Stealing from the Rich? (Gabriel)

[Izzy Hawkins]

[atrb= cellSpacing,5,true] [atrb=cellpadding,0px,true] [atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style, width:470px; bTable] [STYLE=text-align: right; margin-bottom: -20px; margin-right: 10px; text-transform: lowercase; font-weight: lighter; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 43px; color: #87CEEB; text-shadow: 0px 0px 1px #ffffff; letter-spacing: -2px;]I learned to live half alive[/style] [STYLE=height: 260px; width: 465px; border: 15px #99BADD solid; border-radius: 145px 0px 0px 145px; -moz-border-radius: 150px 0px 0px 150px;][STYLE=background-image: url(http://i49.tinypic.com/kam9f.jpg); float: left; width: 170px; height: 250px; border-top: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-bottom: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-left: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px; -moz-border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px;] [/style] [STYLE=background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/XSfV9.png); float: left; overflow: auto; width: 270px; height: 240px; padding: 5px; border: 5px solid #e7f29f; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #2d2b29; text-align: justify;] Damn it, why do I have to be such a big idiot? Izzy pelted down the street at the speed of a demon being chased by a vengeful angel. Her feet pounded against the pavement with each step as she propelled further and further, pushing past hordes of rich citizens, her white-blonde hair sticking out like a sore thumb in the crowd. She had to find cover... and quick. Either the guy she had stolen from would catch her or one of the robots, though they were sparse here, would catch her and it'd be game over. She rarely slipped up when she was stealing from someone--ever. She was quick, and could steal a wallet with about as much ease as plucking a ripe apple from a tree. But this time she had screwed up, and the male she had stolen from had actually seen her hand grabbing his alluring aristocratic wallet. From what Izzy could tell he was about her age, and pretty handsome too... Damn it, that's not the point! she growled to herself. The fact is, he saw you, and he's probably chasing after you right now, and that's why you're in this situation! Why do you have to be such an idio-- Her thoughts ended abruptly as she felt her foot slip in her panicked hurry, and for a moment she was falling, careening to the ground face forward. The sound of Boulez's Piano Sonata No. 2 filled her ears as she met the ground, landing on her side, the wallet clutched tightly in her small hands as she felt a sharp pain fill her left arm, the one she had fell on. That better not be broken... As she got to her feet again she prayed that the male she had stolen from wouldn't catch up to her, and that no further slip-ups occurred. She glanced down at her arm to see a large scrape, blood falling down her pale skin. Nothing she hadn't dealt with before and nothing that would slow her down significantly, but regardless... a pain. This really wasn't her day. [/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #444444; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; letter-spacing: 4px; text-align: center;]made by SANA of BTN[/style]

[Gabriel Baine]

Gabe had been against the fenced off pier, gazing a the sizable lake ahead of him. He was wealthy, but he didn't dress like it. At the time, he was wearing jeans and a comfortable tee shirt. The hypnotizing sparkle of the setting sun reflecting on the surface of the water caused his late reaction to the tug on his pants pocket. When the realty of what happened registered, he turned quickly and saw the stream or silver hair blowing in the wind, connected to a girl who was bolting away from him. She had to be the cause of the disturbance. She was pretty, he thought. No, Not pretty. beautiful. If she hadn't taken something out of his pocket just now, he might have said something to her. Asked her name at least.
Gabe couldn't help but feel the complete lack of weight in the pocket. No wallet... he thought, not hesitating to turn in the direction the girl had gone, and run as fast as he could, toward where the girl had run. He pushed past a crowd of rich people, all much older than him, who where gawking at the view. Many of these people he had no respect for. The ones who used there money as an excuse to be as rude and obnoxious as possible. A few snarled nasty things at him, but he ignored them. Out of the crowd, the sidewalk was clearer, and he could just see the thief turning the next corner. He sped toward her, and turned the corner, only a few seconds behind.
This girl is fast, he thought, falling farther behind by the second. He caught his big break when the girl fell, giving Gabe time to catch up. When she got up and started running again, he was only a few feet behind. He gave a last push of effort, and was right on her tail. Gabe thrust his hand out and grabbed her arm, more roughly than he meant to, snatching the wallet out of her small hand.
" Why'd you take my-?!" Gabe started, taking his hand off of her arm, and losing his words when he realized his hand was sticky with blood. " Woah... Um, are you ok?" he asked the stranger, with a concerned voice. He would have time to be angry at her for taking his wallet when he knew she was alright.

