♫
Unlike what he thought, Arthur wasn’t going crazy when he appeared in his room a few hours later.
The manager cast a meaningful glance at his best friend, but waited for Melissa to take advantage of her arrival to go to her own room.
Only when they were alone, Arthur manifest.
"So..." He threw himself on an armchair and observed Gabriel, who had once again accessed his profile to check the comments. There was no new answer from Karen, but the evil insinuations had multiplied stratospherically. "You intend to ignore your mother all day? I've lost count of how many times she called me.”
Gabriel sighed, but didn’t answer. He was even tempted to pretend that he haven’t seen his mother's messages until the dust settled down, but he knew she would show up at his hotel if he did not answer her.
“Or maybe I should get in touch with the marketing people and ask for a statement to make it official what do you have?”
"It’s tempting..." Gabriel tried to play. "But Melissa would rip my balls. And, well, it's not like we had a relationship to make it official.”
"It looks like a relationship when she started posting on your personal Instagram. And such a personal photo, really?”
The singer rolled his eyes. There was nothing exposed in the picture. They didn’t even show up together.
"It doesn't surprise me knows that she was carried away by some breaker..." Arthur continued when his friend didn’t answer. "But how you, who have always been so reserved, allow it?"
“You are exaggerating. In fact, everyone is exaggerating. There's nothing too much in the picture..." The rocker came out. "And I didn’t know she'd posted until earlier today." He laughed, without want to hide that he had liked the girl's attitude. "Audacious, is not it? Honestly, I was surprised ... Positively”
“Gabriel...”
"What's the matter, Arth? It's not like she posted a picture of us in bed or anything. There is no indication that I was with her when the photo was taken.”
“Except for the caption...”
“The caption... My favorite part. But I doubt you know what it means or that anyone knows.”
“I don’t need to know the exact meaning to understand the intimacy that was suggested... Even your fans or the press. It may seem exciting at first, but you won’t like the consequences of this exposure and neither will her.”
"I don’t give a damn what they're thinking... And it's your job to take care that this exposure does not hurt us too much... Especially Mel.”
“Don’t you give a damn? Not for what your family is thinking? And what was that response to Karen? You're not like that, Gabriel. Unless, of course, Melissa did. It's looks like her...”
"Why does it all have to be her fault?" Gabriel interrupted the manager, putting his cell phone aside. “Melissa doesn’t even know the repercussion of the photo that posted, and I intend to keep it unknowingly for now. And as for Karen... I gave the answer she deserved from her childish behavior.”
"She's your sister, Gabriel. Your favorite little sister, remember? And Melissa is just a fan you've been attracted to... It's going to end badly. At some point, you will get tired of playing the famous boyfriend and...”
"I'm not playing here, Arthur”. The singer stood up irritably. "Melissa is not ‘just a fan’. And Karen isn’t better than anyone for being my sister. If that was all you wanted to say... It’s better you enjoy your day off and leave me alone.”
Arthur sighed, but left his place. He was already suspicious and Gabriel had only made it clear, he was too passionate to see it clearly.
"She's troublesome, Gabe”. He said before leaving the room. “She’ll hurt you. And the worst, you'll end up hurting her too”.
"I'm old enough to deal with a broken heart if I have to."
“You? Probably... Melissa, I'm not so sure.”
Voss wanted to reply, but his phone ringing with a call from his mother was the perfect excuse for Arthur to leave him alone.
With a weary sigh, the rocker threw himself on the bed. He was a grown man, why did he have to worry about his mother trying to regulate him?
“Gabriel”. The answer to his question came in the matriarch's tone. He could have 50 years old and he still fear the scolding she was capable of. Besides, he respected her too much to don’t care about her opinion. “You can start explaining”.
He explained everything. He started with the fact that Mel wasn’t really a fan and why he'd relieved it, after all, all that mattered was the connection he felt to her. He explained how he stood beside her, the effect her kisses had on him and how he was ruined when she pushed him away. He said everything, but what Melissa had revealed to him the night before, he had no right to say anything so intimate.
"I'm in love, mom.” He finished. "And maybe she is too."
"You used ‘maybe’, my son. The angry voice had assumed a tender tone. "Is not that enough to be more cautious? Why expose yourself?”
"She had no intention of exposing us..." He tried to explain. "It was probably something she did on impulse. But it has a grand significance for both of us. This photo wouldn’t even get a second look from anyone if I was not famous and...”
"You can’t and shouldn’t change who you are for, Gabriel. And the same is for her. If you're going to take that "thing", as you called it, she has to accept who you are and understand the consequences of being by your side.”
"I suppose I need do the same..." He whispered.
"Of course yes. A relationship...
"That's what I'm doing”. He replied, although he knew his mother hated being interrupted and considered the gesture a lack of education. “Accepting who Mel is and understanding the consequences of being at her side. It’s not just a silly photo online, is a step forward... She needed it and I'm proud to her have achieved it. No exposure, however great, will change that.”
