CRACK A BOTTLE.

gabe vargas; 35 | mechanic at kellys auto repair

[gabevargas]

A hardened soul who finds solace in tinkering with cars and all sorts of machinery. Has spent his life running from the demons of his past and now finds himself in Briar Ridge, running out of places to hide.

STATS

- Name: Gabriel Braulio Vargas - Nicknames: Gabe - Neighborhood: Downtown - Occupation: Handy man & Mechanic at Kelly's Auto Repair - Age & Birthday: 35 years & apr 2, 1989 - Pronouns & Gender: He/him & cis-male - Ethnicity: Spanish-Chilean & Nicaraguan - Sexuality: Heterosexual - Hometown & Time in BR: Virginia, a few weeks

connections | pinterest | musings

BIOGRAPHY

trigger warning: alcoholism, drugs, child neglect, child abuse

CHILDHOOD:

Being the only child of problematic people who should never have brought a baby into the world was tough. Gabe was grateful no other child had to suffer what he lived daily, but he had always longed for solace in others to escape his “home.” 

They were dirt poor and lived in a small two-bed apartment in a run-down complex. His father was an alcoholic who was fired from every job, and his mother worked as a grocer at the local supermarket, which just about covered the bills. Gabe learned to fend for himself young and not expect much from his parents. The further he stayed away, the less he felt the wrath of their problems. 

He found a friend in Enzo Deluca, and the two young boys would run around the streets together, causing havoc and making up their little adventures. Gabe would soon turn to petty theft for candy and comic books, anything to make his miserable existence somewhat better and to impress Enzo. 

When he started school, he found friendship with Benny Hellstrom. Benny lived on a ranch just outside of the city, and to Gabe, it felt so grand. “All the space in the world,” he exclaimed when he first saw it. The two young boys became inseparable, and Gabe spent more time with Benny than anyone. He felt safe there. 

The problems at home only escalated into his teenage years. His mother began to self-medicate with OTC drugs and vodka, which led to more financial problems. His father grew more violent and abusive, angry that she was no longer providing for his addiction. Gabe was thirteen when his mother left. No note. No goodbye. Nothing. 

That anger shifted from her to Gabe, and his father blamed him for everything. Gabe began to steal more valuable items to sell so he could impress his father. The young kid was the one paying the rent, but each month, it was a struggle. Once or twice, he was caught but escaped any real time in Juvie. The police were so overworked in the area that they didn’t have the time for a kid. However, he was known, and they watched him closely. 

CHICAGO:

At sixteen, Benny suggested they run away together. Start a new life. Gabe jumped at the chance, and in a few days, the two found themselves in Chicago. Gabe was free, and you couldn’t have wiped the smile off his face. 

They stayed there for a while. Gabe found a job at a local garage, where he realised he was very skilled with his hands. It was funny; as a kid, he loved to break things. Smashing old cars with rocks down at the waste yard or stomping on pumpkins sat proudly outside people’s homes on Halloween. Destruction was his release. However, the work of fixing up cars and tinkering with engines became a different kind of therapy for him. He had escaped his childhood home, so he no longer needed chaos to forget everything. Instead, he had an itch to fix everything, as if helping fix a cupboard door for a neighbour would help fix his past. 

Gabe excelled as a mechanic and even started a side venture as a handyman. The money was good, and life began to really turn for him.

Despite the progress, the demons of his past did linger. Gabe liked to party… the problems he faced as a child of alcoholics didn’t seem to deter him. Unlike his father, he turned up to work and performed, but it still didn’t mean he didn’t have a problem. The weekends were spent wasted and hooking up with strangers. He never had time for rest, always on the go. Due to this, most of his twenties were a blur, and it only worsened when Benny left him. 

One party weekend in Vegas, he was so drunk he swears he even married a stranger, but the two parted ways after the ceremony, and he has never seen her again. Life could be very messy for him. It was chaotic at times, and he understood it pushed some people away, but he had so much turmoil inside of him that he was too afraid to process. Partying was the easy way out. 

BRIAR RIDGE:

It wasn’t until he was in his thirties and word got back to him about his father’s passing that he paused for a moment to consider his own choices. The partying eased up and was replaced with a search for spirituality: yoga and meditation. Sure, he still allowed himself one night a week to blow off steam, but he was slowly opening up to the idea of looking inward to deal with his childhood trauma. 

He is still working on that today, and it is a slow process, but he’s trying. 

After a few years of separation from Benny, he missed his best friend. Gabe needed his rock back. Gabe quit his job, packed everything he had into his truck, and left for Briar Ridge. He had no plan other than the need to see his old friend. 

He’s been living in town for a few weeks in a rental and on his savings, which are quickly running out. 

WANTED CONNECTIONS:

Buddies - gym, yoga, bar, and so on

Welcome wagon - someone who shows him the town and is super friendly

Neighbors - he’s in an Airbnb in downtown

Airbnb host - maybe they’re renting to him, and something strikes up between them? Friendship, Romantic, maybe they hate him??

