In this chapter, I wanted to showcase how Gabe is torn between the different roles he plays as a protector and businessman, while hinting at the unresolved tension between him and his mother. As he works to protect Noah, he also faces the reality that perhaps the people closest to him–his own blood–may not have his best interests at heart.
MILA Sophomore Year“Hi! I’m Mila Davis. I am a strong, beautiful, black girl and I don't need…” I looked down at the text message from my friend, Gabe, who hasn’t been to school all week. Affirmation for the day he texted. I cleared my throat and looked back into the mirror. “...and I don’t need validation from anyone but myself.”Don’t get me wrong. I think I was pretty cute. Frizzy afro that I have given up on taming, pleasantly plump cheeks that grandies loved to pinched and small freckles that I think added a little flair to my face. Framing my face were thick, rounded glasses that magnified my light brown eyes, and honestly made me look smart. Who didn’t want to look smart? I took pride in dark brown skin, not a single blemish in sight. Well aside from the vitiligo in certain spots, but those spots were in places that only my beloved would be able to see. Still, despite societal stereotypes, I was determined to be seen. Just maybe after I graduate highschool.I took a deep brea
MILA“Hi, I’m Mila Davis. Welcome to Grand Mountain High.” I turned to my classmate, Jenna. “How was that? Too preppy?”“Does it matter?” Jenna sighed heavily at my concern. “No one cares about high school. They’re all the same and everyone is just trying to survive long enough to graduate.”I brushed it off, knowing the importance of a first impression. I continued to fix my unruly curly afro in the mirror, frowning when the hair tie popped out of my hand. I walked to retrieve it from the floor.“I know Jenna, but I’m part of the student council, and things like this matter when you need references for college. Besides, if I do this, it could get me closer to getting the Aliz Women in Arts Scholarship. They only give it to one student a year, and it's going to be mine before I graduate.”“Slow down, Mila,” Jenna urged. “You’re a sophomore. College is so far away and besides I think everyone should take the first year off to decide if they really need unnecessary debt.”“I can’t afford
MILAAfter showing the Mora girls to their lockers we ran into Gabe, who had a bouquet of flowers in his hands. His gaze met mine, a smile illuminating his face until he noticed the company I was with. Amber greeted him first, her playful banter revealing a history between them.“Grubbs, it’s been a while,” Amber smiled, pinching his cheeks. “Did you gain more weight since this summer?” “Stop,” Gabe said, obviously irritated, “and that’s not my name.”“How can I not call you that with those chipmunk cheeks like these?” Amber joked.I cringed at that word, chipmunk. I hated it but despite her teasing, I couldn’t help but find Gabe endearing. His rich, brown skin and his rosy cheeks and dimples exude a boyish charm. His eyes, a captivating blend of light brown hues, held a kindness that belied his own struggles. His curly hair, a wild mass framing his face, added to his allure. I thought it was always cute the way he constantly had to move his hair out of the way. He might not fit the
MILAThree weeks was all it took for the Mora girls to seize control over everything. In three months, everyone and their friends were clamoring to be part of their exclusive crew. Requests flooded in, only to be turned down left and right. I even heard a girl donated to their father’s non-profit fund to try to get a seat at their table. Now it was Tyler, Ari, Amber, Julia, Randall and Leo. I didn’t know what the fuss was about. It was just a table like any other table.“That’s what a loser would say,” Jenna teased me until I saw her a few days ago, hanging around them like a moth to a flame.I wasn’t that jealous or even that mad. Jenna wasn’t like my best friend. We both grew up in the orphanage and worked together at the packhouse sometimes. Now I heard she worked at the Moras’ residence. It made sense she would eventually hang with them. I’d caught her making out with Randall in the laundry room more times than I could count. It didn’t matter to me, but it sucked when I was on laun
MILAFor the past week, I avoided Gabe as much as I could. My mind kept drifting back to the awful incident in the sewing room. The humiliation, the pain, the feeling of helplessness–it all came back every time I closed my eyes. I couldn’t even work on my designs without going back there. Even though I kept my head down, Tyler and his friends would throw quips my way whenever they caught me alone or in the halls. Either snipping at me with scissors or loading my locker up with pieces of fabric. So, I made it my mission to try to leave as soon as I could.“Mila?” I jumped as the familiar voice broke my reverie. Gabe was standing beside me, concern etched on his face. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been avoiding me lately.”His concern tore my heart. I wanted to tell him the truth–that his brother Tyler and his friends had tormented me, ruined my dress for the dance, and was making my life a living hell. But I couldn’t. Instead, I forced a smile and shook my head. “I’m fine, Gabe. Just…a l
MILA“Miss Josalyn! Hey!”Wow, that was too excited. I thought as Head Housekeeper, Josalyn, looked at me suspiciously. She must’ve had the straightest spine I’ve ever seen. She barely moved her head even when looking down at me and she always kept her hands clasped in front of her. She took a deep breath before speaking.“It has come to my attention that you are behind on your chores, Miss Davis,” she started with a hint of malice. “I do not tolerate laziness on any of my shifts. Do you understand?”“Of course, Miss–”She waved me off. “Since it seems you are prone to laziness, I’ve added a few extra chores to get you up to par. If I were you I would start now to ensure proper sleep for the morning chores.”She placed the list in my hands and turned quickly to leave. The workload was definitely enough for three people at least and the dance started in two hours. “Now I’m never going to the dance,” I cried, walking to the first list of things. “I won’t even have time to go buy a dress
ARI“Ahhhh!”I jumped back from another boy trying to ask me for a dance. Chad Fredrick, a stupid name by the way, stood in front of me with his hand held out. I looked him up and down, not concealing my disdain. The dance was in full swing, lights flashing and music thumping, but it wasn’t loud enough for me to miss his request. What was with these losers thinking they had a chance with me? They should know by now, Arianna Crystal Mora, doesn’t bottom feed. I would rather die. “Look, Charles…” I start swiping his hand away.“It’s Chad,” he corrected, but I ignored him. I knew his name. I just didn’t care to get it right.“...it’s cute you think you have a chance and honestly I’m surprised to see you breathing within ten feet of my personal space. So how about you go find someone in the cesspit of losers to dance with?”Chad’s face fell and the little hopeful light dimmed in his eyes–something I was proud of. “I just thought–”“No, you don’t think,” I cut him off. “I’m way out of you
GABEDammit! Why were my hands so clammy? Stupid handkerchief wasn’t useful at all. I stuffed it back into my front pocket as I glanced over at Mila, my date. I still couldn’t believe I was here with her. Of course, that was why I was nervous. She was standing next to me, and she was stunning. The most beautiful girl at the dance, and by the looks of it, I wasn’t the only one that thought so. Every eye seemed to be on us, making me more nervous than I already was. Mila, on the other hand, was oblivious. She was more enthralled by the decorations, music, and arcade on the other side of the gym.“This is so awesome,” she geeked. “I don’t even know what to do.”“Oh,” I said, remembering the last thing I got her. “I forgot about this.”I pulled her mom’s necklace from my pocket and watched as her eyes grew big. No sooner had I placed it around her neck, she turned and pulled me into a tight hug. My breath caught in my throat and my mind went blank.All I could focus on was the feeling of