"What are not you telling me?" The mother questioned, intrigued and worried. "Does this have anything related to the fact that she was crying in the photo? Gabriel, what's going on?”
"It's not my story to tell.” He decreed. "Can not you be happy that I've fallen in love when we all thought it would never happen again?"
"I always knew it would happen someday... I hope she does not make you suffer."
"She probably will." He answered a little discouraged. "But not intentionally. I will survive, Mother. I've survived the worst thing, have not I?”
"You're an adult. I'd rather believe you know what you're doing... All I can offer you is my advice”. She replied confidently that she had managed to create a man strong enough to decide his own love life on her own. "And my lap, if you ever need it and want."
"Always, mother”. Gabriel answered with a genuine smile. "But right now, I'm happy as I was not for years. This can’t be bad.”
"It's not..." What his mother said ended up in the background as Melissa unlocked the bedroom door. The extremely flushed face and look slightly lost and teary made the singer realize she had discovered that her small piece online had unleashed.
"Mom..." Gabriel opened his arms to Mel as she jumped onto the bed. "Can we continue this conversation later?"
"That didn’t even start right and you're already giving me away to be with her..." She did a little drama. "This is the terrible fate of every mother.”
The singer laughed heartily, rocking Lissa, who had tucked her head against his chest.
“You can hang up in a minute. I still have something to say.”
“And what would it be?” He pretended not to know as he turned to look at the girl lying next to him. Beautiful, even annoyed.
"Do not be misunderstood, Gabriel Voss. You owe an apology to your sister”.
“She...”
“Shut up! You interrupted me too much already. That was not the education I gave to any of you three.” She paused and sighed. "Which means Karen owes you an apology too..."
“And for Melissa too...”
"How many ti
mes are you going to interrupt me?" The voice grew irritated again. "Yes. She also owes an apology to Melissa. Your sister was wrong to comment on the photo, but she was only worried about you. And you were wrong to answer her. Even though you were hurt with her, you shouldn’t have responded as you answered publicly. You know that everything you say publicly carries more weight. Think about it next time.”
“It's all right”. Rock star agreed. "But I will not accept new insinuations."
"Karen will not do it again. And I expect the same from you”.
Gabriel murmured an acceptance and then a farewell. When he ends the call, he threw his phone somewhere on the mattress and turned completely to Melissa.
She stared at him for a moment, wanting to say so much and not knowing how to begin.
"I'm such an idiot!" She started in the worst possible way, which was almost entirely her characteristic. "Even when I try to do something right, I end up cracking up. I swear I didn’t mean to use your name to...”
"Calm down..." The singer slid his fingers over her lips and in the next moment kissed her sweetly. “It’s better now.” He blinked when she fell silent and looked at him breathlessly. "Now..." He laughed, stroking her delicate face. “Welcome to my world! Where a simple and harmless post on Instagram can trigger varying reactions and maddening. “
"Are not you upset?" She asked without really believing. "They're saying that I wanted to take advantage of your fame, that I'm interested in your money, that I probably fucked you to win the contest and..."
Gabriel's laughter stopped her.
"Even after years, it's still amazing what they can invent... I can’t imagine you interested in being famous. Believe me, it's not as incredible as it seems. I also don’t think you want my money… it would be less of a problem to toil your stepfather's money. And obviously, it was not some kind of couch test that guaranteed you a spot on the tour”.
"That doesn’t change the fact that's what they're talking about ..."
"Does it matter?" He arched an eyebrow. "We know what really happened, do not we? For me, that's what matters.”
“Are you serious? Gabriel, this is ridiculous! Honestly? You should be angry and possibly cursing me for being stupid enough to hack into your profile and post that ridiculous picture.”
"It's not a ridiculous picture." He responded slightly annoyed at how she always stood herself down. "Until a second ago, I was just proud that you could have posted that photo and all that it means. Now I'm starting to get indignant that you're giving importance to a lot of meaningless gossip.”
"It's okay..." She relaxed a bit at the singer's upbeat posture.” It wasn’t a ridiculous picture. And to tell you the truth, I was also a little proud to have posted.”
"That's it..." He threw himself at her side, staring at the ceiling with a smile on his face. "We have nothing to explain to anyone, and nothing to be ashamed of."
Mel looked at the singer from the corner of her eye.
"Do you know what is most impressive? You defended me ... From your witch sister.”
Gabriel twisted his nose at the way she'd called Karen, but chose to ignore it.
"Why is this so impressive?"
"Because no one has ever defended me before..." She answered naturally, and yet filled with sadness.
He wanted to say something shocking enough to ward off the pain he heard in her voice but he couldn’t think of anything before she continued.
“I think I'm going to get hold of your profile... You know, post some interesting and shocking things...”
He laughed, to distract her and to quell the uneasiness he felt every time he encountered her still-open wounds.
"I don’t deny that it would be interesting." He answered, amused. "But maybe we should keep the photos meaningful, interesting, and shocking just for the two of us going forward, my angel."
"Broken Angel..." She stepped into the mood. “Don’t forget.”