Big brother - someone he grows protective of

Handyman - can fix anything, so after the recent storm, word gets around and he has helped or does help with something for your muse

Vegas Wife - The girl he married in vegas and has never seen again... messy but fun connect potentially. Are they still married??

“Seems like a married couple” but are not - they click instantly and give off that old married couple vibe but are strictly friends

TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME: MUSE A is MUSE B’s confidant and vice versa. for the most part, their interactions only happen after midnight. they run in completely different circles and their mutual friend count is low, but when the other sends an sos text at 12:45am the other is already getting dressed and willing to meet at their secret spot.

SMILING WHEN I DIE: MUSE A has lived, what many people may call, a pretty boring life. they never got to experience much growing up. now, they’re [ INSERT AGE ] and trying not to have a borderline mid-life crisis. MUSE B has a sense of adventure within them and is always inviting MUSE A along. they may not spend time together otherwise, but the two of them make lasting memories that will hopefully stick with them for awhile. — what if it's the type opf friendship where they tick things off a bucket list and do random shit together?????? Idk

WILL YOU COME FIND ME (AFTER THE PARTY?):  a plot where MUSE A and MUSE B met at a friend of a friend’s party & instantly hit it off. MUSE A is immediately infatuated with MUSE B — they laugh, talk, drink; they even make an incredible beer pong team. at some point during the night, MUSE A decides to put the moves on MUSE B. however, after leaving to get them some drinks, MUSE A comes back to find MUSE B kissing someone else… and to make it worse? it’s their boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend/sibling etc.

[gabevargas]

BR NEW YEARS EVE 2024 - GABE VARGAS

"I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all."

[perikocak]

"Oh, that's fine." Her grin only widened when she peered around his broad frame, eyeing up the dog in question. Honestly, she usually liked animals more than she liked people so his unexpected presence was more than fine.

Already, her fingers itched to burrow deep into the husky's fur and use endless behind the ear scratches and belly rubs as a stalling tactic.

Had she mentioned how much she loathed being inside of that house?

"Why don't you go ahead and let him out? I'll unlock the front door and then we can go through room by room." Seriously, she deserved major brownie points for going the 'responsible adult who handles shit like a big girl' route.

It was from the front porch, a moment or two later, that she waved a hand around. "Obviously this needs some work." While the railings were new(ish) the decking hadn't been fixed or replaced since her parents bought the house almost thirty years ago.

"Also, if there's anything you can't or won't do please just say so. I can pass off whatever you veto to someone else." She knew the house was a large project, and that some aspects—like new wiring or plumbing repairs—might be outside of his abilities. "I just need someone who can at least start on some of it now, not four months into next year, you know?"

[gabevargas]

Gabe could see her blue eyes light up when she spotted Buster, and he chuckled. Everyone instantly loved the big furball, so he reached for the door and let him out. "Vamos," he mumbled as the dog sprinted over to her. His tongue was wagging with excitement at meeting a new friend. Although his tongue might not wag, Gabe also shared that same excitement when he met new people, which is part of the reason he was enjoying his time in Briar Ridge. Every day, he met a new face, and there must have been something in the town's water, as they were usually gorgeous.

"That's why I'm here," Gabe assured her as she pointed out the place needed work. He could tell from a first glance this would be a big project, but that didn't scare him. If anything, he couldn't wait to get stuck in. That fence was a death trap, and his fingers were already itching to tear it off. They continued through the house, and Buster ran ahead, barking, "It might need work, but he's happy." Gabe laughed and went back to work, listing the main issues.

A hand reached out to touch cracks in the walls, noting all the details. It was funny; most people would look at something like this and see all the problems, but for Gabe, he just saw potential. The joy he experienced in fixing it all was the selfish part, but seeing the surprise in his client's eyes when they saw the transformation? That was the real perk of the job. "Don't worry, I can do it all. If I need help, I'll hire some guys, and we can add it to the final bill, but for the most part, it should be me." He jotted down a list of all the urgent issues he would begin on, then popped the pencil behind his ear. "This is what I'm going to look at first," he said, ripping the paper from his notepad to pass to her. "I can start this week, but as long as you're okay with it, will be evenings and weekends?" Gabe had his full-time job at the auto shop, so he had to prioritize that. "I'm curious. What's the backstory to this place?" Gabe motioned for Buster to return to his side, then affectionately caressed the dog's head. He liked to know the history of the things or people he worked with, as it helped to motivate his work, but he knew not everyone was forthcoming. A building didn't end up this way because it was loved.

[limelightlatenights]

[selinymaz]

Selin could barely look in Gabe's direction, fuming that this was the fuckery she got dragged into so quickly upon returning to town. She should have known that karma would come back to bite her in the ass and she couldn't blame it on a past life because she'd done more than enough wrong in this lifetime. "Everyone enjoys a kiss when they're drunk, but who says you were memorable. Put the menu down and let her see that boy bruise after you're done hiding your face in your arms like the big man you are if you're so confident."

