Gabrielle was released from the hospital the following day. She went right up to her room, with Brian following behind her. She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. "Why did this happen to me? I want to put it behind me but I don’t think that it’s possible." Gaby said, holding back tears. Brian brushed the back of his hand on her cheek. "I don’t know why bad things happen to good people. It makes no sense to me how someone could possibly hurt someone in that way. Whoever did this better be found…" Brian said, quietly. "There’s no way…I’ll never get justice…" Gaby said, opening her eyes, seeing Brian laying beside her. "Will you kiss me?" she asked. "I didn’t know if you would have felt comfortable. Otherwise I would have kissed you earlier." Brian said, sitting up a little. "I need you to kiss me…I need to feel loved." She said, putting her hand on Brian’s cheek. "I love you Gab. More than the world." Brian said, now only inches from her lips. Gaby closed her eyes as their lips touched. Brian took her hand and pulled away, kissing her hand. "Get some rest." He said, getting off the bed. "And remember, I love you." he said, as he reached the door. "I love you too." Gaby said, as she watched him leave and close the door. She closed her eyes and was soon asleep.
The weeks flew by and it was soon time to go back to North Carolina for their last year of college. "I can’t believe we’re seniors already." Gaby said to Brian as they drove onto the campus. "I know. Me either." Brian answered, as they pulled up to the familiar dorms they’d be spending the next 9 months in. "I’m so happy I’m away from home though. The thought of being there scares me…" Gaby said, that horrifying night still clear in her mind. "Yea…" Brian said quietly. "Ok. I’m gonna put this thing behind me for good. Not worry about it anymore. Live my life without being paranoid." Gaby said with a sigh, as they took their bags from the car.
Gaby opened the door to her dorm and found Nick sitting on her bed. "Nick? What are you doing in here?" she asked, throwing her bags on the floor. "Just came to see how you were?" he said with a smile. "That’s sweet. I’m fine. I’m surprised you’re not with Becky." Gaby said. "She’s busy unpacking and said I was hovering over her too much…so I went for a walk…and I ended up here." He said with a smile. "You always end up here." Gaby joked. "You’re easy to talk to." Nick said, shrugging his shoulders, "And good to talk too." He added. "Thanks." Gaby said, as she started unpacking. "Where’s Bri?" Nick asked. "His dorm I guess. We split up when we left the car…his dorm being on the other side of campus and all." Gaby said. "Good point." Nick said with a laugh, "Well I’m gonna go talk to him. K?" Nick asked. "Sure. See ya Nick." She said, as he went to the door. "See ya Gab." He said and then left.
"Yo Bri!" Nick shouted as Brian opened the door. "Hey man. Long time no see." Brian said. "Wanna play a little one on one?" he asked, picking up Brian’s basketball. "Yea sure." Brian said, grabbing his keys and a couple bottles of water. After the game, Nick and Brian sat at a picnic table next to the courts. "6 months til the season starts…what are we going to do?" Nick asked. "We go to class…and we go to the football games and support our girls." Brian said with a smile. "Yea…poor them…they have to cheer all year…" Nick said, taking a sip of water. "Yea…" Brian agreed. "Hey guys." Justin said, coming up next to the table. "What do you want fro boy?" Nick asked, annoyed at his presence. "Do I sense some tension in the air?" Justin asked. "Get a life Justin." Brian said. "Fine. Be that way. See ya round campus." He said, leaving the table side. "He’s such a prick." Brian said when he was gone. "Tell me about it." Nick agreed.