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[Izzy Hawkins]

[atrb= cellSpacing,5,true] [atrb=cellpadding,0px,true] [atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style, width:470px; bTable] [STYLE=text-align: right; margin-bottom: -20px; margin-right: 10px; text-transform: lowercase; font-weight: lighter; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 43px; color: #87CEEB; text-shadow: 0px 0px 1px #ffffff; letter-spacing: -2px;]I learned to live half alive[/style] [STYLE=height: 260px; width: 465px; border: 15px #99BADD solid; border-radius: 145px 0px 0px 145px; -moz-border-radius: 150px 0px 0px 150px;][STYLE=background-image: url(http://i49.tinypic.com/kam9f.jpg); float: left; width: 170px; height: 250px; border-top: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-bottom: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-left: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px; -moz-border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px;] [/style] [STYLE=background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/XSfV9.png); float: left; overflow: auto; width: 270px; height: 240px; padding: 5px; border: 5px solid #e7f29f; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #2d2b29; text-align: justify;] Izzy could hear her pursuer's footsteps from a mile away, as if they were the church bells at her funeral procession, which as she stared at her bloodied arm seemed to get louder and louder. She was caught, and she knew it, and as the footsteps got closer she couldn't help but wince, preparing herself to be locked up in jail for the rest of her life, turned over to the authorities, or ending up being tortured by those hellish robots that had taken her parents, no her life, away from her. She felt his hand grab her arm and wrench the wallet from her grasp. A part of her had surrendered, she didn't even try to fight him, not even bothering to meet his eyes as she was forced to a screeching stop by his grasp. Now her fate had been sealed in blood, hadn't it? The white-haired female winced not from the pain of him grabbing her wounded arm, but just by knowing that her life here was over. He began to question her motives, but then stopped as he released her arm and noticed the blood on his hand. It was then that Izzy's eyes met his, her crystalline blue gaze falling upon his own. It was all she could do not to stop and... stare. She knew from just the quick glance she had gotten of this guy that he was certainly good-looking, but that had just been a glance over her shoulder as she sprinted off into the distance with his money. The male she had stolen from was tall, handsome, and those brown eyes almost took her breath away. She also noticed that he didn't seem to dress like most of the other wealthy nobles around here, he just seemed like a casual, every day teenager whom she guessed was about her age... a very attractive teenager that is. If she wasn't about to be arrested then maybe things could've been different between them. Wait, am I about to be arrested? Izzy asked herself as she saw a genuine look of concern fill his gold-brown eyes. "Woah... um are you ok?" he asked her, that look of concern still filling his eyes. So he wasn't mad? Well, at least not yet. Fear shook Izzy's whole body, she could practically feel it radiating from her eyes, like a deer in headlights. Even if he was being kind for the moment, they were bound to be attracting attention, and it wouldn't be long before the authorities showed up. She wanted to run, but she couldn't pull herself away from him for some odd reason, something about this brown-eyed male just felt so... right somehow. Not to mention if she ran now she'd look even more suspicious to any authorities. Best to just talk and act natural, for now anyway. She did a quick 360 of the area before speaking, addressing his concern: "I'm fine... thanks," she said quietly, as if ashamed. "I-I've had worse. I guess I'm sorry, for, you know, stealing from you and all that. It's just..." She stopped and bit her lip. Why was she being such a blubbering idiot? Had she suddenly lost the ability to speak? A mishmashed, hopelessly confused, broken piano melody filled her ears. With a heavy sigh she finished: "You can turn me in to the authorities if you want, I suppose I deserve it. It's what any self-respecting wealthy person like yourself would do, and I've had this coming for a while now." As she finished speaking she looked down, the wind blowing her long, flowing, silver-white blonde hair in the air as she awaited his response, covering her arm wound with her right hand so as to minimize the gravity of the cut. [/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #444444; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; letter-spacing: 4px; text-align: center;]made by SANA of BTN[/style]

[Gabriel Baine]