The words weren't meant to be as harsh because she did love Gabe, and he wasn't the worst person Leyla could be kissing— but her entanglement with it all made her way to shrivel up and die. Better yet if she could find a way to bring Gabe with her.

His saving grace in the moment was that Selin was too curious about Leyla's relationship with her employee to immediately reach over and hit the toe of her heel straight against Gabe's shin. The complication of Benny being so close to Leyla and Billie, with the addition of feelings, worried her to no end. It provided the risk of it all blowing up in their faces and her sister and niece being on the receiving end of a broken heart. As for Benny, she'd have to place him in a grave beside Gabe should he hurt her family.

Speaking of murder.... Her gaze flicked back to her friend, leaning forward to lower the menu and flick him upon the bridge of his nose, allowing her manicured nail to tap the bone with a satisfying 'thock' sound. "You knew he liked her and you made out with her? He should have hit you harder." Her head shook disapprovingly. "Nuh huh— you don't get to know anything about Leyla and I this close after what you did." Clearly their relationship was estranged but she wasn't going to give Gabe any sort of leverage. "Let's get out of here before I call them both over just to watch you embarrass yourself for fun." An empty threat because no matter how angry she was, between everyone involved, Gabe was probably the only person who was willing to be around Selin. "Come on, playboy— leave some cash for our coffee, and a big tip as your first step to mending your conscience."

[gabevargas]

There she was, demeaning him again. Gabe shifted uncomfortably under in his chair as the coldness of her gaze penetrated his soul. Why did he find this sexy? "I am a big man," he barked back at her, fully sat up now in defiance of her, despite it being exactly what she had demanded of him.

Gabe's flinched and clutched his nose when she flicked it, "Hey, what the fuck?" He moaned, thick brows knitting together as he glared at her. He growled as she spoke, impatience growing. "Ay dios mío, no! If I had known that, I wouldn't have gone near her! I'm an asshole, but I'm not that bad," he exclaimed, huffing back into his chair with his arms folded. He was offended Selin thought so low of him. "So, stop hitting me... that hurt," he added, brown eyes watering as he rubbed his nose. It hadn't hurt, but his pride had taken a few knocks in the last twenty-four hours, so he was fragile, and her thinking that of him is what stung.

Despite last night's mistakes, he didn't push anymore with her and Leyla's relationship, as he knew when there was a line. That was their business, and he would never come between family. "I don't like you today — just so you know..." Gabe remarked as he stood to leave, making sure his back was to Leyla in the process. The last thing he needed was the other sister to notice him. He placed cash down on the table, enough for a very generous tip, like she had asked, mumbling under his breath once more. "You know, you're not the boss of me..." Gabe turned on his heel and stormed outside. "I'm going home to ice my jaw AND my nose," he called out to Selin as he walked to his car. He was in a mood with her now.

[hollyparkcr]

Holly led the way up to the cabin, the warmth of the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over the fields. This would always be one of her favorite things about living on a farm and she was happy that somebody else would be able to enjoy it. Coming from a city like Chicago, the red head was sure that rural living would be a change for Benny's friend. Though for Buster, she was sure the open fields would be heaven on earth.

As they approached the cabin, Holly waited for Gabe to park before unlocking the front door and handing him the key. "At this rate, you might have to leave him here when you move out. Just wait until he meets the other animals." With a teasing grin, Holly couldn't help but laugh, holding the door open so that Gabe could step inside. "Well, here we are. Home sweet home. It isn't much, but it sure is cozy. I hope you'll feel at home here. Never hesitate to come bug us if you need anything."

[gabevargas]

The dog bounced up at Gabe when he neared, and he reached a hand down to affectionately rub its ears. "This guy is my most loyal friend," he admitted, warmth coloring his dark eyes. "I'd never leave him." He squatted down to kiss Buster's fur and then watched as he ran inside, excited to see the new space.

Gabe followed behind and nodded approvingly. The place had a homely vibe, one he hadn't experienced in his life. All the places he had called home had been stopping places. Gabe only settled briefly, even in Chicago, where he lived the longest — that felt like a bachelor pad rather than a home. He turned to Holly and smiled widely, "Thank you. To all of you." This gesture was more than anyone had done for him, and he was touched.

He sat his bags down and walked around some more. "Would you like to stay for a drink? To christen the place," he asked, pulling a six-pack from his duffle. "It would be rude not to..." Gabe smirked at her as he effortlessly popped the two caps off, holding the bottle out to her.

[enzoadeluca]

Returning the hug with just as much enthusiasm, Enzo let out a small, almost self-deprecating laugh. "Man, it’s been a ride, but yeah, I’m doing a lot better than I was back then. Things aren't perfect—life’s never really been that simple—but I’ve got my own place, a good job, and a few people I can count on." He glanced around the shop for a moment, as if taking inventory of it all. "I guess I just try to take it one day at a time. I try not to get stuck in the past anymore, you know?" He gave Gabe a small, but genuine smile, overwhelmed by the fact that he was standing face-to-face with the little boy he had once called his brother.

