little bit down in his chest.
“You don’t have to answer now, just think about it,” Gabe said, understanding his surprise, but not the real reason behind it. “It would be nice to have you around all the time, you know.”
“I’ll think about it,” William replied with a slightly shaky voice, then cleared his throat.
“Okay,” Gabe accepted with a nod, then leaned closer to kiss him on the corner of the mouth. “Dinner should be ready in just a few minutes,” he added as he reached the counter that separated the room from the kitchen.
William acknowledged that with a nod, then stood and followed him, feeling the voice get suddenly louder. “You never told me what your job is about,” he said, trying to be as casual as he could. “I mean, softwares, okay, but what kind?”
“I just asked you to move in and you wanna talk about my job?” Gabe laughed at that, honestly surprised.
“You never talk about it,” William replied with a shrug.
“It’s never been an issue before,” Gabe pointed out with an arched eyebrow and for a moment the boy feared he’d been too direct.
“I just wanna know more about it,” William retorted and forced a smile to his lips. “How did you get this rich with computers?”
“I wrote a software, I sold it,” Gabe explained and looked at the oven to check the temperature.
“I doubt they paid you enough to buy this place,” William stated, looking around with a skeptical look on his face. “What did you write, Skynet?”
“The software I wrote is used to run a major social network, that’s why I got this rich,” Gabe told him, smirking at the Terminator joke. “And this house was a gift from the company, they wanted to convince me to work for them,” he paused and looked around as well. “It worked, I’m convinced.”
“And what’s in it for them? You already wrote the software,” William pointed out, confused.
“I don’t sell to other companies,” Gabe revealed with a shrug, like it wasn’t big deal.
“They bought you,” William stated, unbelieving.
“I don’t see it that way, they just gave me a beautiful house I would never be able to buy on my own and the chance to do my job,” Gabe retorted, puzzled by that reaction. “A job I love, by the way,”
“But you’re tied, you’re not free to do what you want,” William insisted and the boy reached him on the other side of the counter.
“This is what I want,” Gabe said, gesturing him to look around.
“Money? Luxury?”
“The chance to wake up in the morning, sit down at my desk and do what I like,” Gabe corrected him, slightly annoyed at his provocative tone. “Why is this so important now? What happened to ‘money’s just numbers’?”
William looked away at those words and hesitated for several seconds, unsure if that was the right time and the right way to ask him. But he couldn’t just shrug it off now, he knew Gabe wasn’t going to let it go, not after he insisted so much.
“First London, then the car, now you want me to move in and leave my old apartment,” William listed, still not looking at him. “I’m starting to feel like some kind of kept boy.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Gabe dropped the oven glove on the counter, incredulous.
“Gabe, listen--” William tried to say, by the was immediately cut off.
“No, you listen,” Gabe snapped, angry. “I thought you knew me, William.”
“I do,” William objected, but it didn’t come out as strong as he wanted it to.
“No, you obviously don’t,” Gabe retorted and his jaw tightened in rage. “Not if you still doubt me about this after three fucking months.”
“Then why are you doing everything you can to make sure every single fucking aspect of my life is tied to you?” William raised his voice, feeling the rage and the frustration come back at full force.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” Gabe let out a bitter laughter at that, then tried to calm down and looked at him. “Maybe I’m doing all this because I love you, have you thought about that?”
William was completely taken aback and didn’t say anything for several moments, while two sides fought in his head. Part of him believed those words, but the other part was telling him they weren’t true, that they shouldn’t be said to stop a fight. “How can I know you’re not saying it just to patch things up?” he asked, giving in to the second part.
“That’s it,” Gabe whispered and the look of betrayal in his eyes told William he’d listened to the wrong voice. “Get out of my sight,” he added turning away from him.
“Gabe--” William tried to say, while the boy rested both his hands on the counter.
“Fuck you,” Gabe snapped, still not looking at him. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“If you kick me out now, I’m not coming back,” William spat, letting his pride take over the need to apologize.
“Isn’t that what you wanted when you started this fight?” Gabe turned his head and the look in his eyes told William he meant his words. “Get. Out.”
William didn’t say anything and just took his jacket from the nearby chair, then slammed the door on his way out. He felt his eyes water and as soon as the elevator doors closed, he let them fall, sobbing silently.
~~
The following night
Vicky walked in and immediately took off her jacket, thinking about the conversation she’d just had with Gabe. The boy had seemed really furious and not the kind of furious he could sleep off easily enough to try and talk to William; and from what Sisky had told her, William wasn’t doing great either.
“Is that you, sweetie?” she asked when she heard a voice coming from the living room, then headed that way. Ryland waved at her and kept talking on the phone, while she reached the couch and sat down with a tired sigh.
Once the phone call was over, he sat down next to her and kissed her temple, worried. “Is everything okay?”
“Gabe and Bill broke up,” she informed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Not just a fight, really broke up.”
“How?” Ryland frowned, obviously surprised.
“I couldn’t get much from Gabe, he’s not really in the mood for sharing,” Vicky replied and closed her eyes. “Sisky says William doesn’t talk either.”
“Until they’re willing to talk, there’s nothing you can do,” Ryland told her and kissed her forehead again, trying to comfort her.
“I know, but it sucks,” Vicky said, disappointed, then slowly lay down and put her head on his thighs. “I mean, they seemed so happy, I don’t get it.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Ryland reassured her with a little smile, trailing a hand in her hair. “How is everything else going?”
“I just finished the beta project Pete asked me last month, so I should have more time off for the last arrangements,” Vicky replied, trying to lighten her own mood a little bit. “My mom will be in town next week, she’ll help me out.”
“I could help you too, you know, I’m fairly involved in this wedding,” Ryland joked and she cracked a smile, reaching for his hand.
“I’ll make a list of all the things we still have to do and we’ll share, okay?” Vicky looked up at him, relaxing even more when his hand resumed moving through her hair. “Can we get a singer? I mean, someone who can actually sing, not a lousy wedding band.”
“Of course,” Ryland conceded with a nod. “It’s a great idea, d’you know how to find it?”
“Well, I was thinking about asking Leighton, maybe she knows someone,” Vicky replied, closing her eyes once again. “I wanted to ask her, but she’s a little too dance for a wedding.”
“And she’s the bridesmaid, let’s not exploit her too much,” Ryland pointed out, slightly amused. “One of the nurses, Katy, is a pretty good singer.”
“Let’s keep her in mind too, then,” Vicky said, then frowned for a moment. “Talking about nurses, how’s Ryan doing with the baby?”
“He’s adapting,” Ryland replied with a little smile. “Nate is helping him out, they’re a good team.”
“They’re a good couple,” Vicky corrected him, opening her eyes.
“It’s early to say that, but they have good chances,” Ryland objected with an arched eyebrow. “Especially if Nate keeps behaving like a regular human being.”
“Oh, c’mon, would you all stop giving the poor kid hell?” Vicky rolled her eyes and huffed out a laughter. “Okay, he screwed up with Alex, but it ended up being a good thing.”
“Well, at least we’re all in couples now, no more whining about the need to get laid,” Ryland said, smirking, and when he saw the sad look on his fiancée’s face he smiled. “We are. Gabe and Bill will work things out, trust me.”
“I hope you’re right,” Vicky replied and entwined their fingers.
~~
A/N: is Ryland right? Or is Gabilliam over?
D’you honestly think I will answer those questions? LOL Of course not, because I’m evil and I’ll leave you like this, waiting for next week. *grins*
Let me know what you think about this drama and this chapter. I’ll be here waiting. And remember, if you want the soundtrack, just let me know. :D
See you next week for the last part.
JM