Thirty-six - Date between friends

"Chloe?"

"Hi?" She took in a deep breath before deciding to turn to face the man behind her.

"Who were you talking to?" Gabriel asked, his eyes darting to the running tap.

"Uh... myself."

"Yourself?"

'Oh boy.'

Chloe's lips smeared into each other as she formulated her response in her head. "Well," she gesticulated. ", I have a health condition."

He moved even closer, his frown deepening. "A health condition?" he asked, his hand going into his baggy jeans which he wore well with a grey turtle neck.

"Well, the thing is..." She drew another breath. "I have this mental issue..."

"Mental issue?"

"I talk to myself a lot."

"Don't we all?"

Her eyes darted to the side, she bit her lip. "Well, in my case, I always imagine I am a detective."

"Okay?"

"And most times, I get quite violent."

"What?" His head ducked a bit as he confusedly processed her words.

"There was a time I destroyed my shower because of my excessive imagination." Chloe wondered how many more ridiculous tales she would give to escape being caught.

"Wow. You are so-"

"Why did you come in here? I didn't hear you knock."

Still wearing that same look, he said slowly, "I did."

"Oh. I was busy, you know..."

"Imagining excessively?" She nodded. He had to believe her, she nothing else to give him. "Well, if you say so. I guess that is one more thing about you I get to learn."

"Yeah." Dancing on the spot, her hands behind her, she wondered if Agent Connor was listening.

"And speaking of getting to know you, let's go out on a date."

"Eh?" Her heart thumped.

"I know you said we can only be friends. So, this will be a date between friends."

"It will?" Instantly, Chloe's mind went to Nathaniel.

"Come on," he reached for her arms. "Say yes. Let's have fun tonight, together." Then she recalled Gabriel's words from last time about the kiss they shared.

Shutting her eyes as Gabriel moved even closer and hugged her close, she wondered why she was in the middle of the trio's emotional pulls. It infuriated her even more that she was finding it hard to control the situation.

And funny enough, she knew exactly what she had to do to control it. She was just being considerate and she was a bit scared.

"Come on, say yes." He groaned into her hair as he hugged her even closer.

"I do need the break." She decided she was going to go for herself. She would forget about the Agency, her not so confused love life and just enjoy the night. "So, yes."

"Yass!" He relased her but soon lifted her up into the air.

"Let me down," she chuckled. "Natha- uh... Let me down, please." She said quietly.

The air grew awkward, Gabriel's countenance changed a bit though he kept a smile. Slowly he let a rather embarrassed Chloe down and said, "Let's go before it is late."

"Sure. I'll just change fast and join you soon."

"Definitely." He turned towards the entrance and sighed. "It will be fun." It was as though he said that especially to himself, not Chloe.

Chloe bit her tongue as she watched him leave and reassured herself that she was going to be fine.

~

"Ohh, this looks delicious". Chloe's mouth drooled as the waiter dropped their dinner.

"Their food is the best in this area."

Chloe looked towards the entrance of the small restuarant where life went on quite noisily. "How did you find this area?"

"Well, sometimes when I decide to take a break from work, my feet walk me to this area. I don't particularly know why, but I always feel a connection to this place."

"Hmm. I am glad you brought me here though." She took another look at the homey place which had its walls painted in a relaxing colour.

Gabriel gave a large smile and nudged towards her food. "Eat up."

"Sure. Ohhhh, it is so good. Hmm," she munched on the chickeny part of the meal. "My buds are in love right now." As she opened her eyes, Gabriel's own met hers. Her eyes going to his untouched meal the back to his eyes. "What?"

"Why?" he quietly asked.

Her fork dropped, she sat up, her eyes shining. "Why what?"

"Why can't we be more than friends?"

"Gabriel..." The one topic she had been avoiding, the one topic she could never have a prepared answer for.

"Don't make me look pathetic anymore Chloe. So tell me, is it only Nathaniel you think of?"

"I-"

"If he is the only one, why are you punishing him? Why are you punishing us all?"

"Punishing you all?" Chloe asked.

The fist he had been making dissolved and he sat properly. "Don't pretend not to know Chloe. We all like you. If we had our way, all three of us would be with you."

"I-"

"But since only one of us can have you, it is like a silent battle that will only be over when you choose one of us. Not saying anything makes Nathaniel hurt likewise the fact that any of us can steal you away. Same thing with Amir and I."

"You are asking me to choose." Chloe felt her heart thump even more.

"It is for the best Chloe. Let us all know where we stand. Or would you rather have all of us at once?"

Her lips tugged. "But it is not as simple as that."

There was the mission.

"Do you want to start giving excuses now Chloe?" He leaned onto the table.

"I-"

"Say it Cupcake, it is Nathaniel you want."

"Why are you doing this if you are going to be hurt?" she asked, her voice heavy. It was established, this certain mission brought its drama and she was not halfway done with it. Heck! She even had no idea who was innocent or not anymore.

"I will get over it Chloe. As long as you are happy. As you know, I care about you a lot."

"But still-"

He reached for her hands which were fidgeting against each other. "Hey, do you want him or not?"

"I guess." But there was so much holding her back.

"Then go get him before you regret it."

"But I have never been in a relationship before. I don't want to- I mean, I have seen people get hurt and-"

"You'll never know till you try. And if something goes wrong, take it as a life lesson."

Chloe sighed. Something would go wrong eventually. She would either have him jailed or she would disappear from his life.

"Waiter, our bill, please."

"Bill? We are not done."

"We will take our food with us. We need to go home now."

"Why?"

"How do you mean? We have to get you to your man."