Gabe stood, looking toward the girl, awaiting her response, when she turned to him and there eyes met. The feeling that filled him was... strange. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. The girls deep blue gaze seemed to stare straight into his soul, and he couldn't bring himself to break the gaze they held on each other. All of their surroundings, the lights, the sounds, the feeling of the wind, seemed to disappear, just leaving those two blue diamonds looking at him with what looked like... longing? Attraction?It had to be his imagination, he thought. No girl like that could actually be into him...Gabe had zoned out completely, so he nearly missed the girls comment. There was no way he could make himself angry at a girl so perfect as her. " Self respect is overrated," He smiled, all the anger he felt before sucked away when he looked at her.
A crowd was beginning to gather around them, curious as to why A boy like Gabe was associating himself with a thief like the girl standing in front of him. Either that or wondering why he hadn't called the robots. The robots... He thought. Gabe despised them no less than he despised the snobs that were his neighbors. " Come on, let's get out of here." He said looking back at the girl, which was a bad decision, because after he did, it was an extreme challenge to peel his eyes away, or remember what he was saying, or where he was at the moment. " The robots will be here soon." He managed to finished, barely able to take his eyes off of hers and take her hand, leading her toward an ally next to them. The feel of her hand in his sent a chill up his arm that spread through his whole body. He reminded himself that it wasn't like that. He was just leading her somewhere, Right..?

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[Izzy Hawkins]

[atrb= cellSpacing,5,true] [atrb=cellpadding,0px,true] [atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style, width:470px; bTable] [STYLE=text-align: right; margin-bottom: -20px; margin-right: 10px; text-transform: lowercase; font-weight: lighter; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 43px; color: #87CEEB; text-shadow: 0px 0px 1px #ffffff; letter-spacing: -2px;]I learned to live half alive[/style] [STYLE=height: 260px; width: 465px; border: 15px #99BADD solid; border-radius: 145px 0px 0px 145px; -moz-border-radius: 150px 0px 0px 150px;][STYLE=background-image: url(http://i49.tinypic.com/kam9f.jpg); float: left; width: 170px; height: 250px; border-top: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-bottom: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-left: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px; -moz-border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px;] [/style] [STYLE=background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/XSfV9.png); float: left; overflow: auto; width: 270px; height: 240px; padding: 5px; border: 5px solid #e7f29f; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #2d2b29; text-align: justify;] Izzy's mind was buzzing with emotion as the boy took her hand and led her down the alleyway. She couldn't help but feel her heart flutter at the touch of his hand, a feeling she had never felt before. But as they came to a stop in the secluded alley she couldn't help but question what was happening to her. Years of living on the street had filled her every pore with distrust. Why would this guy help me? He's a gorgeous aristocrat with money and an actual future... why would he even want to be seen with me? And why isn't he mad that I stole his money? I don't get it... and why do I feel so... happy about all this? For a moment there was silence as they came to a stop, standing in the desolate, secluded alley. A part of her was still terrified that the robots or the police would still find her and have her arrested, but another part of her was still clutching the boy's hand, and for a second she didn't realize how tight her grip was as her fear overcame her. She didn't want to let go of his hand, she wanted to keep holding on, so he could protect her from the darkness... But why? Why would he even give me a second glance? Why is even doing this? Is this some kind of a joke to get my hopes up before he calls the authorities? With great difficulty she released his hand, her blue eyes staring at the ground, feeling darkness descend upon her again as his touch left her. "Why would you help me like this?" she asked. "Why would you do all of this for me? I stole from you, remember? No one like you has ever been so nice to someone like me before..." She wanted so badly for this to be real, for his intentions to be truly for her sake, not just as some kind of practical joke. For once in her life she actually cared what a wealthy person thought of her, and she wanted nothing more for him to take her hand in his once again. [/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #444444; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; letter-spacing: 4px; text-align: center;]made by SANA of BTN[/style]

[Gabriel Baine]