"I'm not so sure..." Gabriel leaned forward again. Apparently, someone had their wings patched last night.
Melissa pushed him away, making the back of the man find the mattress and, in a sudden, unexpected move, settled on the singer's hips.
"Will you fly with me, Gabriel?"
The position brought back the excitement he had felt in the morning, making the always powerful voice of the rocker come out flawed and hoarse.
“Always, Mel.”
“Nice!” She smiled and leaned down to kiss his full lips quickly. "But, to make it clear, I will not have sex with you."
She jumped away from his lap, rising to her feet beside the bed.
He was handsome and, absurdly, gentle and loving. Any girl would die to have sex with him, but she could never do it. It would not be worth spoiling everything else with attempts that would probably frustrate him and eventually drive him away.
She could have been depressed by it, and possibly would have been later. But at that moment, Lissa didn’t want to focus on what she could not have, but on what she had already achieved and what she might still be able to do if she really tried.
Gabriel had given her new wings, and for one day she would forget that she didn’t know how to fly and she would throw herself without fear... As long as he was by her side.
CHAPTER TWENTY- FIVE - EVERYTHING
“You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
Where I find peace again”[36]
F ive days off! It was almost a vacation for Gabriel, and he was excited to be able to go home and just relax during this time, before all the turmoil of the tour resumed.
Because time was short, he had no big plans, and the initial schedule indicated that the fan who won the contest could spend those free days also with a visit to her own home, there was no reason to be disturbed by the fact that he would be in Sarasota within a few hours.
Of course, that was before he met Melissa and all the emotional baggage that the girl carried with her. In the moment Arthur reminded him the next steps, Gabriel thought of changing the plans. They could just stay in London where it was cold enough for Melissa to keep the clothes she liked and felt comfortable and away enough from her family.
After hearing her report, he couldn’t imagine her coming home. So much things could happen in five days... The thought made him shudder.
Maybe they should go back to Alaska. It was safe to say that she had liked it there and his family had no plans to visit the house now, which would delay his reunion with Karen ... Something neither was particularly looking forward to. And, perhaps, now that he knew the marks in Mel's arms, she agreed to meet the hot tub overlooking the mounts. It would be nice to spend time with her there.
He had only one problem: He knew that Melissa wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to review her best friend.
He split this with Angela the night after Melissa's birthday, a few hours before they headed to the airport. Obviously, she waited until Mel had returned to her room to pack her luggage.
"So, you guys have a lot of fun together, huh?" Angela raised an eyebrow suggestively. "I still can’t believe she even posted that photo... and that in the end everything was okay. I was worried and a little disappointed that you would give it up so easily.”
"I will not give it up." Gabriel stated, looking to Angela's image from the screen of his notebook. She looked tired and dejected. “How are you?”
"Oh, please, not you." The girl grunted. "Forget about my expiration date, and tell me what happened after that party... I want details that Melissa will never give me.”
Gabriel made a face at her. He was beginning to understand why Mel was annoyed by her best friend's comments. It was a good thing that Angela apparently dealt well with the fact that she was seriously ill, but to hear her speak so naturally about her possible death was uncomfortable and painful.
"If you need anything, you know you can count on me."
Angela smiled genuinely.
"I can think of a lot
of things I need from you, Voss..." she teased. "They'd all make Melissa rip my head off. You know... There was a time when I used to fantasize about coming on a white horse and saving me from eminent death. We would celebrate in my room, all night, without clothes...”
“Ow, this is too graphic for me”. He interrupted her, his face heating. He knew that much of his fan base thought the same, but rather pretend it didn’t happen. It was quite embarrassing.
Angela laughed heartily.
“What?” She pretended not to understand the reason for the singer's embarrassment. “I'm just being honest. But do not worry, my best friend's guy is totally off limits to me... even in fantasy. Actually, it's kind of embarrassing to remember that I thought something like that.”
It was Gabe's turn to laugh.
"So, I'm your best friend's guy now? No longer your sexy and hot idol?”
Angela rolled her eyes.
"She would probably die if she heard me calling you that, but that's how I think about you now. The idol still exists too, but without the sexy and yummy part. I'm sorry to shake your conquering ego.”
He waved, still with a smile on his face, he liked to think of himself as Mel's guy.
"Since my ego was destroyed and we got into the matter... I really wanted to talk about Mel." The rocker glanced at the door, wondering how long it would be before the girl came back. "And it’s better get started. She developed the terrible habit of entering without knocking.”
"I hear a certain singer has the same habit”. Angela kept her tone of provocation. "But, yes, give me the details."
"I will not give any details." He announced. He wasn’t the type to tell much about his personal life to anyone and he wanted to keep what he had with Mel only for himself while he could. "It was an emotional and meaningful evening. After an impressive conversation, we ended the night eating cupcake and I singing. Nothing more. But that's not what I wanted to talk about...”
Angela didn’t insist. Being the best friend of Melissa, she knew what shocking conversations could mean and had learned, over time, she wouldn’t force a subject the other person would want to keep private.
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