"It’s not all sunshine and roses, but I’m not complaining. Could be a lot worse. And hey, I’m glad to see you're doing alright too. Even if I am, admittedly, a little surprised to be seeing you here. What brings you to Briar Ridge?"

[gabevargas]

The feel of Enzo's arms around him brought a lump to Gabe's throat, and he closed his eyes and squeezed him a little tighter. The pain of finding out Enzo would be leaving seemed to resurface, and the little broken-hearted boy held onto Enzo tight, afraid he might lose him again. "Ay, man... I'm sure it has," Gabe laughed, reluctantly letting Enzo go. "I see that," he replied, looking around at the shop, then back at Enzo — pride shining in his eyes. "I know what you mean. The past should stay where it is, right?" He smiled and slapped Enzo on the shoulder, overwhelmed with the emotions that welled inside him.

"It's never sunshine and rainbows," Gabe laughed, shaking his head gently. Memories of everything he had been through since losing Enzo flashed across his mind like a movie montage, and he couldn't help but wish the other man had been by his side through it all. They had been brothers once, and he knew things could have been easier if they were together. "Uh — fuck yes, that's probably confusing," he chuckled. "My best friend Benny moved here a few years ago, so I came to see him, and I guess the place won me over."

[reinayourparade]

"Of course, you act like you have a choice now that all three of us are in the same place again," and that statement in itself gave Reina this overwhelming bittersweet feeling. If this was years ago, it w9uld just mean that the three out of the four of them were probably going to end up playing house again—now this time, she didn't foresee that happening anytime soon, if at all.

"At least if I did kill someone, I'd have a fancy lawyer friend to help me...after you guys would help me bury the body." She rolled her eyes playfully. "Plus, you never said a bad word about my driving until the one time I almost hit that old man...who, by the way, was jaywalking! He wasn't even supposed to be in the road." she threw her hands up, remembering the conversations, and arguments, had on the way home that day. When he mentions the name, she had left out, she nodded a bit, eyeing avoiding his now. She knew it wasn't necessarily his job to tell her, but he saw what she was like when he left her. He spent nights staying with her as she cried before she started to recluse herself. "Yeah, well," she started, running a hand through her hair before she looked back at her car. "I know I need an oil change, probably a tire rotation...but I'm not sure what else."

[gabevargas]

Gabe shook his head, laughing, but it was true. He would help any of his friends bury a body if they needed it, especially Benny and Reina. "If you can't stop in time for an old man jay walking," Gabe paused, "Emphasis on the word old, Reina..." He grinned. "Then, there might be a problem!" He didn't like to rag on her about her driving, but it was too funny not to point out the flaw in her argument with her being a big hot-shot lawyer. Gabe could laugh about it now, but that had been a horrible night. The group argued and fought the whole way home, but that was them. They loved as hard as they fought.

Gabe nodded in understanding. She didn't want to talk about Benny, so he left it. "Don't worry about it, Cariño," Gabe assured her, gently squeezing her shoulder. He assessed the work, made a list, and then deducted some costs with the family discount he wasn't even sure he had the authority to use. "There you go. I made sure it didn't cost you a small fortune," he joked as he handed her the bill. "I'll have it ready for you tomorrow. Do you need a ride back to work or home?"

[nataliedcluca]

It might not have been the smartest decision, but Natalie didn't always think first before she chased after what her heart wanted or what was going to make her smile through the night. Gabe had done that the first time they met, bringing her some sort of happiness amidst everything else causing turmoil in her head and life and here he was again, back at it. She grinned as he swept her away from her friends, shooting them a quick text before laughing as they made it out of the bar practically hand in hand. "You'd better, or else you might be the one that turns back into a pumpkin before the night is through," she teased with a smile as they head towards the spot that he'd mentioned.

"Chinese sounds good especially after all the shots I've been soaking up all night. You caught me on a good one. Some nights I barely make it to nine pm before I'm crashing back at my place," she joked as they made their way inside and found an empty booth as she slid into the seat. Work made it all the more difficult to find the time to relax and let loose but this night had been one of the few where she didn't have to get up so early in the morning. "You have to tell me everything like how you even ended up here of all places. I really thought for a moment that you were just something that stayed in Vegas."

[gabevargas]

The admission made his nose crinkle, and he stared at her momentarily. "That can't be true..." Gabe's eyes danced over her face, holding back the smirk fixed on his face since finding her. "The woman I met in Vegas would never be so boring," he gave her waist a playful squeeze and pulled her closer to his side.

Gabe slid in beside her, arm resting on the back of the seat. He picked up the menu and glanced at it, but truthfully, he couldn't focus. Instead, his gaze was fixed on her profile, admiring her. He licked his lips and considered her question. Gabe could always throw out a flirty quip, but something about this moment felt special, like fate had brought them back together for a reason, so for once in his life, he decided to be sincere. "Mi corazón, are you insulting me?" He laughed, hand reaching up to rub his stubble. "I actually came to Briar Ridge because my best friend lives here now," Gabe reached down, took her hand in his, and gently caressed his fingertips against hers. "And as if it were meant to be, I found my wife!" He continued laughing at the craziness of it all, but he was excited. Gabe laced his fingers with hers and gave her a wink. "You think we can live up to our night in sin city?"