Gabe's hand suddenly felt empty without the girls hand entwined in his own, like an immense pleasure he had barely gotten to know had left him. He wanted badly to take her hand back in his own immediately, but he knew that would probably be weird to her.
Gabe heard the girl ask him a question then, with a voice like nothing he had ever heard before, and he didn't really know how to answer it. He knew exactly why he was helping her, but he couldn't bring himself to put it into words. If any other person had stolen from him, they would have been dragged off to jail right now, but when he had seen this girl, something had clicked in his head, and he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he caused her any pain. Gabe obviously couldn't say this. She would laugh in his face. Luckily for him though, he never got the chance to answer her.
At the entrance to the ally,where they had entered, a cluster of three robots were closing in on them. "This girl bothering you sir?" One of them asked, in an auto tuned, metallic voice.
" Na." Gabe started in answer, quite casually. " We were just leaving actually."
With that, Gabe turned to the thief and muttered, Shall we?" taking her hand and sprinting in the other direction.
He knew these robots wouldn't leave the two alone with Gabe's word alone. The girl would still end up being arrested, and Gabe might get into trouble for lying to them. There was only one safe place he could think to go, and he wouldn't feel right leaving the girl behind. Connecting to Gabe probably would slow her down actually, but he doubted she could make it to wherever she lived without being cut off by guards, and she didn't know the way to where he planned to go. Gabe was lying to himself though. All he really wanted was an excuse to take her hand.
" My house is right down the street," Gabe said when they got to the end of the small ally, loud enough that she could hear over the pounding of their feet. " You can hide there 'till things die down if you want... They'll no doubt be looking for you, so it probably wouldn't be safe for you to try to leave Mylo Ridge right now." Gabe was no doubt telling her things she already knew, but he was trying to rationalize offering his house. It was not because he liked her...

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[Izzy Hawkins]

[atrb= cellSpacing,5,true] [atrb=cellpadding,0px,true] [atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style, width:470px; bTable] [STYLE=text-align: right; margin-bottom: -20px; margin-right: 10px; text-transform: lowercase; font-weight: lighter; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 43px; color: #87CEEB; text-shadow: 0px 0px 1px #ffffff; letter-spacing: -2px;]I learned to live half alive[/style] [STYLE=height: 260px; width: 465px; border: 15px #99BADD solid; border-radius: 145px 0px 0px 145px; -moz-border-radius: 150px 0px 0px 150px;][STYLE=background-image: url(http://i49.tinypic.com/kam9f.jpg); float: left; width: 170px; height: 250px; border-top: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-bottom: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-left: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px; -moz-border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px;] [/style] [STYLE=background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/XSfV9.png); float: left; overflow: auto; width: 270px; height: 240px; padding: 5px; border: 5px solid #e7f29f; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #2d2b29; text-align: justify;] Nothing terrified Izzy more than those robots. They were the bringers of pain, terror, and mass destruction in Italy, and she hated them with every fiber of her being. So when they had come towards her and the boy she nearly took off running in that instant. But he had vouched for her. Not only that, but he took her hand, at which point she couldn't help but feel her heart flutter in her chest once more as he led her away from those metallic tools of war and bloodshed. Izzy still could scarcely believe this wasn't some kind of dream, it was almost too good to be true. Some handsome young man sweeping her off her feet, despite the fact that he was worlds away from her, and completely ignoring the fact that she had stolen from him? " My house is right down the street, you can hide there 'till things die down if you want... They'll no doubt be looking for you, so it probably wouldn't be safe for you to try to leave Mylo Ridge right now." Izzy blinked, stunned for almost a moment. His words were soft and sincere, like he truly meant them. She wanted nothing more than to spend more time with him, and returning to Trudge Trail would be like running right back into the claws of those robots. So logically it made sense, and she couldn't bear it if she were to leave his side now, to drop his hand once more, to leave his warmth... how could she bring herself to do it? Izzy quickly reminded herself that this was all pure chivalry... right? He couldn't possibly feel the same way for her, could he? She was just some street rat who barely had enough money for a loaf of bread every week. He would never fall for someone like her... that was just reality. Izzy was almost certain her feelings weren't shared by himself, but spending more time with him couldn't hurt, could it? Maybe they could be friends. Izzy resisted wincing, as she wanted this boy to be by her side always as, well, more than a friend. But she knew that was a false hope. "Yes of course," she said without hesitation. "I'm Isabelle by the way, but you can call me Izzy. Everyone else does anyway. And thank you again for the kindness you've shown me." [/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #444444; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; letter-spacing: 4px; text-align: center;]made by SANA of BTN[/style]

