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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 11:44:18 GMT -5
It took Declin a while to find the time to be able to slip away long enough to come visit Gabriella. Marcello had been on a workaholic rampage since she left, and Declin was moved from "Security" to training the new guy, though he hadn't actually met him yet.
Finally after some weeks, Declin was given a day off. This concerned him only slightly, he knew Marcello was planning something with Ryder and normally, for security reasons, he was kept out of the loop. At least now he could go see Gaby. He missed his best friend like crazy, and they needed to talk about what had happened between them before she left the Santino's home.
He knocked on her apartment door. "Gaby? It's Declin..." he called out, stepping back from the door a bit, his cands clasped behind his back.
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 13:44:02 GMT -5
Sedona had gone out leaving Gabriella in the apartment alone. She was working on putting away a few new dishes that they finally got instead of just using the two plates they had before. Her hair had to be pulled out of her face and she had on a pair of pants and a Tshirt. Gabriella just placed the last of the plates as someone knocked on the door. She froze when she heard his voice. It had been a few weeks since she last saw him. Why would he come see her now? He probably didn't feel the same way she did and thought it would be best if he stayed away. Maybe her father sent him over to make sure she wasn't dead yet. Gabriella swallowed and took in a deep breath as she walked over to the door.
Releasing the breath she was holding, Gabriella opened the door. "Declin," she said with an almost surprised expression. "Hey. What, what brings you here? Did my father send you?"
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 14:10:13 GMT -5
He smiled at her when she opened the door. She looked good, and Declin felt like he hadn't seen her in ages. He shook his head at the question. "No," he replied. "He doesn't know I know where you're living." He shrugged.
"How are you?" he asked, rocking on his heals slightly. "And the shop and things, keeping busy I hope?"
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 14:31:58 GMT -5
For a moment she felt like she couldn't breath. Part of her thought it was just something her father wanted Declin to do. Of course her father didn't know where she lived, or at least she didn't think so. She didn't really know what to think of the fact that he showed up for a visit. She stepped out of the doorway to allow Declin to enter the apartment. She gave him a glance over and he hadn't changed since she last saw him.
"I'm okay. Things have been a little busy trying to get things for the store. It's been a little stressful, but it's okay. Today we're taking a break and making sure things are finished in here." Gabriella paused for a moment. "How are you? How's life?"
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 14:43:07 GMT -5
He smiled at her and walked in, his hands still behind his back. It was weird, that he felt a little uneasy, especially around Gabriella, who he had grown to trust since he moved to London. Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her ,or the back of his mind was telling him he was surely in for it if Marcello knew where he went on his day off. Or maybe it was because he really really wanted to ask Gabriella why she kissed him, but he couldn't bring himself to bring it up.
"I've been meaning to come by," which was the truth. "I'm alright, life really isn't different. Marcello hired some new guy right out of a bar or something..." he shook his head. "Ridiculous...anyway, he's going to have me train him soon, but I haven't met him yet."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 15:10:45 GMT -5
She raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter. There's a lot that Gabriella wanted to ask him but she couldn't think to ask them at the moment. "You're training one of the new guys?" She looked at Declin with a questioned look. "I'm glad that things are going alright for you. I take it that since you're training someone its something like a promotion?" Gabriella had to admit that things did seem a little different between them. She wasn't exactly sure why.
"When does that training start? Anytime soon or is it just something that will happen whenever he decides?" Gabriella couldn't help the next question. "Has he said anything about me? He didn't send you to check and make sure I wasn't dead yet?"
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 15:20:27 GMT -5
"Yeah, either that or a punishment, I haven't met the guy yet, he could be an idiot." Declin had a feeling that Marcello was angry at him for not having a better eye on Gabriella, and for not reporting that she knew Sedona at all, let alone was planing a business with her. As his family's bodyguard, it should have been something Declin knew. Well, he did know, he just didn't mention it. "I still am with your mom a lot, but not as much that you're brother is back in town, Clarice won't let him out of her sight." He paused. "She misses you a lot."
