Giselle Martin
"Gabriel!" I shouted, my eyes wandering to search for my little brother. "Gabriel!" The dense fog shrouded my vision and I couldn't see beyond couple of trees surrounding me. "Game is over. Come out or I'm leaving you here," I warned in hopes of him showing himself if he was still hiding. He didn't.
Oh god...
Taking out my seven-year-old brother to the woods in the gloomy cold evening wasn't a good idea.
Mom was at work and Gabriel, like a hyperactive brat, couldn't just sit at home and watch TV. No, he had to throw a tantrum to leave the coziness of warm couch and run around in the forest. And I, like a fool that gushed at his cuteness, gave into his big brown eyes.
Now the little brat was lost. More than 10 minutes had passed since he ran away from me, blurring in the thick sheet of cold haze.
"Gabriel! Seriously we have to get home!" I walked in no particular direction and narrowed my eyes trying to extend my sight. I'm in so trouble.
It was past five and we had to get home before Mom returned from work at seven. We were at other side of town from where our house was. This side belonged to the wealthy families who owned acres of this beautiful forest. It was more than a half-hour bus ride to the not-so-wealthy part of town where my family and I lived.
Where is he?!
"Gabriel!" I half-shouted and half-whined, on the verge of tearing up. I lost my little brother. What kind of an elder sister I was! "This isn't funny anymore." I moved forward into blinding whiteness and rubbed my freezing hands. The temperature was falling.
"Giselle!"
I perked up at Gabriel's voice. "Gabriel!" I called for him and looked around searching for his small figure in the thick fog.
"Giselle!" Oh thanks the heaven! The brat is alive! Relief flooded inside me.
I rushed to the direction of his voice, but stopped when I saw four big shadows making their way toward me. Fallen leaves crunched and twigs snapped with their footsteps, and alarms went off inside my head as they got closer. But once I made out their faces, fear was replaced by inexplicable shyness, along with the swirl of emotions that came whenever a particular guy was around me.
I knew the four guys now standing in front of me. They were from my school.
One of them was Noah Sylvan, aka the most gorgeous being I had ever laid eyes on. High cheekbones, defined jaw lines, heart-shaped lips, straight-edged nose, and add on top striking emerald green eyes. A face crafted with such perfection. His dark blond hair, that was cut short at the sides, had longer strands at front tousled, giving him a hot-messy look. The man was easily over 6 feet with athletic built which was hidden under black and grey checked sweater and dark jeans.
Right now his vibrant green eyes were on me, skimming down my short chubby figure and pricking my body with their intensity. Suddenly, I didn't feel cold anymore, his gaze heated me up.
A big force collided with my stomach, tearing my gaze away from Noah and almost making me stumble. "Where were you Giselle?!" I looked down to the big watery eyes of my brother. "I-I couldn't find you." He sniffled and hugged me tighter. "I-I..." His words got drowned out by sobs.
"It's okay Gab," I comforted him and rubbed his back. My heart clenched hearing him cry and I felt guilty for not being more responsible. I had lost my brother. "I'm here now... I'm here. Don't run away like that again. Okay."
He nodded and clutched my jacket, burying his face in my tummy. He must've been really scared to take my words just like that.
"Don't cry like that buddy. You were barely lost," Gordon Blair cooed. He was smiling and frowning at the same time, looking at my brother latched onto me like a koala. "We found him crying to himself not far away. It took a lot of coaxing to get him to come with us," he told me and finally a complete smile broke out on his lips. "You taught him well about the stranger danger."
"But nobody taught her some basic common sense," a voice commented before I could thank them for finding Gabriel. Noah. A chill went down my spine just hearing him. "Coming out here in this weather with a little kid is asking for a disaster. What were you thinking?" He was angry.
My face burned under his accusing glance. I was glad for my dusky skin tone that my blush wasn't prominent. I was crushing on Noah since the day one I saw him in lunchroom of our school. I had fantasized million ways about how our first conversation would go. Being scolded by him wasn't one of them.
"Don't be an ass right now Noah. Look at her, she is worried sick about the kid," Gordon came to my rescue. He was the nicest among the four.
Noah Sylvan, Silas Rowan, Elijah Rowan and Gordon Blair were a close-knitted group that sat on top of the hierarchy of Maple Ridge High's food chain. The first three had looks, wealth and social influence to get them the spot. They were the most sought after guys mostly among woman. Well, Noah and Silas were. Elijah and Gordon were dating, though that didn't stop some people from going after them.
Maybe the reason Gordon was kind and friendly was because he was the last one to join them. From what I had heard, he came to Maple Ridge High a year ago and started dating Elijah. Gordon could be counted among the rich, but not at the same level as the other three. He was handsome too, with curly black hair, dark eyes and charming smile that lowered your guards immediately. Good thing he wasn't integrated with others from the beginning, or he'd be arrogant and cocky like them too.