[Gabriel Baine]

Gabe smiled to himself when the girl, Izzy, spoke, not only because her answer to his question meant he could spend more time with her, but he finally had a name for her.
"I'm Gabe," he answered her, "And it's no big deal," He finished. He wanted more than anything to keep standing here, looking at her, but that hope was diminished when he looked over his shoulder. The three robots that had confronted them earlier were in pursuit of them, and closing in quickly. Gabe should have known. You don't run from robots without their dismissal and get away with it.
" Time to go," Gabe muttered. He hadn't let go of her hand, and didn't hardly plan to. "This way."
Gabe turned the corner with Izzy and began to walk quickly in the other direction from the robots. Normally, Gabe would be freaking out about now, running from the authority's for the first time, but her presence next to him diminished any fear he had, replacing it with sheer happiness. He didn't care what happened to him, as long as Izzy stayed by his side. He knew it was an unrealistic dream, but for now, he was happy with what he got.
Gabe turned another corner, onto a street lined with houses. His was the second house on the left. It was sizable. Three stories and a large front and back yard. There was a deck in the front with four White columns holding it up. The house itself was white, giving it a clean, relaxed look. It was spaced out from the other big houses, a luxury he had to pay extra for. The backyard had a pool, as was customary for many houses in this area, and in the front yard was a grassy area surrounded by a circular driveway. It was More than one person needed to have, but Gabe had the money for it, and he loved the thing.

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[Izzy Hawkins]

[atrb= cellSpacing,5,true] [atrb=cellpadding,0px,true] [atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style, width:470px; bTable] [STYLE=text-align: right; margin-bottom: -20px; margin-right: 10px; text-transform: lowercase; font-weight: lighter; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 43px; color: #87CEEB; text-shadow: 0px 0px 1px #ffffff; letter-spacing: -2px;]I learned to live half alive[/style] [STYLE=height: 260px; width: 465px; border: 15px #99BADD solid; border-radius: 145px 0px 0px 145px; -moz-border-radius: 150px 0px 0px 150px;][STYLE=background-image: url(http://i49.tinypic.com/kam9f.jpg); float: left; width: 170px; height: 250px; border-top: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-bottom: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-left: 5px solid #87CEEB; border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px; -moz-border-radius: 120px 0px 0px 120px;] [/style] [STYLE=background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/XSfV9.png); float: left; overflow: auto; width: 270px; height: 240px; padding: 5px; border: 5px solid #e7f29f; font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #2d2b29; text-align: justify;] Gabe... Izzy blinked, realizing she finally had a name for her knight in shining armor. The three robots who had come after them had sent fear crawling up her entire body once more, but with Gabe to protect her it seemed like her age old fear was finally beginning to disappear as he led her to his home. Izzy generally didn't trust rich people at all, and if it was anyone else she would have just made a run for it as soon as possible, but she couldn't pull herself away from Gabe. Like a moth drawn to a flame she was helplessly attracted by him, and she trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone else. As they turned the corner, Izzy began to realize just how wealthy her new friend really was. All of the houses were grand and respectable in their own right, and only in her wildest dreams could Izzy afford to live in one of these. But when they stopped before the second house on the street Izzy restrained a loud gasp. He lived here? Out of all of the houses on the street, his was one of the nicest, and it was literally set apart from the rest by the distance between it and the other houses. Izzy blinked as she took in the columns, the driveway, the three stories... it reminded her of her old home back in England when she was younger and lived with her adopted parents. But even this was a bit bigger than that, she never remembered her old home having columns... "This is your house? It's amazing, I mean--" Izzy stopped herself, biting her lip. Don't ask, don't ask, you'll sound like a rude peasant she growled to herself. But, she couldn't resist. "Do you have a piano?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle as she spoke. Please say yes... [/style][/style] [STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; color: #444444; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; letter-spacing: 4px; text-align: center;]made by SANA of BTN[/style]

[Gabriel Baine]

" Yep," Gabe started, stopping briefly to admire his house. " This is it." he wondered if showing Izzy his house was a mistake. Would her opinion of him slip lower the more wealth he revealed to her?
Gabe looked over his shoulder. The robots hadn't turned the corner yet, but he didn't want to wait for them. He crossed the yard, still hand in hand with Izzy. When he reached the house and climbed up the 3 small steps up to the front door, he heard Izzy's question.

