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Soooooo.  hey there person! It's been forever and a day since I've updated this story... Sorry!  I've been kinda sorta busy with life and stuff... So yeah.  Here's chapter 26!  Again, sorry it took so long... Thank you to all of you who have stuck by me the whole time though!  You all deserve like a million hugs or something xD Also, whaddya think of the new cover?? 

I have some SUPER AWESOME EXCITING NEWS. But I'll wait until the end of this chapter to share. You've waited for this long enough *sighs*  Hehe  I think you'll like this one ;)  I'll explain the song and picture at the end :)

PLEASE READ THE NOTE AT THE END.  PRETTY PLEASE.  I'LL GIVE YOU A VIRTUAL BACK MASSAGE.

Chapter Twenty Six- Zeek's POV

   The next few days practically flew by, and before we knew it, Naomi, Austen and I were on our way to Gabe's house on New Year's Eve.

  "You look wonderful by the way."  Austen whispered, kissing my cheek lightly.  

  "Thanks, Love."  I giggled and pressed my lips to his.

  "Ew. Gay people."   Naomi teased from the front seat.

  "Ew, straight people."  I teased back, pointing at her hand, which was resting on Jack's thigh as he drove.  Jack just rolled his eyes and chuckled.

  "Baaaabee are we almost there?"  Naomi whined to Jack.

  "We are there."  He answered, pulling over and parking the car.  There were quite a few cars parked in the street, in the yard and the driveway.  There were definitely a lot of people there.

  "Will you carry me?"  I asked Austen when we got out of the car.  He just laughed and crouched down so I could jump on his back.  

  Gabe's house was pretty big.  There were two floors and a two car garage, and from what I could tell, a swimming pool in the back yard, though it was too cold to actually go swimming.  The party looked quite calm compared to what I though it would be like.  Gabe's parents made him promise there wouldn't be any alcohol or drugs, or else his car would be taken away.

  We got inside and Austen set me back on the floor.  I looped my arm through his and pulled him through the crowd.  We eventually found Luke and Gabe chatting in the kitchen. My head throbbed slightly at the memory of Gave shoving me to the ground and I shuddered. 

  "You okay, Babe?". Austen asked, concern in his beautiful eyes.

  "I'm fine, Love.  Don't worry about me.". He just chuckled and pecked my nose.

  "Honey, it's my job to worry about you."  I felt my cheeks begin to burn, so I hid my face in Austen's chest and smiled secretly when he pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head.  

  "Zeek!  Austen!"  I reluctantly pulled away from my gorgeous boyfriend to see who was calling for us.

  "Luke!  Hey, how are you?"  I smiled and gave him a hug, glancing toward Gabe who was standing at the other side of the kitchen with pain in his eyes.  

  "I'm alright.  When did you guys get here?"  

  "Like two seconds ago."  Austen chuckled and snaked an arm around my waist.

  "Well I'm glad you guys came!"  Luke said with a wide smile.  I opened my mouth to respond, when Gabe interrupted me.

  "Hey Luke, let's go see if Millie is here yet." Luke's smile grew even wider at the mention of his little sister.

  "Okay!  I'll catch up with you guys later!"  I couldn't help but notice the glare Gabe shot me as they walked away.

  "What was that about?"  Austen questioned.

  "Who knows.  Do you wanna go sit outside?  It's getting kinda hot in here."  I pulled at my jacket sleeves suddenly feeling very sweaty.   

  "Sure.  Let's go out back."  We made our way to the backyard.  Nobody was there, and there was a little rocking chair sitting on the porch.  Austen sat down and pulled me down onto his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around me.  I tucked my head into his neck.

***

  We sat like that for a while and had meaningless conversation until we were interrupted by the blaring of the boombox being turned up even louder.

  "Do you wanna go dance?"  I nodded and was about to get up from Austen's lap, only to be pulled back down.

  "I thought you wanted to dance?"  I questioned with a smile.

  "I do.  But I want a kiss first."  I rolled my eyes and pressed my lips to his in a soft kiss.  I pulled away after a few seconds, making him pout.  I just chuckled and rolled my eyes again.

  "Greedy bastard."  He laughed and kissed me again.  "I love you, Aussie."  I whispered against his lips.

  "I love you too, Zeeky."  He finally let me off his lap and laced our fingers together.  A lot more people had arrived while we were outside, so the house was pretty crowded.  We found an empty spot in the corner of the living room and I put my arms around Austen's neck, and his went around my waist.

  "Do you know how to dance?"   I asked him.  He shrugged.

  "A little I guess.  My mom made me take ballroom lessons when I was younger..."  I grinned.

  "You never told me that."  I teased.