[masoncxllins]

Mason couldn't help but laugh, head shaking a bit. "I try my best. I mean, is there ever any doubt about Jordan being the goat?" He said and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah? I was in Chicago for a bit, nowhere near 15 years though." He said as he took a drink from his own beer in hand. "Oh nothing much, just waiting on this surgery for the shoulder really. Work has me doing paperwork and working the front desk till that happens and I am beyond bored." He said with a laugh. "I'm ready to get back into the physical side of my job with the patients."

[gabevargas]

Gabe pointed at Mason, shaking his finger as a look of amusement colored his features. "You deserve a beer for that kinda' taste!" He slapped the table and stood to go grab them more drinks. Thankfully, they were close enough that Gabe could call out the order without missing what Mason said. "Gracias, muchacho!" Gabe thanked the barman, sliding a tequila to Mason. "What had you stopping in Chicago?" He asked curiously. Gabe glanced at the man's shoulder and winced, "What happened there?" An office job sounded like hell to Gabe. Somedays, being stuck in the garage was enough to drive him crazy, but at least it was physical. "I'm sure you are, bro. Wait — what is it you do again?"

[coltonatwater]

Colt shook his head in good humor, enjoying the other's laughter more than he was at the prospect of going about being introduced as a porn star for attention. "You sure we shouldn't be out there looking for someone for you?" He joked, his gaze drifting through the crowd for a moment to try and find someone in particular but hadn't been able to see them yet. "I have been told that I make a decent wingman, even if the attention is caught by the stache but I can use that as a hook to get them talking to you," he added with a grin as he took a sip of his beer before his eyes fell back on the other. "You're only going to inflate my ego at this point, man, if you keep that up."

[gabevargas]

Gabe wiggled his eyebrows suggestively amidst laughter. "Don't worry about me, something or someone," he elbowed Colt. "Always falls into my lap." He slapped Colt on the shoulder once again, forgetting how many times he had already done that so far—too lost in their fun. Brown eyes looked at the stache again and were in another fit of raucous laughter. "Please, keep that. It really suits you. I'm not even playing, bro." Gabe finally calmed with a contented sigh and then sipped his beer. "I'm always here to support you, hermano/" He relaxed against the bartop and continued to sip the cold beverage, glancing around the party. "Anyone caught your eye?"

[nataliedcluca]

"Exactly. Next time. There's nothing stopping us from redoing our vows in a few years if we're both single," she joked with a laugh, feeling the warmth on her cheeks spread as he laced his fingers with her. This was exactly the feeling that she'd had the night in Vegas when she fell for a stranger, married him, and divorced him all in a whirlwind of feelings. It was a great story to tell, but an even better one in reality at seeing him again in Briar Ridge. She almost didn't believe it. "If those were some of the best hours of your life, we need to get you out more," she teased with a shake of her head, laughing at how easy it was to be around him after all this time. "I'm not complaining about that night either."

Natalie glanced back at her friends, having been one of enough that they wouldn't miss her for a bit as she tore her gaze back away from them to Gabe. "I can promise an hour, maybe two tops before they call the cops on us as they report that some handsome stranger abducted me in the middle of girls' night. That's about all I can offer you."

[gabevargas]

That was an interesting thought. Gabe hadn't considered that she might be seeing someone. He was so lost in the excitement of seeing her that he had failed to consider that. The signs said no, and for that, he was glad. He was distracted, looking down at her hand in his as memories of Vegas played in his mind. The two were a wild mix, and he could already see sparks of that again. "Trust me, I've been out more than enough — you don't meet women like you often. I'm lucky enough that the fates seem to keep pushing us together," he said with a growing smile. Sure, he was flattering her, but there was some truth to it. It was hard to explain, but the connection between them was palpable. The reassuring words from her made his smile widen, and he kissed the back of her hand.

"I promise to have you back, Cinderella." Gabe tugged her hand and guided her through the bar. "Are you hungry?" he asked her, moving towards the door. Gabe grinned, pulled her into his side, and put his arm around her waist. "There's a place down the street—you would know that better than me," he laughed. "We could get some Chinese food and catch up."

[valentincflores]

Val was still shocked that this had finally happened. She had been dreaming about opening her own yoga studio for so long now, that part of her had begun to fear it would never actually happen. And yet, here she was, in a space she was renting out to open her studio! Renting to buy… eventually, but still. For all intents and purposes, it was hers. And as she finished up a discussion with the landlord and made her way inside, Val couldn’t help but feel the warm glow of pride. 