" Do you have a piano?"

Gabe thought this an odd, request. Of all things, she wondered if she had a piano. He almost said no. Of all the items he owned, he couldn't remember a piano. He began to open his mouth, then closed it, remembering the grand piano he had in a room on the second floor. He had trouble remembering it, because he had hardly touched it, having abandoned the art of playing years ago. " Of course." he said more confidently, " But no one's played it in years..." With that, he took the key out of his pocket and pressed it into the knob, opening the door and holding it open for her. Gabe always made sure to keep his door locked, because the small amount of robots in this area made for a robbery hotspot. How ironic that he was now letting one into his home. Gabe pushed the thought away. Sure he didn't know Izzy, and trusting her was ill advised, but Gabe was convinced she wasn't like the others. Any other thief would rather die than accept help from his kind, but this girl seemed completely at ease with it.
Gabe's home entered into a wide rotunda, bordered along the wall By a circular staircase that led to the third floor, with an opening onto the second floor. A large chandelier Hung from the high ceiling reflecting the light from the windows, giving the room a bright, warm feel. " Would you like to see the piano? It's right upstairs..." Gabe muttered, closing and locking the door behind him.

[Izzy Hawkins]

Izzy felt her heart skip a beat at Gabe's words. They did have a piano! His words concerning the fact that no one had played it in years were lost on her, she almost couldn't believe that this was real, that after living on the streets for years she would finally have the chance to play a real live piano! She tried to recall her favorite pieces and melodies as they entered the house, trying to remember what it felt like to have ivory keys at her fingertips.

The house itself was just as marvelous on the inside as out, and Izzy took careful note of the door clicking to a lock behind her. Her mind was constantly devising ways to escape a situation if things got bad, if robots attacked or even if the apocalypse occurred. Years of living on her own on the side of the road had taught her to keep her wits about her, and to keep her instincts sharp.

She glanced up at the chandelier hanging majestically from the ceiling, her blue eyes filling with wonder as she was reminded of the chandelier from her old home back at England. It wasn't quite as grand, true, but she used to sit under it every day while she composed music and played her heart out on the piano. She would spend hours underneath that chandelier, and this one was almost identical, only slightly larger and in much better shape than her Father's, as theirs was a Hawkins family heirloom that had been passed down for generations.

"I mean, if it's alright. I don't want to impose any more than I already have. It's just that I haven't played in years myself and I miss it very dearly."

A part of Izzy already felt a little rude for demanding something of her kind host, so she wanted to maintain composure and a good sense of manners that her life in England had taught her. She looked at the staircase and then back at Gabe,torn between her newfound love and her passion for music. But she couldn't bear to simply sprint up the stairs like a commoner and take further advantage of Gabe's hospitality.

"But if it's alright... could you show it to me? I'm sure it still has a story to tell, although no one's played it in years," Izzy said.

[Gabriel Baine]

( Sorry for the wait Izzy. Gabe has returned )

Gabe watched Izzy's eyes dart across the great room, as he locked the door. She seemed to be devising some sort of plan. Maybe an escape route of some sort.
"Of course it's alright," He smiled enthusiastically when he heard Izzy's words. " It's right up here." At that, Gabe led Izzy up the first flight of stairs onto the second floor. There was a small hallway that went both ways, with a few doors strewn around the walls at random. He turned left, then opened the second door on the right, looking behind him as he did so to be sure she was with him. Gabe walked inside, revealing a grand, black piano, sparkling due to the light coming through the two windows across the room from Gabe. It was the only thing that occupied this room, besides a couch in the far left corner. The room wasn't extremely large, but the ground was layered with polished wood flooring, giving it a clean, new look.
"This is it," he muttered, turning toward Izzy with the longing in his eyes that had never left. "You can play it if you want. I'm sure it works properly."