He sat on a stool near her. "Whenever he decides. He's with Ryder right now..." He looked at her, sad about his answer, but he wanted to be honest with Gabriella. "He hasn't. He's still really angry, and you're mom is furious with him for kicking you out." He swallowed. "But after the day you anounced you were starting the business with Sedona...he hasn't even said your name once."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 15:41:03 GMT -5
A lump in Gabriella's throat formed. She should have known that her father was still mad with her but she wasn't expecting him to continue to be like this. Apparently he really did see her out of the family. She also felt horrible about her mother too. Gabriella needed to find a way to contact her. She did write a letter telling her mother that everything was alright and that she missed her. "I have a letter for Madre," Gabriella spoke up after a moment of silence, "would you give it to her for me?"
In a way she felt bad that she was letting people down but she had to finally do what she wanted to. "As for Padre he can stay the way he is. There's no way of calming him down." She shook her head.
"But I am glad that he hasn't really treated you differently. If there has been any issues or anything after I left I really do apologize. I sort of hoped things would have went better than they did."
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 16:49:17 GMT -5
"Of course," he said when she asked about the letter. "She'll love that." He didn't want to mention how bad the fighting between Clarice and Marcello was, it would only upset Gabriella. "And I'm really sorry about your dad, but you know how he is..."
"Nothing I cant handle," he smiled. "The only thing he thinks is that you're smarter than me, which is probably true, and that you did all the planning on days I was working for him." he shrugged. He watched her for a moment, his smiling falling a bit.
"I miss you Gabs."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 17:04:29 GMT -5
At first Gabriella could not look directly at Declin when he told her that he missed her. It reminded her of leaving and she knew she hurt those close to her. "I miss you too Dec," she said finally looking up at him. She kept herself busy since she left home so that she would not have to think about what happened. What hurt the most was Marcello kicking her out.
"You could have visited before," she said. "But I guess you were working. It seems so strange without seeing you everyday. I miss that." Gabriella grew quite for a moment. "What are you supposed to do after you train the new guy? Or is that something I'm not supposed to know?" Declin had always done a good job at keeping a lot of the "family business" quiet.
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 17:13:41 GMT -5
"I wanted to come the day you left," Declin said. "Marcello's got me all caught up in work though, he's kinda become a workaholic lately." He shrugged. "And I don't know, not yet anyway. He's working on a plan with Ryder, who's never really been fond of me..." he frowned at that. "If it'll affect you somehow, I'll be sure to find a way to tell you."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 17:41:06 GMT -5
Working was one way that Marcello attempted to calm down and not think about things. Gabriella remembered her father telling her that one time before when she was younger and asked why he would work so much sometimes. "Don't worry about Ryder. There's nothing to be worried about there. From what I've seen of him that's just the way he is." She gave Declin a smile.
"if you like, you can stay for dinner. I'll be making something later. Haven't decided what to cook yet however." Again she looked over at him. "Can we have days we're together again? Ever since I left, I've missed our days of being together."
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 17:45:58 GMT -5
"I'd like that," he smiled. "Can I help when you do start?" Though he wasn't really any good in the kitchen, he liked to offer to help. Whenever he did so for Gabriella's mother, she would chuckle and wave him off, knowing better that to let him near the stove.
"My next day off I'm all yours," Declin promised. "I don't know exactly when that is, but soon hopefully." He wondered if there was a reason she didn't bring up the kiss from the last time they saw each other. Maybe she was embarassed or she wanted to pretend it never happened. Or maybe she was waiting for him to say something...
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 18:50:34 GMT -5
There was a huge elephant in the room and Gabriella knew that. She wanted to say something, but she wasn't exactly sure how. It was obvious there was something on her mind since she was playing with the hem of her shirt.
"Of course you can help me when I get started. You can help me look through the cabinets and decide what to make. I'm not exactly sure what we really bought at the grocer." Gabriella smiled.
Her smiled widened when he agreed to spend time with her again. Of course, things might not be exactly as the way they were before but at least he was going to spend time with her. There was still the elephant in the room and she needed to get rid of it. It was going to drive her insane.
