Elena had never been one to dwell on things for too long, but the past few days had been a different story. After the cruel mockery from Mia and her friends, the weight of the gossip had settled on her shoulders, heavy and unrelenting. She needed to escape something to quiet the constant buzzing in her mind. And that’s when she remembered the beach.
It was a quiet piece, and sand just outside the city, a peaceful retreat where the sound of the waves crashing against the shore could drown out the world. She had walked along its edge countless times before, always alone, always trying to forget. Today, though, it felt more necessary than ever. The sun had started to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, but it was still warm enough to leave her feeling comfortable in her oversized sweater and jeans.
As she made her way to the beach, the stress of the day began to ebb away, replaced by the soothing rhythm of the waves. She took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill her lungs. For a moment, she could almost convince herself that the world wasn’t so cruel, that it wasn’t out to break her. But of course, the reality was different. It always was.
She kept her eyes trained on the horizon, trying to focus on the calming view, but her mind wouldn’t let go of the words Mia had spoken, the whispers that followed her wherever she went. They were relentless, just like Gabriel’s cold eyes, the way he seemed to enjoy seeing her uncomfortable. The way he always made her feel like she didn’t belong.
But tonight, she wasn’t going to think about him. She promised herself that.
Or so she thought, until she spotted him.
Gabriel was standing near the water’s edge, his back to her. His dark hair ruffled by the wind, he looked like he was lost in his thoughts, staring out at the vast expanse of water. She froze, suddenly unsure of what to do. It was impossible to ignore him, the same way it was impossible to ignore the way her heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight of him. She didn’t want to be caught staring. She didn’t want him to know she was there.
Slowly, she began to back away, making sure to keep her steps light, but as fate would have it, the wind shifted, carrying her scent straight to him. Before she could make her escape, she heard his voice, rough and cold, calling out to her.
“Stop where you are, lost puppy.”
Elena’s heart leaped in her chest, the words sending a chill down her spine. His voice-so familiar, so confident sent a rush of goosebumps across her skin. She didn’t want to turn around, didn’t want to face him after everything that had happened, but she couldn’t bring herself to ignore him either. Slowly, hesitantly, she turned back, meeting his gaze.
Gabriel was standing a few feet away now, his posture casual, but there was something about his eyes that felt different. They were still intense, still calculating, but there was a hint of something else in them. Something softer, almost uncertain. His lips twitched, as if he was debating whether or not to smile, but he quickly masked it, his expression falling back into its usual cold indifference.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone more curious than mocking.
Elena swallowed, trying to push down the sudden surge of emotion that swirled inside her. “I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. She crossed her arms over her chest, unwilling to show any weakness, unwilling to let him see how much his presence unnerved her. She didn’t even know why she felt this way. He was the same Gabriel, the same bully who had tormented her since day one at Kingston. But something about this moment felt different.
“I come here when I need to think,” Gabriel said, his gaze drifting back to the water. “You?”
Elena didn’t answer right away. There was no point in telling him the truth. He wouldn’t understand. She wasn’t sure she understood it herself.
“I just needed to get away from everything,” she said finally, her voice quieter this time. She didn’t want to sound vulnerable, but it was the truth. “School, people, the gossip…”
Gabriel nodded, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, the only sound the rhythmic crash of the waves against the shore. Elena wasn’t sure what to make of the quiet. She couldn’t tell if he was waiting for her to say something, or if he was just lost in his own thoughts again.
“So you’re hiding, then?” Gabriel asked after a beat, his voice surprisingly soft. It was a tone she wasn’t used to hearing from him. Usually, he was taunting, cold. But tonight, there was something else. Something more vulnerable beneath the surface.
“I’m not hiding,” Elena snapped, defensive as always. “I’m just… taking a break.”
Gabriel smirked slightly, but there was no malice behind it. It was almost as if he was genuinely interested in what she had to say. The way he looked at her, as if he was trying to figure her out, made her uneasy. Why was he looking at her like that? Why was he talking to her like they were equals, like they weren’t from two completely different worlds?
Before she could overthink it, Gabriel took a step closer, and Elena instinctively took a step back. His presence was overwhelming, like he was commanding the space around them. She couldn’t help but feel small in his shadow, even though she tried to stand her ground. His eyes flickered to hers, and for the first time since meeting him, there was no judgment there. No mockery. Just… something else.
“What’s your name again?” he asked suddenly, his voice low.
“Elena,” she replied, her heart skipping a beat. Why was he asking? He’d known her name for weeks now. Had he forgotten?
He tilted his head, studying her for a moment. “Right… Elena.”
The way he said her name made something inside her stir, something she couldn’t quite explain. But she couldn’t let herself think about it too much. Not with everything that had been going on. Not with the way he had treated her since the moment they’d met. He was still the same Gabriel the cruel, arrogant, untouchable guy who liked to put her in her place. Nothing had changed. Nothing could change.
But as she stood there, trying to keep her emotions in check, Gabriel took another step closer, his breath now close to her ear. She could feel the warmth of his body radiating against her, and the intensity of his presence sent her pulse racing.
“I don’t get you, Elena,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you put up with everything? All the gossip, all the… people. You don’t have to. You could be like them.”
“Like them?” Elena asked, frowning. “Like who?”
He gestured vaguely toward the empty beach, his eyes narrowing. “Like the ones who follow the rules, the ones who keep their heads down. You could fit in. You’re not like them, but you don’t have to be like me either.”
Elena shook her head, her frustration building. “I don’t want to be like anyone else. I just want to… live.”
Gabriel’s eyes softened for a moment, a flicker of something real passing through them. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, a loud noise interrupted them. Elena flinched, startled by the sound of a car revving in the distance.
Gabriel turned abruptly, his expression hardening again. “I should go,” he said, his voice now a little sharper. “But… next time, don’t run away, okay?”
And with that, he walked away, leaving Elena standing there, her mind racing, her heart pounding in her chest. What had just happened? What had he meant by that?
Before she could process everything, a voice interrupted her thoughts, and Elena turned to see a figure walking toward her, a familiar face.
It was Mia.
And this time, Mia wasn’t smiling.