  "It's embarrassing. I'll show you another time when they're aren't as many people around."    I nodded and looked around at the other people in the room.  Gabe was standing not too far away from us, dancing with a girl.  Luke was on the other side of the room staring at them with a sad look on his face. 

  "Do you think Gabe likes Luke?"  Austen whispered in my ear.

  "I think he does, but he's scared to admit it."  I looked up at Austen's face, right into his eyes.  "I get where he's coming from. I was terrified to tell anyone, especially you because I idn't want to lose you.  Gabe is a popular guy, and he's known for feeling not so positive toward the gay community and if he's keeping this a secret then there's  probably a good reason.  Maybe he just figured it out himself and hasn't accepted it?  Or maybe he doesn't think he has a chance.  I mean, Luke did tell him he liked me instead of him.  What if he hasn't said anything because he thinks he wouldn't have a chance?"  He thought it over for a moment and then smiled.

  "Well there's only one way to find out, isn't there?"

Gabe's POV

  "Hey Gabe, do you wanna dance?"  I looked up and saw a pretty red head smiling nervously at me.   I didn't want to dance with her.  There was only one person I wanted to dance with, and he probably didn't want to dance with me anyway.  

  "Sure."  I told her, glad to have a distraction.  She smiled and gripped my arm, pulling me into the living room.  She put her hands on my shoulders and I reluctantly put my hands on her hips.  She wasn't a bad dancer, and neither was I, but I still wasn't quite into it.  Especially when her hands began to travel lower.  She ran a painted red nail down my chest and bit her lip in an effort to look sexy.  It wasn't working.   I just puller her hand away.  She seemed to have the wrong idea, because she grabbed my hand and put it right on her butt.  I simply pushed her off of me and stepped back.

  "Sorry Sarah, but I think I've had enough dancing."  She walked up to me and slapped me right across the face.

  "It's Samantha, you asshole!"  She stormed off and I couldn't help but laugh.  Suddenly, I was being pulled from the crowd by a strong hand.  I looked up to see none other than Austen Kade pulling me outside, his boyfriend right beside him.  He didn't let go until the three of us were standing on the back porch with the door shut behind them so I couldn't leave.

  "Okay, is there a reason you pulled me out here against my will?"  I spat at them. I was angry and jealous.  Jealous I couldn't be like them.  Jealous that the guy I loved, was in love with someone else completely.

  "Yes actually.  We wanted to talk about Luke."  Zeek answered calmly.  I felt my anger begin to rise and I couldn't help but yell.

  "Luke?!  You want to talk about Luke?!  How about you stop breaking his heart?  The poor guy is in love with you!  Can't you see that?  Luke is the best person in the world, and he has had the worst life I can possibly imagine.  He deserves love.  He deserved the best kind of love he can possibly get.  He deserves the best person in the world, yet he chooses you!  I don't get it!  He's so perfect and I-..I-..."  I felt the tears prick at my eyes and I tried to wipe them away before they saw, but as soon as I felt Zeek pull me into his arms, I let it all go.  I sobbed into his shoulder like a baby.  "I love him... I love him so much but he doesn't love me... He loves you and he's hurting... He can't have you..."  I pulled away once my tears stopped and looked away in embarrassment.  

  "Gabe..."  Zeek whispered.  "You're wrong.  Luke doesn't love me.  He told you that because he didn't want you to know the truth.  He was scared you would act badly."

  "Truth?  What truth?"  He just smiled.

  "He loves you, Gabe."  Austen answered for him.  My head began spinning.  

  "H-he.. what?"  I stammered.

  "Luke loves you."  He repeated.

  "How do you know?"

  "He told us.  And it's kinda obvious."  Zeek chuckled.  It took a moment, but it finally settled in my brain, and a huge grin showed up on my face.

  "He loves me."  I whispered to myself.  I probably looked like a giddy schoolgirl at that moment, but I honestly didn't care.  He loved me!  Luke actually loved me!

  "So, you should probably go tell him how you feel."  Zeek said.  I suddenly had a brilliant idea.

  "Will you guys help me with something?"  

  "You're not gonna push me again, are you?"  Zeek asked jokingly.

  "No... I'm so sorry about that... Are you okay?  I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"  He just shook his head.

  "I'm just fine, and it's okay.  It's in the past.  Of course we'll help you.  What did you have in mind?"  I grinned and told them both my plan.