"Dec," she said with her smile fading and glancing away from him as she pushed back a hair that had fallen from her pony tail. "I, I don't even know how to say this." There was a nervous laugh and she clasped her hands together. "I think it has to be said before we hang out again because there's something awkward going on and I know why. When I left my parents' house, that whole thing in my room, I meant it."
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 19:20:09 GMT -5
Normally, when she'd fiddle with her shirt like that, Declin would take her hand and ask her what was wrong. But he knew what it was and he didn't know how to react.
"Is it about when you kissed me?" he asked. "Meant what Gaby? You kissed me and then left without another word..."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 19:35:21 GMT -5
Gabriella felt more nervous at that very moment than before her telling her father that she was in business with Sedona Rossi. She felt her cheeks go hot. There was no reason for her to be feeling like a school girl. Her gaze didn't move from the wooden floor when he spoke. She was scared to look at him. Of course she was almost positive that Declin wouldn't leave her even if he didn't care for her in the same way she cared for him, but that still didn't give her the confidence she needed.
"I didn't know how else to tell you how I felt before I left. In fact, I was scared to use words. I didn't really know what to say." Gabriella started to tug on the hem of her shirt. "And then you didn't come around for awhile and I thought that you were offended or something and didn't want to see me again. Now you're here, and I didn't really think of why else you came other than possibly my father made you come find me and make sure I wasn't dead yet. Although, I know he didn't do that now because he's still being Marcello Santino."
She paused for a moment because she knew she was rambling and babbling on. Biting her bottom lip, Gabriella exhaled. "I care about you Dec," she said a little quieter. "More than just friends, and I'm sorry I waited so long to do anything." By the time she was finished she was almost at a whisper and her eyes were still to the floor.
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 19:42:28 GMT -5
He sat as she spoke, watching her intently, ready to catch her gaze if she ever looked up. The truth was, he had thought about nothing except Gabriella and that kiss ever since it happened, and he couldn't wrap his brain around it. And then work picked up, and he couldn't see her, and all he wanted was to see his best friend, he missed her so much that it made his chest tighten.
When she was done, he kept watching her play with the hem of her shirt. Finally he reached out and took her hand to make her stop fidgeting. Declin wasn't really a man of many words, and he couldn't right then think of anything to say. "Gaby..." he started, putting his finger under her chin to lift her face to meet hers. He blinked for a second or two and then pulled her closer, wanting a real kiss and not just the goodbye one she last gave him.
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 20:03:32 GMT -5
Part of her half expected him not to say anything at all or to just tell her that things were okay and that they were still friends. She wasn't expecting his reaction.
As he touched her hand, she slightly jumped, not expecting his hand to touch hers. It was a move that he always did to get her to stop fidgeting. Then she felt her head being turned toward him. She looked slightly confused, not really knowing what to expect. The second or two that he waited felt almost like an eternity. However, what came next was a complete surprise.
The moment Declin's lips touched hers, Gabriella froze for a split second then placed her free hand on his cheek as she kissed him back. She didn't know how to really describe the moment. After a few moments, Gabriella pulled away. This time her eyes met his. There was a hint of a smile. "What, what was that for?"
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Post by Declin Martin on May 22, 2012 20:11:54 GMT -5
He smiled at her softly, hischeeks growing warm. "I missed you," he said. "I missed you a lot the few weeks you were gone, and I...I couldn't stop thinking about you, and the kiss in your room and how all I really wanted was to see you again and I guess I never realized I care about you too, in that more than friends way, until you were gone." He blushed a little more and now it was his turn to look down at his knees. "And I guess I wanted to have a kiss with you that wasn't a goodbye kiss."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 22, 2012 20:32:21 GMT -5
Although the moment was a serious one, Gabriella couldn't help but let out a small laugh. It took them quite awhile to finally tell each other something when they knew that they could tell each other everything already.
She reached over and put her hand back on his cheek, moving his head so he could face her. "It's always better late than never I suppose," she said with a smile. "There's always something that has to happen to cause people to realize what was going on the whole time but they just didn't see it." Gabriella let her thumb rub across his cheek bone. "And now, you don't have to worry about a goodbye kiss anymore, maybe a see you later one, but not a goodbye one again."
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