GABRIEL

Gabe handed his sleek new phone (courtesy of his old phone being…well…exploded) to George, tucking his huge iced coffee into his armpit so he could dig out his wallet and pay the barista. “George, tell me I’m dreaming.”

George blinked a few times, tipping down her bedazzled pink sunglasses with a look of pleasant surprise on her pretty features. “You’re not. That there is positive press coverage of something you did, mon ami.”

The barista handed him back his card, pleasantly disinterested, and the two of them sat at a table in the back where Gabe could hide beneath his hood and wait for August to finish his class. “I haven’t read it yet. Regale me with the best tidbits, please.”

George crossed her long legs, adopting a straight-backed posture more befitting of a news anchor than a twenty-something in a cheap coffee shop. “'Masters problem-child cleaning up his act?'” She sipped her coffee delicately. “That’s the headline. Already a better headline than usual. Not a whiff of any -isms in this one.”

Gabe inclined his chin. “Do go on, Madam Mara.”

“’Guardian wild-child Gabriel Masters was spotted late Sunday evening at a Nova rescue after a unexplained explosion collapsed two nearby apartment buildings. The young Mr. Masters reportedly rushed into one of the buildings prior to collapse, helping to stabilize the rubble and rescue nearly a dozen additional residents.’”

Gabe hummed. “Nice, they finally got someone on background who doesn’t hate my guts.”

George took a bite of her croissant, scrolling with her thumb. “It gets better. ‘Aided by an unknown student, who witnesses suspect may be Masters’ yet unnamed partner, not a single civilian on scene has died. Nearly three dozen residents fled the buildings just prior to the explosion, after a group of shadowy figures were intercepted by Keegan and Dexter Masters. Residents report the youngest Masters and his suspected partner began immediate evacuation procedures, encouraging civilians to jump moments prior to the explosion.’”

“I’m glad they haven’t determined my identity,” August said, sliding smoothly into the chair between Gabe and George. He had a small, inconspicuous cup in one hand that Gabe suspected was probably just plain black coffee. Gabe gave him a little wave. “I don’t need more attention.”

George passed Gabe his phone, unfazed by August’s sudden appearance. “It’s only a matter of time. They’re relentless when it comes to this one. I bet his fans already have entire groups dedicated to tracking you down. In fact…” She tapped a few words in her phone, making a triumphant noise. “Yep. Folks are trying to cross reference your glasses with student photos on the Ifran website. It has begun.”

“It?” 

Gabe smirked, wiggling his fingers ominously. “The stans.”

August frowned into his coffee. “I don’t know what a 'stan' is but if it’s important, should I alert the Dean?”

George laughed so violently she was practically crying. “No. No, please don’t.” She checked her watch and grabbed her things. “With that, I need to go meet Kira for our project. Gabe, let me know if you hear anything from your dad about…you know.” 

August stood abruptly, too, the bell over the entrance giving a little jingle as George left. “We should talk somewhere with fewer people.” August hesitated, but seemed to firm up in his resolve. “I can show you my family home, if you’d like. It is closer than my apartment, and the safest place to have a discussion like this.”

Gabe crumpled up his napkin, shoving it in one of his deep pockets. “Sure. Do I finally get to meet your family after our ill-fated dinner last Sunday?”

“My mom and sister are home. My father is…indisposed.” August seemed ill at ease. “My mom is…not like us. Please forgive her enthusiasm.”

“Yeah, no big deal.” Gabe gestured to the door. “Lead the way.”

###

Enthusiasm may have been putting it lightly.

“Gabe!” 

Gabe was indestructible, but he was always bowled over, just a little, by the power of a particularly affectionate mother. “…oof! Mrs. Wright. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh!” The woman was even shorter than him, cherry red hair in a sharp, sleek bob that went just past her ears. August clearly got his eyes from her. “That’s right, you probably don’t even remember me. I was friends with your parents a long time ago. Keegan and Lili were my roommates back when I went to Ifran.” She wiped something from his cheek, patting his hair and finishing her bone-crushing hug with a squeeze. “You can just call me Auntie. There’s no need for formalities.”

August sighed, placing one big, fine-boned hand on his mom’s shoulder. “Mom, give him some space.”

“Mom doesn’t know how to give space.”

The new voice was an almost eerie mirror of August’s, but an octave higher. A statuesque woman, a near carbon copy of August, stared back at him. The real August cleared his throat. “Catarina, this is Gabriel.”

Catarina's long, dark hair was in a narrow braid that she had swept over her shoulders. It moved with her across the room. “Catarina,” she said, with a pleasant little nod. “Mom tells me were met when we were small, but regrettably, I remember very little.”

Gabe glanced at August, whose face had settled into a little frown. “You didn’t tell me you were twins, August.” Gabe scratched his neck. “Right, it’s nice to meet you, Catarina.” He stuck out his hand, dwarfed in hers. “August said it was better to talk here. I’m sorry to intrude.”

Mrs. Wright grinned. “Not at all! I have to head out, but there are snacks in the fridge. Just something I whipped up when August texted.”

“Mom…”

Mrs. Wright waved her hand. “Oh, do be quiet, sweetie. I’ll spoil my son and his friend if I want to.” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Let me know if you have any trouble. I love you both — have fun!” She kissed both of her children on the cheek, and just as quickly as she’d arrived, she was gone.

“I suppose you had questions,” August said.

Gabe instinctively looked at August’s hands, then back into those placid, forest green eyes.

He gave a curt nod.

“That I did.”