"Well she would save her some worry by not being stupid," Noah said, his eyes drilling hole into me. Okay, what's his problem?!
"Or you should watch over her, like a guardian," Silas joined, smirking at his friend. "After all, if you're not going to look after her then who will Sylvan." Huh? Was he pulling my leg or Noah's by insinuating something between us?
Hell! What if they know about my embarrassing crush on Noah?!
Noah's jaws clenched and he glared at Silas as though he had suggested him to jump in the pit of fire. Despite my confusion and embarrassment, his reaction hurt.
"Noah? Guardian Angel?" Elijah let out a chuckle, shaking his head, before he looked at me. "I guess he can do it for Giselle." I was surprised that he knew my name.
Silas and Elijah were twins. Or as people liked to call them, the Rowan twins. They looked eerily similar. Same olive skin, stormy grey eyes, tall stature and up-to-no-good devious smile. The only difference was their haircut. Elijah kept his hair short, whereas Silas let his dark brown locks grow and curl down to his neck.
"Maybe then he'll stop being grumpy all the time," Silas mused.
"Shut up!" Noah snapped and scowled at the twins.
"Dudes, a kid is literally crying and you all are being like this," once again the sensible one of them, Gordon, said and rolled his eyes. "Don't mind them Giselle. I think you should be on your way home. Let me drop you. It's going to get dark soon." Actually, it had already started getting dark.
"It's okay, I'll be fine." I smiled at Gordan. He was the only one being decent here. "Thanks for bringing my brother to me," I said mostly to him, not looking at the others. My face was burning red after listening to the twins. And the feeling of Noah's piercing gaze wasn't helping. "I'll be on my way then."
"Are you sure you can go back without getting lost or losing your brother again?" Noah taunted.
"I know my way around here and I'll take the bus." I kept my tone terse. I didn't know Noah Sylvan was this big of a jerk. Why did I like him again?! Oh yeah, I was shallow.
"Mom's gonna be home soon," Gabriel muttered, poking his head out of my embrace. His face was blotched with dried tears and nose red. The kid really wanted to go home.
I gave him a comforting smile. "Then let's go buddy." I patted his head covered with woolen beanie, and he let go of me to hold my hand. "Thanks again," I said to Gordon, not bothering with others. They were kind of assholes.
"I'm taking you home," Noah announced as we started walking away.
"Don't. I'll be fine." I huffed and held my scared brother's hand tightly taking him with me into blinding coldness.
"I wasn't asking Martin." Noah was beside me. My heart sped at his closeness and skin tingled feeling his heat on my side. It was also heady to find out he knew not only my name but also last name. Stupid teenage hormones.
I heard chuckles following after us. Even Gordon's was one of them. What's up with these guys?!
"I don't need you to chaperone us," I said.
"On the contrary I do if you want to get out of here soon," came his reply. "It's easy to get lost in this thick fog."
"What's to say you're not going to get us lost if it's that easy?"
"You're on my land Martin. I know it like a back of my hand."
I blushed. So for almost a month I had been running around on his land with my brother.
"Woah, so this forest is yours," Gabriel said, totally impressed. Not you too Gab.
"A part of it yes."
"That's amazing. It's so big. It must be fun to play here."
Noah shrugged. Our eyes met and I saw a hint of smirk on his lips, but it was gone as soon as it came. Show off. I didn't speak to him for rest of our walk, letting Gabriel entertain himself with him. They talked about superheroes and cars. He was surprisingly okay with my brother. But whatever, he was still a jerk.
Soon we were at the edge of woods. I had to admit we were out of the forest much earlier than expected because of Noah. Still it had gotten dark.
"I'll take it from here. Thanks," I said to him curtly once we reached the parking.
"I said I'm taking you home. You're not riding bus."
"I appreciate you helping me and all, Noah, but I'll be fine." I saw his eyes glinting when I said his name. Or maybe I imagined it.
"I'm taking you home and that's the end of it." This guy!
I looked down at Gabriel who was watching our interaction curiously. No way was I going to let a rich boy walk all over me in front of my little brother.
"I'm going to bus stop and that's the end of it." I put all the attitude I could muster in my voice. I wasn't usually the confrontational type.
Noah stared at me, amused, shattering my confidence. He then smiled at my brother. "Gabriel, have you ever ridden a Ferrari?"
My brother's eyes widened like a big lollipop was shimmied in front of him. Cars were his weakness. "No." I shouldn't have let Noah talk to him. That jerk hit him at his weakest point.
"Do you want to ride it?" Noah was barely holding back a gloating smirk.
Gabriel looked at me and he pouted when I shook my head. Be strong Gab. He turned back to Noah. "N-... Yes."
Ugh!!
"Then it's decided. I'm dropping you two home." Noah finally let his lips quirk up in a smirk.
"Why are you doing this?!" I hissed, keeping my voice down for Gabriel.
He leaned forward, his eyes shining and smirk widening. "Because I'm your guardian."
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