"ALI!"

Ali turned when she watched Kyle ran after her and stopped long enough for Kyle to catch his breath. "Yes?"

"What the fuck? You come to my work...my school to talk to me and then you leave? What the Hell is wrong with you?"

"Sorry, you just seemed too busy so I left..." she looked down as Bryan's words swam in her head and looked Kyle in the eyes. "Do you like that boy? The one that is injured?"

Kyle was taken aback from the comment and that was all the confirmation she needed as she turned on her heels and began to walk away. Not understanding what that has to do with anything, Kyle grabbed her arm and turned her around rather harshly.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because he seems like your type...and I wanted to tell you something, but it can wait till later. I guess...just follow your heart and choose who you want to be with. Either way, I wish you the best of luck," she wrenches her arm away from him as she began to sprint away leaving him in the middle of the sidewalk.

The next two days were really a hassle for both of them. Bryan as always was a stubborn ass and didn't hear any noes from Gabriel. Quite rightly, because Gabriel stressed that he could not write, do most things by himself, not having estuary for his usual energy and thinking about Kyle behaves as capricious child.

After Kyle went to work, he had to push aside all of his personal feelings and questions to just be able to focus on work. During work hours he was able to get information to start online classes so he didn't have to worry about attending classes and even put in a request to move out of the dorms next term.

The next couple of days, he didn't visit Gabriel not because he didn't want to. Rather Trevor came to pick him up after work and took him back to his place for some fun. Kyle tried on a few occasions to let him go home, however Trevor seemed nervous and insecure and wanted him to stay. So he did and wondered what Ali wanted to talk about and if Gabriel was going to fall for his ex, Bryan.

For Gabriel it were two long weeks. And now, when they took off his cast it was even harder. He had a long road to full recovery as a doctor said. Lots of exercises and pain. Bryan was the only person helping him go through it. Gabriel was really grateful for it. They talked a lot in those two weeks and became friends again despite what had happened between them.

Today was Gabriels first day without a cast. They went for a short walk and now were sitting on his favourite bench.
"You should see him," said Bryan looking on the ducks.
"Why? You told him he may visit if he wants. He didn't come. Isn't it enough answer how he feels about me?"
"Don't lie to me. You still love him and still have hope. It's eating you from the inside."
Gabrielsighed and scratched his neck.
"Hope is for fools and I am the one.."
"Maybe you are or maybe are not. Want me to kidnap him and bring him to you?", he asked only half joking.
"Nope. He must come to me of his own free will anything less wouldn't be significant."
"That sucks", said Bryan ruffling Gabriels hair.
"Yea."

Kyle wondered if fate was blocking him from seeing Gabriel. Every time he tried to visit him, work asked him to cover a shift. A classmate needed to be tutored or Trevor intercepted him. He was forced upon a couple of times by him, but in the end did give in.

"This time, I will see him," whispered Kyle as he headed to the address he was able to obtain from the university to where Gabriel was staying.

"Hello Kyle," said a honeyed voice behind him.

"Not now Ali," he responded with his back turned to her and kept on walking.

"I know, you are going to talk to that man. So I am tagging along," she said with a grin and skipped to be next to him.

"Why do you need to come along?"

"Because I need to talk to Bryan."

"...Do as you wish."

Once reaching the address, Kyle stood outside his door and was debating about knocking when Ali knocked rather loudly for him.

"No turning back now," she said and tossed her hair back.

They were going back when Gabriel's leg started hurt really badly. When he told Bryan about it he took him on his hands without a word.
"Hey. I'm gonna be ok, put me down," he said, blushing.
"No. Hide your pride to the pocket for this short time. The doctor said not to strain your leg."
Gabriel just sighed. What could he say? Bryan was right.

When they were almost at the door of Gabriel he heard something that sounded like a knock. His heart started to beat faster. They came just when Ali tossed her hair back.
"Ah. Hello cuties," said Bryan jokingly, letting his friend go and looking for the keys. "We were on a little walk. I understand that you are here to visit us too, my lady? Or was I so stunning the other time that you just wanted to see me?" he asked Ali with a wink.
Gabriel just stood there and stared wide-eyed at Kyle. He could not believe that he came here. Did it mean anything?
"Come in", said Bryan, taking Gabriel on his hands once more just to put him on the couch. "Want something to drink? Coffee, tea or something else?"
When he assembled orders nodded to Ali.
"Will you help me? Our host is immobilized and it's to much for me to bring it all here by myself."

Kyle gave a nervous smile and lifted his hand in a "hello" fashion as Ali stepped inside.

"I wouldn't call you stunning, but 'okay'," Ali replied sarcastically as she walked in. When asked for help, she got the hint and followed Bryan, "of course."

Kyle stepped inside a few seconds later and walks to the couch where Gabriel was sitting, seeing that the cast was gone, he smiled slightly. "So you are a fast healer?"

Gabriel flinched and looked at Kyle for few seconds just to look away.
"It seems. Doctor was surprised and called me a cat. But I have some time of rehabilitation before even thinking about normal walking."
He clenched his hands, nervous and not knowing what else to say or ask about.

"Ah I see." Kyle just sat there and didn't know what else to say and looked around from where he was at and tried to end the silence. "So..."

Gabriel was silent for few moments. It took all his courage to look at Kyle for a last time before he spoke up.
"Sorry.. but are you with Trevor? I need to know. And also if you are not if there is any chance you would be with me? I..", he stopped, hiding his face in his hands. "It scares me.. i-it really does. How much I crave you yet how much I want to run away from it. I.. I never loved someone like that. So just tell me if you don't want me. I swear...... I won't bother you ever again, just give me your answer and set me free. Please."
Gabriels voice was full of desperation as he said that. Shaking, almost not able to breath, he was waiting for the answer.