Chapter 34

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Alana

Gabriel stared at the rusty old dashboard of his truck, while I continued to stare at his face.His words kept haunting me for a couple of seconds.

Rowan's friend? Gabriel was Rowan's childhood friend?

I found my voice after a while, "You met him that other day in the hospital, didn't you? Does Rowan know it's you?"

That's when Gabriel looked me dead in the eye. There was something else concealed behind those edgy green orbs that I couldn't quite put my finger on. "I thought it was a mere coincidence when you told me about him while working at the restaurant, but the odds of another Rowan Masters walking into my life seemed slim at the time but guess I was wrong. I only went assuming this was a different man and my theories just got blown out of the window when I saw him in the hospital. I can't begin to tell you how shocked I was, Alana."

His fingers still clenched mine, the grip being too harsh sucked the life out of my poor hands. Maybe I'd survive with a few broken bones if not so lucky.

I nodded and urged him to go on. Gabriel continued, not very conscious of my discomfort. "We weren't in touch for sixteen years. I had no idea where Rowan was or what he was doing until you told me about him. There was this thing in the back of my mind constantly telling me it wasn't a co-incidence. It was a part of the reason I insisted on coming with you to the hospital. I wanted to be sure."

"So what do you want me to do?" I asked him.

"Nothing." Gabriel shook his head. "Whatever you do, just don't tell him about me. I want to be the person to talk to him about this. Maybe he'd be surprised; maybe he would want nothing to do with me. I can handle."

I searched for the sincerity in his eyes. "It's not your fault."

Gabriel seemed surprised with the fact that his mind was transparent enough for me to see. "Alana, I..." his voice trailed off as he rubbed his palms together. "I thought Rowan would change but clearly, he hasn't. I'm a part of the reason he has become like this. He left school because of me, and it kills me right now to see where standing up for me has led him."

"I still don't see how any of it is your fault." I said.

"When you first started dating, did you know what you were getting yourself into?"

Now, I'd heard exactly the same question being asked to me several times but framed in different ways. Maybe it was time for me to update an Alana's biography of her screwed up life blog with a tab on top that said FAQ. Then, everyone could just drop in a question so I wouldn't have to answer to them individually. I'd even make Chez the president of the blog.

"No, but I wouldn't take anything back for the world, though given a chance I would like to correct the mistakes I made because there were decisions I took on a whim which resulted very badly." I'd meant every word I'd said. Somewhere down the road, I felt responsible for Rowan, one way or another.

"I don't think anybody wants to be a part of the darkness Rowan lives in." Gabriel was also included in that list of 'anybodies', not that he'd admit. He continued. "You're the first."

After a long pause, he asked, "Can you promise me to keep it a secret?"

"Sure. If that's what you want."

"Alana, will you give me an honest answer if I asked you another question?" Gabriel sounded hopeful. It was time for me to worry because whatever this question was, it sure wasn't going to be pretty. I tried to act less panicky as I gave a nod of approval.

"If Rowan hadn't been in your life, would you have given me a chance?" his voice came off barely audible, so soft that I had to strain my ears to listen.

"Yes." I was trying for a diplomatic answer but failed miserably.

A watched a sigh of relief cross his face. Gabriel did not push the topic any further then that probably because he knew he was walking a thin line. We talked some more, mostly about his future plans and other trivial things. He kept straightening his faded blue t-shirt occasionally, one that I had seen him wear on more than a few occasions. I hadn't a clue how weak he had become, financially. This was a serious problem.

The truck was an automobile skeleton rolling on wheels. If this guy couldn't afford the mega t-shirt sales on Saturdays, how the heck was he going to get the car fixed? If I offered to help, he wouldn't think twice before turning me down politely so I had to thread through the situation carefully.

"Are you going to sell your truck?" I asked him casually.

"I want to but it's not like I'm gonna make much though, but it's still better than nothing." He answered, running his fingers over the wheel instinctively.

"I think I know someone who would be a willing buyer. Chez's friend is into these old models, he'll probably pay you more then what you're expecting."

"That would be great, Alana." I watched a spark pass though his jaded orbs. "I have the papers and everything here."

"I'll talk to Chez first and have his friend call you." Now, it all came down to Chez, I could already imagine the scenario, Chez bellowing at the top of his lungs 'Are you crazy, Alana? That is a junk of a truck! I ain't letting you buy that shit.' I swallowed.

I hopped out of the truck and watched the truck speed away in the darkness. I couldn't forget the joy and the excitement I saw on his face.

