I quickly sat up at looked at Gabe with wide eyes. Gabe’s mouth opened in disbelief. “Thought I was asleep, eh?” I asked with a smirk. My Canadian accent was coming out. Gabe rubbed the back of his neck and responded sheepishly, “Yeah, I did.” I laughed at his shyness. It was a side of Gabe that you rarely saw. “Well, I love ya too, Gabe.” I winked and snuggled back under my sheets, ready to fall asleep. I meant what I said. I do love Gabe; he’s like a brother to me.

Gabe sat up and looked at me. “I don’t think you get it.” I sat up as well and raised an eyebrow at him. He bit his lip and continued. “I love you Natalie. I’m in love with you. God Nat, I’m totally head over heels in love with you! It’s unbearable! I can’t keep it in any longer. Seeing you with Ryan just kills me, especially since I knew what he’s been doing behind your back. You don’t deserve him. You’re too good for any guy who would even think about cheating. You need a guy who respects you and knows you inside and out. You need someone you trust and someone who will treat you like the princess you are. Dammit Nat, you need to be with me because I cannot wait another god damn minute away from you. I sound like such a girl right now but it’s all because I love you and this is what love does to me. This is what you do to me. This is what all of this waiting and watching you with Ryan makes me. It drives me fucking insane.”

I sat there in total shock. Boy was tonight an emotional roller coaster! Gabe looked at me with pleading eyes, just waiting for me to speak. “Gabe,” I started, “I don’t know what to say. This is just too much for me right now. I just found out that my first love had sex with someone else multiple times and that my best friend is in love with me. I cannot process this right now. It’s late and I’m tired. I’m sorry, Gabe. I just can’t deal with all of these emotions at the moment. I need time to figure things out.” Gabe looked at me, heartbroken. I could have sworn I felt something in my chest when I saw the look on his face when I didn’t tell him I loved him back. He had poured his heart out to me and I just rejected him. God, I felt like such an asshole!

Gabe composed himself and got out of my bed. He picked up his stuff and walked towards the door. “It would be best if I left.” He said, sounding like a depressed child. I stared at him as he walked out of my room and looked out the window as he got into his car and drove off. Even though I was unsure of my feelings at the moment, there was one thing that I was sure of. The pain in my chest confirmed it. I didn’t want Gabe to leave. I wanted him back here, with me.