[Izzy Hawkins]

Izzy followed Gabe through the house that still, quiet honestly, took her breath away. As she entered the room the piano itself seemed to sparkle from the light, and she instantly wanted nothing more than to play it. She slowly approached the grand piano, sitting down, flipping her long white-blonde hair so it fell down her back and wasn't in her face while she played. She exhaled softly as her hands found their familiar place on the cool, white ivory keys. A part of her was at peace here, more at home than anywhere else in the world, although she had never set foot in this house before now. Exhaling deeply, mentally tried to recall the notes to one of her favorite pieces, from one of her favorite composers, Rachmaninov. Prelude in D major, Op. 23, No. 4. Her finger fell on a single key, and the world seemed to fall away around her as she began to play, her pale fingers delicately moving along the keys as they flowed through each movement, her mind lost in the notes as the familiar sound of a well-tuned piano filled the room. Memories of Izzy's old life in England came rushing back to her, and for once it was not the haunting memory of music that filled her mind, but the real, full sound of a gorgeous piece of music. Finally, after the piece had reached its climax, she felt her hand fall on the closing note, and there was a quiet silence.

"Thank you..." she said, turning to face Gabe, her blue eyes brimming with life. "You have no idea how much this means to me. I hope it didn't sound too bad, I haven't played for two years unfortunately."

[Gabriel Baine]

As Izzy sat Down, Gabe turned to leave her in peace. He had one foot on the other side of the door when she started playing. The first key sent Gabe spinning around, mesmerized by the beauty of the melody. He watched Izzy's fingers fly across the piano, leaving behind a trail of beautiful sound.
Gabe leaned a shoulder against the doorway, smiling brightly towards Izzy and the piano. He had a history of doing reckless or risky thing without thinking, and when her finger pressed the closing note, Gabe started toward her, planning on doing just that. He barely payed attention to her words, and right when she finished speaking, he was standing inches away from her. He placed his hands lightly on her waist, and moved his head in closer, allowing his lips to touch hers.
He planned for the kiss to only last a few seconds, but he couldn't bring himself to step back. Even his hands on her waist sent chills down his spine,that's not to mention feeling her soft lips on his. This was not his first kiss, but it felt like nothing he ever had felt before, sending a feeling of total ecstasy through his entire body. He heard thunder outside, followed by the melodic thumping of rain on the large window facing him.
How romantic, he thought.
He knew this would result in some sort of physical punishment from Izzy, who probably thought he was a creep now, so he closed his eyes and tried to enjoy what he could get.
A few seconds later, his eyes shot open, realizing he was being insane. He took his hands off of her, and took a few steps back from her.
Gabe stumble to explain himself, coming up with only a simple, shaky, "I'm... I'm sorry..." There he went again. Because of his stupidity, this girl would probably never want to speak to Gabe again. The mere thought made his head spin.

[Izzy Hawkins]

Izzy could barely hear herself think as Gabriel placed his soft hands on her waist, and she could practically feel her heart beating out of her chest. Before she even knew what was happening she felt his lips on her own. For a moment she wasn't sure how to react, after all she'd never kissed anyone else before, considering she lived in the slums and all.

But then she could hear the sweet sound of the piano playing as she kissed him back, her whole world revolving around that one soft, wonderful kiss. She tried to recall a moment in her life when she was happier than she was now, but none came to mind. Before this moment there was always just a constant blur of unhappiness and darkness... but now it felt like, for once, everything was right. Izzy never wanted the moment to end, but just as the sound of rain and thunder began to sound outside, Gabe broke away from her, stepping back. It had ended so suddenly... Izzy blinked, wanting it to almost last longer.

She heard him apologize, as if ashamed of what he had done. A soft smile crossed her face as she stood up, blue eyes glistening with life and happiness. She now knew that he had feelings for her, otherwise why would he have kissed her? As she approached she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing close so her face was inches from his own.

"You don't have to be sorry," she said, still smiling. "This feels so right..."

She leaned up and kissed him softly, and she was lost in that moment of passion once more as her lips met his. She just wanted to tell him, somehow, that she loved him back. She broke away softly, her arms still around his.

"I love you," she breathed. "I know that sounds silly, I just met you and I stole from you before, but... I think this is love..."

Her shining blue eyes stared up into his gorgeous brown irises, her heart full of longing.