As she approached Gabe, her lips quirked upwards into a wide grin. “Boy, if you’ll really be able to help me out with half those things, I can put up with you for the rest of forever.” she beamed up at him. The petite brunette was so grateful to have someone she knew she could trust take a look at the place. She knew Gabe wasn’t going to try to rip her off the way a lot of contractors would upon being hired by a single woman. 

“Hearing you say it’s just paint and patchwork? That makes it feel real. Like... this is actually happening.” She looked at him, her smile widening, then nudged his arm lightly. “Thanks for being here, Gabe. Even if I do have to put up with your bad jokes for a week.” With a chuckle, she added, “I’ll make sure to name one of our inaugural yoga poses after you to say thank you. Something ridiculous, like the ‘awkward contractor squat.’”

[gabevargas]

Gabe smiled at her response, happy that he could help. "Then, for however long it takes, you sign me up," he chimed. There was a gratification in helping others and fixing things. He had always enjoyed that feeling like an empty part of him felt full for a moment. "I'll go home and draw up some plans, then send you over a price — and don't worry," he leaned down to her, "I'll give you the best rate I can. I know how hard it is setting up your own business."

He didn't offer that kindness to many people, but he had a soft spot for the woman. Their similar backgrounds brought a natural bond, but he also respected her. The only woman he had in his life was his mother, and she hadn't given much of a positive image, so to see women like Val from his community thriving, he would do anything to help them.

Gabe laughed at her friendly teasing, then shoved the notebook in his pocket and slid the pencil behind his ear. "De nada, the bad jokes are free of charge," he joked. He clutched his chest dramatically, genuinely touched by the gesture but hamming it up. "What an honor!" he exclaimed, then laughing, he proceeded to show her his best squat. "How's this?" He stood back up and grinned, "You don't owe me anything more than the bill... I'm just excited to be a part of your success."

[alarakcplan]

Allah! How she wished she could wipe that stupid smile off his stupidly pretty face.  “If only I had succeeded.” She grumbled, not quite so under her breath. He was so... Gabe—loud, playful, relentless, inherently knowing just how to push her buttons. And as she was painfully reminded of the vulnerability she had allowed him to witness years ago, he was getting under her skin more than he normally would have. 

Rolling her eyes at the quips he was making to the attendant, Alara couldn’t help but wonder how anyone could buy his little story that they were married. She clearly wanted to get as far away from him as she possibly could. As evidenced by how she quickly drew her arm away when he nudged her. 

She stood there, arms crossed over her chest in an attempt to throw up every defense she possibly could, seething as she waited for the attendant to finish with the transaction. The second the teenager finished, the brunette grabbed her bags, shooting a biting, "Now you're just out 40 bucks with nothing to show for it, Vargas." over her shoulder at him before stomping out of the grocery store as quickly as she could in the hope that Gabe would leave her alone. 

Because beneath the defensiveness, a flicker of something else lingered—something softer, quieter, a reluctant gratitude she could never give voice to. Not now. Not after everything. And if there was one thing Alara knew, it was that opening that door again—letting him see the cracks she’d worked so hard to patch—was not an option. Not for Gabe. Not for anyone. 

[gabevargas]

Gabe noticed that Alara wasn't softening as the charade continued. He meant no harm and was simply trying to reconnect after she up and left them all in the dust. He understood, but now they were in the same town; why couldn't things be like they once were? That's all he wanted. It stung when she pulled away so quickly, and he quickly masked a flash of sadness with a bright smile in the attendant's direction.

He picked up one of the bags before she could grab it and followed her. "I wasn't expecting anything but an old friend to maybe say hello..." Gabe called back, the playfulness from before gone. She was marching ahead, but his long legs kept up easily, and he grew more frustrated with each passing second. "¿Por qué estás siendo así? (Why are you being like this?)"

Gabe reached out to touch her shoulder, attempting to stop her. "Would you give me a second? Alara..." He looked at her with big, soft eyes, hoping she might see the sincerity. "I missed you, that's all."

[perikocak]

location: the koçak family home

status: closed for @gabevargas

Ridge Renovations was booked solid until next spring. Caldwell Construction, a smaller crew based several towns away, wanted almost double to account for their drive. Bill Morgan promised to be available for ‘whatever she needed’, day or night, but the way he’d said it while starting at her chest— Yeah, hard fucking pass. 

If today’s consult didn’t go well she might just accidentally drop a match and let the place burn. 

The thought was ridiculous - yes, she was well aware, and no, she didn’t care - and yet visions of flames devouring the weathered siding, a once cheerful canary yellow turned dingy beige, kept her company while she finished a cigarette, waiting. 

It was the roll of tires over a patchy gravel driveway that had her grinding what remained of her smoke into the dirt. Sevda Koçak would have a fit if she saw Peri leave it there. Perhaps that’s why she did. 

“Hey.” A wan smile flickered over her lips. Stepping closer to who she presumed was Gabe, she offered a hand in greeting. “I’m Peri Koçak. Thanks for sacrificing some of your Saturday to come have a look around and tell me what you think.” 

