Gabriel*

"Fuck you, you... you..." I struggled for the right word that would describe this manipulative, perverted, asshole 'best friend'. He raised his hands in a placatory gesture but there was nothing submissive about it.

I looked away from him, trying to grasp at the straws of my composure.

"Now, don't you want to know about the Houses?" He whispered and every nerve I had gone taut as he began to walk towards me.

I didn't know if he has always sounded like an invitation to sin or was he simply doing to unsettle me or maybe it was all in my mind.

"What Houses?" I asked.

The stranger leaned forward a fraction, his slow smile inviting a similar response and I'm not in the mood.

I didn't move.

"You wanted to know?" He stood a little too close. I was having trouble hearing his words with him so near... so touchable. He smelled of danger and wildness. It was the ultimate sensation. Or was I already cracking?

I fought the attraction.

"It's a long story." He sighed and shook his head as if suddenly changing his mind.

"Then why did you even bring it up if you're not going to tell me about them?" I echoed his movements and searched his face for answers.

He leaned infinitesimally closer.

"I don't want to spill any of the family secrets or else I'd be punished by my own House." He smiled and my heart jumped. I wasn't sure whether to take him seriously or not. Ugh. It feels like he's teasing me again.

I lifted my hand and then paused. Not a good idea to slap him when he had a knife in there somewhere.

I dropped my hand.

"If you see me at school, don't talk to me. Don't draw any attention to yourself. I'll think of a plan to keep you safe from the others. I'll pretend I'm with them and act like you are my enemy. That I still wanted to kill you." He warned as he watched me with those smoldering blue eyes. "Remember in waking life, you have to stay away from me and from suspicious people with tattoos on their right hand. Don't ever try to take off your necklace again and I'll be taking off my glamour from now on. Try to ignore me at school as much as possible, okay?"

"As long as you're not Riley, ignoring you is an easy task." I shot back and held up a hand. "Wait, was Riley even your real name or just an alias to go by while you befriended a pitiful loser like me?"

He appeared astounded at what I said and he replied, "My real name is Gabriel but you knew me as Riley. And you're not a pitiful loser. I valued our friendship so much. Everything was real for me!" He seized my shoulders as if to shake me, his blue eyes blazing with the challenge. "Do you feel the same way too?"

Another silence.

My breath came out in a gasp as my buried emotions cascaded in my mind. A whimper escaped my throat as I closed my eyes, covered my ears, and rocked back and forth, trying to get a hold of my emotions.

I can see some resemblance to his, Gabriel's, personality with my best friend, Riley. Riley is fun to be with because of her dry humor and adventurous spirit but she's very stubborn and distant sometimes.

She has mastered the art of deflection just like this stranger. When we fight, I was always the one who apologized even if it wasn't my fault.

I value our friendship more than anything else. The fantasy bubble had burst and now I'm alone by myself. Because the irrevocable truth is that she/he has hidden agendas!

"You lie, Riley or Gabriel, or whatever! You're not my best friend anymore! You can fuck off and disappear in my life and be a stranger like you always are. I was just fine in this world when you weren't there for me in the beginning." I jerked away from him, sobbing. I was so angry and disappointed I wonder which of the two of us I was trying to convince. I whispered brokenly. "I'm fine by myself. I always am."

Gabriel moved towards the darkness with his head bowed and I couldn't quite see his expression. He said silently, "If that's the case, I'll return the memories I stole from you."