Page 126 of A Lot Like Adiós
“I’m taking the suitcases down to the car,” his father called from the door, and Gabe jolted.
“Wait, let me help you.” Gabe got up and felt a series of pops in his joints. He’d done way too much sitting over the last week. But he couldn’t have his dad hurting his shoulder again right before he left.
At the open door, Esteban knelt and picked something up. “Tienes un package,” he said to Gabe, handing over a cardboard tube.
“Did you order a poster?” his mother asked, coming over with the box of conchas.
“I don’t think so,” Gabe muttered. And then he saw the label, and his heart leaped. “It’s from Michelle.”
His mother bounced on her toes. “¡Ábrelo, zángano!”
Gabe shot her a wounded look. “Mami, don’t call me zángano.”
His father came over with a kitchen knife. “Here, open it.”
Gabe took the knife and cut the packing tape, then popped out the plastic lid at the end of the tube. He passed the knife and lid to his dad, then stuck his fingers in to pull out a rolled-up piece of paper.
Tucking the tube under his arm, Gabe unrolled the paper. A huge smile broke out on his face when he realized what it was.
Michelle had made him another collage, a physical reminder of their friendship—just like the one she’d given him after high school graduation. Just as the story he’d sent her would—hopefully—show her what she meant to him, this showed him clearly what he meant to her. There were recent photos andolder memories, all blended together to show him what he’d already known.
He loved her. Always had and always would.
And then there were the words scrawled across the bottom, a quote from the final episode ofBeyond the Stars.
Part of me will always be waiting for you.
Hope lifted his heart. Maybe it wasn’t too late.
“I need a shower,” he said, leaping into motion. His mother helped him pack and his father helped tidy up the apartment and package the perishables from the fridge, which Norma had stuffed to the gills. Gabe bought a ticket for the same flight his parents were on, then called Fabian on speaker while he threw on some clothes.
“I need a huge favor,” he said when Fabian picked up the phone.
“Anything, bro. Just name it.”
When Fabian arrived, Gabe and his parents loaded up the car with their luggage and all the gifts for Fabian’s family. They were also giving him all of Gabe’s groceries, since Gabe didn’t know when he was coming back. Fabian took a concha out of the box immediately and nibbled on it as he drove them to the airport.
“Señora Aguilar, these are the best conchas I’ve ever tasted,” Fabian mumbled through a mouthful of pan dulce.
Gabe’s mother preened. “Call me Norma. And don’t forget to send me photos of tus bebés.”
At the airport, they unpacked the luggage and Fabian said his goodbyes to Esteban and Norma. Then he turned to Gabe.
“You can do this,” he said, clasping Gabe’s hand. “Don’t hold back.”
“Not anymore,” Gabe agreed, pulling Fabian in for a quick one-armed hug. And then he and his parents raced through the airport to make their flight.
Celestial Destiny
A Beyond the Stars Season 2 Fanfic
Episode 13
By BxGamer15
FOR CHELLEBLOCKTANGO
Zack returned to Gardaron Port.