[gabevargas]

The job at Kelly's kept Gabe busy, but he was eager to earn some extra cash to help him find his place in Briar. The Parkers were sweet, and ranch life was surprisingly a good fit for the city boy, but he couldn't help but feel he was outstaying his welcome. He needed to find his own home, and doing extra work like this would be the only way.

He pulled up in his truck and hopped out. "Hey," Gabe said in greeting, smiling at the woman. Buster, his large Huskey dog, barked from the car window, eager to meet the new person. "Sorry, I had to bring him with me. I hope that's okay?" Gabe smiled. "That's okay; I'm happy for the work. I'm Gabe Vargas," he replied, offering out his hand.

Gabe glanced at the building and rubbed his chin as he eyed the workload. He could already tell this would be a big project. "Well, Peri... why don't you lead the way and tell me what you want?" He asked, holding out his hand so she could step in front of him.

[enzoadeluca]

After spending the majority of his evening watching party guests parade around the bar in costumes, Enzo immediately found himself thankful he had settled for something just a step above his usual jeans and t-shirt. Seated at one end of the bar, the man slowly sipped on his pint of beer, catching sight of Gabe just before he could plop down onto the stool beside him.

"Given the fact that I'm pretty chronically single, I think you're safe," he teased with a chuckle. "Now what did you do?"

Since Gabe was still fairly new to town, Enzo could only conclude that Benny was the one angry with him. He was, however, rather surprised to know that a woman had been the thing to damage their brotherly bond.

[gabevargas]

The accusatory words, despite their playful tone, stung. Gabe pouted and slumped further into the chair, feeling utterly sorry for himself. Why did everyone always assume he did something wrong? Gabe knew Enzo was joking, but he was sensitive. Benny punched him with no explanation, a sucker punch, too. That was low, and he was heartbroken.

He sat up and rubbed his jaw, the spot still throbbing. "I was making out with some girl, and he fucking ran up on me!" Gabe whined. "He punched me," he added, pointing to the red mark on his jaw. "And it really hurt..."

[bellstrom]

Climbing out of his car, Benny blows out smoke as he shuts the door behind him. He was running a bit late between costume changes and felt like Gabe was already moaning and groaning about his whereabouts. Not that he texted more than a couple times, but Benny was taking his sweet time preparing for a long night out. Placing the gold plastic crown on his head, he makes his way inside to find a sea of costumes before him, stomping out his cigarette before entering. It wasn't too cold outside, but there was a slight breeze, and Benny couldn't be thankful for it any more than now. He can already feel the heat radiating off of the people around him, catching sight of a few familiar faces already.

A shot tray passes him, and Benny decides it is probably good for him to take a shot before meeting up with Gabe. While he normally didn't plan to drink that much, he needed to loosen his gears to keep up with his best friend. Being with Gabe always took him back a few years, especially given his recent activity of playing dad— to a degree. What’s a little liquid courage to get him started? Benny shakes his head as he places the empty shot glass on a table, swishing his tongue around inside his mouth at the taste. Ugh. Lime. I need a lime.

Heading towards the bar, Benny moves through the crowd until he sees Gabe talking to someone. He can see the narrow gaze he's holding, bringing a smile to Benny's lips. He can always count on Gabe to keep himself busy, noting the Jason costume he was sporting. Making his way closer, Benny passes through a few more people before he recognizes the back of her head. He stops, the room falling still as he watches Gabe lean in and kiss her. He feels his stomach churn, his brows creasing as their bodies blend together, hands feverishly exploring as if they weren’t in public. He watches, feeling his stomach sink with every passing second. And then their bodies move, and Benny sees Leyla's face—her closed eyes and lips touching his more clearly.

Red. All Benny could see was red. As soon as he could comprehend that it was Leyla Gabe was kissing, Benny stopped thinking. He pushed through the crowd, eyes locked in on Gabe, and within a few seconds, he pulled them apart with great force. His fists balled into Gabe's flannel, yanking him a few steps to the side before pulling his arm back, bringing his inked fist to collide with Gabe's jaw. The crowd around them gathers, and people near them make room when they realize someone's on the floor. There are a few gasps, but Benny doesn't register their surroundings. Not as his daggers start to soften at the sight of his friend on the floor. Benny's jaw clenches. Shit. Feeling her gaze on him, Benny only tilts his head slightly to see her from his peripheral. He couldn't— he couldn't see the way she looked at him right now. He turns away, shielding himself from Leyla's reaction as he pushes through the crowd, the throbbing pain in his fists reminding him of his lack of self-control.

[leylayilmz]

Everything happed so quickly, before she could even register what was happening. One moment, she was lost in in a kiss with a very good looking stranger, and the next, she was ripped out of the moment—out of his arms—and all she could see was... wait, Benny?

