Gabby was my father's daughter, and she came to find him at the coffee shop. She moved gracefully, like a dancer, and her smile brightened the room. When she saw me, she came over.
"Hey," she said as she sat down across from me, smelling sweet like vanilla. "Sorry, I'm late. Professor Davies was talking about pomegranate seeds."
I shrugged, trying to act calm, even though my heart raced. "No worries. I just got here." That was a lie. I had been there for an hour, thinking about our last conversation and learning about her interests online. I was even trying to figure out her schedule since I was keeping our dad locked away in the basement.
"How's your thesis?" she asked, looking worried.
I reminded her that I had finished school, and then silence fell between us as the barista brought our drinks. Gabby took a sip of her latte, enjoying it, and her warm, blue eyes sparkled with gold. They made you feel understood and loved, and I could tell she didn't realize how special they were.
"So, any big plans for the weekend?" she asked, setting her cup down.
"Not really," I answered too quickly. "Just catching up on some reading and working on a book." More lies. I had a whole weekend planned in my head, wanting to find ways to be closer to her - hiking, picnicking, and movie nights.
"I might visit my parents," she said, playing with the foam in her cup. "It's been a while."
My stomach dropped. Her parents were the only problem. They didn't like me and saw me as a threat to their perfect family, not understanding the connection Gabby and I had.
"That sounds... nice," I said, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, family obligations," she sighed.
We chatted about small things - classes, friends, and the weather. But underneath, I felt a tension growing. I wanted to tell her everything, but I was scared of what she might say.
When we left the coffee shop, the sun was bright and hot.
"I should go," Gabby said, looking at her watch. "I promised to help Chloe."
"Right," I replied, feeling flat. "See you."
She paused, looking deep into my eyes. "Yeah. See you."
I watched her walk away, feeling sad. I couldn't keep feeling like this, longing for her. I needed to have her in my life completely, and I wouldn't let anything stop me.
That night, I couldn't sleep, replaying our moments together in my head. Anger built inside me toward her parents. They were the problem and had filled her head with doubts. They had to be removed.
A dark plan formed in my mind. It felt wrong, but I told myself it was for Gabby.
The next morning, I drove to her house, a nice, big place with a perfect lawn. I parked and watched as Gabby's mother went out for her usual walk.
My heart raced as I started the car. This was the moment. I drove slowly to match her pace. As she turned a corner, I sped up. The sound of the crash was horrible. I didn't stop. I drove away, leaving someone hurt behind.
Back home, I showered, washing off the dirt and guilt. I thought I was doing the right thing for Gabby, but doubt weighed heavily in my heart.
Then my phone rang. It was Gabby.
I hesitated, unsure what to say.
I answered, "Hello?"
Her voice was shaky. "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"My crush," she cried. "He's gone. Hit-and-run. The police… they don't know who did it."