****

Rowan

I could hardly recall the last time I had taken anyone's advice or even considered it, not even Alana, much less a doctor but here I was walking on the treadmill, burning off some calories. Not that I needed exercise, but the idea of breaking into a group of mild crazies and introducing myself with a 'Howdy' did not appeal to me as much. Interaction according to Sofia was important, she'd told me the best way of approach was to start off with a conversation. She hadn't mentioned how or who I was supposed to initiate it with. I choose the institution gym and Karl Hansen.

"Turn on the Fucking Tv." Ignorance did not work well with Karl; the guy usually became a victim of Karl's verbal abuse which was mostly in Danish. He sheepishly picked the remote control and threw it towards Karl.

So far, my morning was bright. It was six-thirty and I already felt brain-damaged.

The room filled with a melodious Danish tune. I watched Karl take a seat right in front of me near the large glass see-through walls. I could feel a drop of sweat trickle down my body. I scanned my surroundings for any female species, finding none around, I peeled off the soaked shirt.

"Have you ever considered modeling?"

I grinned at Karl. How the hell hadn't I seen that question coming?

"Being a professor had always been my top priority."

"Was becoming a father before marriage one of those priorities?" the sly smile twitched the corners of his mouth.

There was one rule to maintain in the faculty. Never get on Karl Hansen's bad side. The man could be a devil's spawn on his bad days and an angel otherwise. So far, he had pulled the devil's mask.

"Well, honestly Hansen, it wasn't on my to-do list but I hope you know how things are when you think you're in love and it's that feeling that she is the 'one'. That's how much that woman screwed me up. My daughter was the only aftermath which was worth all the years and money I spent on her. Minnie was the only best thing that ever happened to me."

"Oh, I remember my first fuck; she was a struggling model and my girlfriend for five years until I realized she'd used me as a stepping stone to success. Fortunately for me, she isn't my wife." Karl passed me his wolfish grin. "But, dude, you'd make a great click."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"When you and I are out of this place, we'll talk about business. I'll make you a super model. Mark my words."

I chuckled. "We'll see about that. Depends on who gets out first."

Karl had an eye for male models, not that he was gay or anything. I was amazed when I heard that he was a well-established photographer who had worked with tons of famous brands. His career had come to a pause when his schizophrenia had begun to kick in. He'd told me how he didn't give a damn when he'd almost lost his standing in the industry but it was a close call when his wife threatened to file for a divorce.

It was because of her that he'd agreed to rehabilitate himself.

I saw the woman frequently since she visited the rehab whenever she could. I watched from a distance as they would hug and kiss each other. The feeling of envy would linger within me for a while.

"What is the one thing you want right now but can't have?" Karl asked, narrowing those pools of grey at me.

"There are a lot of things I want but can't have but I'd choose a small one for the road at the moment." I lifted a weight. Higher and lower, the veins in the forearm darkened and faded.

"Irony remains brother, it's part of the reason why you're here."

"I agree."

Just when our conversation took a turn for the better and we had launched into the old rusty pages of our life, and that's when I heard Megan call out to me.

"Row." Megan peeked into the room, her smile was contagious. "You have a surprise visitor."

"Who is it?"

"It's your girl. The visitor's room. Run along, now." Megan said, giving me her megawatt smile.

My girl? As in Minnie?

Because it seemed highly unlikely that Alana would fly all the way from home across the country to see me.

I didn't wait any longer as I dashed through the door and out in the hallway. I took long strides down the staircase. Two entire months, and this was the first time I was having a visitor. My heart continued to pound fiercely as I neared the visitors room.

No one seemed to be in the vast room except a mother and her son huddled in corner, and all of a sudden a pair of boots came under my view. My eyes traveled up and my breath hitched in my throat.

How could she be here? I had to be dreaming, right?

Stood before me was the girl I had left because I was too coward to face her, the girl who had a claim over my heart.

Alana looked so beautiful, she wore a white off shoulder top over navy denims matched with the boots. Her shoulder length brown hair seemed to have gotten some caramel colored highlights, and the curls cascaded down her shoulders. Her full lips were a shade of maroon which gave her an older look.

I wondered if I had walked into another dimension or did she really change just in a matter of a few months.

Maybe I had picked on some of Hansen's Schizophrenia, that would explain why I was clearly hallucinating my girlfriend who was supposed to be studying in her dorm room or attending classes.

"Cat caught your tongue, Mr. Masters?" Alana smiled, sarcasm dripping her voice.

****

A.N: Hey Everyone! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please Vote and Comment telling me what you think. It's always lovely to read your comments.

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