Luke's POV

  It was only a few minutes away from the new year, and I was sitting by myself in the corner with a glass of room-temperature sparkling cider.  I was standing in the living room watching Gabe dance with some girl before I couldn't take it anymore and went to the kitchen to get something to drink.  I came back only to see that Gabe and the girl were gone, probably up in his bedroom.  I stared at the cup of cider in my hand wishing it would turn into something stronger, when something stole my attention.  I could hear Gabe yelling in the living room for everyone to be quiet.  I made my way through the crowd so I could see him and I was shocked to see him standing on top of the dining table with his guitar in hand.  He never performed in front of anyone... 

  "Hey guys, I know it's almost midnight and you're all super excited for the new year, but I need to do something.  Something I should've done so long ago... There's this person..."  I watched as his eyes filled with love.  "Gosh...This person is probably the best person I have ever met.  I can honestly say I'm in love with them.  They mean the world to me, and I think it's finally time I let them know that.  So here's to the greatest person in the world!"  I felt my heart shatter inside my chest.  He... He loved someone else.  I thought back to the girl he was dancing with.  Could it be her?  Soon the room was filled with the sound of him strumming the strings of his guitar to one of my favorite songs, which hurt me even more.  Not only did he have to have some grand love confession, which included serenading the girl of his dreams, but he also had to use my favorite song?!  I turned around to leave, but I was blocked by none other than Zeek and Austen.   Behind them were about thirty other people.  In other words, I had to stand there and listen to Gabe serenade some girl and try to not look heartbroken.  I looked around at the people in the crowd and eventually found the redhead Gabe was with.  Only this time she was making out with a different guy.  I looked up at Gabe and noticed he saw them too.  He just rolled his eyes and looked around the room, beginning to sing.

  "When I see your smile, tears run down my face.  I can't replace and now that I'm stronger I've figured out how this world turns cold and breaks through my soul..."  I felt the familiar feeling of love and adoration bubble up inside me, and I couldn't help but smile at his smooth voice.  He kept scanning the room, as if he were searching for someone.  "And I know, I'll find deep inside me I can be the one."  I closed my eyes and let myself  get lost in the sound of his singing like I'd done so many times before.  I listened to him sing my favorite song, and I kept my eyes closed, even when I heard him getting louder.  I hummed along and kept my eyes closed until my favorite part of the song when someone nudged my shoulder.  I turned to see who it was and saw Zeek wiggling his eyebrows and motioning for me to look in front of me, so I did.  I was shocked to see Gabe standing right in front of me, still singing.  I nearly died when he looked right into my eyes and continued singing with a wide smile on his face. "Seasons are changing and waves are crashing and stars are falling all for us.  Days grow longer and nights grow shorter.  I can show you, I'll be the one.  I will never let you fall.  I'll stand up with you forever.  I'll be there for you through it all, even if saving you sends me to Heaven.  'Cause you're my, you're my, my.. My true love.. My whole heart.  Please don't throw that away..."  Gabe kept his eyes locked on mine and I stood frozen with a stupid look on my face as he finished the song.  "I will never let you fall... I'll stand up with you forever."   The crowd cheered loudly when the song was finished and Gabe handed his guitar to Austen, who was now standing beside me.  I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it right after.  I didn't know what to say...  Soon everyone around us began shouting.

  "TEN, NINE, EIGHT..."  Gabe smiled at me and counted along.

  "SEVEN, SIX, FIVE..."  I gave him a shy smile back.

   "FOUR, THREE, TWO..."  Gabe stepped closer and put his arms around me, lifting me into the air.

  "One."  We said together, both with bright smiles on our faces.  I could hear people cheering all around us, and I felt hundreds of pieces of confetti land in my hair, but I didn't care.  I didn't care that there were about a hundred people staring, and I didn't care that my back was soaked in champagne that someone snuck into the party.  All I cared about was the beautiful boy holding me in his arms and the minty taste of his toothpaste on my lips.

ITS ABOUT FLIPPIN TIME, ISN'T IT!!!  So, guys... I have some slightly sad news...  I think this story is almost over ;-;  There will probably only be a few more chapters, and I haven't decided if I want to do a sequel or not.  And if I did do a sequel, I don't know if it would leave off right where this one ends or maybe years in the future?  I dunno.  I guess we'll find out, won't we!

ANYWHO GUYS I HAVE SUPER AWESOME NEWS.  LIKE OMG.  I'M SO FRIGGIN EXCITED.  Okay, so I entered a short story contest in November, and I was just announced as a semifinalist!!!  I need people to vote for me, and I thought who else than my lovely readers?  To vote, go to www.writemichigan.org (I'll put a link on my profile and in the comments on this chapter.)  Click on the button that says 'VOTE NOW', Switch to 'teen entries' and I'm the first one!  It would mean the absolute world for me if you voted!  Thank you guys so much!  I love you all!!

Song: Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Picture: Gabe and Luke's first kiss

CIAO!!!

-Ash

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