It was a blur.. his hand, gripping Gabe's flannel, the rage etched into his features, pulling the guy away from her with enough force to send a ripple through the gathered partygoers. Her intoxicated state only added to the disorientation, everything happening too fast for her to comprehend. It felt like a haze... and suddenly, her heart sank to the pit of her stomach as Benny's fist collided with Gabe's jaw, the sickening sound of the impact reverberating in her ears. Her lips parted to say something — anything — but the words lodged in her throat, the entire ordeal rendering her speechless. She could hear her heartbeat pounding like a drum in her ears, drowning out the chaotic scene of murmurs and whispers around them. Her eyes darted between the confusion on Gabe’s face, the tension in Benny’s rigid frame, anger clenched in his jaw. What... what was happening?

As her gaze moved to Gabe on the floor, the rush of voices, music and whispers around them flooded her consciousness and then— "Benny, what the hell?!" She shouted, her voice sharp and panicked, cutting through the outside noise. "Why did you do that?!" Her body, previously frozen, finally jolted into action as she instinctively moved to reach out for him, but Benny was already a step ahead, his back turned to her, his head dipping low. For a fleeting second, their eyes almost met, and it broke her even more. She saw the hurt etched into his features — the way his jaw clenched as if holding back words he couldn't say, the tension in his shoulders that betrayed emotions he couldn't hide. And though his expression was like an open wound—raw, exposed, impossible to miss—he refused to let her in. He refused to even look at her. Her fingers just barely brushed against his arm before he pulled away, shoving through the crowd of partygoers with a determination that left her reeling. "Benny, wait!" she called out, desperation lacing her voice as she tried to follow. She weaved through the crowd, pushing past a few before realising it was no use, it was too late. He was gone—swallowed by the crowd and chaos he'd left in his wake. The room felt unbearably loud and suffocating now, and yet she stood frozen, trying to process what had just unfolded as the weight of everything came crashing down on her all at once. But the questions swirling in her mind only made the suffocating tension worse. She was confused, mad... confused.

After what felt like a lifetime, she shifted her thoughts to the poor guy that had gotten dragged into.. whatever that was. Guilt and embarrassment twisted in her chest as she crouched behind him, her mind spinning. What had she done? "Are you okay?" She asked quickly, her hands hovered near his face, torn between wanting to check if he was hurt and giving him the space he might need. "I .. I don't know what just happened, I'm so sorry." She trailed off, her words faltering as her thoughts raced. Benny’s reaction, his refusal to meet her gaze, the way he left so abruptly—it was more than just anger. He was hurt. Deeply hurt. "Let me help you up," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though the shakiness in the hand she held out betrayed her.

[gabevargas]

The temperature of this kiss rose, Gabe smirking against her lips as he lost himself in her feel. Suddenly, a force pulled him from her, and his anger swelled, ready to shout at the person interrupting them.

However, he didn’t have time to protest before he saw a fist heading towards him. It happened so quickly but somehow in slow motion simultaneously. He blamed his slow reactions on his distracted mind — that damn perfume of hers — and alcohol. Before his mind could register the impending doom of the giant fist, it was already cracking hard against his jaw—the sound loud enough to be heard over the music as people nearby jumped back in horror. 

The strength knocked him to the floor, and Gabe blanked momentarily. The sounds of gasps and shouting made him come around, and he reached up to rub his jaw as a searing, hot pain spread all over. “What the fuck?” Brown eyes looked up, and the face that looked back at him brought even more pain. “Benny…” he whispered, holding his jaw. There was a ringing in his ears, confused and overwhelmed by it all. The two had previously shared fights as two young men growing up together, but it had never felt like this. Gabe was sitting in the middle of the floor, and a crowd circled him, whispering and snickering. He saw Benny’s expression soften, but rage burned in him, and he glared back at his friend. If it were anyone else, he would have jumped up and attacked them for sucker-punching him in front of everyone, but Gabe was frozen with anger, still sitting, chest pounding with emotion. How could he do this?

That’s when he saw the pretty brunette run after Benny, and for a few moments, Gabe felt something all too familiar. Abandonment. Loneliness. Yet again, he was the one left behind. The back of his throat suddenly burned, and he swallowed the hard lump, fighting back the threat of tears that pooled in his eyes. There was a heartbeat in his jaw that caused a moan of pain to slip from him, but he purposely rubbed the area and hissed. The pain of that was more tolerable than the pain of his best friend embarrassing him. 

Gabe attempted to stand up as Leyla returned, and he pulled himself away from her aggressively. He didn’t want her to touch him. “I’m fine!” He snapped, but then he looked at her and saw her body shaking. Gabe instantly felt terrible and softened, “Sorry… that just hurt like hell.” He forced out a chuckle, then clutched his jaw in pain. “Ow… yea, I think I’m going to have to get some ice…” He tried to smile, but that hurt, too. Nothing hurt like his bruised ego, but she was now just a reminder of that. “I’m sorry, I’m going to go deal with this,” he pointed to the red mark on his jaw, then shrugged. There wasn’t much more he could say without feeling like he might choke up, still upset about all of this. It didn’t help that everyone was staring at him, and for once, being the center of attention felt horrible. Gabe nodded, then moved into the crowd, trying to hide his shame. He needed a friend. He needed Enzo.

END