❖Anna❖

I'm in the back room of the pub, together with Rose and Christy. The pub isn't open yet and the two guys that work here are in the pub making sure everything is ready for opening.
I had asked Rose and Christy to stay behind for a little so I could talk with them about my college problem. Maybe they would know how I could change things.

"So, if I don't get my grades up, they are going to take my scholarship away." I finish my story.
It stays silences for a little, both clearly thinking of what I just said. But then Christy gets a smile on her face. "You could always ask one of those handsome guys to help you. Just know that I'm claiming that Raphael. You can have your Gabriel." She winks at me and I throw my apparon towards her face.
Because I have such an amazing aime, the black apparon doesn't even come close to Christy's face, making her laugh even more.
Even Rose snikkers a little, watching us with a smile on her face. I can't help but laugh a little as well.

"How about this," Rose says when our laughter slowly stopped, "the two of you are going to switch places for two days a week."
Christy and I look at each other and back at Rose. "Okay?" Christy says, her answer sounding more like a question.
"I mean that for two days, you Christy are taking over Anna's section and Anna will be working on your spot, behind the bar." Rose explains to the both of us. "That also means," Rose continues, focusing on me this time, "that, when it isn't busy and you are working behind the bar, you can take out your books and study a little."
"Rose that sounds perfect. Are you sure that's okay?" I ask. "Of course Anna. We are a family here and we have to help each other out."
"She is right A." Christy chips in, "and I would actually like doing some tables a few days a week."
"Well then, that's settled." Rose says and smiles at us. "Anna, you are working at the bar each Tuesday and Thursday. Since it is Thursday right now, you can start right away."

Giving Rose a grateful smile I say a quick thank you when she walks out into the pub.
"Chris, are you sure that you are okay with this?" I ask Christy, standing up to get my apron which is still laying on the ground.
"Of course I'm okay with it! Otherwise I would have said so."
We hug each other and walk into the pub.
"Go to your spot miss bartender." Christy says with a wink and I can't help but smile at her. "Right away miss waitress."

❖Gabriel❖

What Raphael told me yesterday made me re-think my decision about staying away from Anna. Maybe it wasn't smart to leave her unprotected.
Those times we spent together made me want to get to know her better. But that also made we want to push her away.

Relationships and I don't work together. I've seen what happened with my parents and I don't want to end up the same way as my dad.
Don't get me wrong, I've had sex partners before, but that was all they ever were. I made sure not to get involved with them and got rid of them before they could think anything from it.
But with Anna, things are different. She intrigues me. And on the other hand, I'm different from my dad. We aren't the same person.

Right now I'm on my way to the pub. I want to see for myself that Anna is fine.
I decided to take my motor. It's faster then walking there and easier to park. It also means that I can get away quicker and I am planning on using a quick getaway.
I'm just going to check on her. As soon as I know she's okay, I'm out of there.

Around midnight I step into the pub.
The first thing I notice is that Anna isn't walking around. A different girl is walking with drinks towards the tables.
I look around and start to feel a little disappointed when I can't find her, until my eye land on a little angel behind the bar.
Her dark brown is in a high curly ponytail, bouncing while she moves around. Her pale skin seems somehow paler, and it looks like there are dark circles developing underneath her eyes.

Once her brown eyes find mine, I know for sure that something is wrong with her. She looks nervous glancing around the pub every few minutes. Even when she looks at me, I can see a scared glimpse in her eyes.
I frown, not liking that look for one bit.
Walking towards the bar, I completely forget about my earlier plan.

❖Anna❖

Working behind the bar does seem to help a little with my nerves, because I have a good view over the pub and the door.

I hand Christy her drinks and glance towards the door. I look away but quickly bring my look back to the door.
My eyes connect with a pair of saphire blue eyes. I would recognize them anywhere.
Gabriel is here.

He frowns while looking at me, deeply in thoughts and he starts walking towards the bar.
For a moment I'm frozen on the spot, unable to move my eyes away from me, no matter how hard my brain screams for me to do so.
But then I remember how he pushed me away the other night, and I quickly turn away, looking around what I can do to act busy. Grabbing a glass and a towel I start to clean it, eventhough it is already clean.

"Hi." Is all he days and yet it makes my stupid heart jump.
I nod at him, not trusting my voice after I just got betrayed by my heart. Focusing all my attention on the glass in my hand which I'm sure I've wiped seventeen times already.

"That must be a very dirty glass." Gabriel says after a little while. I sigh and put the glass down. "Sorry, my mind was busy with something else." I say still not daring to look at his eyes.
"So I've noticed." He says. "Let's try again." I quickly look at him, not understanding what he means.
He turns his face away, confusing me even more, but as he turns back, I see a small smile on his lips.
"Hi."

I blink at him, surprised by his jokingly behaviour. But when he keeps looking at me with that small smile, I slowly starting laughing. "Hi." I answer back, his smile getting a little bigger.
"That's better." He says softly and my laughter slowly stops.
"Can I get you anything?" I ask him with a smile still on my face. "A beer please."
Turning towards the tap I sneak a quick glance towards the door, hoping Gabriel didn't see it.

"Pagliaccio." He says, and the twinkle in his eyes show me that it wasn't a bad thing.
"You know," I look up to him and put the glass I was cleaning down. "I don't understand a word Italian."
Gabriel leans over the bar, his lips almost touching ear. "That, piccolo angelo, is a good thing. Then I can talk about you, without you even knowing that I am."
My cheeks slowly turn red from his closeness, his breath brushing my skin.

I'm about to say something back when Rose comes in-between. "Is this man bothering you?" She looks at me with a strong look, signalling me that I can tell everything.
But the thought of Rose knowing what just happened makes my face turn even more red.

On the other side of the bar I can hear Gabriel softly laughing. The jerk knew exactly what he did.
"No he isn't bothering me..." I answer while turning towards Gabriel, "at least not at that way." I try to look annoyed but it only makes Gabriel laugh harder and even Rose can hear it this time.
"Ow, I see what is going on here." She walks closer to me and whispers in my ear. "He sure is handsome, but don't forget to give some attention to the other costumers as well."
I blush again and Rose sends me a wink before she walks off with her orders.

Turning back toward Gabriel, I see him trying to hold his laugh in, so I slap him with the towel I was holding. "Well, that isn't very nice Anna." He says, still smiling at me.
"Nor is you making me look like an idiot in front of my boss." At that Gabriel looses his cool and starts laughing, actual laughing.

I don't think I've seen him laugh before, nor have many other people judging by the reactions and the faces people pull at us. And with that, I can't help but laugh with him.

For a moment all is good, for a moment we both don't think about our past and we are just two people laughing their asses off.
Until the bell rang, signalling that a new costumer has entered the pub.

I look to the door and stop laughing. The fear I forgot comes back at full speed, almost jnocking me down. And the only thing I can think of is 'HIDE'.
I drop to the floor behind the bar, making sure no one can see me.
It feels as if my body and mind stop working and three little words hunt me in my mind.

He

Found

Me